Thanks DavidH at least I now know there is one like minded person in this universe. I disagree with Lord Young in many ways but will not kill him off because of two unrelated issues.

I don't think that Lord Young was misreported as such, it was a spectacular gaffe, for which he has done the right thing. However, my recollection of the original thread, to which this thread relates, was that it was little more than a 'let's give Lord Young a good bashing' rather than anything else. That the thread was posted was almost inevitable but nevertheless IMVHO, it was rather rather poorly conceived, and I wasn't unhappy to have seen it pulled. I also feel that Bob has been treated rather unfairly and I personally would like to see and end to the 'bickering' and for the various 'parties' to pull back and reflect a bit. In saying that, I have to say that Rigouts post at #37 about use of the spell checker was something of a spectacular own goal, and did give me a bit of a chuckle. I noted in his post, "peole" (people?). "thier liveihoods" (their livelihoods?), "polititian" (politician?) and "dispicable" (despicable?) - sorry I couldn't resist the retort. Could I suggest a truce and channel our efforts on some of the other threads? Right, just going to use the spell checker!

Yes, maybe we should all rein-in a bit. However, Bob, you seem more than happy to critique someone else on the issue of politics on an open forum after saying that you were not going to make another commentary – was that because you just enjoyed it? Especially when others have agreed that you have a point to make and yet you deny that they have, Bob, seems clear me that you do have double standards.

Bob, I think you have got your view across and people do understand it. However, it's clear that you don't understand the views of others and the points that they have raised. This of course is fine, but you should maybe accept this for what it is?

Dear All 1 The Policy Exchange think tank published their report Health and Safety - Reducing the Burden in March this year. With a forward by David Young it was supposed to set out the 'facts' about the 'burden' health and safety puts on business. It was riddled with mistakes such that IOSH's comments on it were nearly as long as the original report! 2 Common Sense Common Safety is a politically inspired report that reflected David Cameron's desire to have 'a forensic examination of what has gone wrong' in health and safety and put it right. Why? Quoting from his speech in December 2009 to the Policy Exchange Forum: 'I’m sure the rise of this over-the-top health and safety culture is one of the reasons why people feel so angry and frustrated with politics in our country today.' I can think of others but they are not the topic in this thread! The report carries little evidence to support its own recommendations. For example on which studies, evidence, academic evaluations etc was the recommendation for a consultant's register based? The only 'evidence' I could find was from the Daily Mail et al. 3 David Young made it clear he was in for the long game. He made great play on the fact that he would be driving the implementation programme that is timetabled at the back of the Common Sense Common Safety report. It turns out this was another factually wrong position to add to the rest. 4 Now that David Young is not driving the health and safety recommendations, will it make a difference? To most recommendations it is unlikely to, as those regarding the compensation culture appear to reflect points raised by David Cameron in December 2009. Given David Young was appointed by David Cameron, no doubt the Prime Minister will have a keen interest in seeing the recommendations through to completion. After all, he considers the health and safety culture 'one of the reasons why people feel so angry and frustrated with politics in our country today' 5 Among the reasons David Young's resignation has drawn such a response on this thread is that the exercise was blatantly political [forensic examination it was not!]; the review failed to address significant issues such as occupational health, around 25% of construction sites visited getting prohibition notices every time the HSE do 'intensive inspections', how SME's could be helped to comply with the law rather than remove them from the law; and - having identified that the 'compensation culture' was a myth perpetuated by the newspapers, failed to address the issue. I quote from the report: 'There was an overriding opinion that the health and safety agenda had been hijacked by the tabloid press,whose reports often contributed to misinterpretation and misunderstandings by regularly exaggerating and ridiculing instances which in reality have little or nothing at all to do with health and safety.' David Young then made no recommendation as to how the newspaper editors could be made to comply with their own Editor's Code of Practice overviewed by the Press Complaints Council. David Young may have gone: his legacy - providing the wrong solutions for imaginary problems - will presumably live on through Mr Cameron. Cheers. Nigel

Nigel, a very well constructed and thought provoking post.

The King is dead, long live the King? p48

Now, I could have sworn that there was a reply to that post earlier on! Or have I finally lost it?

I'd like to say that I am very firmly in the 'politically inspired' camp vis a vis 'Common Sense Common Safety'. It's also my view (expressed here with some frequency) that the blacktop tabloid position on H&S has always been overtly political, and is very little to do with any real attempt to highlight 'burdens' on business or to voice the feelings of ordinary people. I've always been a bit mystified about the process whereby journalists are apparently able to tap into what the person in the street is thinking; the idea's sheer arrogance if you ask me. Just like to repeat something I said on the original thread; Mr Cameron may praise LY's H&S report, but it appears that the legislative programme LY proposed has been relegated to the private members ballot, a sure way of burying a report if ever there was one. So maybe Mr Cameron's private view is at odds with his public statements? John

First time I've posted to such a forum - if I get a load of rocks hurled my way it might be the last. I didn't see the original post but have looked at some of the thread. Bob - I agree with some of the sentiment that says you are naive to think politics and H&S are separate - they are clearly linked in my view. Also that you seem to have difficulty in accepting others points of view. I would also like to take issue with some of your original comments. I fully agree that it was a bit insensitive of Lord Young to say what he did at this time. However - your conclusion that his interpretation of the economy was wrong invites some comments. How can you be 'wrong' on such interpretation - is it not simply a matter of opinion. I think some of his comments had some truth to them. 'Low interest rates mean homeowners are better off' - certainly true for me and I suspect many others. What about his sentiment around 'people thinking they have a right for the state to support them'. Again - I would argue some truth in that. Far too many people happy to get what they get instead of getting off their backsides. ps - I lost my job due to the recesion. I got off my backside and went and got another one.

''Is it upon the wisdom, the vigilance and the energy of these ministers that we can rely, when we have seen that no one measure for the public defence can they be truly said to have originated when several they have retarded or enfeebled". - William Pitt 1804.

I must of missed that post...? Can anyone PM me as to what it said.

Alas Walker you are a little off course.... regarding the remarks that is.... To err is human, I know it may come as a surprise to some but to all the doubters out there; the truth is I am also one of you. ... My thread was not directly associated with the original post - so quite rightly (and very politely) it was executed, thankfully I remain intact and wiser for it. Well done Referee - I mean Mods Steve