Labour's election pledges

Labour has announced it pledges -not promises. They do look like vote winners too!!

"Your family better off". How many families will be better off? What about council tax increases, higher house prices mean that mortgages are still at high levels, even if rates are low. More people off benefits and into work normally sounds good as though they may be able to reduce tax rates, but it normally only means that the money saved on benefits is wasted eleswhere within the public sector.

"Your family treated better and faster". How? Will this apply in England only? Who will pay for the faster treatments and why can't it be done already. Labour has had eight years to sort out the inherited mess.

"Your child achieving more". Will the curriculum be dumbed down again? Are exams to be made even easier? Strong discpline? Is discipline currently weak? Whose fault is that?

"Your country's borders protected". Who from? The internal terrorist threat? External terrorist threat? Are we safer as a nation now than we were prior to the Iraq war? Will the EU allow us to protect our borders?

"Your community safer" Cracking down on yobs and then giving them community service orders. Sounds like a tough regime!!

"Your children with the best start" Great news for young families, pity about the rest.

What has happened to any pledges on pensions. Most families typically become better off over time anyway as they earn more money and hppefully wage rates rise faster than inflation and other costs.