[url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18170333A capitalist seems to think so[/url

but then again, to paraphrase "I think it is very odd that a venture capitalist has been put in charge of employment law review and yet appears to want to do very little to support employees."

Not to me it ain't, but I can think of a few for Beecroft

Apparently, make a donation to the Tory Party of £500,000 and you get to write policy.

Some of his original ideas were so extremist that even Cameron and co tried to quietly ditch them.

For instance, apparently there are so many people who would like to be able to employ children, but don't because of the regulations, that it would boost the economy to scrap the regulations on child labour.

You have to wonder what these jobs are. Couldn't adults do them? Are there going to be a plethora of productions of [iAnnie[/i – one on every street, just like Tesco?

Mind, this is an individual who makes a load of money as a glorified loan shark, so one can hardly expect him to have much in the way of human decency.

He has, however, explained to the [iWail[/i that he in the political middle. So while he may know a lot about exploiting the poor, he clearly knows nothing about politics.

It seems to me that his reasoning (if you can term it as such) is "I am a businessman, therefore I want carte blanche to do whatever I like to make more money for me, anyone who disagrees with that is an ungrateful commie pinko"

They were even a bit too blue-sky for Steve Hilton

Anyone got any spare kids?

I'm just starting up a chimney sweeping business.

Well, if you or especially the Labour Party could explain what a Socialist is, and what the practical ramifications of his philosophy are, then perhaps we could opine as to whether the term is insulting or not.

Hinton's stuff laughed at and viewed as extreme.

Steve Hinton takes sabbatical.

Adrian Beecroft produces even more extreme proposals.

Adrian Beecroft triggers shock etc.

Steve Hinton returns from his year-long sabbatical and his proposals no longer seem so extreme when measured alongside those of Adrian Beecroft?

Maybe Mr Beecroft could oblige if he has a moment - he used the term.

Oh good lord, that's a terrible vision of our dystopian future...

It's horribly cynical – but look at this lot and tell me you can't imagine it.

Sorry mate, all mine are too busy stacking the (lower) shelves at Tesco for their school dinner money

No, you raise a scarily believable prospect. I shudder to think what Hilton will learn on his sabbatical in California, the state that's got debts that are proportionally bigger than Greece's, a direct result of Arnold Schwarzenegger's - who they elected, twice! - zero-tax policy.

Given that Hilton's wife is American and had moved back there some time before he announced his sabbatical, coupled to the fact that his kids are enjoying life out there too. Notwithstanding marital break-up, I can't see him wanting to return to the UK anytime soon

Or you could simply take money off your members give it to the labour party and get your influence that way!!

Venture capitalists/private equity are parasites - but even you don't believe the child labour stuff!!

How much trades union legislation did the last Labour governments rescind? It is also worth remembering that trades union members have to opt [iin[/i to any party political levy. That is just one of the laws that was not changed.

There we three proposals from Beecroft in his original 'draft' that we're subsequently removed by the government. One was to remove regulation on child employment.

Now, given that the entire doe service was supposed to be about boosting the economy, what has that got to do with it?

How many employers are out there wanting to employ children (in roles that, presumably, an unemployed adult cannot take on), but who are not doing so because of laws regulating child employment?

It must be a fair few if it's going to have any discernible impact on the economy - otherwise, why make the proposal?

Oh, I doubt we're going to see children up chimneys any day soon, but in that case, why the proposal? What aspect of the economŷ is affected negatively by the regulation of child employment?

Or would there be some other reason behind such a suggestion?

And more generally: just how do countries with far greater levels of trade union and employment rights manage if these are the things stopping the economy?

Did Cameron really, actually, say those words "its a price worth paying" in parliament today?

I have this horrible feeling that the current ruling incumbents just look too fresh faced and smiley to be real people, has anyone got really, really close to Cameron, close enough to look behind his ears and see if you can see where the latex mask is stuck on every day, peel it off in "Face/Off" stylee and underneath ...

Tebbit, he's been there all along.

Which mask is Thatcher wearing ?

Despite having the method of Trades Union funding of political parties explained to you on numerous occasions, you still trot out this garbage. Can you explain why?

Because, like Kirkstaller, he prefers the mythology instead of the factoids.

I have to laugh at the idea that this Beecroft guy was brought in to do an 'independent' report. How independent can a millionaire that donates to the Tory party be?

What would the Tories be saying if Labour were in government and commissioned an 'independent' report on employment law by a trade union?

As someone said, it's like asking Hannibal Lecter to produce a report on the best cuts of human meat

I've no idea if 'Socialist' is an insult now, but I've noticed that there is a creeping use of the word 'intellectual' (often tied with 'liberal') as one.

So being intelligent is a bad thing then?

"Socialist" has been a derogative taunt used by Republicans in the US for some time.

I think we've distrusted intellectualism in this country for donkey's years, but it's not improving. Let's face it, Jade Goody became famous for being stupid, then was vilified for being stupid – and then raised back to sainthood as she died in the public eye for the entertainment of the masses. And you can't get much further away from intelligence than that sort of scenario.

And we have even had at least one poster here who once declared that they were "proud to be thick".

The corporatocracy wants a compliant, pliant populace. Thinking is most certainly not part of the plan.



Translation – 'anyfink wot I don't like'.

It's increasing use over here, in such a way, is another indicator of dumbing down, methinks.

Nu Labour were reluctant to use the word 'socialist'. Kinnock wanted to move away from that nasty word to help electability. Our party was built upon the foundations of the word, and I am proud and always will be, to use it.