UK Elections

[red oct 2]

just thought i'd make a thread about the UK's elections. and i have a question, how many terms is a PM aloud to have in office? if Tony Blair gets re-elected this will be his 3rd term. and how many years does each term last?

[Colossus 2]

I don't think there is any limits in a parliamentary system.

I really don't know more then you do.

[Bordoy 0]

Each term max 5 years, usually lasts 4 years. Max 3 terms.

[da12thMonkey 1943]

In the British Parliamentary system, a General Election has to be called at least once every five years, unless there's a time of national emergency, in which case an election can be postponed. The goverment can call an election at any time during the five years they have in office (IIIRC there were 2 in 1974). The last one we had was in 2001.

[Bordoy 0]

I think Labour will win by a long shot, but would like to see Kilroy-Silk get a seat.

[HotShot 0]

I havn't really played attention to any previous elections, as this one is the only one i am old enough to vote in, but it does seem that there are more smaller party's with a good running. Theres always been GreenParty, etc, but this time UKIP, Respect, and tan-mans recent party Veritas seem to be more likely to get seats than other times, and LibDems look to gain alot more seats this time around too. I'm sure Labour will still win, but i would think these smaller party's will hit them and lessen their majority.

Labour seem to be know this too, saying a vote for LibDems is one for Conservatives, and saying they may not get in (although the latter i think is because they think their voters wont bother voting otherwise).

[sneakysix 0]

Ive not placed a vote this time round

1) No NHS dentist

2) Tax credit made my family be on the poverty line

3) BS over Iraq

4) No good parties to choose this time round

Labour will get in i hav eno doubt but for the same reason as Bush did,, the alternative is just as weak

[denoir 0]

In the British Parliamentary system, a General Election has to be called at least once every five years, unless there's a time of national emergency, in which case an election can be postponed. The goverment can call an election at any time during the five years they have in office (IIIRC there were 2 in 1974). The last one we had was in 2001.

As ny understanding of it is, in practice yes. In theory no as Britain has no written constitution. Basically, the PM has the responsibility of asking the Queen to dissolve the parliament. In theory, he could choose not to. Or the Queen could in theory dissolve it at will.

Am I wrong?

[llauma 0]

In the British Parliamentary system, a General Election has to be called at least once every five years, unless there's a time of national emergency, in which case an election can be postponed. The goverment can call an election at any time during the five years they have in office (IIIRC there were 2 in 1974). The last one we had was in 2001.

As ny understanding of it is, in practice yes. In theory no as Britain has no written constitution. Basically, the PM has the responsibility of asking the Queen to dissolve the parliament. In theory, he could choose not to. Or the Queen could in theory dissolve it at will.

Am I wrong?

Yes there are now direct rules about it.. The PM is expected to be an english gentlemen and follow some unwritten rules.

[Bordoy 0]

The worse thing was that voters in my region (i'm one year out), only had Labour, Conservatives, Lib Dems, and UKIP to vote from. But no Veritas. Hopefully there will be in four years time when i can vote.

[da12thMonkey 1943]

Aye, that's it, the Prime Minister (though this title does not constitutionally exist, the real title is First Lord of the Treasury) has to go to ask the Queen if Parliament can be dissolved for the purposes of the Election, and yes, she can choose to dissolve Parliament at any time.

This year's campaigning has been rather weak really, there's been no real points of interest and none of the parties seem to have anything solid to offer. I only voted because I'd rather not run the risk of someone nicking my vote.

[Bordoy 0]

As i say "If you don't vote, DO NOT COMPLAIN in the future"

[kevbaz 0]

I voted conservative

bring back maggie i say!

[denoir 0]

As i say "If you don't vote, DO NOT COMPLAIN in the future"

Not voting is a democratic right and can be a political statement as well. Refusing to vote for any of the available candidates gives you just as much right to complain as if you do vote for one of them.

[Bordoy 0]

Sunderland South - Labour win.

[Bordoy 0]

As i say "If you don't vote, DO NOT COMPLAIN in the future"

Not voting is a democratic right and can be a political statement as well. Refusing to vote for any of the available candidates gives you just as much right to complain as if you do vote for one of them.

I say spoil your ballot paper then.

People died during WW2 to give us this right and we should use it.

[kevbaz 0]

not voting aint gonna get the muppet in number 10 out is it

[Bordoy 0]

not voting aint gonna get the muppet in number 10 out is it

Yer thats what i mean, so if anyone wants to complain, then do it at the ballot box and vote someone else. Don't waster your opportunity.

[orson 0]

Oh please , people died in WW2 for the same reason people are dying today .... money and power

Whichever party you may vote for , they can only inherit the same mess left by the former party . The underlying governing body remains the same whoever you vote for .

While ever we are still voting for selfish resons.."what am I going to get out of it ? " .. the whole cycle will just keep repeating untill it breaks .

 Q )  How can you tell if a polititions lying ?

  A )  if you can see his lips move .

Polititions should not recieve such high pay

The whole point is to serve the population , not the other way around .

While in office , they should be kept by the state , with private acomodation supplied by the state but with no fixed wage as such .

All food and lodgings should be taken care of to let them concentrate 100% on running the country  , not on paying for expensive taste and lifestyles .

At present the government says that the minimum amount an adult needs to live in the UK is Å47 .00

This is the basic amount of benefits paid by social security .

On top of this the rent of property is also met along with any council tax .

This amounts to an average of Å120.00 a week

I wonder how many polititions would still want the job if it meant they had to actually do something rather then just swan about getting paid for nothing .

There is no point paying people for taking reponsibility if they dont at least try .

I believe there is no future for a society based around material goods , and while ever a government is trying to run this kind of system it can only spiral down to eventual colapse.

Civil disobedience is a right to which we are all entitled

Henry David Thoreau

random  

[dm 9]

Polititions should not recieve such high pay

The whole point is to serve the population , not the other way around .

While in office , they should be kept by the state , with private acomodation supplied by the state but with no fixed wage as such .

All food and lodgings should be taken care of to let them concentrate 100% on running the country , not on paying for expensive taste and lifestyles.

Agree with you 100% on that, I think its sickening that politicians get paid so much to do relatively nothing.

Having them "kept by the state" would be an excellent way to "control" their habits.

I always wonder where all the money goes, now I appreciate there is inflation but how can continual tax increases not prevent continual spending cuts in all areas?

I am very suspicious of this and I am of the beliefe that an increasingly large portion of taxpayers money is [Edit]<s>going</s> being secreted[/Edit] into the payroll for all the politicians and their underlings, which sickens me.

[Gadger 0]

What's the point in voting?

We have two Conservative parties, no labour party & a severly underfunded Liberal party. The BNP, UKI or any other far left/right group isn't worth the paper the ballot is written on, they are all run by idiots.

The political situation really needs to change within the next 5 years. Three stagnant parties, with two offering little difference in terms of incentives is really piss poor.

I think the only way to solve this problem, yes it sounds drastic, is if the EC disbands either New Labour or the Torries after this coming election. It's really disheartening to see two conservative parties, that offer little difference between themselves, launch political campaigns not on what they can do to improve the country; but on the mistakes previous PM's have made whilst in office.

A truelly, traditional labour party is needed again, as it stands now its just a joke.

[-Ash- 0]

not voting aint gonna get the muppet in number 10 out is it

And another muppet in.... He's a tory and for those old enough to remember paying the Poll tax he won't find many friends for his party...They won't find many voters in working class districts anyway..

I'm a working class man, always voted Labour and always will..

[Gadger 0]

@ May 06 2005,00:34)]

not voting aint gonna get the muppet in number 10 out is it

I'm a working class man, always voted Labour and always will..

...but these days Labour is more conservative the actual Conservative pary is.

[Akira 0]

Wonder if there are going to be any US papers with "How can millions of people be so stupid" headlines...Tony is in Iraq too after all...

[EiZei 0]

Wonder if there are going to be any US papers with "How can millions of people be so stupid" headlines...Tony is in Iraq too after all...

The problem is that so is the other party. And I thought US elections were bad.