I'm glad to see some Labour MPs revolting at the Darling's income tax plans, seeing as I thought Labour always prided themselves on looking after those on low incomes.

It wasn't in Darling's budget. Do try to keep up.

The truth is that most Labour ministers sold their souls when they joined the New Labour project.

Except for 1948, when Labour had it's greatest time, when has a Labour government ever helped the working class, I remember the three day week, the council workers fighting against a Labour government which is now being re run by a New Labour government. The words of Labour and New Labour we must keep inflation low, how do we do this, well we allow the rich to get richer and we stuff the nurses the council workers the sick and the disabled, Ok Mr Wilson that will be fine.

Robert, well your memory ain't as good as you think it is. In 1973 Ted Heath's (Conservative) government tried to hold down public sector pay to control inflation. Over a million people went on strike on 1st May 1973. The National Union of Mineworkers dispute later that year led to the 3 day week.

Same old Tories... and you even have to resort to lying about it.

Yes I can go back even further, the problem is you do not expect it from a Labour government, we expect it from the Tories.

But it seems we have serious problems now with New labour hitting the poorest with taxation.

I'm disappointed, Bob, that you cling to the party-political fantasy that corruption is only the preserve of the Tories. I can understand why you might, of course - 'us' becoming 'them' when 'we' pride ourselves on our integrity is never easy. But they are all Labourites, some of them - like Prescott - ardent socialists. Too long in power, like the Tories before them.

Russell, I'm intrigued to know where you gained that perception. If you take the trouble to read the quote in the post (I know it takes a bit of extra time, but it does avoid you looking like a complete berk) you will find that it is critical of Labour Ministers. I have no fantasy about this at all. My view is that many senior Labour figures are behaving like their corrupt Tory predecessors... although at least they have managed to avoid prison sentences... so far.

Inconvenient for your argument, I know, but don't let that stop you.

Robert... if you can go back earlier, remind me when the Labour 3 day week was that you are talking about. Muppet!

senior Labour figures are behaving like their corrupt Tory predecessors... although at least they have managed to avoid prison sentences... so far.

You think cash for questions is a serious as prostituting the honours system and stealing millions ? Like the sense of proportion. You will say it was not personal gain but Blair had a Mortgage 20 time his salary when he left, and don't even pretend it was not happening. I see the little bird who knew a lot got a nice fat EU sinecure...fancy
The Conservative view is that Personal corruption is inevitable which is why public corruption must never be allowed .

What have you done ?

The last point is interesting. Labour have made it compulsory for political donations to be made public (although the boy David still refuses to tell us about those Tory donors). Under the Tories you could buy a peerage quite freely. No-ne knew.

My views on Blair's relationship with these leeches is well known, but you know you are talking out of your arse again. The DPP say there will be no prosecutions as a result of Inspector Knacker's investigations. If you have evidence, newmania, give it to the police... but, of course, you have none.

Still even though there are new rules, it is refreshing to see some Tories like Conway just can't stop dipping, can they. Same old Tories. Same old fiddles.

They just can't stop themselves. I think it is the in-breeding that does it.

Definitely the in breeding. Mind you, the article was a tad worrying!

Absolutely, Andy.

My view is that many senior Labour figures are behaving like their corrupt Tory predecessors... although at least they have managed to avoid prison sentences... so far.

Well, if any Labour MPs had the balls, Blair et al would be warming seats in the Hague for war crimes. Is there any worse crime than lying about the case for war?

The fact no Labour MP has yet been sent to prison is hardly a glowing report.

Was Neil Hamilton being paid in used tenners in a brown paper envelope to ask parliamentary questions worse than what we see from Labour today, with it's co-dependent relationship with Murdock and big business? Was a Tory MP/minister sleeping with his secretary worse than abusing the parliamentary allowance system to claim money for a second mortgage that was paid off years ago?

We all see the evidence of how corrupt they are, and it is not just the selling off of Great Briton's family silver (NHS/transport/school/prisons/ welfare state/school playing fields) to their chums in big business. Nor the Cash-for-Honours. Look at the number of ex-ministers now making a happy penny in the very private sector they once courted as ministers, allegedly for the good of the country (Patsy Hewitt privatizing the NHS, Blunkett and his ID card/NIR databases. Ex-Defense minisers, ex-transport mnisters. I could go on but people read Private Eye & the papers). The disconnect with the man on the street looks irreparably complete. Who represents me now?

Where do I turn?

The Tories were rightly pilloried for their corrupt behaviour. It appears today we just roll our eyes grumbling inanely when Labour do it - corruption at twice the speed and many more times the detriment to the very people they claim to represent of their predecessors ever dreamed.

The media calculations of a couple of hundred quid less well off per year thanks to the scrapping of the 10% tax rate sounds negligible to many people out there. It's a night out, an Ipod, a pair of shoes - what real difference does it really make to someones quality of life?

But having "survived" for many years on an obscenely low wage, I can vouch that is the difference between being able to afford to heat my home over winter, or eating.

It is indicative of Labour that this reality for their nominal constituencies is totally lost on them. Brown sounded as heartless and removed from reality talking to Nick Robinson today as Thatcher did in her heyday.

I must also add, having sat in on numerous "debates" at my local city council Town Hall, I have found many, many Labour councilors are no better than their parliamentary "comrades". Watching Labour councilors slash social service, flog off social housing, vote against human rights, destroy communities in the name of "progress" or "regeneration" that never arrives for the poorest.

I voted Labour all my life. Bob, please advise me: if all parties are corrupt and/or disconnected, who represents me now? What is my vote worth?

Difficult to know where to start. Selling off the family silver? Are you taking the piss? The Tories flogged off water, gas, electricity, trains, buses, steel, shut down the pits and the shipyards and pissed north sea oil up the wall... and Labour have... errm, sold some playing fields. Which planet are you on? What transport are you saying they've sold? There was none left after the Tory asset strippers had finished.

OK, Brown scrapped the 10% tax rate (oh, don't bother to mention that Labour introduced it will you?) and I disagree with it.

Then there's the cash-for-honours - again, don't let the evidence get in the way - although under the Tories Thatcher and Major could name their own price because no-one had to even tell you.

You're a Joke!

Bob, you may disagree with me, using less temperent language than I, but I'm not the only one that feels this way. I'm sorry you felt the need to insult me for voicing my opinion.

If so many people still think Labour stands for them why has the party membership plummeted - a trend started well before the war. Why have the number of people who vote declined? Why did extremists like the BMP gain seats? Is it still as easy to get volunteers to shove leaflets through doors in the name of Labour?

Who, if not Labour, represents the average low paid (wo)man care worker, feeding the sick and disabled, wiping bottoms in a savaged social service system, now having to work longer hours, including evenings and weekends, on a lower pay grade, with less status, wages and benefits, under a Labour council and government? Who supports those in need, with a minefield of privatized disability benefits, EMPs and appeals; to gain access to social services care? Not Labour, it seems. Who supports the low paid now?

Your party is loosing ground exactly because when people question as I did, you tell me I'm taking the piss and a joke and it is all the Tories fault. Labour has been in power 11 years now, please don't treat me like an imbecile by trotting out that lame excuse. You reply shows the level of your disconnection. Come see where I live, the deprivation, see the disillusionment in people for whom Labour was once a tribe. Labour left us behind, not the other way round.

So you think using a meat slicer on the NHS and selling it off piecemeal to private contractors (sorry, the independent sector), providing services at a much greater cost to taxpayers, is ok because PFI and PPP are Gordon's idea (nicked from Thatcher)? That the NHS is not part of our family silver? Please. Ditto the London tube. Ditto our military training, our schools, Qinetic? Think back, when the Tories proposed such things all hell broke out in Labour ranks. Why accept it from Labour government now?

I never denied what the Tories did, destroying so much of this country, society and communities; I'd rather slit my wrists than vote for them. What I cannot vote for is more of the same under a Labour banner.

For Labour to remain in power, and keep the sheer horror that is the Tories out, is to galvanise your base, and to increase it. The Tories are gaining ground in the polls, and if the disillusionment of your heartlands grows, and Labour voters can't be bothered going to the voting booth, let alone putting a cross next to Labour candidate, it only makes it an easier task for them, the BMP, or some other extremist party to gain ground.

Maybe we should just wait until the local elections are over to see if your optimism in the public's tolerance of Labour is well founded.

I will promise not to treat you as an imbecile if you promise not to behave like one.

You accused Labour of selling off the family silver... I pointed out that the Tories actually did that... and you tell me that Labour has been in power for 11 years. So what? Did we buy them back and sell them again, I just don't comprehend your argument.

I don't expect any good news in the local elections. It would be a miracle if we did well. After 11 years in power, even with this pathetic Tory opposition, you would expect a government's popularity to be on the wane. Opinion polls under Major sometimes showed a Labour lead well over 20%, not the 5-6% Cameron has been polling.

Finally, what optimism are you talking about. I don't want to insult your intelligence again, but try and take the trouble to read the post at the top of the page. It slags off Labour ministers for being corrupted by power. Does that imply optimism.

Sometimes I despair!

Shame on you for publishing something that is critical of Labour, Bob.

SHAME ON YOU!

We all need to stick together and show the utmost loyalty. Writing critical things for the whole world to see is not the way.