georgenorman
Member
- Country
England
Norman Tebbit has got on his bike - we could do with few more like him today, RIP.
Norman Tebbit
- Topic starter georgenorman
- Start date
I can't offhand think of another politician I have ever admired more than him. When he made "that" speech, it brought to mind my father, who at 18 signed up for the navy for 12 years, was invalided out with epilepsy after a few months, and rode round South London until he found work. This was at the start of the Great Depression - about the time Tebbitt was born.
Diane Abbott?
Hate figure for the left back in the 1980's however they had to tone it down after the Brighton bombing. He was injured but his wife was far worse and they both showed great dignity.
The get on your bike quote was rather unfair. For those that remember a lot of jobs in the north were lost so TV was full of people saying I have lost my job and there are no jobs here. Of course the journalists were sympathetic and didn't ask the obvious question yes but there is a major city 10 miles down the road?
People in certain areas of the country were used to working very close to home, whereas in the south commuting 2 hours a day was the norm. He was simply pointing that out.
I think today many do people do get on their bikes.
RIP Norman.
The get on your bike quote was rather unfair. For those that remember a lot of jobs in the north were lost so TV was full of people saying I have lost my job and there are no jobs here. Of course the journalists were sympathetic and didn't ask the obvious question yes but there is a major city 10 miles down the road?
People in certain areas of the country were used to working very close to home, whereas in the south commuting 2 hours a day was the norm. He was simply pointing that out.
I think today many do people do get on their bikes.
RIP Norman.
Willo
Member
- Location
- West Sussex - On the coast
- Country
-
England
I am deeply saddened by the passing of Lord Tebbitt. A true icon of British politics and an exponent of Thatcherism. A gentleman of erudition and worthy of the utmost respect.I feel very blessed to have been in his esteemed company.
May God rest his sole in peace.
My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
RIP.
Cucking Funt
Member
- Location
- Gaza
- Country
-
England
Palace Old Geezer
Member
- Location
- Midhurst
- Country
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England
Sad news. Lord Tebbit was a great politician of the old school. None could hold a candle to him these days. He was bright and firm, hence his portrayal on Spitting Image.
Rest in Peace big man.
Rest in Peace big man.
Forest Hillbilly
Member
- Location
- in a hidey-hole
- Country
Wales
He came across as a ferocious and articulate political combatant. I'm sure he was a lovely bloke
Stirlingsays
Member
- Country
-
England
I thought the 'get on your bike' comment wasn't great.....because whole communities had lost generational jobs that had sustained those areas for hundreds of years in the case of miners and ship yards.....You can compare his tone deaf comment with the left telling people who lost their jobs, 'learn to code' some years ago.
However, aside from that....I always liked Tebbit, a hard man of the old school with the right loyalties to his country. His cricket test comment was spot on.
However, aside from that....I always liked Tebbit, a hard man of the old school with the right loyalties to his country. His cricket test comment was spot on.
chris123
Member
- Location
- hove actually
- Country
-
England
I'll remember him as Flying Officer Tebbit RAF
I agree not the best choice of words. However from my memory day after day the media had stories of people claiming they would never work again when major employment areas were close by. I think his comment was more frustration at the media.
There was a definite north south divide over commuting. I had an easy inexpensive commute until one day our boss announced the office was moving. It added 1 hour a day to my commute plus was much more expensive and no compensation. Others in the office were a lot worse off, you just got on with it.
Thatcher should have done more for those communities but they also needed to understand that the day of walking 5 minutes to the local pit or factory were coming to an end.
Stirlingsays
Member
- Country
-
England
I agree, Thatcher was good for the country overall and much copied aboard because she transformed the direction of travel economically.....but she also made mistakes and you highlight one of them.
Also not replacing the social housing stock was another....probably deliberate to keep prices rising. She started the housing problem and all the proceeding governments worsened it by ignoring the issue.
yup I have changed my mind on this. At the time I thought buying your council house was a good idea. I have done a 180 it's a terrible idea as a handful of people benefit whilst future generations suffer.
Hrolf The Ganger
Member
- Location
- a sofa somewhere in Kent.
- Country
-
England
A proper Tory.
Had his career effectively ended by a bomb. Probably should have been PM.
Had his career effectively ended by a bomb. Probably should have been PM.
He was simply saying that if you lose your job (for whatever reason) you're better off trying to find another one than going out to cause mayhem. Sounds pretty much indisputable to me.
Stirlingsays
Member
- Country
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England
We know what he was trying to say.
If you take it out of the context of what had happened to these communities it's just common sense. Generational jobs come with identities and disruption in the job market needs time to settle....lots of those areas never recovered.
It was just tone deaf and thus seized upon.
steeleye20
Member
- Location
- Croydon
- Country
-
England
The 'Chingford polecat', a perfect spitting image character.
That period has not worn well at all, as a bloke I think he was ok.
Their model has not worked yet people still cling to it, despite the many current problems particularly equality and poverty originating in that era.
RIP
That period has not worn well at all, as a bloke I think he was ok.
Their model has not worked yet people still cling to it, despite the many current problems particularly equality and poverty originating in that era.
RIP
Stirlingsays
Member
- Country
-
England
It solved some problems very well....and didn't deal with others.
Regardless, I dread to think what would have happened if Foot had got in in 79.....Nice bloke but we were already in a mess and it would have got worse.
Runningman
Member
- Location
- Keston
- Country
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England
I don’t think you have to ‘Dread to Think’ too hard.
This current bunch of cowboys give you a fair idea ! 😡
georgenorman
Member
- Country
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England
What is equality? Poverty is relative. What's the track record of your model?