UK Election June 08

[Jericho]

I think May's position is that as leader of the party and Prime Minister she has no option but to administer the results of the referendum, although only Parliament can vote to repeal the 1972 European Communities Act, and May has shown tendencies to by-pass Parliament on the grounds the referendum decision cannot be reversed. In addition, she has attempted to find a 'pain-free' path through the negotiations on the basis she thinks the EU may be swayed on some issues to give the UK privileges that states like Norway and Switzerland do not have, but on this it appears Jean-Claude Juncker thinks she is 'deluded'.

After her speech today, he won't be the only one to think she's 'deluded'!
Still, she wrapped herself up in the flag nicely...Go Theresa, pity you couldn't start a war!

[peejaye]

After her speech today, he won't be the only one to think she's 'deluded'!
Still, she wrapped herself up in the flag nicely...Go Theresa, pity you couldn't start a war!

I'd put my balls on it & what hangs between them this dirty lot WILL get involved in some kind of war if or when she's elected! Wars make money & that lot are besotted with money.

[peejaye]

A return of the British Rail sandwich is also something that should concern consumers...

http://news.sky.com/story/is-there-a...lways-10550346

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-31621300

Don't forget those stale tasteless pork pies too! It's often said nowadays "If only the state of buffet car food was the only thing wrong with our trains".
Re. Mr's May taking us out of Europe; I don't think she should of put herself forward, she knew, as did the rest of the Party, she would have to deal with this, I'd of rather seen David Davies as leader, as far as Conservatives go, I can actually tolerate the guy!

[Jericho]

Re. Mr's May taking us out of Europe; I don't think she should of put herself forward, she knew, as did the rest of the Party, she would have to deal with this, I'd of rather seen David Davies as leader, as far as Conservatives go, I can actually tolerate the guy!

The same David Davies who voted to cut disability benefits by 30 quid a week?
Sorry, i can not tolerate a single fucking one them!

[filghy2]

Because there was a referendum and we're a democracy.

Actually, you live in a parliamentary democracy in which you elect representatives who then vote on legislation. That's why the courts ruled that a parliamentary vote was required to trigger the Brexit process (the referendum itself was only advisory). Yet the 'democrats' on the Brexit side were vehemently opposed to this.

The referendum asked whether people wanted to leave the EU but it said nothing about what arrangements should take its place. If the Brexiteers were sincere about following the will of the people they should support a second referendum on what these arrangements should be.

I'm not a Brit, but it always strikes me that the UK political system has too few checks and balances. Democracy should not mean the dictatorship of a (possibly temporary) majority. Most effective democracies have a higher hurdle for fundamental changes than a simple majority vote. The fact that the power to make laws across the land is concentrated in a single parliamentary chamber also seems problematic.

[Stavros]

Actually, you live in a parliamentary democracy in which you elect representatives who then vote on legislation. That's why the courts ruled that a parliamentary vote was required to trigger the Brexit process (the referendum itself was only advisory). Yet the 'democrats' on the Brexit side were vehemently opposed to this.
The referendum asked whether people wanted to leave the EU but it said nothing about what arrangements should take its place. If the Brexiteers were sincere about following the will of the people they should support a second referendum on what these arrangements should be.
I'm not a Brit, but it always strikes me that the UK political system has too few checks and balances. Democracy should not mean the dictatorship of a (possibly temporary) majority. Most effective democracies have a higher hurdle for fundamental changes than a simple majority vote. The fact that the power to make laws across the land is concentrated in a single parliamentary chamber also seems problematic.

A Tory MP once described the UK's Parliamentary Democracy as, in reality, an 'elective dictatorship', the point being that Parliament is sovereign and no other body can amend its decision, although UK law has been amended in order to conform to international agreements be it through agencies of the UN or the EU.

This became a core argument to leave the UK, as leavers claimed that the EU and not the UK was the source of laws and regulations, ignoring the extent of EU laws and regulations that originated in the UK, and the simple fact that every EU law and regulation was approved by the same Parliament. Moreover, the leave slogan 'Take Back Control' was used in a referendum that took decision-making away from Parliament and gave it to the electorate via a referendum even though the Law declares a referendum can only advise on, and not make policy. The most vociferous supporters of the referendum, UKIP, used it to compensate for the fact that they had no representation in Parliament, until two MPs defected, because nobody would vote for them.

Although we do not have checks and balances like they do in the US, it is not the case that an Act of Parliament is automatically rolled out across the UK. The Sexual Offences Act of 1967 which de-criminalised sexual relations between consenting men over the age of 21 did not become law in Scotland until 1980, and 1982 in Northern Ireland. Indeed, homosexuality in Northern Ireland did not become legal until a case was take to the European Court of Human Rights, under a law that Theresa May and the Conservatives are determined to repeal. That may not be a check and balance to prevent laws being imposed across the UK, but it is an example of the peculiarity of a united state in which there are two currencies, three legal systems, three education systems, four football associations and two official languages, although an MP can swear his Oath to the Queen on entering the House of Commons in English, Welsh, Scots Gaelic, and Cornish and for those with religion swear the oath on the Bible, the New Testament, the Old Testament (English or Hebrew), the Quran, the Granth (Sikhism), the Scots Bible, and the Welsh Bible.

Perhaps the most bizarre act of democracy took place last night in Northumberland, as part of a wide range of local council elections taking place in England, Scotland and Wales. Here, in the smallest unit in politics, the Ward, two candidates -Conservative and Liberal Democrat- were tied after numerous re-counts, and the final decision was made when the Returning Officer produced straws, having decided to use straws rather than the flip of a coin. The Liberal Democrat drew the long straw, and was duly elected. (So far in these elections, seen as a dry run for the General Election) the Conservatives are doing well, Labour is doing badly, UKIP has lost all its council seats so far, and all eyes are on Scotland to see if the SNP can take control of Glasgow City Council).

The only comparison I can think of is in the US where, in Manhattan, the one district that voted for Donald Trump last November contained 14 voters. Drawing straws is plain crazy, a re-election should be held. But how can electoral districts in a city like New York contain 14 voters? But I guess that is democracy.

[holzz]

Actually, you live in a parliamentary democracy in which you elect representatives who then vote on legislation. That's why the courts ruled that a parliamentary vote was required to trigger the Brexit process (the referendum itself was only advisory). Yet the 'democrats' on the Brexit side were vehemently opposed to this.

The referendum asked whether people wanted to leave the EU but it said nothing about what arrangements should take its place. If the Brexiteers were sincere about following the will of the people they should support a second referendum on what these arrangements should be.

I'm not a Brit, but it always strikes me that the UK political system has too few checks and balances. Democracy should not mean the dictatorship of a (possibly temporary) majority. Most effective democracies have a higher hurdle for fundamental changes than a simple majority vote. The fact that the power to make laws across the land is concentrated in a single parliamentary chamber also seems problematic.

Yes, it's called a unitary state. But it serves us well, we're pretty stable. I think you need to study what representative democracy means, referenda doesn't override that.

[rodinuk]

...I'm not a Brit, but it always strikes me that the UK political system has too few checks and balances......The fact that the power to make laws across the land is concentrated in a single parliamentary chamber also seems problematic.

That's right we abolished the House of Lords..... oh no we didn't.....

[rodinuk]

Perhaps the most bizarre act of democracy took place last night in Northumberland, as part of a wide range of local council elections taking place in England, Scotland and Wales. Here, in the smallest unit in politics, the Ward, two candidates -Conservative and Liberal Democrat- were tied after numerous re-counts, and the final decision was made when the Returning Officer produced straws, having decided to use straws rather than the flip of a coin. The Liberal Democrat drew the long straw, and was duly elected. (So far in these elections, seen as a dry run for the General Election) the Conservatives are doing well, Labour is doing badly, UKIP has lost all its council seats so far, and all eyes are on Scotland to see if the SNP can take control of Glasgow City Council)

The Electoral Rules were followed - they state the exact number of recounts which is 3 rather than the arbitrary numerous stated above and the action thereafter - the drawing of lots.

I didn't see these polls as a dry run for the General Election because voters are fickle especially in this day and age and have always been prone to lodge protest votes at bye-elections anyway.

[Stavros]

The Electoral Rules were followed - they state the exact number of recounts which is 3 rather than the arbitrary numerous stated above and the action thereafter - the drawing of lots.

I didn't see these polls as a dry run for the General Election because voters are fickle especially in this day and age and have always been prone to lodge protest votes at bye-elections anyway.

Thank you for the correction, I didn't get that right.
As for the vote, with turn-outs as low as 21% in some wards, the loss of council seats may not be a good guide to the General Election result. John Curtice in the Independent argues today the Conservatives are ahead, but not by enough to guarantee a huge majority.
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/...-a7720801.html