UK Prime Minister May calls for snap election.

[DimesDan]

Except of course those working in the service sector, Shops, Pubs, restaurants etc...

There is an easy way around that, have restrictions on what can and can not open on those days, or just not have anything open on regards to shops, it's not like the world will end if you can't go and do shopping even though some customers seem to beg to differ on the lead in to Christmas.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

There is an easy way around that, have restrictions on what can and can not open on those days, or just not have anything open on regards to shops, it's not like the world will end if you can't go and do shopping even though some customers seem to beg to differ on the lead in to Christmas.

It might seem easy, but given that current laws don't restrict opening hours on most of the existing Bank Holidays (only X-Mas Day is [mostly] mandated as closed and the Bank Holiday is deferred 2 years in 7 anyway) I suspect that would be easier said than done.

 

[DimesDan]

but given that current laws don't restrict opening hours

And laws can be changed.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

And laws can be changed.

True, in the fact the last two changes in the law STA (1994) and the CD(T)A [2004] impose additional restrictions favouring your PoV.

However, given the increasing decline in British "bricks and mortar" in the face of general income decline and the rise of online shopping I think the appetite for additional restrictions on opening hours is very limited. Though as a shop assistant myself I can see the attraction on a personal level.

 

[DimesDan]

However, given the increasing decline in British "bricks and mortar" in the face of general income decline and the rise of online shopping I think the appetite for additional restrictions on opening hours is very limited.

I was thinking more along the lines of Supermarkets, yes alot of their sales are going online, but they still need a physical store to actually stock and then distribute things.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

I was thinking more along the lines of Supermarkets, yes alot of their sales are going online, but they still need a physical store to actually stock and then distribute things.

A fair point.

In fact, they are the main force pushing for removal of the minor existing limits, but get a lot of push back from the Church and groups like the Federation of Small Businesses (that represent neighbourhood corner shops and similar that aren't restricted to the same extent if at all under the existing laws).

 

[DimesDan]

In fact, they are the main force pushing for removal of the minor existing limits, but get a lot of push back from the Church and groups like the Federation of Small Businesses (that represent neighbourhood corner shops and similar that aren't restricted to the same extent if at all under the existing laws).

Yes I know, I remember the arguments in late 2011 or early 2012 about allowing longer opening hours on a Sunday around the Olympics. The strange thing here in Ireland is in contrast, Sunday opening hours for supermarkets (and pretty much any shop) opening hours are the same as a normal weekday, the only difference is the sale of Alcohol which is restricted until mid-day.

 

[Nyotarules]

Well with regards to Brexit instead of a simple majority they could have set the goal as 50% of the elecotrate rather than 50% of those who voted. Or a two thirds majority of all registered voters.

But wasn't the leave campaign promising millions of pounds per week more for things like the NHS if we leave etc...

The leave campaigners mainly rightwingers, don't give a shit about the NHS. They went all quiet about that money soon after.

 

[Snaploud]

The problem with an increasing retirement age is that many people can't work even upto 65 -- if you've been a builder or a firefighter or a farmer since the age of 16, and you're now 56, you'll be struggling now, let alone the prospect of working for another 10, or even 15 years. Those of us in cushy desk jobs can work longer, but even then all it takes is a stroke and suddenly you're stuck.

Yep. It's largely the wealthy that are living the longest lives (skewing the average), so raising the retirement age will mean fewer of the poor and middle-class will get to enjoy a decent retirement period.

 

[Paul Weaver]

What form of government would you propose instead?

David Cameron got 100% of the power in the house of commons based on 24% of the electorate voting for his party. 40%+ of the electorate actively voted for someone else.

To start with, I'd make our MPs votes be worth a different weight depending on the popular vote - meaning that the government would have to get broad support for their measures - support from MPs representing at least 50% of the people that actually voted.

The leave campaigners mainly rightwingers, don't give a shit about the NHS. They went all quiet about that money soon after.

To be fair, they went quiet because there was never any money.

It wasn't just the lie bus, it was a core part of the leave campaign, this one aimed at frighting old ladies into voting leave

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[MacLeod]

There is an easy way around that, have restrictions on what can and can not open on those days, or just not have anything open on regards to shops, it's not like the world will end if you can't go and do shopping even though some customers seem to beg to differ on the lead in to Christmas.

Yes but if the aim of extra BH's is so that workers can spend more time with family, the only ones likely to benefit will be those in the manufacturing sector and of course politicans. Whilst those in the service sector, NHS, Police, Fire etc.. would likely least to benefit. Except of course possible as a Lieu Day to be taken later in their holiday year at some point.

A and your right it is the end of the world in the lead up to sops esp. Supermarkets in the run up them being closed Christmas Day.

 

[MacLeod]

David Cameron got 100% of the power in the house of commons based on 24% of the electorate voting for his party. 40%+ of the electorate actively voted for someone else.

To start with, I'd make our MPs votes be worth a different weight depending on the popular vote - meaning that the government would have to get broad support for their measures - support from MPs representing at least 50% of the people that actually voted.

Yes but didn't we more or reject exactly that in the referendum on changing the voting system.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

David Cameron got 100% of the power in the house of commons based on 24% of the electorate voting for his party. 40%+ of the electorate actively voted for someone else.

To start with, I'd make our MPs votes be worth a different weight depending on the popular vote - meaning that the government would have to get broad support for their measures - support from MPs representing at least 50% of the people that actually voted.

So, a different form of democracy then, that you think would be fairer.

 

[Paul Weaver]

So, a different form of democracy then, that you think would be fairer.

One with more compromise and less extremism, yes I think that would be fairer. Don't you?

 

[MacLeod]

There are extremists on both sides, to some May and many Tories are right wing nuts and to some Corbyn and many Labourites are left wing loons. And that's the two main parties never mind some of the other parties who some might consider even more extreme.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

One with more compromise and less extremism, yes I think that would be fairer. Don't you?

Potentially, yes. Like everything it depends on the specifics. Compromise is not an absolute virtue, for example when compromising with evil.

However, I would agree that, most likely, amidst the nationalist reactions to globalism and feelings of disempowerment that are occurring in Britain and the US, constructive middle grounds between left and right are being neglected.

 

[Paul Weaver]

Even May isn't that extreme in many of her views compared with someone like Rees-Mogg.

I'd rather a strong tory majority than the current one, as the current one relies on support of the mega-whackos. The most realistic outcome I can see that would be better than what we have now would be 400 tory MPs, but May losing her seat, forcing a new leadership election, but that would require a concerted effort to get rid of May in June in the same way Hamilton was ousted from Tatton in 97.

 

[MacLeod]

Potentially, yes. Like everything it depends on the specifics. Compromise is not an absolute virtue, for example when compromising with evil.

However, I would agree that, most likely, amidst the nationalist reactions to globalism and feelings of disempowerment that are occurring in Britain and the US, constructive middle grounds between left and right are being neglected.

But to a certain extend that is happening in other countries all we have to do is look over the channel to France and it looks like the FN leader Le Pen is heading to the 2nd round of their Presidential elections and some might consider her views extreme.

As for reactions to globalisation in th places like the UK and the US, if you take the US Presidential election and the UK Brexit vote it looks like it is the older generation(s) that are less in favour. In Brexit if what inforamtion regarding age groups is accurate once you get to around those aged 45 or so the majority over voted to leave whilst the majority under voted to remain.

 

[Relayer1]

There are extremists on both sides, to some May and many Tories are right wing nuts and to some Corbyn and many Labourites are left wing loons. And that's the two main parties never mind some of the other parties who some might consider even more extreme.

Extreme is meaningless - it's only relevant in relation to perceptions of the centre, which keeps moving.

My benchmarks were set in the 1970's and 80's and seemed fairly straightforward. The centre was mid way between Labour and the Conservatives. Now, Corbyn, who is a pretty mainstream socialist is called 'far left' and the Conservatives who are doing things Thatcher (who was seen as 'somewhat' right wing) wouldn't, and are being called centre-right !

The world's gone mad...

 

[CorporalCaptain]

But to a certain extend that is happening in other countries all we have to do is look over the channel to France and it looks like the FN leader Le Pen is heading to the 2nd round of their Presidential elections and some might consider her views extreme.

As for reactions to globalisation in th places like the UK and the US, if you take the US Presidential election and the UK Brexit vote it looks like it is the older generation(s) that are less in favour. In Brexit if what inforamtion regarding age groups is accurate once you get to around those aged 45 or so the majority over voted to leave whilst the majority under voted to remain.

Your first word is "but," but I can't see you contradicting anything I said, so I guess I really have no idea what you're saying.