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Shhh


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RE: General election/politics
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Coup Droit wrote:
Shhh wrote:
Bob in Spain wrote:
Shhh wrote:

I would prefer reform. Quite serious reform. But the House of Lords does serve a purpose and I would be concerned if scrapped altogether. This "2nd elected chamber" for example, where will those standing come from, how would it be independent?

I agree that there are a lot of details to be ironed out, but as you say, it does need to change.  It would be interesting to see it be based on PR as opposed to FPTP, which might give new political parties a chance to get a foothold into the political system.

 What any new system should aim for, is that party politics plays no part in a 2nd chamber surely?

 Do you not like the current one, then? 

Our lords are currently:

257 Tory

184 crossbench

168 Labour

84 Lib Dem

A few dribs and drabs

 

If you want to get rid of all political affiliation, shh, you must presumably be itching to get rid of the current House of Lords ?

I don't particularly mind political affiliation - I think it might be artificial to say that they all should be politically neutral 

The problem is that the people are not elected. That is the key issue, to me, not their political persuasion. When Boris put Lebedev into the House of Lords, who's never been to any session, I believe, my issue is not with Lebedev's politics as such, but that he was just Boris' mate, getting payback, and not a genuine Tory person that people voted in.   

Party politics are supposed to be left at the door.  We all know thats not the case, but if something was to replace it then in my mind it would be to come up with something party free.  Or why bother to replace it?

To be fair the HoL has made a few tip toes in that direction, "experts" in their fields being co-opted in but it very limited cry



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 Its really not as bad as they say :)
Coup Droit


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The 'why bother to replace it' is because it would be elected, democratic - surely that's a huge step in terms of improvement in itself?

I expect my government (both houses) to be political - that's the point of government, its politics

What I don't expect is my government to be unelected, unrepresentative, unaccountable and based on friends and favours

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Lambda


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There is no doubt the current nominations system is broken, not fit for purpose and in urgent need of reform. However, I do worry with an elected chamber human nature will mean members will base decisions on an electoral cycle and on what's best to get them reelected rather than what makes good law in the best interests of the country. The 2nd chamber, responsible for scrutinising legislation of career politicians from the other place and improving it, can not be a duplication of that place. I reserve judgement until a proposal for reform is published, but I would oppose any proposal that would give another chamber of elected career politicians.

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Coup Droit


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If this were a while ago, I'd agree with you, Lambda.

I still do to a point.

But our current system is not full pf people who are focused on what is good law in the interests of the country.

If only....



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Bob in Spain


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This is excruciating. Basically, the Home Secretary who has stated that we need to stop asylum seekers from making the dangerous channel crossing, all but admitting that the only way this hypothetical but genuine asylum seeker, even with a valid claim, can get to the UK is ...... to get in a dinghy on the French coast.

All this under questioning from a fellow Tory MP.

twitter.com/PippaCrerar/status/1595374559523471368

If they really want to stop channel crossings, they have to offer safe alternative routes.



-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Wednesday 23rd of November 2022 05:02:55 PM

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JonH comes home


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www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/19/jacinda-ardern-resigns-as-prime-minister-of-new-zealand

Respect - she was a leader that I wish we had here in the uk.

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Blue_Belle


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JonH comes home wrote:

www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/19/jacinda-ardern-resigns-as-prime-minister-of-new-zealand

Respect - she was a leader that I wish we had here in the uk.

 The tide has very much turned against Jacinda, sadly. Tactical move to try and not completely lose the election later on in the year to the NZ version of the Tories.

 

Lots of ram raids of corner shops and jewellers and is seen to be soft on crime (but gives hugs instead). Gangs running riot. Potentially a recession coming up. 



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Bob in Spain


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The Chairman of the BBC, Richard Sharp, was granted the role after being recommended as Boris Johnson's preferred candidate, just a few weeks after he helped Johnson with sort a loan guarantee to the value of 800k.

twitter.com/Gabriel_Pogrund/status/1616859756387237888

It does seem as you can buy almost anything with payments to the Tory party at the moment.

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JonH comes home


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Now Sturgeon resigns as well telling folks shes had enough.

I liked Nicola during Covid and her very straightforward style. How will Scotland judge her?

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Bob in Spain


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Very sad to hear that Betty Boothroyd has passed away today. She really was one of a kind.

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Bob in Spain


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I thought I had seen it all, but this government continues to amaze and disgust.

Suella Braverman - Home Secretary and former Attorney General - has just present her new Immigration Bill. It starts by saying:

"I don't know if this is legal but .... "

https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1633136398751481856

These people have no shame whatsoever.



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christ


Futures level

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Bob in Spain wrote:

I thought I had seen it all, but this government continues to amaze and disgust.

Suella Braverman - Home Secretary and former Attorney General - has just present her new Immigration Bill. It starts by saying:

"I don't know if this is legal but .... "

https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1633136398751481856

These people have no shame whatsoever.

 In what reality is Ms Braverman qualified to be in the post that she now occupies? I'm not sure that it is (only) shame that she lacks - she (also) lacks any sort of relevant ability/ knowledge/ experience.



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Bob in Spain


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A very sad day at the BBC today as they have managed to cancel on the same day both Gary Lineker (pulled from MoTD) for his comments on the refugee policy and David Attenborough (a wildlife show) because 'they are afraid of a right wing backlash'. Utterly ridiculous decisions.

www.bbc.com/news/uk-64920557

www.theguardian.com/media/2023/mar/10/david-attenborough-bbc-wild-isles-episode-rightwing-backlash-fears

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indiana


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The Lineker decision was not surprising.

Whatever folk may think about what he said, it did look like overstepping the mark.



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christ


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As I understand it the problem is not one of bias, but that what he said was deemed (by whom?) to be offensive. I can't quite see how comparing politicians' offensive comments and posturing to earlier politicians similarly offensive comments and posturing is offensive, in and of itself: even if the earlier politicians went on to bigger things. I find Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher's incessantly biased commentary to be much more offensive, but they are praised for their passion.

Lineker on ****ter: "It is like Germany in the thirties" Offensive, fire him.

Kuennsberg in an interview: "So, Minister, don't you think that this is like Germany in the thirties"? Valid question - give the girl a gold star for enterprising journalism.

Panorama: "Tonight we examine the similarities between current political attitudes and those in Germany in the thirties" Award-winning documentary.

If politicians don't want to be offended by the commentariat, they should stop saying - and doing - offensive things.

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