Progress - First 100 Days Project launched

JessicaAsato Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 02:53:29 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

2007 will see a new Labour prime minister entering Number 10. What policies or initiatives would you like to see them introducing in their first 100 days in office? Have your say on our new interactive website: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/100/




Over the next 6-9 months we will be collating the best and most innovative ideas submitted through this website and from our events. We will be presenting them to the relevant Ministers and asking for responses at the end of the process.

This is your chance to help shape the first 100 days of the next Labour leader and beyond. Post as often as you like and join the debate!


tags: (all tags)

Display: Sort:
Progress - First 100 Days Project launched | 28 comments (28 topical)

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#1)

by HenryG on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 04:01:16 PM GMT

  1. Get out of Iraq
  2. Stop Higher Education top-up fees and return the means tested maintenance grant, funded through progressive taxation
  3. Properly fund care for the elderly so that they do not have to sell their homes to be professionally looked after
  4. Don't renew Trident
  5. Maintain the union link, cap election spending and democratise the upper house.

Interesting exercise Jessica, but I'm not holding my breath to be honest.


Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#4)

by steverace on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 05:16:51 PM GMT


ref #2 - what do you think we have at the moment? Tuition fees are are means-tested - the 'bottom' third of students pay nothing towards their tution fees - and come away with a profit usually. Plus bursaries/ grants etc.

The new tuition fees system is re-distributive. Anyone who says it is not, does not know how it works.


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#5)

by Glass House on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 07:55:47 PM GMT

I totally agree (but haven't had must luck convincing others)


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#8)

by AJScobbie on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 11:24:14 PM GMT

Sadly we got rid of that system and now under top up fees everyone is liable for their tuition but it can be deferred and paid as part of the student loan scheme.

That said you are spot on about fees being a redistributive measure. Means test the system to target grants and bursaries at those who traditionally do not enter higher education and avoid a variable fee and you got me sold.

Suggest people read Ron Deering's views on equity within the higher education system and then come to the conclusion that the original tuition fee system was incredinly progressive but never sold as such because hordes of middle class folk whinged about it while thousands or places were created for working class kids at universities at no upfront cost to them.


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#6)

by grimupnorth on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 08:23:22 PM GMT

All of the above plus a Cabinet free of anyone who voted  for war  in Iraq - or continues to defend  our foreign  policy there. Complete disassociation from George Bush would be good, too.

However,like Henry G, I'm not holding my breath. This  is another "Big Conversation" PR exercise and will prove just as effective.Can you imagine Mandelon and Co paying any attention whatsoever to left-of-centre policies. No chance.


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#2)

by Andrea on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 04:13:45 PM GMT

  • House of Lords reform
  • Parliamentary approval for sending troops and/or starting a war


Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#3)

by Glass House on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 04:28:31 PM GMT

Excellent. I suspect Brown with include them both in his 100 days.


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#7)

by swatantra on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 11:02:00 PM GMT

Renationalise Rail and Water, to start with.


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#10)

by Glass House on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 11:50:55 PM GMT

why?


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#26)

by Glass House on Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 11:51:22 AM GMT

why?


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#24)

by Mark Wadsworth on Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 11:15:57 AM GMT

Definitely renationalise railways, not so sure about water


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#9)

by Loz on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 11:38:43 PM GMT

  1. Commit to finishing the job in Iraq
  2. House of Lords Reform - i.e. give us real democracy
  3. Commit to splitting the Home Office
  4. Seek to introduce the 90 day terror detention law
  5. Work closely with the US government to confront the Iranian terror regime
  6. I'd like to hear some productive talk on what we can do about climate change - aside from taxation
  7. Reform of the benefits system
  8. Serious education reform - Paticuarly of examinations, and further education support for school leavers and young adults


Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#11)

by Glass House on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 11:52:04 PM GMT

Good, although Im yet to be convinced about 90 days


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#12)

by JR on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 02:48:58 PM GMT

  1. Change the House of Lords to a 100% democratically elected chamber.
  2. Give devolution to England
  3. Cap political party donations and make it so that only members can donate (not trade unionists, businesses or lobby groups)
  4. Re-introduce some form of grammar schools into the education system.
  5. Give Parliament the right to vote on war as well as appointments such as ambassadors.
  6. Allow shop trading hours (as well as bars, pubs, casinos etc.) to be expanded to 24 hours a day every day (including Sundays) except national holidays
  7. Legalise same-sex marriage
  8. Allow all hospitals to be foundation hospitals
  9. Allow all schools to be independent
  10. Split the Home Office into four ministries - Home Affairs (incorporating communities and planning), Crime, Justice and National Security
  11. Give funding for the expansion of the Manchester Metrolink as well as other light-rail systems in many of our cities
  12. Overturn the decision to ban the viewing of violent pornography.
  13. Push forward with ID cards.

A bit optimistic for 100 days but you never know!


Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#13)

by HenryG on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 03:52:26 PM GMT


12. Overturn the decision to ban the viewing of violent pornography.

That's it, now I know for sure that JR is a fictional/joke character. [Sigh of relief].


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#14)

by Glass House on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 04:00:29 PM GMT

You might want to read around the subject before you mouth off. I agree with JR and I'm certainly real.


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#15)

by Glass House on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 04:08:51 PM GMT

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/frank_fisher/2006/08/see_no_evil.html

here's a good place to start


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#16)

by JR on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 04:16:50 PM GMT

Unlike you HenryG, I take civil liberties very seriously and I don't believe that the govt. should impose its 'morals' on the public. Providing it's between consenting adults, then it should be allowed.


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#17)

by grimupnorth on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 05:05:13 PM GMT

Yeah, right.Anyone who  gets their kicks from watching  violent porn is not on my Christmas  card list.Hardly a  vote-winner


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#18)

by JR on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 05:27:59 PM GMT

Anyone who gets their kicks from acting 'Mary Whitehouse' style and imposing their (not so) 'morals' on society is not on my Christmas card list either.

You should have no interest in what other people get up to in the bedroom. As long as the act has occurred with consenting adults then what's the problem?

People used to (and in a minority of cases still do) think that homosexuality is disgusting - so was it right that homosexuality was illegal? No, of course not.

Since when have civil liberties been about winning votes? We have them to protect minorities and our individual freedoms.

The bill probably won't be passed anyway since it's getting too much opposition. Thank goodness.


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#19)

by Glass House on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 05:35:16 PM GMT

Are you saying that we should only extend liberties to people we agree with/like?


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#21)

by Loz on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 10:14:57 PM GMT

Sadly I have to disagree with you glass house.

The problem with violent porn is that there have been instances where 'participants' have been coerced and seriously injured.

It disturbs me that anyone would be interested in this sort of filth.

I suppose I could compromise if the 'industry' was seriously bought above ground and subject to vigorous checks.


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#22)

by Glass House on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 11:20:05 PM GMT

That just doesn't cut it for me - people who seek to remove civil liberties often cite examples of how they're being abused by a minority as a reason to remove them for everyone.

If someone wants to do crazy stuff to themselves and other consenting adults, photograph/film it and sell it to others, who are we to stop them?

We're not talking about snuff films or anything.


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#23)

by JR on Sat Jan 27, 2007 at 01:06:42 AM GMT

Doesn't cut it for me either. Each person has their own individual sexual preferences and the state should keep out.

If people think violent pornography is a bad influence and should be banned, then they must believe in banning violent computer games (like Grand Theft Auto), horror movies or explicit literature as well? Because surely they all 'corrupt the mind'?

Why not ban James Bond films - all those shootings and sex with multiple women must be a bad influence also?

The age of censorship should have died a long time ago, but sadly it is still here. Nothing should be censored as long as what's being shown is legal, no matter how 'disgusting' it is considered - things should simply be given appropriate ratings to protect children. Adults however, are capable of taking responsibility for themselves and the state should not be nannying them and moralising at them.


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#27)

by doctordunc on Thu Feb 01, 2007 at 06:04:26 PM GMT

Bollocks.  The 'people' being in shot in Grand Theft Auto are pixilated characters.  It's nothing to do with corrupting the mind, its about real abuse, and definitions of consent.  It is an industry built on real violence, not representations of violence.  I might accept an analogy with boxing, but not with computer games.


[ Parent ]

Splitting hairs (#25)

by Mark Wadsworth on Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 11:23:00 AM GMT

I'd agree fully with items 1 to 9 and 11, 10 is beyond me, I see your point on 12, but this is like letting the NHS dish out heroin, a good idea in itself but is not a vote winner. I am completely against 13, expensive and pointless and a nuisance.


[ Parent ]

Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#20)

by JessicaAsato on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 05:48:31 PM GMT

If LabourHome posters want their First 100 Days ideas to go into the mix on the Progress website can they please post them up (don't worry you can do as many posts as you want!) The website is: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/100/


Re: Progress - First 100 Days Project launched (#28)

by doctordunc on Thu Feb 01, 2007 at 06:09:54 PM GMT

  1. Apologise for Iraq, and beg for UN assistance in getting us out of Iraq and Afghanistan
  2. Trade Union Freedom Bill
  3. End age discrimination in the minimum wage and raise the minimum wage
  4. Scrap Trident
  5. Fully-elected second chamber
  6. Other constitutional reforms re: royal prerogatives
  7. Re-open debate about regional government
  8. Close remaining grammar schools
  9. Make a commitment to the future of FE (both strategically and financially)
  10. End all PFI and reverse where possible
  11. Bring rail and buses back into public ownership
  12. Cap spending at election time


Progress - First 100 Days Project launched | 28 comments (28 topical)