The Politics Thread

[BWFC_Insane]

Can one of you help me out here, please? How come the BBC are so concerned with Tim Farron's views on gay sex? What the 4uck has it to do with anything?

A little explanation please...obviously not the act but what the BBC is saying!

This should give you some idea. Seems that Sky are at it also. Last night on 5 Live that tosser from Burnley way wouldn't let it drop.

https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2017/04/c ... cularists/#

I mean, isn't this another example of extreme Tory/right wing media bias? Similar to what I pointed out yesterday. Lib Dems expected to challenge the Tories in a number of seats and therefore the media needs to find an angle of attack?

As the article points out, the media simultaneously doesn't challenge Tories on similar grounds (or any meaningful grounds in many cases).

I know you are a Tory Bruce, but surely this is concerning to you? The Conservatives will win regardless, but the media bias seems ridiculous ingrained this time. And without challenge in any sense it leaves us wide open for the next 5 years as a nation to a government with a large majority and arguably nobody to ask questions and challenge.

[Hoboh]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... ard-brexit

You know, I find myself willing some folk to break the electoral regulations by handing out 'support' to candidates whilst not even being a political party with no candidates.
This smacks of the US way of electing presidents, who has the most cash.
I hope they are Being scrutinised with a fine toothcomb.

[BWFC_Insane]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... ard-brexit

You know, I find myself willing some folk to break the electoral regulations by handing out 'support' to candidates whilst not even being a political party with no candidates.
This smacks of the US way of electing presidents, who has the most cash.
I hope they are Being scrutinised with a fine toothcomb.

You know our governing party committed electoral fraud in 2015 don't you?

[Hoboh]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... ard-brexit

You know, I find myself willing some folk to break the electoral regulations by handing out 'support' to candidates whilst not even being a political party with no candidates.
This smacks of the US way of electing presidents, who has the most cash.
I hope they are Being scrutinised with a fine toothcomb.

You know our governing party committed electoral fraud in 2015 don't you?

Then they should be well versed and prepared monitoring Gina 'puke' Miller and her band of false democrats then.

[Bruce Rioja]

I know you are a Tory Bruce, but surely this is concerning to you?

Sickens and annoys me more than anything, Fella, as does negative campaigning in general. As a young man looking to make his way in the world I was taught at the beginning to never criticise a competitor, but to give them credit before demonstrating why my offer was better. It's something I still do and wish that our politicians would do also, rather than embarking on this race to the bottom every time there's something to be voted on.

[BWFC_Insane]

I know you are a Tory Bruce, but surely this is concerning to you?

Sickens and annoys me more than anything, Fella, as does negative campaigning in general. As a young man looking to make his way in the world I was taught at the beginning to never criticise a competitor, but to give them credit before demonstrating why my offer was better. It's something I still do and wish that our politicians would do also, rather than embarking on this race to the bottom every time there's something to be voted on.

Indeed. I'm more and more convinced that Proportional representation or some form of, is one of the things needed to sort some aspects of British politics out. It would prevent the pandering to parts of "middle England" seen as key to the election, whilst ignoring large swathes of the country seen as not. It would also perhaps, encourage a more positive style of campaigning, with more votes counting and perhaps a party offering hope to disenfranchised voters would be more successful in that sort of a system.

As it stands now, there will be another constituency reconfiguration in a couple of years time that will, favour, the elected government. Who it seems, will be able to simply stand on a platform of "look how bad everyone else is". And seemingly get away with that.

Depressing times, whichever political persuasion you are. At least Miliband and Cameron had a contest, of sorts. And questions were asked, and somewhat answered.

[Harry Genshaw]

Agree with the concerns regarding recent BBC bias but Farron does have a question to answer there. If he thinks gay sex is a sin he should have the courage of such convictions and say so publicly

[BWFC_Insane]

Agree with the concerns regarding recent BBC bias but Farron does have a question to answer there. If he thinks gay sex is a sin he should have the courage of such convictions and say so publicly

So should every political leader have to a) declare their religion and b) clarify their point of view on every subject relating to their chosen religion's text and values?

What had he done, to indicate this?

Also, this sort of subject is very complex. What if he believed in the eyes of god being gay it was a sin, but that gay people should be legally afforded the same rights as non-gay people, because he understands his personal theological view is just that?

[Bruce Rioja]

Agree with the concerns regarding recent BBC bias but Farron does have a question to answer there. If he thinks gay sex is a sin he should have the courage of such convictions and say so publicly

Really? As a member of the electorate I honestly couldn't care less what his personal views are on homosexuality are. There's also the fact that he's been singled out for this line of questioning due to his Christianity. Are the media going to be singling other MPs out to ask them personal questions based on their faiths? In the run up to a GE have they not got more pertinent and relevant questions for our politicians?

[Harry Genshaw]

Agree with the concerns regarding recent BBC bias but Farron does have a question to answer there. If he thinks gay sex is a sin he should have the courage of such convictions and say so publicly

So should every political leader have to a) declare their religion and b) clarify their point of view on every subject relating to their chosen religion's text and values?

What had he done, to indicate this?

Also, this sort of subject is very complex. What if he believed in the eyes of god being gay it was a sin, but that gay people should be legally afforded the same rights as non-gay people, because he understands his personal theological view is just that?

Can't he just say that then? It's a fair question to ask of someone who wants to be the leader of the country and espouses deeply held religious convictions. There's a hint that the two could be incompatible. If his position is as you've described, then it's surely better to say that rather than duck the question?

[Harry Genshaw]

Agree with the concerns regarding recent BBC bias but Farron does have a question to answer there. If he thinks gay sex is a sin he should have the courage of such convictions and say so publicly

Really? As a member of the electorate I honestly couldn't care less what his personal views are on homosexuality are. There's also the fact that he's been singled out for this line of questioning due to his Christianity. Are the media going to be singling other MPs out to ask them personal questions based on their faiths? In the run up to a GE have they not got more pertinent and relevant questions for our politicians?

Would we want a political leader who thinks gay sex is a sin, or is morally wrong in this day and age? As Insane has alluded to, I think at the very least he should clarify his views on equal rights and whether they are compatible with his religious convictions

[Prufrock]

I think it best to avoid overusing Orwellian terms where possible but we're talking about thought crime. He says he believes in gay rights, more importantly his voting record says he believes in gay rights. What his private thoughts are on specifics, weird as f*ck as they may be, are no-one's business.

No-one has asked the "vicar's daughter"with a bad record on gay rights the same question. Cathy Newman has said she would, but no-one has.

And then he's come out and said he doesn't think it's a sin and it's STILL somehow a story.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Have they asked all those bishops in the house of Lords as well? Fecking ridiculous that the media are happy giving the Torys a free pass on slogan bingo yet feel the need to make out the opposition are somehow less competent than Boris and Fox.

[BWFC_Insane]

Agree with the concerns regarding recent BBC bias but Farron does have a question to answer there. If he thinks gay sex is a sin he should have the courage of such convictions and say so publicly

So should every political leader have to a) declare their religion and b) clarify their point of view on every subject relating to their chosen religion's text and values?

What had he done, to indicate this?

Also, this sort of subject is very complex. What if he believed in the eyes of god being gay it was a sin, but that gay people should be legally afforded the same rights as non-gay people, because he understands his personal theological view is just that?

Can't he just say that then? It's a fair question to ask of someone who wants to be the leader of the country and espouses deeply held religious convictions. There's a hint that the two could be incompatible. If his position is as you've described, then it's surely better to say that rather than duck the question?

Theresa May is a Christian with a track record of voting against equal rights for the LGBT community. Don't you think that someone would be better off asking her this question? Or are you another swept along by our right wing, Tory dominated media?

[Harry Genshaw]

^ haha! Yeah that's me! It's a fair question of her too. If Farrons clarified his position as Pru seems to suggest then fair enough.

Anyway Farron can go eff himself. If you want an example of folk being carried away with the right wing media, how about him sacking his MP for criticising Israel? Or as it's called these days 'anti semitism'

[BWFC_Insane]

^ haha! Yeah that's me! It's a fair question of her too. If Farrons clarified his position as Pru seems to suggest then fair enough.

Anyway Farron can go eff himself. If you want an example of folk being carried away with the right wing media, how about him sacking his MP for criticising Israel? Or as it's called these days 'anti semitism'

Is that the guy who tweeted 'ich bin ein Palestinian' and said he'd fire rockets into Israel from Gaza? That one. Oh and the one who signed a holocaust remembrance book with a criticism of Israel's violence?

Aye. Can't understand at all why anyone wouldn't want him in their party........

Sure he's been critical of Israel. Which should be no sin. But he's clearly done so in an incredibly provocative and disgusting manner.

[Harry Genshaw]

I don't know about the condolence book comments. What was that about?

He said if he lived in Gaza he could well imagine feeling strongly enough to fire rockets into Israel. I don't think he's on his own there. It certainly doesn't make him anti semitic unless you've been swept up in the right wing media rhetoric

[Prufrock]

What are your thoughts on Ken Livingstone, HG?

[Bruce Rioja]

Agree with the concerns regarding recent BBC bias but Farron does have a question to answer there. If he thinks gay sex is a sin he should have the courage of such convictions and say so publicly

Really? As a member of the electorate I honestly couldn't care less what his personal views are on homosexuality are. There's also the fact that he's been singled out for this line of questioning due to his Christianity. Are the media going to be singling other MPs out to ask them personal questions based on their faiths? In the run up to a GE have they not got more pertinent and relevant questions for our politicians?

Would we want a political leader who thinks gay sex is a sin, or is morally wrong in this day and age? As Insane has alluded to, I think at the very least he should clarify his views on equal rights and whether they are compatible with his religious convictions

I couldn't care less as to what consenting adults get up to.

If I could care less then that would be as to what others think about it.

[Harry Genshaw]

What are your thoughts on Ken Livingstone, HG?

I like the guy and don't accept he's anti semitic. He was a d*ck for getting embroiled in all that Hitler/Zionism stuff. I'm not a historian so don't know if what he alleged was true but he was crackers for even going there. I know you don't agree.