The Politics Thread

[Bruce Rioja]

32% turnout!!!! that’s ridiculous I assume that everything is in place to handle a 100% turnout so good 'ole tax payer wastes his own tax

did it look like that to you when you went to vote?

I went. There was a woman and a lad in a portakabin, and one voter - me!

[thebish]

32% turnout!!!! that’s ridiculous I assume that everything is in place to handle a 100% turnout so good 'ole tax payer wastes his own tax

did it look like that to you when you went to vote?

I went. There was a woman and a lad in a portakabin, and one voter - me!

ahhh - maybe Hoboh was right - tax payers money squandered on huge voting-station palaces with rows of shiny voting booths ready for a 10,000 voter-surge....

[Hoboh]

32% turnout!!!! that’s ridiculous I assume that everything is in place to handle a 100% turnout so good 'ole tax payer wastes his own tax

did it look like that to you when you went to vote?

There was plenty to help bish thank you and it is behind the scenes most work goes on anyway.

[thebish]

32% turnout!!!! that’s ridiculous I assume that everything is in place to handle a 100% turnout so good 'ole tax payer wastes his own tax

did it look like that to you when you went to vote?

There was plenty to help bish thank you and it is behind the scenes most work goes on anyway.

I'm glad you got the help you needed - it's a complicated business!

[CrazyHorse]

Voting should be compulsory even if the option of cannot find a suitable candidate is added, at least if this option wins it will put pressure on the other lot to improve!

On the one hand this is a fair comment. I mean tbh people haven't got a right to complain if they didn't vote in the first place.
But on the other hand, forcing people to do something they don't want to do flies in the face of the spirit of democracy. What do you suggest, massive fines and/or imprisonment if someone doesn't vote? Bit harsh, isn't it?

Like the idea of a "none of the above" option on a ballot paper though.

[Hoboh]

Voting should be compulsory even if the option of cannot find a suitable candidate is added, at least if this option wins it will put pressure on the other lot to improve!

On the one hand this is a fair comment. I mean tbh people haven't got a right to complain if they didn't vote in the first place.
But on the other hand, forcing people to do something they don't want to do flies in the face of the spirit of democracy. What do you suggest, massive fines and/or imprisonment if someone doesn't vote? Bit harsh, isn't it?

Like the idea of a "none of the above" option on a ballot paper though.

Fines, I like that, might help with the cash flow

[Gail Platz]

I voted Labour in the locals.

The Tory woman doesn't even live in our area and looks like a right evil little witch, the Lib Dem candidate lives about three doors down from me and didn't even bother with a leaflet, and I know the Labour candidate from my junior football days and he's a Bolton fan so has to be him! But on a serious note, I don't think Labour are great but they're the best out of the 'big three'.

[Armchair Wanderer]

Bumped into the Labour candidate from the neighbouring ward yesterday, she seemed very nice. Was glad to see this lunchtime that her seat was a Labour GAIN. Go lady!

My ward has been Green for a while, was pleased to see it's still Green.

[Hoboh]

I voted Labour in the locals.

The Tory woman doesn't even live in our area and looks like a right evil little witch, the Lib Dem candidate lives about three doors down from me and didn't even bother with a leaflet, and I know the Labour candidate from my junior football days and he's a Bolton fan so has to be him! But on a serious note, I don't think Labour are great but they're the best out of the 'big three'.

Oh lord!!

[Bruce Rioja]

Maybe I'm reading a little too much into this, but in our votey bit you were allowed to vote for three candidates, and there is a level of parity in the number of votes cast against each nominee to suggest that Labour voters voted for their three and Lib Dem voters (both of them) voted for all three of theirs.

I'm just wondering though why the Conservative candidate that's of Asian origin pooled around 400 votes less than his two colleagues?!

Mudasir Dean - Winner Conservative 1584
Walter Hall - Winner Conservative 1957
Stuart Haslam - Winner Conservative 1948

Hmmmmmmm

[boltonboris]

In Langworthy and another place in Salford that escapes me, the BNP picked up more votes than the Conservatives.

I'm not sure if that says more about that area of Salford or how far the Tories have slipped since coming into national power.

[BWFC_Insane]

Maybe I'm reading a little too much into this, but in our votey bit you were allowed to vote for three candidates, and there is a level of parity in the number of votes cast against each nominee to suggest that Labour voters voted for their three and Lib Dem voters (both of them) voted for all three of theirs.

I'm just wondering though why the Conservative candidate that's of Asian origin pooled around 400 votes less than his two colleagues?!

Mudasir Dean - Winner Conservative 1584
Walter Hall - Winner Conservative 1957
Stuart Haslam - Winner Conservative 1948

Hmmmmmmm

Was there a UKIP candidate?

[Bruce Rioja]

Maybe I'm reading a little too much into this, but in our votey bit you were allowed to vote for three candidates, and there is a level of parity in the number of votes cast against each nominee to suggest that Labour voters voted for their three and Lib Dem voters (both of them) voted for all three of theirs.

I'm just wondering though why the Conservative candidate that's of Asian origin pooled around 400 votes less than his two colleagues?!

Mudasir Dean - Winner Conservative 1584
Walter Hall - Winner Conservative 1957
Stuart Haslam - Winner Conservative 1948

Hmmmmmmm

Was there a UKIP candidate?

No, just the three main parties.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

But on the other hand, forcing people to do something they don't want to do flies in the face of the spirit of democracy. What do you suggest, massive fines and/or imprisonment if someone doesn't vote? Bit harsh, isn't it?

I'm not sure I'm an advocate of compulsory voting, but there are lots of example of things in this democracy that we like to force people to do beacuse we think it's a good idea, enforced with penalties.

[Prufrock]

What Le Crayons said. Compulsory voting isn't in itself undemocratic. There is a counter argument that if only 30% turn out, can that even be called a democratic election, or do we live in an oligarchy. Anyway, I'm against compulsory voting mainly because whilst you can force people to go to a polling station and tick a box, you can't force them to take an interest; and so, you'd have the voice of people who want to vote diluted by people making 'joke' votes for penguins, just ticking the top box, or, in a waste of time all round.

Anyway, on the Council Elections. Can't decide if reflect much feeling towards the government or not. On the one hand they seemed so ridiculously pointless I can't find any actual local issues people could have used to make their decision. Our new councillor for instance pledged to campaign to sort out a cock up on a street which has had its speed limit changed (notice 'campaign', the decision is LCC's, but she will 'campaign' for it), to sort out parking near the band stand on a Tuesday night, and to write to sat-nav companies because lorries keep getting sent down a narrow residential street and getting stuck. World-changing stuff.

On the other hand, it is clear local issues are still important. Said councillor is Labour, but the ward had been Tory for donkeys' years. The reason for the sudden change? The Tory candidate's husband had sold some land to a load of gypsies who have caused untold controversy in the village.

As it stands, I still just cannot picture Ed Miliband in Downing Street.

[Sponge]

What Le Crayons said. Compulsory voting isn't in itself undemocratic. There is a counter argument that if only 30% turn out, can that even be called a democratic election, or do we live in an oligarchy. Anyway, I'm against compulsory voting mainly because whilst you can force people to go to a polling station and tick a box, you can't force them to take an interest; and so, you'd have the voice of people who want to vote diluted by people making 'joke' votes for penguins, just ticking the top box, or, in a waste of time all round.

Anyway, on the Council Elections. Can't decide if reflect much feeling towards the government or not. On the one hand they seemed so ridiculously pointless I can't find any actual local issues people could have used to make their decision. Our new councillor for instance pledged to campaign to sort out a cock up on a street which has had its speed limit changed (notice 'campaign', the decision is LCC's, but she will 'campaign' for it), to sort out parking near the band stand on a Tuesday night, and to write to sat-nav companies because lorries keep getting sent down a narrow residential street and getting stuck. World-changing stuff.

On the other hand, it is clear local issues are still important. Said councillor is Labour, but the ward had been Tory for donkeys' years. The reason for the sudden change? The Tory candidate's husband had sold some land to a load of gypsies who have caused untold controversy in the village.

As it stands, I still just cannot picture Ed Miliband in Downing Street.

Yeah, potholes and parking spaces tend to be the hot potato issues at local elections. It's not really surprising that people struggle to get excited.

Anyway, hoping for a Hollande victory in France today—a welcome counter to the general rightward swing being seen across Europe at the moment.

[BWFC_Insane]

What Le Crayons said. Compulsory voting isn't in itself undemocratic. There is a counter argument that if only 30% turn out, can that even be called a democratic election, or do we live in an oligarchy. Anyway, I'm against compulsory voting mainly because whilst you can force people to go to a polling station and tick a box, you can't force them to take an interest; and so, you'd have the voice of people who want to vote diluted by people making 'joke' votes for penguins, just ticking the top box, or, in a waste of time all round.

Anyway, on the Council Elections. Can't decide if reflect much feeling towards the government or not. On the one hand they seemed so ridiculously pointless I can't find any actual local issues people could have used to make their decision. Our new councillor for instance pledged to campaign to sort out a cock up on a street which has had its speed limit changed (notice 'campaign', the decision is LCC's, but she will 'campaign' for it), to sort out parking near the band stand on a Tuesday night, and to write to sat-nav companies because lorries keep getting sent down a narrow residential street and getting stuck. World-changing stuff.

On the other hand, it is clear local issues are still important. Said councillor is Labour, but the ward had been Tory for donkeys' years. The reason for the sudden change? The Tory candidate's husband had sold some land to a load of gypsies who have caused untold controversy in the village.

As it stands, I still just cannot picture Ed Miliband in Downing Street.

Hmm I sort of agree. But I think the tide is changing somewhat......

[William the White]

Maybe I'm reading a little too much into this, but in our votey bit you were allowed to vote for three candidates, and there is a level of parity in the number of votes cast against each nominee to suggest that Labour voters voted for their three and Lib Dem voters (both of them) voted for all three of theirs.

I'm just wondering though why the Conservative candidate that's of Asian origin pooled around 400 votes less than his two colleagues?!

Mudasir Dean - Winner Conservative 1584
Walter Hall - Winner Conservative 1957
Stuart Haslam - Winner Conservative 1948

Hmmmmmmm

My votes went to none of them, you won't be surprised to hear...

But I'm not at all surprised to see that voters on the right found it difficult to vote for someone from an 'ethnic' background... My guess is because they are racists...

Only a guess, obviously...

[naah, not really, that's the explanation]

[Hoboh]

Maybe I'm reading a little too much into this, but in our votey bit you were allowed to vote for three candidates, and there is a level of parity in the number of votes cast against each nominee to suggest that Labour voters voted for their three and Lib Dem voters (both of them) voted for all three of theirs.

I'm just wondering though why the Conservative candidate that's of Asian origin pooled around 400 votes less than his two colleagues?!

Mudasir Dean - Winner Conservative 1584
Walter Hall - Winner Conservative 1957
Stuart Haslam - Winner Conservative 1948

Hmmmmmmm

My votes went to none of them, you won't be surprised to hear...

But I'm not at all surprised to see that voters on the right found it difficult to vote for someone from an 'ethnic' background... My guess is because they are racists...

Only a guess, obviously...

[naah, not really, that's the explanation]

Blimey! Cue generalization! People are now “racist” because they are wary of voting for someone with roots in an alien culture. Clearly, the left wing multicultural brainwashing program still has many shortcomings, so guess what, we will call them racists, that will teach them a lesson! FFS

[thebish]

Blimey! Cue generalization! People are now “racist” because they are wary of voting for someone with roots in an alien culture. Clearly, the left wing multicultural brainwashing program still has many shortcomings, so guess what, we will call them racists, that will teach them a lesson! FFS

can you unpack that a bit Hobes? who has "roots in an alien culture" and in what way(s) is it "alien" so that anyone should be wary of it?

I presume you are talking about one of the candidates?