A Political Thread pt. 2

[Gavin]

Boris Johnson and Carrie to host lavish Chequers wedding party as he clings on

Senior Tories claim Boris Johnson is clinging to power in part so that he and wife Carrie can host lavish bash at Chequers to mark their marriage, which took place in May 2021

www.mirror.co.uk

Senior Tories claim Boris Johnson is clinging to power in part so that he and wife Carrie can host lavish bash at Chequers to mark their marriage, which took place in May 2021

 

[The Seeker]

 

[The Seeker]

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Shinzo Abe: Japan ex-PM injured after reported gunshot attack

Shinzo Abe collapsed halfway during his speech, and appeared to be bleeding, media reports say.

www.bbc.co.uk

WTF?

 

[General Melchett]

 

[Reiser99]

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Does the UK have any serious and good progressive political figures coming up?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I really like Zarah Sultana but she's definitely said some...regrettable things in the past that the press will use to demolish any hopes she has of serious career progression

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I really like Zarah Sultana but she's definitely said some...regrettable things in the past that the press will use to demolish any hopes she has of serious career progression

Yeh didn't she make some anti nato comments after the Russian invasion of Ukraine?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeh didn't she make some anti nato comments after the Russian invasion of Ukraine?

Yeah - she was one of the ones who came out as anti-NATO in the lead up to the invasion, think she backtracked once it all kicked off, but still a bad look
She has some social media posts (now deleted, but still out there) from when she was in Uni that are pro-Palestine/anti-Israel, and said she'd celebrate the death of Benjamin Netanyahu/Tony Blair as they're war criminals, which is too polarising a stance to make a leadership bid really - Corbyn got eviscerated by the press for way more moderate views

Which is a shame, as away from that she's a breath of fresh air

 

[ncurd]

Does the UK have any serious and good progressive political figures coming up?

Loaded question that I agree that Sultana appears good but the reality is no one who is a member of the Socialist Campaign Group has a rats chance of ever being a British PM unless we have major shift leftwards. Plus you have to ask the question whilst chairperson she hasn't removed Claudia Webbe from the group.

Actual reality is Labour has a pretty good front bench currently Cooper might be too right of the party for some Labourites but Streeting, Dodds, Allin-Khan are all pretty good

Corbyn got eviscerated by the press for way more moderate views

Corbyn got eviscerated for being pally (whatever his intentions) with many know leaders of terrorist groups including ones which were actively bombing the UK when he wasn't in a position to make any difference. He had a habit of doing it, I wouldn't describe that as 'moderate'.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Corbyn got eviscerated for being pally (whatever his intentions) with many know leaders of terrorist groups including ones which were actively bombing the UK when he wasn't in a position to make any difference. He had a habit of doing it, I wouldn't describe that as 'moderate'.

I meant more his public statements on Israel/Palestine, which fell far short of "Death to Netanyahu" and his anti-war views fell short of "Death to Blair"

 

[Reiser99]

Is this the time for a major party to stand on a platform of changing our democracy especially in regards to a written constitution that is explicit on the behaviour of the prime minister and other ministers and even MPs in general?

Especially the parties condemning the Conservatives, if they truly mean it then they should be happy to put their money where their mouth is. Ideally I'd like to see change to FPTP, but I think we need a small step first to show that our democracy is flawed and can be improved.

 

[ncurd]

I meant more his public statements on Israel/Palestine, which fell far short of "Death to Netanyahu" and his anti-war views fell short of "Death to Blair"

Fair enough I think its more due to his links in the past with Hezbollah more one of those "you do have previous in this regard mate".

It is weird how strongly pro-Israel we are now in Blair days we use take very much condemning both sides (whilst selling them arms) and being very pro two state solution.

 

[ncurd]

Just a reminder we have more months of this **** still to go



I really hope the 1922 committee after the weekend tell him to offsod.

 

[Eleutherarch]

Ideally I'd like to see change to FPTP, but I think we need a small step first to show that our democracy is flawed and can be improved.

I have always thought of the British Constitution as being rather brilliant in its capacity for tremendous adaptability, organic through common law and robust with the guiding narrative of authoritative texts. It is reflexive in the face of whatever stimuli bandying about at any one time.

However, it has taken this particular government to cause me to reevaluate my position. Refusals to shoulder any accountability, willingness to assault the legislature by means of suspension and sheer balls have shown that it can be trampled. The really worrying thing has been the hostility directed towards and the attempted interference with the judiciary. It has been positively American and deeply unsettling to me.

I believe that electoral reform has to be the way forward. Not some paltry form of PR designed from the outset to be unappetising for the purpose of puppeteering a referendum, but real PR. Extremely beige, genuine PR.

The more boring politics becomes, the more effective is. The more it will cater for all strata within society. To quote Bill Hicks AGAIN (he's never lost relevance):

"I think the puppet on right shares my beliefs."
"I think the puppet on the left is more to my liking."
"Hey wait a minute, there's one guy holding up both puppets!"
"SHUT UP! Go back to bed America, your government is in control. Here's Love Connection (or Love Island nowadays I guess) - watch this and get fat and stupid. Oh and keep drinking beer you ******* morons!"

 

[Eleutherarch]

Abe confirmed dead. Absolutely mad.

 

[Reiser99]

I have always thought of the British Constitution as being rather brilliant in its capacity for tremendous adaptability, organic through common law and robust with the guiding narrative of authoritative texts. It is reflexive in the face of whatever stimuli bandying about at any one time.

However, it has taken this particular government to cause me to reevaluate my position. Refusals to shoulder any accountability, willingness to assault the legislature by means of suspension and sheer balls have shown that it can be trampled. The really worrying thing has been the hostility directed towards and the attempted interference with the judiciary. It has been positively American and deeply unsettling to me.

I believe that electoral reform has to be the way forward. Not some paltry form of PR designed from the outset to be unappetising for the purpose of puppeteering a referendum, but real PR. Extremely beige, genuine PR.

The more boring politics becomes, the more effective is. The more it will cater for all strata within society. To quote Bill Hicks AGAIN (he's never lost relevance):

"I think the puppet on right shares my beliefs."
"I think the puppet on the left is more to my liking."
"Hey wait a minute, there's one guy holding up both puppets!"
"SHUT UP! Go back to bed America, your government is in control. Here's Love Connection (or Love Island nowadays I guess) - watch this and get fat and stupid. Oh and keep drinking beer you ******* morons!"

On PR the issue is that it doesn't really work with our constituency system. We don't elect a Prime Minister we elect MPs and the party with the most MPs forms a government and the leader of the party becomes Prime Minister. It's a complicated system.

Take an example of where there are two constituencies voting. One votes 51% Conservative and 49% Lib Dem. The other votes 51% Labour and 49% Lib Dem. In this case Lib Dems have 49% of the vote and no MP, where are Conservatives and Labour have 25.5% of the vote and 1 MP each. But how can you give the Lib Dems a seat when neither constituency voted for them with a majority, you can't force a constituency to take an MP they didn't want.

For me we should use transferable voting, where you number candidates from one to five etc...and the votes for the lowest candidate is transferred to the next preferred candidate until some has 50.1% of the vote. This would enable tactical voting and allow people can vote for their preferred party and still vote against the party they least want. Now at the moment tactical voting is far too prevalent and we get MPs not because they are the best, but because they are the least worst. It would also allow for better political analysis on where voters preferences actually lie. I would also add Reopen Nominations to the ballot. This way people who are unhappy with all the choices can still protest, but can also still choose the least worst option. (Also it's fun to see how if RoN could actually win in a constituency).

Next I would reform the house of Lords. I think it's been discussed in detail before, but for me it should be at least in part elected and this would be proportional representation. This way it actively reflects the will of the country. I'm not sure about long term independent members or people like the lords, because it then becomes how are they chosen and for how long. Just look at the issues with the American Supreme court. It's meant to be independent and neutral, but is completely political and partisan. How could we ensure independent members of the house of lords are truly that?

 

[Reiser99]

Abe confirmed dead. Absolutely mad.

Terrible, it's worrying that it feels we are seeing more violence against democratically elected politicians. No matter how much you disagree or blame them violence is never the solution. However we've seen it in the UK with Jo Cox and in America with January 6th.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Just so shocking, as Japan doesn't have a gun culture like USA. Apparently the shooter used a home made gun. But I am sure more details will come out in the coming days.