UK Politics Thread X: Upcoming Local Elections in May

[Shamhnan Insir]

In March, the senior coroner from Somerset ordered the Ministry of Defence to review the appropriateness of giving every retiring member of the Armed Forces a ceremonial dagger after a retired Royal Engineer used his to kill a husband and wife in 2021, and to submit to her their findings by April 25th this year. Did the MoD decide to cease this practice in light of the coroner's request? Given that the latter date has passed, I would expect a decision to have been made on the issue.

Not sure it makes a difference if its a ceremonial dagger or not. The point at which you pick up a bladed weapon and use it on someone else means you have crossed a line that many will not. He intended to kill those people and would have used another blade regardless.

[Shamhnan Insir]

The BBC slightly updated its pharmacist-prescribing article overnight and are now trying to emphasise that Therese Coffey is, in fact, going to go full Therese Coffey on us

She is an exceptionally dangerous person to have in such a position (which is incredible for someone so lacking in talent). It shows the appalling state of affairs if she is allowed to continue in this role. Our rivers team with sewage, whilst she all but advocates on behalf of disease. Father Nurgle would be happy with this one.

[The Notorious Mad Jack]

Labour lead is nineteen points in latest results from Deltapoll.

LAB: 47% (+3)
CON: 28% (-1)
LDEM: 9% (-2)
OTH:16% (-)

Fieldwork: 5th - 9th May 2023. Sample: 1,550 GB adults (Changes from 28th April - 2nd May 2023)

Leader of the Opposition @Keir_Starmer's net approval had increased by 12 points this week.

@RishiSunak's has decreased by four.

Keir Starmers net approval is at +11, Sunaks is -10

Polls like this rather put paid to the idea that Labour aren't on for a clear majority and should do a deal with the Lib Dems or SNP.

[Saor Alba]

47-28 was the 1997 margin if memory serves, only with the LibDems on half what they were back then.

[Emotional Support Crocodile]

Archbishop of Canterbury lays into the government's immigration policy, though in a rather luke warm way. The man is a weak lemon drink.

[Forsher]

Archbishop of Canterbury lays into the government's immigration policy, though in a rather luke warm way. The man is a weak lemon drink.

I kinda feel like this is better than a firebrand preacher getting into politics. Aside from the Black Civil Rights movement in the US, I feel like political pulpits don't tend to work for society. :shrug:

[The Notorious Mad Jack]

I'm watching PMQs and Rishi Sunak appears to have been studying Tony Blair's style of delivery. It's... not entirely ineffective.

[The Nihilistic view]

Look at all these UUP boys in the chat

Master political strategist is me, successfully doubling the UUP vote!

UP THE UUP!

[The Archregimancy]

47-28 was the 1997 margin if memory serves, only with the LibDems on half what they were back then.

1997 General Election result by percentage of vote share:

Labour: 43.2%
Conservative: 30.7%
LibDem: 16.8%

Which is much closer to the 7 May Redfield & Winton poll posted by Huskar a couple of days ago:

Westminster VI (7 May):

LAB: 41% (-4)
CON: 29% (+1)
LDEM: 16% (+4)
RFM: 5% (-2)
GRN: 4% (–)
SNP: 3% (+1)
OTH: 1% (–)

[Emotional Support Crocodile]

Government not going to revoke all EU laws by the end of the year

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65546319

The government is to ditch its plan for thousands of EU-era laws to expire automatically at the end of the year.

The plan - dubbed a post-Brexit bonfire - would see laws copied over to the UK after Brexit expire in January, unless specifically kept or replaced.

Critics of the bill had voiced concern that important laws would fall away by accident.

But minsters have now said the cut-off point will be replaced with a list of laws to go by the end of 2023.

In a statement, the business department said it would make the change through an amendment when the Retained EU Law Bill returns to Parliament next week.

Labour called the move a "humiliating u-turn," accusing ministers of trying to "rescue this sinking ship of a bill".

[Celritannia]

Government not going to revoke all EU laws by the end of the year

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65546319

The government is to ditch its plan for thousands of EU-era laws to expire automatically at the end of the year.

The plan - dubbed a post-Brexit bonfire - would see laws copied over to the UK after Brexit expire in January, unless specifically kept or replaced.

Critics of the bill had voiced concern that important laws would fall away by accident.

But minsters have now said the cut-off point will be replaced with a list of laws to go by the end of 2023.

In a statement, the business department said it would make the change through an amendment when the Retained EU Law Bill returns to Parliament next week.

Labour called the move a "humiliating u-turn," accusing ministers of trying to "rescue this sinking ship of a bill".

What a sorry and pointless state of affairs.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Andrew Bridgen has joined reclaim and is also suing Matt Hancock

Former Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen has launched legal action against Matt Hancock after joining actor Laurence Fox's Reclaim Party.

Mr Bridgen was expelled from the Conservative Party in April after claiming in January the COVID-19 vaccine was "the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust".

Former health secretary Mr Hancock, who remains suspended from the Tories for appearing on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, condemned Mr Bridgen's comments as "antisemitic" at the time.

Mr Bridgen announced on Wednesday he has now submitted a defamation claim to the High Court as he said Mr Hancock's comments were an attempt to "shut down valid concerns expressed by me".

He has launched a crowdfunding appeal for his legal action and said any excess funds will be donated to charities "supporting the COVID-injured and COVID-bereaved".

Mr Hancock has denied the allegations and called Mr Bridgen's legal action a "pathetic publicity stunt".

=CONTINUES=

[Mtwara]

Based on the latest episode of the podcast, The Rest Is Politics, Rory Stewart is a Liberal Democrat now.

[Dumb Ideologies]

Based on the latest episode of the podcast, The Rest Is Politics, Rory Stewart is a Liberal Democrat now.

Congrats to him on finally hatching but Lib Dem is still my least favourite gender.

[Mtwara]

Congrats to him on finally hatching but Lib Dem is still my least favourite gender.

Film idea - The 50 Year Old Gestation.

[GEAPS]

Local Government and the Political landscape bears little relationship to local will in most of Northern England at least. The Apple-cart is not only steadied by the scheming of local political parties and their shared interests but by Council Officers; exasperated electors forced to give up holding candidates to pledges and the scheming of bodies like the local Government Association to help the system ride out the hazards to the public plans. Try getting your voice heard without becoming a pawn in Councillor-approved processes or scrutinising anything and you shall see why the monopoly of local power has shrunk to one or two parties in most Wardships. They are forever telling you they know the Council needs new voices blah blah. So try standing as an Independent and watch them all block your path. Local Councillors deserve the contempt they receive. True sociopaths, scuttling like beetles past some and holding forth in safe group let's whispering in knots. Don't trust any of them. They'd sell their own grandma to protect their precious working relationships.

[Fartsniffage]

Local Government and the Political landscape bears little relationship to local will in most of Northern England at least. The Apple-cart is not only steadied by the scheming of local political parties and their shared interests but by Council Officers; exasperated electors forced to give up holding candidates to pledges and the scheming of bodies like the local Government Association to help the system ride out the hazards to the public plans. Try getting your voice heard without becoming a pawn in Councillor-approved processes or scrutinising anything and you shall see why the monopoly of local power has shrunk to one or two parties in most Wardships. They are forever telling you they know the Council needs new voices blah blah. So try standing as an Independent and watch them all block your path. Local Councillors deserve the contempt they receive. True sociopaths, scuttling like beetles past some and holding forth in safe group let's whispering in knots. Don't trust any of them. They'd sell their own grandma to protect their precious working relationships.

I take it you would have lost your deposit?

[GEAPS]

Local Government and the Political landscape bears little relationship to local will in most of Northern England at least. The Apple-cart is not only steadied by the scheming of local political parties and their shared interests but by Council Officers; exasperated electors forced to give up holding candidates to pledges and the scheming of bodies like the local Government Association to help the system ride out the hazards to the public plans. Try getting your voice heard without becoming a pawn in Councillor-approved processes or scrutinising anything and you shall see why the monopoly of local power has shrunk to one or two parties in most Wardships. They are forever telling you they know the Council needs new voices blah blah. So try standing as an Independent and watch them all block your path. Local Councillors deserve the contempt they receive. True sociopaths, scuttling like beetles past some and holding forth in safe group let's whispering in knots. Don't trust any of them. They'd sell their own grandma to protect their precious working relationships.

I take it you would have lost your deposit?

No I did not participate. And Deposits are collected in Parliamentary elections. I take it your related to or did keyboard warrioring on behalf of one of these shifty characters(??)

[The Notorious Mad Jack]

I take it you would have lost your deposit?

No I did not participate. And Deposits are collected in Parliamentary elections. I take it your related to or did keyboard warrioring on behalf of one of these shifty characters(??)

Oh you're going to be so fun.

[Dumb Ideologies]

This idea of a cabal of all-powerful Council Officers bending new councillors to their will is amusing but I can confirm this not to be the case at least in terms of planning.

National planning policy tightly constrains the bounds of what can pass in a Local Plan at Examination, the entire model favours a few large site promoters and volume housebuilders since Councils do not own land, cannot acquire at a reasonable price, and site availability is king.

Should Council Officers let their Plan go out of date through trying to fight this too hard then the government will of course simply approve large scale development with minimal social housing or infrastructure provision at appeal if the local members try to resist. The Council will also often be punished by having to pay the applicant's legal costs for "unreasonable behaviour" if members try to reject an application without a Local Plan in place, which in an era of minimal local government funding is quite the kick in the testicles to maintaining properly financed development management and planning policy departments.

[San Lumen]

Local Government and the Political landscape bears little relationship to local will in most of Northern England at least. The Apple-cart is not only steadied by the scheming of local political parties and their shared interests but by Council Officers; exasperated electors forced to give up holding candidates to pledges and the scheming of bodies like the local Government Association to help the system ride out the hazards to the public plans. Try getting your voice heard without becoming a pawn in Councillor-approved processes or scrutinising anything and you shall see why the monopoly of local power has shrunk to one or two parties in most Wardships. They are forever telling you they know the Council needs new voices blah blah. So try standing as an Independent and watch them all block your path. Local Councillors deserve the contempt they receive. True sociopaths, scuttling like beetles past some and holding forth in safe group let's whispering in knots. Don't trust any of them. They'd sell their own grandma to protect their precious working relationships.

I take it you would have lost your deposit?

What does this mean?

[The Notorious Mad Jack]

I take it you would have lost your deposit?

What does this mean?

In some elections you have to put down a monetary deposit to get on the ballot, which you only get back if you get a certain amount (either number or percentage) of votes.

[GEAPS]

No I did not participate. And Deposits are collected in Parliamentary elections. I take it your related to or did keyboard warrioring on behalf of one of these shifty characters(??)

Oh you're going to be so fun.

Locakl elections are fun. Most are promised "you won't get elected" and when they are they get bullied by their party whips before figuring out they don't need to show up regularly. There's a split between the party time sitters and the heads down types. That's before the sudden vanishing and by-elections begin. The meetings are a true lesson in psychology for anybody who tries to persuade them to give the public anything up and over their colleagues. Funniest of all are the ones who inexicably become independents and act no different or pretend to be about to quit to avoid questions only to re-appear on the ballot over and over again. Their biggest "strength" is thir gift of getting thousands of votes with a handful of noisy keyboard warriors trusting them.

The political parties rely on a handful of sociopaths and greasy pole climbers and a broken political system and insider knowledge. And an electorate who feel empowered to have voted with a majority regardless of the awful attititude and performance of their councillors year-in/ year-out. Endless spending of money of no benefit to their residents and no knowledge will be defended by the party faithful. Like I say. Sociopaths thick-as-thieves. Trust none of them.

[GEAPS]

What does this mean?

In some elections you have to put down a monetary deposit to get on the ballot, which you only get back if you get a certain amount (either number or percentage) of votes.

Five hundred pounds in a General Election. Ten Signatures. Quite different to the USA.

[San Lumen]

Oh you're going to be so fun.

Locakl elections are fun. Most are promised "you won't get elected" and when they are they get bullied by their party whips before figuring out they don't need to show up regularly. There's a split between the party time sitters and the heads down types. That's before the sudden vanishing and by-elections begin. The meetings are a true lesson in psychology for anybody who tries to persuade them to give the public anything up and over their colleagues. Funniest of all are the ones who inexicably become independents and act no different or pretend to be about to quit to avoid questions only to re-appear on the ballot over and over again. Their biggest "strength" is thir gift of getting thousands of votes with a handful of noisy keyboard warriors trusting them.

The political parties rely on a handful of sociopaths and greasy pole climbers and a broken political system and insider knowledge. And an electorate who feel empowered to have voted with a majority regardless of the awful attititude and performance of their councillors year-in/ year-out. Endless spending of money of no benefit to their residents and no knowledge will be defended by the party faithful. Like I say. Sociopaths thick-as-thieves. Trust none of them.

What a bunch of nonsense this all is.