Calm before the Storm ...Follow

I cannot wait for the next week to pass in UK politics. This is among the most exciting times I can remember (politically) since .. ever.

They say when it rains it pours, but its been rainy season here of late. Labour are so low in the polls that they could come 3rd in the polls behind the Tories and the UKindependance party. Just .. wow

Maybe I am excited for the wrong reasons but I see this as the first time in my lifetime that the elections are not predicatable. That a result so extroardinary could could force changes in the way my country is run.

How are other UK based voters feeling about the upcoming 2 weeks and the elections?

You're not talking about the EU elections are you? They'll just bring out the "ah **** it, it's only the EU elections" voters and the rest of us will stay home and watch that Welsh person singing.

First past the post reduces any *actual* political event in our country to a choice between dirty red and shiny new blue.

Ooh! Shiny!

At least you have two viable parties. Here in the US, we have either (a) two non-viable parties or (b) one viable party that puts up two different fronts.

You know what you should do? SpoilerKill yourself.

So that's what, five more posts until you're totally brain dead? Yeah, I think I can deal with you for that long.

It's, like, you know, like, totally rad, man.

MaleE, is that like an E class model of male? Are you an eunuch?

I adore most Americans on this board. They pay attention to the news of the world and carry themselves with a modicum off respect. But everyone needs a zero, and it seems you are it. At least Varrus has an opinion, even if 'out there'.
Not only do you parade Obama like a prize toy cheapening his position, You ignore all aspects of him that make him a good president (that have nothing to do with him being black). You ignore my post about it being an excitement about UK politics, Not US.

But, to get back to the original post. UK politics has been stale for centuries. We have a system that has worked but the problems with it have been shown up in glaring technicolour in the last few years. We removed a speaker in the house of parliament, the first time in 400 years. That is earth shattering enough but real tangible reform of parliament could occur for the first time in centuries.
To list some the inherent problems that are now in open discussion and do have potential for reform.

One major problem is Gordon Brown. He was not voted for and inherited the post of Prime Minister. He is persistently referred to as "the unelected" in the news and there is a growing movement of opinion that his lame duck status should not be allowed to occur again. After the local and european elections the labour party will be stuck in a horrendous position. If they do depose their lame duck, they will force yet another Prime Minister on a public who lack any trust in the system and will most likely be irked to have no say in who sits as head of their country.

It is not possible to remove an MP. The recent crisis in parliament has shown that even with MPs who have been shown to have committed expense fraud, who have stated they will NOT stand in the next election are remaining in situ. This is leading to the ridiculous position of the house of commons containing hundreds of representatives who can vote on matters of state but know full well that they do not have the confidence or backing of their voters and will be removed at the earliest opportunity. But if the Prime Minister is not exactly setting a good example, I can half forgive them. They need rolemodels which are lacking.

Parliamentary reform. I'll not go into this too much but to say that the old boys network is facing reform. The position of whip and other legacy offices and instruments of MP control are facing questions of their very function and viability.

Professional politicians. We as a nation are now a little tired of professional politicians. There is a detachment of values from the elected and the electorate. The expenses scandel has shown just how removed from day to day life MPs are. They seemed to forget that they are our servants. The fact that they tried to protest and keep MPs expenses from the public domain shows the fact they simply do not understand the function of their office. They spend OUR money, they ARE accountable to the electorate. And now its time for them to learn that lesson by being summarily removed from office and replaced (the question is with who ... more of the same?).

Saying all this I'm just amused and wait to see with baited breath what will fall out in the coming months. The coming 2 weeks will see the completion of the local and Euro elections and I am awaiting the departure of lame duck brown. Schadenfreude indeed.

History is in the making and I'm enjoying the view

Edited, May 30th 2009 11:59am by GwynapNud

We did, its face is Gordon Brown

18 years of Tories and we were sick of the right. Now after 12 years of Labour we are sick of that particular brand of socialism. We tried!

Give us a little conservatism and we will be ready to fight the good socialist fight in a decade

Its a pan European wide swing to the right that we are experiencing. Socialism seems to only be affordable in boom times. When a recession comes most people have historically prefered convervatism. The danger is the far right .. the likes of the BNP who should never be allowed to be more than a side distraction to pity for their disgusting views.

That was an interesting read, but lets face it. If France was so nice why is Red in the UK and why are you planning to come here? You both know the grass is greener in this pleasant land

I'm so serious, this is in no way a whimsical cheapshot uh huh

Parliamentary reform. I'll not go into this too much but to say that the old boys network is facing reform.

Hahahaha, wow, I had no idea you were that much of a gigantic sucker. "Reform" ahahahaha.


Saying all this I'm just amused and wait to see with baited breath what will fall out in the coming months.

Nothing will, you fucking infant. Even if you morons are somehow stupid enough to put Cameron in power, what do you think is going to change? Above board fraud will become below board fraud? Yay!

HAHAHA, Gwyn, I'm not British either.

So Smash is French and German because he's excellent at those languages?

I'd feel dirty if I made any observations on the OP.

Gwyn's already proven (and continues to drive it homw with a mallet) that she has no grasp whatever of how British politics works, any clue about our constitution, and respouts the drivel from tabloids.

If you're British, get out and vote for the individual who best represents your interests, on your local council, and in Europe.