Are you voting today?

[Swarfmonkey]

A campaign will now be started to call for the option of abolishing the role of PCC appears on the next voting form - I reckon that there is a good chance more people would vote for abolishing it than fir any candidate.

I'm sure that if the average member of the public had even half a clue how much the useless buggers (plus their minions) cost they'd want shot of them.

This article may be 11 years old but I doubt that costs haven't increased significantly overall since then. Nowt but a waste of taxpayer's money.

 

[Landrover]

Talking about voting and the upcoming general election with someone today, and they said "swapping rishi sunak for Keir starmer is like changing your hat when you've messed your pants! "

 

[spin cycle]

some more of my Google research calculations

74k eligible voters av per constituency....av 67% turnout....say 50k votes

so a 1% swing would need 500 fraudulent votes

only just over 10% of constituency are marginal...needing a swing of 5% or less

so my point...to me it looks pretty unlikely that fraudulent voting would be a problem .....I mean a group of ppl would need the voting slips of 1k ....then traipse around multiple polling stations to achieve a 2% swing that would be unlikely to affect the result....indeed the conspiracy needed would likely be found out

 

[fudge]

Not keen on compulsion, but if brought in there would have to be the 'none of the above' option (or option for the abolition of roles like PCC in that constituency).

You write of forcing elections 'until voters gave a majority vote to a candidate they really believed in', but that could equally be until they get sick of it and the cost and vote for any old sod just to stop the endless process.

PR has to come in, FPTP is utterly discredited now - the next General Election may well see a party such as Reform or the LDs with >6m votes and anything from only 10 down to 0 MPs.

Less constituencies would mean less representation and a higher workload for MPs, neither being a good thing in general terms. Giving MPs better staff - ideally unrelated - is a good idea, not sure how it will encourage better candidates. Upping pay is alright if removing other income sources.

Agree 100% with the second jobs bit, but be careful or @fudge will label you as 'prejudiced' for suggesting it, despite what you may regard as your moderate outlook on things...

Good post though, the country really needs significant change in a lot of fields.

No need to worry I won’t label @JP1 as prejudice. A ban on second jobs is something the Labour Party will probably introduce but it won’t work. Too many ways of rewarding MPs after they leave parliament. It will be interesting to see where Kwarteng ends up after providing huge profits for hedge funds, his former employers. Second jobs can be a way of keeping the Westminster bubble in contact with the outside world.

 

[Danllan]

No need to worry I won’t label @JP1 as prejudice. A ban on second jobs is something the Labour Party will probably introduce but it won’t work. Too many ways of rewarding MPs after they leave parliament. It will be interesting to see where Kwarteng ends up after providing huge profits for hedge funds, his former employers. Second jobs can be a way of keeping the Westminster bubble in contact with the outside world.

Delighted you are so openly hypocritical...

MPs should be banned from receiving any positions or gratuities from any businesses, unions, organisations etc. that they have demonstrably assisted while in public office.

Kwarteng is a very bright fellow, well able to enrich himself off the back of his talents; but will undoubtedly make a further fortune via the revoltingly traditional method.

Second jobs can be as you say, it is possible of course. But it isn't too much to aspire to having MPs who are in touch with the real world anyway, is it? Would being elected change your understanding and morals?

I have seen many MPs who have 'changed' following their election; I am delighted to write that I know a couple who haven't, and one future MP who I am certain won't.

 

[Bald Rick]

What a nonsense and utter waste of money & time …. Turnout to vote for a PCC that no one wants or needs in north Wales 17.19% to give Mr Dunrobbin a £73,000 annual salary

WTF … literally WTF

Wales PCC election: First black police commissioner elected in UK

Emma Wools has been elected to serve south Wales, holding the seat for Labour.

www.bbc.co.uk

Er … I see his name is Dunbobbin

 

[fudge]

Delighted you are so openly hypocritical...

MPs should be banned from receiving any positions or gratuities from any businesses, unions, organisations etc. that they have demonstrably assisted while in public office.

Kwarteng is a very bright fellow, well able to enrich himself off the back of his talents; but will undoubtedly make a further fortune via the revoltingly traditional method.

Second jobs can be as you say, it is possible of course. But it isn't too much to aspire to having MPs who are in touch with the real world anyway, is it? Would being elected change your understanding and morals?

I have seen many MPs who have 'changed' following their election; I am delighted to write that I know a couple who haven't, and one future MP who I am certain won't.

Being elected wouldn’t change my “morals” as you put. That doesn’t mean much because I would not stand for election ever. One thing human beings will always do is change their minds. There has to be room for this in politics because circumstances are always evolving.

 

[spin cycle]

What a nonsense and utter waste of money & time …. Turnout to vote for a PCC that no one wants or needs in north Wales 17.19% to give Mr Dunrobbin a £73,000 annual salary

WTF … literally WTF

Wales PCC election: First black police commissioner elected in UK

Emma Wools has been elected to serve south Wales, holding the seat for Labour.

www.bbc.co.uk

Er … I see his name is Dunbobbin

might be something....police crime commissioners with dodgy names....yours is 'dunbobbin'......ours is 'awfully smellie' (orpen smellie)

edit...he just got beat

 

[Danllan]

Being elected wouldn’t change my “morals” as you put. That doesn’t mean much because I would not stand for election ever. One thing human beings will always do is change their minds. There has to be room for this in politics because circumstances are always evolving.

That could easily be self-contradictory, what about fundamental principle, moral, social, economic etc.?

Of course we can all quote Keynes in re facts and minds changing; but... if you are fundamentally against e.g. capital punishment, being shown stat's that argue against your preference will not change your mind, since you would be working from principle.

I believe jury-trials to be essential for the people to be sure of a fair hearing in the Crown Courts. There are very specific and rational exceptions to this, and the appeal process allows for them by giving the defendant extra assistance. I will never accept the ending of jury-trials, it is simple principle.

I have many other things that I will not compromise on, as I am sure you and others do too.

 

[Still Farming]

What a nonsense and utter waste of money & time …. Turnout to vote for a PCC that no one wants or needs in north Wales 17.19% to give Mr Dunrobbin a £73,000 annual salary

WTF … literally WTF

Wales PCC election: First black police commissioner elected in UK

Emma Wools has been elected to serve south Wales, holding the seat for Labour.

www.bbc.co.uk

Er … I see his name is Dunbobbin

Higher Wage down here??
So much for pay equality??

 

[Bald Rick]

Higher Wage down here??
So much for pay equality??


View attachment 1179891

Salary is based on numbers of people being served.
South Walians breed more

 

[delilah]

We now have a ground-breaking record number of Green Councillors on any council ever in the UK, paving the way for more success at the General Election.

We've won a record 34 new Green Councillors on Bristol Council. Every single Councillor in Bristol Central is Green, bringing us one step closer to ensuring that Carla Denyer will be our next Green MP there

Other headlines from today are: In Worcester we've won 12 seats - a record in the city and we got largest number vote share city wide. An incredible result in Maidstone growing from three to nine Councillors In Hastings we have grown from four to twelve Councillors - making us the largest party on the council. We've seen another breakthrough in Hampshire, joining Bolton, Newcastle, Redditch and Sefton with their first Green Councillor. South Norfolk broke through with an impressive 10 votes over The Conservatives - meaning The Conservatives have now lost control. As this part of the Waveney Valley constituency this is incredibly promising news. South Tyneside has grown to be the strongest ever Green group in the North East.

We are on track to have a record number of Councillors by the end of the weekend - around 800 on 170 councils​

 

[thorpe]

We now have a ground-breaking record number of Green Councillors on any council ever in the UK, paving the way for more success at the General Election.

We've won a record 34 new Green Councillors on Bristol Council. Every single Councillor in Bristol Central is Green, bringing us one step closer to ensuring that Carla Denyer will be our next Green MP there

Other headlines from today are:​ In Worcester we've won 12 seats - a record in the city and we got largest number vote share city wide. An incredible result in Maidstone growing from three to nine Councillors In Hastings we have grown from four to twelve Councillors - making us the largest party on the council. We've seen another breakthrough in Hampshire, joining Bolton, Newcastle, Redditch and Sefton with their first Green Councillor. South Norfolk broke through with an impressive 10 votes over The Conservatives - meaning The Conservatives have now lost control. As this part of the Waveney Valley constituency this is incredibly promising news. South Tyneside has grown to be the strongest ever Green group in the North East.

We are on track to have a record number of Councillors by the end of the weekend - around 800 on 170 councils​

frightening!

 

[Tubbylew]

Salary is based on numbers of people being served.
South Walians breed more

Nowt else to do in the valleys.

 

[Bald Rick]

We now have a ground-breaking record number of Green Councillors on any council ever in the UK, paving the way for more success at the General Election.

We've won a record 34 new Green Councillors on Bristol Council. Every single Councillor in Bristol Central is Green, bringing us one step closer to ensuring that Carla Denyer will be our next Green MP there

Other headlines from today are: In Worcester we've won 12 seats - a record in the city and we got largest number vote share city wide. An incredible result in Maidstone growing from three to nine Councillors In Hastings we have grown from four to twelve Councillors - making us the largest party on the council. We've seen another breakthrough in Hampshire, joining Bolton, Newcastle, Redditch and Sefton with their first Green Councillor. South Norfolk broke through with an impressive 10 votes over The Conservatives - meaning The Conservatives have now lost control. As this part of the Waveney Valley constituency this is incredibly promising news. South Tyneside has grown to be the strongest ever Green group in the North East.

We are on track to have a record number of Councillors by the end of the weekend - around 800 on 170 councils​

Much as we appreciate your enthusiasm @delilah .... the reality is that people vote green in council and local elections as a protest rather than vote for the opposition to their usual choice. Come a GE, they generally revert to type

 

[delilah]

Much as we appreciate your enthusiasm @delilah .... the reality is that people vote green in council and local elections as a protest rather than vote for the opposition to their usual choice. Come a GE, they generally revert to type

Jonathon Porritt wrote a book called 'The coming of the greens'. That was in the 80's, and they still haven't arrived. Any enthusiasm I have is tempered by a heavy dose of realism.

 

[ProDrive]

Not much choice here.

 

[Widgetone]

Jonathon Porritt wrote a book called 'The coming of the greens'. That was in the 80's, and they still haven't arrived. Any enthusiasm I have is tempered by a heavy dose of realism.

I think the Greens are confused by the gender identity thing, may be fashionable in internal focus groups, but the great unwashed, ie us the electorate, might not be impressed cometh the hour on GE day.

 

[Swarfmonkey]

We've won a record 34 new Green Councillors on Bristol Council. Every single Councillor in Bristol Central is Green

That's Bristol well and truly fooked then. Mind you, it was already well on the way to that status due to the number of immigrants from London

 

[bobk]

Sadiq Khan gets re elected with a bigger share of the vote , this country is totally fuked up