What would you like to see cut?

I get the impression that people at the top of the conservative, labour and liberal, are not taking the slightest bit of notice of us.
So we could sit here for 600 years discussing cuts, and it wouldnt make the slightest bit of difference.

Which is why some of do not just discuss cuts on here. We lobby our MPs, sign any epetition we can, and give money to charities which are trying to do something.
Open Democracy, Child Poverty Action Group, and False Economy are just three of the groups where you can demonstrate nationally and in your own area what you think of the government cuts and the rise in food banks.

Giving to charities, yes.
Does the rest produce results?

Forgot to mention Sumofus. Lockheed Martin have pulled out of NHS negotiations because of their petition.

Really? They pulled out just because of a petition? No other reason?

999 call for the NHS is trying to organise all the groups which care about the NHS into a single forum. I think this is long overdue.
I have just discovered that the first meeting is today in Darlington, so it's impossible for me to go.

www.999callfornhs.org.uk

www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CD0QFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Faction.sumofus.org%2Fa%2Fweapons-NHS%2F&ei=CT2MVK73KMiBU7rKg-AL&usg=AFQjCNEjOhqm7M3oSvenYV7U8GY1ICqppA&bvm=bv.81828268,d.d24&cad=rja

Sumofus wasn't the only petition on the go, but enough people signed it to call for parliament to reconsider. If it had been a government epetition it would have gone to committee to decide whether it needed to be discussed in the Commons.

There is such a thing as People power, Ana. It was a billion pound contract.
You should be more worried that companies like Virgin and Serco are still taking billions from the NHS under the radar.

There is an epetition on the government website to ask for a debate on the NHS.

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/64908

It needs a lot more signatures to see if people power works.

I do wish people would stop telling us what the rest of us 'should' be worried about.

If you vote in any way for the Tories to remain in power, this is what you could get.

www.telegraph.co.uk/health/nhs/11290363/Hospitals-and-fire-services-to-be-run-outside-the-public-sector.html

Not what I want. I do not know about the rest of you. Actually I do know about some of you.

By the way, 200,000 signatures on a 38 degrees petition has stopped Ipsa from keeping secret the names of MPs who are being investigated over their expenses. People power works.

durhamjen. Serious question.

Do you think that Labour have done anything wrong. Ever?

And what do you think about their policy turn on immigration. Did you agree with them before? Or do you agree with them now?

Only if they've specifically posted on GN who they intend to vote for, or have always voted for. Otherwise, you're making assumptions again...

Ana, I do know about some of you. Did not say who. Who's making assumptions?

Soontobe, never voted for Labour since Tony Blair took over with his Tory-light policies, which you would have known if you'd read some other threads. When you vote Ukip you'll get real Tory and destroy the NHS and any thing else run by local government.

It's a case of any stick to beat the tories with, soontobe - doesn't matter which to durhamjen!

I dont read all threads durhamjen! And I have only been on here a month.

I am shocked! I assumed you must be a labour supporter!
So you are anti all parties?

Ana . I do make assumptions. I dont remotely care!
It is revealing.

Oh I see Ana. I dont think I have met anyone in rl who does that.

My post about making assumptions wasn't addressed to you, soontobe - your post hadn't appeared when I posted it.

Stop fishing, soontobe.

Oh Ana, sorry.

durhamjen, apology to you too actually. I wasnt fishing, though I can perfectly see how you think that.
I make assumptions about people all the time, drives my sister nuts! I actaully dont think I can help it, my brain even whizzes in its sleep. I dream frequently, and I dont sleep deeply because of it I think.
It was acutally a serious question. I would have put money on you being a labour supporter!

It's a case of any stick to beat the tories with, soontobe - doesn't matter which to durhamjen!

It does seem to be any stick to beat any party with at times Ana. So many people are so anti rather than pro any party - not just on GN - you have to wonder how anyone gets elected.

Soontobe, I've mentioned before about the NHA party. Saving the NHS is one of the topics I am most interested in.
Some people think it's not worth bothering about the NHA because they are a single issue party. This shows they are not single issue, but care about poverty as well.

nhap.org/acceptable-people-britain-going-hungry/

Of course, not everyone can vote for the NHA, but they do seem to have more of a manifesto they will stick to than Ukip.

Thanks for that.
It looks like they have 12 prospective MPs standing at the next election?

It took what seemed like decades for UKIP to make an appearance on our ballot box paper. So I wont hold my breath for NHA anytime soon!

To be honest, I sometimes forget there are other tiny parties existing. And we dont get bumf for them. Ever, I dont think. So when I arrive at the polling station, my eyes glaze over the smaller parties. And often, a lot of them have daft names, so I wouldnt vote for them anyway.

I suppose, if we were durhamjen, we might then bash what seems like all other parties, as only then will nhap win!

I think it's fourteen now, and in important constituencies.
There was an NHAP member standing in one of the Ukip byelections, I think. He did not get many votes.
Richard Taylor, the member for Wyre Valley, has been an independent before. I think he stood against Hamilton, or someone else the Tories needed to get rid of.
The other leader, Clive Peedell is standing against Cameron, and Louise Irving, the woman who organised against the closure of A&E at Lewisham Hospital, is standing against Hunt.

Soontobe, you asked me earlier what I thought about Labour's immigration stance. I agree with this take on it.

www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2014/12/15/the-attack-on-labour-s-ukip-leaflet-is-cynical-nonsense