Well indeed – anyone remember who funded Andrew Lansley?

I guess you are referring to the perfectly respectable donations to his election fund by a chap who was on the board of a private medical company?
No conflict of interest there surely?

Wasn't he Greek?

I seem to recall Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mich & Titch singing about him

Some, but not others, as we can see from discussion here.

That's true but the reason is because those governments are running budget deficits and so are having to rely on borrowing as well as taxation, to meet their spending commitments. If they weren't borrowing they wouldn't have to worry about what the markets thought of their long term solvency.

It's only like saying if you were reliant on the bank lending you cash every month to pay your rent and bills, the bank manager would probably have a big say on your lifestyle...

It's anti-democratic – simple as.

And combine that with what Merkel and Sarkozy were proposing, which would have, in essence, outlawed stimulus/Keynesianism and, entirely undemocratically, effectively told the people of the EU that they could vote for anyone they wanted in future, but no party would legally be able to step outside a neo-liberal economic approach.

The UK would not, for instance, have been able to embark on the investment programme that lifted us from a massive deficit in 1945 to the wealth of the 1950s.

not quite Greek - actually born in SW France by a french mother and german dad - Red Danny as he was known was a major player in the 1968 Paris student riots and became a european cult figure - ultra lefty who is now recognisd as almost respectable by the french media etc

and wasn't the Beckham movie based on him - nothing to do with the 60s band......

Thankfully David Cameron rejected this evil neoliberal deal and made sure that the UK had nothing to do with it. George Osborne has also increased borrowing by £158bn over the remainder of the parliament compared to his plans last year so the UK is making a strong independent stand for fiscal stimulus.

Going back to the strong politician point, who are the strong big hitters of any party?

Farage is a man with balls, but UKIP are both a marginal party and seen as a joke in Europe.

Caroline Lucas is an MP i admire and apart from her anti Nuclear power stance is someone I'd love to see leading the country, she comes across as extremely passionate and well meaning MP rather than self serving.

In the Labour party i like Chris Bryant but not sure how he'd perform given the top job.

Farage is a total tossbag. He has not a single redeeming feature.

But not afraid to say what he thinks and always willing to take people on so strong regardless of peoples personal opinions of him. I'm not saying he'd be good as a leader of a country although i would like to see him win a seat in the commons just for more interest in PMQ's.

He's a rent-a-gob for a lunatic fringe party because he knows he'd never make it as a mainstream politician. That's not strength.