UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possible

[Starkers]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

No electoral reform. So unfortunate.

I was hoping the motherland would inspire us colonials to change the crappy FTPT Westminster system we have now.

I wouldn't say no electoral reform. Fixed term parliaments and a referendum on some kind of voting reform. That's more than existed a week ago.

The only announcement I'm not keen on really is Osbourne as chancellor, but that was a shoe in. On the plus side hopefully he will now have both Vince and Ken Clarke advising him (although they may not always agree!)

So far it looks like the Lib Dems have capitulated on non-EU migration, Trident, their mansion tax, and the need to make cuts sooner rather than later. They've obviously got a referendum on electoral reform, and by all accounts concessions re the tax system. I think we'll get more info when the fuller terms of the coallition are announced.

Re the Libs in the cabinet Vince is Business and Banking minister, and Chris Huhne has the environment. Danny Alexander will likely get Scotland (smart move given the Lib Dems have slightly more of a presense in Scotland than the cons.) and I'm guessing Laws will get Education given that even at the weekend Gove was saying he'd happily step aside for him.

Perhaps I'm naive, but I am actually feeling hopeful about this...even though the next few years likely won't be pleasant (and wouldn't have been no matter who got in)

 

[captcalhoun]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

there's 9 MPs that don't 'count' toward getting a majority, the Sinn Fein ones and the Speaker and his Deputies don't vote.

for such an image-concious spin-master Cameron made an almighty boob last night.

Gordon leaves as the sun sets literally on Westminster and figuratively on the Labour government.

then Cameron shows up as it literally gets darker over Westminster... and the nation...

poorly thought out that man.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

there's a rundown of the policies here:

http://miss-s-b.livejournal.com/1036084.html

My particular concerns being addressed with this section:

• A great repeal or freedom bill to scrap the ID card scheme and the national identity register and the next generation of biometric passports

• Extending the scope of the Freedom of Information bill to provide greater transparency

* Adopt protections of the Scottish model for the DNA database

• Protecting trial by jury

• Reviewing libel laws to protect freedom of speech

• Further regulation of CCTV and other items

Those who're concerned about keeping the marriage tax breaks should put pressure on all concerned to make sure the definition of marriage includes same-sex civil partnerships. Cos, to be fair, nobody ever said it wouldn't, even though everybody seems to think the word marriage only applies to a man and a woman in a church, and even teh Xtian straights have registry offices...

 

[Starkers]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

^I'd got the impression back when the tax breaks for married couples were announced that it extended to civil partnerships as well.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

^I'd got the impression back when the tax breaks for married couples were announced that it extended to civil partnerships as well.

I thought that too, but all the people against it seem to be against because they say it discriminates against teh gayz.

Anyway...

As for electoral reform, can I be the first to propose Thunderdome as our new means of selecting politicos and leaders?

 

[Pauln6]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

It applies to civil partnerships. Strangely it's ok to discrimnate on the grounds of 'marriage' but not sex or sexual orientation. It's a strange policy. Unless it's an attempt to earn more fees at registry offices - then it makes sense.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

It applies to civil partnerships. Strangely it's ok to discrimnate on the grounds of 'marriage' but not sex or sexual orientation. It's a strange policy. Unless it's an attempt to earn more fees at registry offices - then it makes sense.

Everything UK governments do is an attempt to raise revenue....

 

[Starkers]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

^I'd got the impression back when the tax breaks for married couples were announced that it extended to civil partnerships as well.

I thought that too, but all the people against it seem to be against because they say it discriminates against teh gayz.

Anyway...

As for electoral reform, can I be the first to propose Thunderdome as our new means of selecting politicos and leaders?

Pah I made that joke to my friends last week.

Three men enter, one man leaves...oops, sorry three men enter, two men leave

We were traying to figure out whether Cameron was Master or Blaster.

Mandy is probably Auntie though...

I see Alan Johnson is backing David Milliband. I actually have time for both of them and I guess I see his logic, he's 59 and it should be 4 years before the next election. Shame though as he's one of the decent ones.

Scarier thought is that Harman is now leader until July!!

 

[Lonemagpie]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

The UK is now governed by Bromance!

Judging by the press conference we just saw, anyway.

I'm having the most feeling of living in a fictional world that I've had since 9/11/2001, but in this case in a good way.

OTOH I'm now sick of the coverage cos the wife wants to keep watching all the News Channel talking heads saying the same things over and over again that we already saw live, and stopping me from doing any bloody thing else! (annoying, since I work to music and I have a Trek novel to get on with!)

 

[Lonemagpie]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

And the first act of the new Bromance Overlords is...

The ID card scheme and National Identity Register is taken out and given the bullet in the head it deserved.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20100512/tuk-national-id-cards-scheme-to-be-axed-6323e80.html

Though putting an anti-gay anti-abortionist in place as Minister for Women and Equality is pretty fucking bizarre, regardless of which side of those debates you're on...

 

[BrotherBenny]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

I have to say that I am glad I now reside in the United States. Although the American system is not perfect, it still seems to work better than the British one. The American people get to vote for the man or woman from either/any party who most closely matches their view, not just the party. Perhaps this should be adopted in the UK??

 

[Roger Wilco]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

How do you figure? Imo this whole procedure in the UK was extremely impressive, the level of discourse in the campaigns and the media, the election itself and the quick, polite transfer of power.

 

[captcalhoun]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

we took less than two months to sort this. Americans take over six FUCKING MONTHS just to pick who's going to be the two candidates.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

I know I called the coalition the Bromance Party, but should I be surprised that, according to my LiveJournal friends list, Cameron/Clegg slash is already appearing on the net?

 

[SiorX]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

Though putting an anti-gay anti-abortionist in place as Minister for Women and Equality is pretty fucking bizarre, regardless of which side of those debates you're on...

It probably makes sense if you only pretend to give a shit about the needs of anyone outside your own party's privileged hegemony. [/bitter]

I know I called the coalition the Bromance Party, but should I be surprised that, according to my LiveJournal friends list, Cameron/Clegg slash is already appearing on the net?

Cleggeron already has it's own ship name and everything.

 

[wamdue]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

I know I called the coalition the Bromance Party, but should I be surprised that, according to my LiveJournal friends list, Cameron/Clegg slash is already appearing on the net?

is there any pairing that pepole wont slash?

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

Actually, Brown WAS elected to his seat. The PARTY elects the leader, not the people. (I think this is completely wrong, but that's just the way British law works.) The people just elect the party, who select a leader from the individuals in their party that have been elected.

It sounds like someone is longing for a presidential system!

C'mon. You know you'll like it.

Seriously, it has its advantages, especially when the President & the legislature are controlled by different parties. They're so busy fighting each other that they almost never get a chance to fuck up the country as badly as they would otherwise. Only 2 kinds of laws get passed under that set-up-- really good ones that everyone agrees with and really bad ones that all politicians agree with.

 

[Captain Shaw]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

I know I called the coalition the Bromance Party, but should I be surprised that, according to my LiveJournal friends list, Cameron/Clegg slash is already appearing on the net?

is there any pairing that pepole wont slash?

Wonder if thier is any Brown/Blair/Manelson fic or Mandelson/Osborne

 

[Dancing Doctor]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

I know I called the coalition the Bromance Party, but should I be surprised that, according to my LiveJournal friends list, Cameron/Clegg slash is already appearing on the net?

is there any pairing that pepole wont slash?

Wonder if thier is any Brown/Blair/Manelson fic or Mandelson/Osborne

Ick to all of them.

 

[Starkers]

Re: UK election. So much for our votes counting - worst result possibl

Surely the coallition should be called ConDem

I think I prefer ours to the American system...at least we have more than two parties which is something!

Though putting an anti-gay anti-abortionist in place as Minister for Women and Equality is pretty fucking bizarre, regardless of which side of those debates you're on...

And there was me thinking Theresa May was one of the nice ones! Seriously though I never knew that about her (although I don't agree with her she should be entitled to anti abortionist views, and is hardly in a position to really affect that within her role outside of major legislative change)