The show kicked off with Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg attacking David Camerons plan to give tax breaks to married couples. The Deputy Prime Minister feels the two parties in the coalition have a fundamentally different view of how society is developing and this tax break is like a 1950s view of "aproned, homemaking mothers". This will be all outlined in Cleggs speech to the Demos think tank tomorrow. Each party have of course their own opinions but will these views on marriage have the power to split the coalition? Simon Hughes, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats came on the show to offer his view point.
The Feltham and Heston By-Election has been extremely interesting to observe. Labour has got through in the elections, but it seems that people still look down on Ed Miliband. Has Ed Miliband had a good year or a bad year? Well, newly elected MP for Feltham and Heston Seema Malhotra who we had on the show said he’s had a good year, considering he’s a new leader and these things can take time. She thinks he’s been warmly received by the public.
In relation to the Banking reform, Chancellor George Osborne is to respond to the Vickers report tomorrow. We spoke to Chris Leslie, Shadow City Minister and Labour MP for Nottingham East about this topic and his main point is the Government should legislate rapidly to provide certainty and the forthcoming Financial Services Bill is an ideal opportunity to do that.
So the Christmas season is here and we presume you will get time off from work to spend the holiday season with family and friends. Our elected public representatives, our ever trusted MPs started their 25 day break last night! What do you think of this? Do they deserve such a long break?
With the threat of Boxing Day tube strikes, we were thinking should it be illegal to strike unless 50% of a workforce votes for it? Sarah Veale, Head of Equality and Employment Rights at the TUC told us that striking is almost always going to be the last resort. But it is a negotiating tool. She feels that people who say unions strike at the drop of the hat are wrong. Strikes are still at an all time low.
As always we went through today’s papers and spoke about the stories that caught your and our attention! We also got your nominations for plonkers of the year ;)
Thanks for your comments, texts and calls. Have a great Christmas break!
Andrew and Kevin.