This thread exists to discuss British politics.
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Recent political stuff:
- The vote to see if Britain should adopt Alternative Voting has failed.
- Lib Dems lose lots of councils and councillors, whilst Labour make the majority of the gains in England.
- The Scottish National Party do really well in the elections.
A link to the BBC politics page containing relevant information.
Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 3rd 2023 at 11:15:30 AM
Do Lefter-than-Labour parties get this kind of publicity?
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.There's also the fact that the left is traditionally quite fragmented anyway (it's easier to get people united around conservative viewpoints).
Fracturing on the right is NEW AND EXCITING[insert Tradesnark™ here]
TV Tropes's No. 1 bread themed lesbian. she/her, fae/faerHow so?
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.Because fear is a more effective rallying point that complaining.
Miliband...you magnificent bastard I read your BOOK!
Whilst Cameron is distracted by Ukraine...Labour and the Lib Dems advance the Affordable Homes Bill to the next stage.
edited 5th Sep '14 8:14:12 AM by Achaemenid
Schild und Schwert der ParteiPlus the British (or English?) are naturally small-c conservative, so are more receptive to views of that sort.
Keep Rolling On
edited 5th Sep '14 8:25:14 AM by Achaemenid
Schild und Schwert der Partei@15254: Conservatism is about maintaining traditions and generally maintaining the status quo. By contrast, the parts of the political spectrum based around new ideas (which tend towards the left) might be trying something new in any number of ways.
Thus the left tends to fragment over which of the many possibilities they embrace. The only way the right can fragment is over how to maintain traditions and such (in the case of UKIP, they've convinced some Conservatives that they're going to do a better job).
I remember that documentary!
edited 5th Sep '14 10:05:17 AM by Bisected8
TV Tropes's No. 1 bread themed lesbian. she/her, fae/faerExcept that's not true. Back in the Eighties, Thatcherism was about murdering the Status Quo and bringing a crapload of reforms that devastated the poor and enriched the rich. Today it's the same: increasing student fees, cutting benefits, cutting everything, really... it's not preserving the Status Quo, it's Gene Hunting it into the ground and planting evidence in its pockets while cuffing it.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.As they see it they're restoring the status quo that has been wrongly shifted away from, I believe the status quo that some of them want is that of the Pre-WW 2 period.
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ CyranLabour and the Lib Dems have defeated the Tories in the first stage of the benefit bill vote.
My name is Addy. Please call me that instead of my username.So, what, The Great Depression? The Roaring '20s? World War One? We have to go back to The Gay '90s to find an era that seems remotely idealizable from a Conservative standpoint.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.Nobody said they're correct.
TV Tropes's No. 1 bread themed lesbian. she/her, fae/faer@ Handle: Thatcher wasn't a Conservative; she was a classical liberal. Indeed, her father was a local councillor for the old Liberal Party.
Keep Rolling OnNot really that classical, her record on civil liberties was pretty abysmal.
edited 5th Sep '14 2:32:49 PM by Achaemenid
Schild und Schwert der ParteiThe Wicked Witch of Westminster was a reactionary to the core. It's the only label that fits her.
Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.The MP took part in a lengthy email exchange with Dylan Barlow, 28, which was published online.
Mr Bebb took Mr Barlow to task for comments he made online stating “I often find that those who are brave on Twitter are cowards in real life. You seem to fit the bill.”
Mr Barlow replied: “I think that comment was completely uncalled for, you know nothing about me or my daily struggles! I suffer from Asperger’s and find some aspects of life extremely difficult, so before you brand people a coward, maybe you should think before sending childish e-mails.”
The MP responded: “What I know is that you are willing to attack me in a public forum with no justification. That is, in my view, the work of a coward.
“As for your daily problems and struggles; is that a justification for attacking me? I have always treated you with respect, you chose not to extend the same respect to me.
“Fine, so be it, but do not start a sob story now.”
Mr Barlow said the reference to a “sob story” was “extremely offensive”.
The exchange of e-mails continued, with Mr Bebb saying: “If you do have mental health issues then you should possibly refrain from commenting in the public domain since it might create problems for you.”
Mary Wimbury, Labour’s candidate in Aberconwy, said: “Mr Bebb has clearly been under pressure in recent weeks – arguing with constituents, issuing legal letters and even predicting a number of Welsh Tory M Ps are set to resign.
“However, that’s no excuse for his aggressive email outburst and suggestion that people with, what he considers to be, mental illness should not be involved in public debates.
But a defiant Mr Bebb refused to apologise for the exchange and accused Ms Wimbury of trying to make “political capital” out of Mr Barlow.
He told the Daily Post: "It is very disappointing that the local Labour candidate is seeking to make political capital out of a constituent [who] has had a long and difficult history with this office. Due to confidentiality issues in the MP / constituent relationship I am unable to offer any further comment."
In an interview with our sister paper the Daily Mirror, he said: “If Dylan claims that some of his online comments should be understood in the context of his mental health issues then I think it was a generous piece of advice for him to think twice before he posts such comments. I do have a close family history of mental health issues and find the idea that I would be derogatory of such an illness highly offensive.”
“This lack of courtesy and respect towards constituents is clearly an inappropriate way for any MP to behave – he should think long and hard about his future behaviour.”
Plaid Cymru AM Bethan Jenkins said: “I think you owe your constituent with a mental health condition who you criticised an apology.”
Mr Barlow said on Twitter: “Just to be clear about my mental health, I have Asperger’s, depression, anxiety, ADHD and dyslexia.”
Mr Barlow had contacted Mr Bebb to complain about what he claimed was the Danish navy’s support for “illegal whaling” in the Faroe islands”.
How unedifying in an MP. Though I did lose some sympathy at this bit:
Bloody busybody.
Schild und Schwert der ParteiMs Woolf is a City lawyer and former president of the Law Society.
She will head an inquiry panel including child abuse experts and at least one victim of abuse.
Retired judge Baroness Butler-Sloss quit as head of the inquiry in July, saying she was "not the right person" for the job.
She stood down after child abuse victims raised concerns that she is the sister of the late Sir Michael Havers, who was attorney-general in the 1980s when abuse is alleged to have happened.
The inquiry, which was set up in July, was prompted by allegations that figures in Westminster and Whitehall were implicated in covering up child sex abuse, and that police and other authorities did not properly investigate prominent offenders such as Jimmy Savile and Cyril Smith.
'Shaken confidence'
Announcing Ms Woolf's appointment, Home Secretary Theresa May said: "In recent years, we have seen appalling cases of organised and persistent child sex abuse which have exposed serious failings by public bodies and important institutions.
"These failings have sent shockwaves through the country and shaken public confidence in the pillars of society in which we should have total trust.
"That is why the government has announced that an independent panel of experts will consider whether such organisations have taken seriously their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse.
"We are absolutely clear that we must learn the lessons of past failures and the panel will be instrumental in helping us to do this."
Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper welcomed the fact that the inquiry was "finally moving forward".
But she added: "We still have no terms of reference for the inquiry and have had no assurances that it will look into current gaps that exist in the child protection system, as well as historical institutional failure.
"We now need urgent answers on both these issues."
Ms Woolf, 66, is an expert in energy markets and has advised many governments and the World Bank on privatisation and energy reforms.
'No time to lose'
As the Lord Mayor of London, she acts as ambassador for the City of London and Britain's financial services industry around the world.
She said: "Ensuring lessons are learned from the mistakes which have been made in the past and resulted in children being subjected to the most horrific crimes is a vital and solemn undertaking.
"I was honoured to be approached to lead such an important inquiry and look forward to working with the panel to ensure these mistakes are identified and never repeated."
She will be assisted as head of the inquiry by Graham Wilmer, a child sexual abuse victim and founder of the Lantern Project, which helps victims of sex abuse, and Barbara Hearn, former deputy chief executive of the National Children's Bureau.
Prof Alexis Jay, author of the recent report into abuse in Rotherham, will act as an expert adviser to the panel, said the Home Office.
Their first tasks are to finalise membership of the panel and agree terms of reference for the inquiry, said the Home Office in a statement.
Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk, who led calls for an overarching inquiry into alleged abuse, backed the appointment of Ms Woolf but called on her to bring "a sense of urgency" to the investigation.
'Victims' voices'
He said the inquiry had lost momentum due to delays after the resignation of Lady Butler-Sloss.
"I'm pleased the Home Secretary has finally got this moving," said the Labour MP.
"Although I would not have looked to high office in the Square Mile to find someone to challenge the establishment, Fiona Woolf is a smart and capable woman and she has my support.
"Britain is in the middle of a child abuse crisis and this inquiry has to be a watershed. It must go to the heart of the establishment and challenge why crimes have been swept under the carpet for so long."
Mr Danczuk added that there was "no time to lose", as some alleged abusers were now very elderly and could die before facing justice.
Matthew Reed, chief executive of the Children's Society, echoed Mr Danczuk's call for no further delays to the inquiry but said it must be "thorough and comprehensive" and the voices of victims must be heard.
"This is a critical opportunity to eliminate the obstacles that have denied these children justice in the past and to stop this horrific crime from happening again," he added.
As a reminder, this inquiry is not just covering suspected paedophiles and their enablers in Westminster, but in the NHS and the BBC. One of the biggest concerns early on was that it would focus on the last two whilst quietly steering away from the first, covering for the most powerful and dangerous abusers and giving extra ammunition to Tory arguments for the privatisation of the two bodies. Bringing in a notorious asset-stripper to run the investigation is definitely not a positive sign.
What's precedent ever done for us?I caught this on Sky News and knew I had to share this:
did i just get rickrolled by alistair darling
Direct all enquiries to Jamie B GoodSaid Dante to Trish.
But seriously, I think that needed some of George's Micheal's Freedom '90;
And make them true somehow,
All we have to see is that I don't belong to you,
And you don't belong to me, yeah, yeah
edited 6th Sep '14 8:29:54 AM by Bisected8
TV Tropes's No. 1 bread themed lesbian. she/her, fae/faerX6 It would be nice if could find out what comments the MP was taking the guy to task for, it's entirely possible that they were cowardly comments, I can't tell as the article doesn't say what the initial comments were.
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ CyranEven so, it's a horrible generalisation to make about those with such disorders.
My name is Addy. Please call me that instead of my username.
Because they offer something "new" compared to the "LibLabCon".
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman