Yes "Lest we forget" Stevieboy:

1: "the deregulation of the banking system was initiated with great fanfare by Thatcher in the late 80s. New Labour did sod all about it, of course, but the Tories were in full and enthusiastic support right up to the crash."

Ehmmmm everybody was in full and enthusiastic support as that deregulated banking sector made enormous profits and poured money into the coffers of the Treasury. IIRC as Scotland's First Minister and erstwhile employee of RBS, Alex Salmond was full of praise for Fred the Shred and hailed the RBS take over of ABN AMRO as a master-stroke of forward planning and genius.

2: Stevieboy DID I SAY that the country was "all hunkydory in 1997?? - Don't think I did (HINT what I DID SAY WAS - "Blair took over in 1997 with one of the healthiest balances ever") - If you cannot tell the difference then no point in discussing the matter, on the basis of you taking me to task on things I do not say.

3: Still doing better than most in the Eurozone