FiendishJ

Internet censorship is a symptom of the fact that nobody in Westminster has even a passing understanding of new technology and the internet, and much less a grasp on the unintended consequences and sheer impracticality of some of the knee-jerk legislation they are pushing through. This is an issue that I've written to my local (Tory) MP about, and the responses I got are so shockingly ignorant that I'm surprised they were even sent out.

From the article, for those interested.

• we will raise the minimum wage by £1.50 an hour by 2020, to £8 an hour.

• The next Labour government will ensure there are equal rights for the self-employed. (nb: I'm a self-employed person, but I've no idea what this actually means).

• our third national goal is for Britain to be truly a world leader in Green technology by 2025, creating one million new jobs as we do. [...] Making a clear commitment to take the carbon out of our electricity by 2030. A Green Investment Bank with real powers to borrow and attract investment. And as Caroline Flint announced yesterday, devolving power to our communities so that we can insulate 5 million homes.

• So our fourth national goal is that as many young people leaving school should be able to do apprenticeships as currently go to university.

• So our fifth national goal is that for the first time in fifty years we will make sure this country is building as many houses as we need. By 2025, doubling the number of first time buyers who get on the housing ladder each year.

• So our sixth national goal is to create a world-class 21st century health and care service. So the next Labour government will set aside funding so we can have 3000 more midwives, 5000 more homecare workers, 8000 more GPs & 20000 more nurses in our NHS. We will repeal their Health and Social Care Bill and we will transform the NHS for the future. And we will do it together.

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This is the first time I've seen anyone from Labour commit to repealing the Health and Social Care bill, which I'm glad to see. I'm still very concerned that with the TTIP and the privatisation of services, repealing the bill wouldn't be enough to undo the damage already caused.

Raising the minimum wage by £1.50 an hour by 2020? Does that even bring it close to inflation?.. Far too little, far too late.

The rest are all so vague that I don't really understand what they would mean in terms of policy, but I guess that's the point.

Thanks very much for replying though, still rather disappointed, but it did answer my question.

Taxes are one thing, but what can be done about the PubCos and breweries? I know some of the larger chains here are deliberately keeping ownership of some of the buildings and keeping them closed to reduce competition. Not to mention the extortionately rising leases..

I think Ed Miliband has done a lot to address the substance of this with a clear set of proposals to combat inequality

Could you describe or send me a link to what these clear proposals are please? As another incredibly disillusioned lefty, I'd love to hear something concrete from "Red Ed"!

Mr Enright,

Thanks for joining us!

• Why are you using a kickstarter IndieGoGo (corrected)? The labour party, as I understand it, is already rather well funded, why does it need people to donate? Also, it seems that you're using it just to take simple donations - is this a misunderstanding about what the platform is for, or is it being used for publicity?

• I'd agree wholeheartedly with you that Tory policies have been incredibly damaging to our country, but I'm unfortunately not convinced that your party would do anything to undo any of the damage that's been done. Would your party do anything to reverse any of this? What about all the privatisation and cuts? The top rate of tax? The TTIP? Welfare reform? Can your party commit to undo any of this?

I must say I find it a little disingenuous that you're on twitter, kickstarter and reddit but seem woefully uninformed (as are all of your colleagues in westminster) about the backwards internet and technology legislation being pushed through. (Although not quite as awful as "webcameron" if anyone remembers that).

I sincerely wish you the best of luck in the elections, and thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.