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Post by bracknellboy on Jun 12, 2024 9:10:35 GMT
It's one reason why we need to remind people regularly that their vote counts for one thing, and one thing only. Which of those named individuals they want as their MP. I can't believe anybody can look at their local candidate list and not find at least one they find least objectionable. If people started to think that way, then we might get strong local candidates with local interests at heart, instead of party placemen. We might break the party duopoly, and start to have collaborative governments instead of simple tribal shouting-down. Absolutely agree. And, to add, not voting or a spoiled paper achieves very, very little. Far better, imo, to vote for an independent than to either spoil your paper or, worse, vote 'tactically for the "other" party' and get your point across that way. There are good political candidates out there and it's because they have no desire to affiliate themselves with atrocious track records, lacklustre policies and frankly appalling reputations and associated goings-on of the 'main' parties that they choose to be independent. Hopefully, the independents will pick up enough of the vote to a) make the media and main parties take notice and b) not to lose their deposit and encourage them continue getting their point across that there isn't a mainstay party in which the majority of the public has confidence. But I would urge everyone to cast a vote. Apathy is exactly what these self-serving, pseudo-politicians need to keep their snouts entrenched in the trough of tax-payer-funded government (as well as the commercial and corporate 'side-benefits', which are of course the main reason the majority are in politics as a career.) Maybe this 'Independence Day' election will become known as the 'Day of the Independents'... Its a reasonable thought. As a natural conservative voter, I have tended to vote for an alternative party when I can't bring myself for the then current incarnation of the Tories. The last couple of elections being cases in point when I voted for the Lib Dems: they didn't stand a chance in my constituency, but my hope was that an erosion of support in some places would send a message. I voted for the SDP in the early days way back when: the Tories didn't need my vote, but I wanted to at least help bolster the numbers in the hope that it would encourage a genuine 3rd party alternative. As well as send a message to the then Labour party that veering off to the left was not a good election strategy. Sadly, the hope of a strong 3rd party is always going to whither as long as we have FPTP. Only the identities of the separate nations has really led to strong 3rd party, but not one with any chance of governing the UK.
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keitha
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Post by keitha on Jun 12, 2024 9:40:19 GMT
It's a sad state of affairs when people are so dissalutioned that they feel it's not with voting. It's one reason why we need to remind people regularly that their vote counts for one thing, and one thing only. Which of those named individuals they want as their MP. I can't believe anybody can look at their local candidate list and not find at least one they find least objectionable. If people started to think that way, then we might get strong local candidates with local interests at heart, instead of party placemen. We might break the party duopoly, and start to have collaborative governments instead of simple tribal shouting-down. Meanwhile, in other news, it turns out our local RefUK candidate is not only anti-immigration, of course, but also proudly boasts of having lived in another country for years. Rank hypocrisy, or just simply logical disconnect? for me the local candidates Tory lists her FB page as "hannah for PCC" also a reference to Monmouthshire conservatives, Err sorry this is Blaenau Gwent Communist General secretary of Communist Party since 1998 ( obviously believes in sharing ) Worker Party of Great Britain - any party lead by George Galloway ... Plaid likes Chocolate Digestives ( chocolate yes, digestives yes not together, still might vote for her Labour - Known locally as the invisible man, only appears for photo opportunities, very few including labour supporters think he's a good MP and many complain he never answers questions, yet they will still vote for him So that leave Liberal Democrats Greens Independent
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Jun 12, 2024 9:40:32 GMT
It's one reason why we need to remind people regularly that their vote counts for one thing, and one thing only. Which of those named individuals they want as their MP. I can't believe anybody can look at their local candidate list and not find at least one they find least objectionable. If people started to think that way, then we might get strong local candidates with local interests at heart, instead of party placemen. We might break the party duopoly, and start to have collaborative governments instead of simple tribal shouting-down. Meanwhile, in other news, it turns out our local RefUK candidate is not only anti-immigration, of course, but also proudly boasts of having lived in another country for years. Rank hypocrisy, or just simply logical disconnect? making an individuals vote count will only happen if some form of proportional representation - in one of its varied forms, potentially mixed with constituency rep etc - comes into play. Until then, the majority people, or at least a very large minority, are essentially disenfranchised at MOST elections. This one has the potential to be less so than others, as many formerly safe seats become unsafe. That would certainly change the national picture - but as it stands at the moment that's simply not how our vote is designed to work. You vote for your MP for your constituency. No more, no less. The single most locally popular candidate gets the job, and that job is to represent EVERYBODY in the constituency, whether they voted for them or not. If that individual changes party, they keep the job. If that individual dies or resigns or is disqualified, there's a byelection. The trouble is that people vote for the colour of the ribbon, along that binary national choice, ignoring the individual. Which is why we get useless seat-warmers, party yes-men, and all the other things people then complain about. Don't like the MP? Don't re-elect the useless oxygen thief merely because you like the ribbon they're wearing!
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keitha
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Post by keitha on Jun 12, 2024 9:44:29 GMT
On a slight tangent, apparently the young woman who chucked milkshake at Nigel Farage has has a huge increase in followers on her only fans page
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keitha
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Post by keitha on Jun 12, 2024 9:46:53 GMT
Remember on the 4th of July if you want the tories out and don't know who to vote for just put a big cross in the box next to the tory candidates name
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benaj
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Post by benaj on Jun 12, 2024 10:37:26 GMT
I have just looked up the choices I am allowed to vote on “Independence day”. 8 Candidates on the ballot paper. TBH, don’t know much about them except the one, the ex-MP before dissolving the parliament. I was hoping the independent candidate at least have some calibre, but none can be found. Pretty sure other “Parties” can put any “cabbage” as candidates and no body would notice the difference.
Is this a “Fair Election”? 🤡
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registerme
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Post by registerme on Jun 12, 2024 10:58:30 GMT
Pretty sure other “Parties” can put any “cabbage” as candidates and no body would notice the difference. An improvement on our recent lettuce then.
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Jun 12, 2024 11:04:55 GMT
I have just looked up the choices I am allowed to vote on “Independence day”. 8 Candidates on the ballot paper. TBH, don’t know much about them except the one, the ex-MP before dissolving the parliament. I was hoping the independent candidate at least have some calibre, but none can be found. Pretty sure other “Parties” can put any “cabbage” as candidates and no body would notice the difference. Is this a “Fair Election”? 🤡 Why not? Anybody was eligible to stand, including you... If none of them choose to put much material online, I'd be quite surprised... Have you looked at whocanivotefor.co.uk ?
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Jun 12, 2024 11:09:25 GMT
Anyway, Grant Shapps appears to have given up hope. He's now saying that the main reason to vote Tory is not to keep Sunak in No.10, but to prevent a "Labour supermajority". His logic is that majorities too large are bad for democracy, because there's no effective opposition. For once, he's not wrong...
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benaj
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Post by benaj on Jun 12, 2024 11:12:09 GMT
Improvement? I don’t see it that way. Just asking myself what exactly am I doing by casting my vote.
Do I need to prove I have done my duty as a British Citizen by voting? Or doing exactly the opposite by voting someone I don’t believe or not doing the country a favour by participating this “unfair” election.
Why can’t all candidates at least have the same high standards of any kind to be privileged to serve the parliament ? is it that difficult to find multiple of 650, say 6500 strong candidates to be chosen by the “people” on every single general election?
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benaj
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Post by benaj on Jun 12, 2024 11:14:28 GMT
I have just looked up the choices I am allowed to vote on “Independence day”. 8 Candidates on the ballot paper. TBH, don’t know much about them except the one, the ex-MP before dissolving the parliament. I was hoping the independent candidate at least have some calibre, but none can be found. Pretty sure other “Parties” can put any “cabbage” as candidates and no body would notice the difference. Is this a “Fair Election”? 🤡 Why not? Anybody was eligible to stand, including you... If none of them choose to put much material online, I'd be quite surprised... Have you looked at whocanivotefor.co.uk ? thats what I did. I don’t understand why someone preprared to run it but not preparing properly
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Jun 12, 2024 11:27:25 GMT
Why not? Anybody was eligible to stand, including you... If none of them choose to put much material online, I'd be quite surprised... Have you looked at whocanivotefor.co.uk ? thats what I did. I don’t understand why someone preprared to run it but not preparing properly Well, the deadline for getting your candidacy in was only Friday, and most parties haven't launched their manifestos yet... But, yeh, it does seem odd if they can't even be bothered to get their socials in place. Especially for those whose own money is at stake for the deposit... £500, void if <5% of vote.
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benaj
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Post by benaj on Jun 12, 2024 11:49:10 GMT
Some did put social pages, but that doesn’t prove anything like whether they should get a seat in the parliament. I saw one candidate posted a video about what she’s fighting for, she weared a pair of sunglasses.
Pretty sure dating apps have better bios than those on whoicanvotefor. 🤣
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IFISAcava
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Post by IFISAcava on Jun 12, 2024 13:56:01 GMT
Anyway, Grant Shapps appears to have given up hope. He's now saying that the main reason to vote Tory is not to keep Sunak in No.10, but to prevent a "Labour supermajority". His logic is that majorities too large are bad for democracy, because there's no effective opposition. For once, he's not wrong... Well maybe they should have thought about that before clinging on to (and indeed reinstating for local elections) the outdated and anti-democratic First Past the Post electoral system that is the only system that facilitates supermajorities?
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agent69
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Post by agent69 on Jun 12, 2024 16:08:50 GMT
Why does a party with only one MP have 2 leaders?
At the Green party manifesto launch in Hove, co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay said electing Green MPs would "push Labour to be bolder", particularly on Net Zero climate change policies (can anyone spot the inappropriate 's' in that sentence). However, it's nice to see that the Greens accept they can't win an overall majority (Jo Swinson are you listening), even if it isn't clear how 1 MP (ok maybe 3 if they are lucky) are going to have any impact on a Labour government with a massive majority.
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