UK Election Date latest

Subject: UK Election Date latest
From: Mr Red
Date: 31 Mar 01 - 05:39 AM

Radio 4 has just broadcast (11:30 am Sat) that they think Tony Blair is wavering in his resolve over the election date.
A June date has been mooted.
Keep posting here if you have more concrete info.
I would like to see concrete boots as standard issue for all MP's.

Subject: RE: UK Election Date latest
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 31 Mar 01 - 07:45 AM

The troops are being mustered with copious amounts of leaflets at the ready down south Mr Red - there must be an election in the air !

Subject: RE: UK Election Date latest
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Mar 01 - 01:35 PM

At least it's still going to be a pencil-and-paper and put-your-mark-in-the-box election, with all the votes in before they start counting them.

Subject: RE: UK Election Date latest
From: Bernard
Date: 31 Mar 01 - 01:38 PM

Ah yes... time for the politicians to demonstrate 'Foot In Mouth' disease...

Poly - many

Ticks - parasitic insects

Subject: RE: UK Election Date latest
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 31 Mar 01 - 04:09 PM

Damned if they do, damned if they don't. Do we want politicians with cement boots or do we want politicians who listen to popular opinion and may change their mind? Seems to me most want the latter and then criticise them for it. I know it's different to have goverment by consensus and it takes some getting used to, but thinking on your feet it better in my view than steering on one course and refusng to change. (sorry for the rant -I have been trying to watch Spinal Tap but the aerials packed in so I'm pretty fed up!)Anyway I'm all for sticking for May 3rd cos it will mean they have chuff all time for campaigning(aka bitching) and since voting takes about 10 minutes I can't quite see why most people should be put out about it. Is it insensitive to farmers - well possibly but democracy belongs to the 60 million and as soon as the election is out of the way perhaps we can focus our attention on their plight a little more.

Subject: RE: UK Election Date latest
From: SINSULL
Date: 31 Mar 01 - 04:15 PM

Just trying to imagine what would have gone on here in the States if Clinton had been allowed to choose an election date. Boggles the mind.

Subject: RE: UK Election Date latest
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 31 Mar 01 - 04:30 PM

Why bother with an election they are all tories anyway-especially Blair!!!!

Subject: RE: UK Election Date latest
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 31 Mar 01 - 04:45 PM

That may be true -but then are the Tories Tories? If John Townend MP is anything to go by, they sound more like fascists.

Subject: RE: UK Election Date latest
From: Mr Red
Date: 01 Apr 01 - 01:08 PM

Well at least the date has been put back. It does mean another month of platitudes, brand exposure, and endless interviews where the question is effectively and none-too-cleverly totally ignored. We have to have politicians because we (speaking personally) are too polite or lazy to be quite so arrogant.
the date is clearly a timing from the "budget spend" issue. FMD is not quite as important till now! Is that cynical or what?

Subject: RE: UK Election Date latest
From: GUEST,jayohjo in Russia
Date: 02 Apr 01 - 06:30 AM

Anyone know the deal about absentee votes? I don't want to miss out on my rights as a tax-paying citizen (etc etc etc) but unfortunately I'm in Russia - if the election is on May 3rd then they may already be too late to post me anything to get back to the UK in time! Jayohjo in Russia XXX

Subject: RE: UK Election Date latest
From: Gervase
Date: 02 Apr 01 - 06:50 AM

Jo, you need to apply soonest for a postal vote.
It's a pain, as you're in Russia, but you need to contact the electoral registration office for whatever constituency you're registered in and get them to expedite paperwork asap.
They'll send you a form RP2a, which should allow you to either vote by post or appoint a proxy. Given the vagaries of the postal service btwn the UK and Russia, and the fact that postal ballot papers are sent out just a week before the poll, a proxy vote might be best for you.
For an election date of May 3, the cut-off point was April 25, so you should aim to get your forms in by the middle of May.
And, you lucky tyke, you miss out on all the bitching and backbiting that'll be going on in the UK!

Subject: RE: UK Election Date latest
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Apr 01 - 07:25 AM

Now announced officially Click here

Subject: RE: UK Election Date latest
From: GUEST,Greyeyes
Date: 02 Apr 01 - 07:26 AM

That was me.

Subject: RE: UK Election Date latest
From: GeorgeH
Date: 02 Apr 01 - 02:00 PM

What ARE you muttering on about, Mr Red??

And, SINSULL, in the UK the Government can decide to have a General Election BEFORE the end of Parliament's elected term, and almost (?) always does. All that's happened is that this election will be a little less early than previously expected. I don't believe there's any way they can stay on beyond the end of their term . . .

G.

Subject: RE: UK Election Date latest
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Apr 01 - 05:27 PM

"I don't believe there's any way they can stay on beyond the end of their term . . ."

Well, they could, in theory. All it takes is for both houses of parliament to agree, and for the head of state to sign on the dotted line, as advuised by the Prime Minister. It happened in 1940, when it was generally agreed that a general election wouldn't really be top priority for anyone.

Subject: RE: UK Election Date latest
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 08:05 AM

I was joining to say WHO GIVES A TOSS - THERE ISN'T ANYONE TO VOTE FOR ANYMORE - there isn't even a protest vote since Screaming Lord Sutch died.
Last election we voted to get rid of tory policies and ended up with Tony "I'm really Margaret Thatcher" Blair. We were sold down the river big time by people who betrayed every single principle of the Labour Party.
What's the point of voting - it just allows them to claim that legitimacy. Stay at home and demonstrate that they are all BASTARDS!
GtD

Subject: RE: UK Election Date latest
From: Gervase
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 10:49 AM

Hey, Geoff - don't not do it!
Sorry, you've got me on a favourite rant here. But think of what people have done throughout history to get the vote. Remember the queues around the townships in South Africa when the franchise was extended. Imagine our great-grandparents spending their lives without a chance to say, however feebly, how they should be governed. Think of the countries around the world where people still have no say.
Then go out and make your mark.
It doesn't matter if you spoil your ballot paper; if you vote for the looniest candidate standing, or if you merely scrawl "wankers" or "none of the above" across the paper - you should vote.
And (putting on party hat here), is there really so little to choose between the parties?
Close your eyes and remember William Hague saying, "Imagine another country...", think of Liam Fox saying abortion should be illegal, think of Portillo's projected £16 billion cuts in public services or just think of Ann Widdecombe being responsible for the most vulnerable people in society...
Then think of the minimum wage, the New Deal, the cancellation of Third World debt, the real progress in fighting illiteracy, the fact that unemployment is below one million for the first time since my son was born ( and he's now earning his own living)...
I agree that that we've got ain't perfect, and it's a pale shadow of the real Labour Party - but the alternatives, surely, just don't bear thinking about.
But you don't have to agree with me - just promise you won't sit at home and not vote.
Heck man, I'd rather you voted for a Tory than not voted at all!!!!

Subject: RE: UK Election Date latest
From: Les from Hull
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 11:19 AM

Well said, Gervase. I heartily concur. And if there's a Green Party candidate perhaps a bigger share of the vote for them will help convince the larger (electable) parties that there's some political value in Green policies.

Les