Yes, Pete.

The national speed limit is dangerous on two fronts. First it is the predominant cause of the deadly bunching you see perhaps more on the M25 than anywhere else, with a phalanx of cars across 3 lanes all doing 80 mph separated by sometimes less than one car length. Second since almost everyone breaks it unless they fear a speed camera it inculcates disrespect for the law in general - which leeches over into disrespect for sensible laws too.

Cars over 2 years old are few in number and mostly low annual mileage vehicles. The damage they do to the environment through emissions is trivial, and indeed offset by the reduction in damage through manufacture of new cars (which manufacture largely sends money out of this country to countries producing massive pollution). They do represent an innocent historical pleasure - that is why they are classic cars and represented by classic car clubs. Some (like my Volvos) actually have hugely low emissions too. The British built classics can represent a small step towards representing pride in this country and its traditions (without being a gift to you-know-who).

Don, your aguments that Blair/Brown policies were freely chosen cannot be taken seriously. "New Labour", in order to be electable, in the culture of greed actively promoted under Thatcherwasm, had to make and did make a range of promises about for example taxation, and I am sure you would support politicians keeping promises. Slowly but slowly the cultore of greed was being reduced, and although you criticise the increased rich/poor gap that was partly caused by the influx of those who stole state assets from the disintegrating Soviet Union. If you read JK Rowling's piece in the Times you will recollect that there had been a reduction in child poverty and benefits poverty, with "through the net" failures being largely caused by other hangovers from conservatives vieews and the necessity to keep the blue-rinse Daily Mail brigade under control. Darling, if you consider his history (and strive to ignore the fact that he went to Loretto, the only other pupils at which that I know have been wholly and studiedly offensive) has a good track record on reversing conservative doctrinaire evil.

Pending the possibility that the Lib-Dems actually have achieved critical mass at last, the choice is between a party the roots of which are in the protection of the poor and one whose roots are in the protection of the rich.   It should be a no-brainer and I remain baffled why with your intelligence in some things you cannot see it. Shame about the Medway Labour candidate though!