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AIBU?

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Original poster

This country is doomed

964 replies

HappyFace2025 · 27/02/2026 08:29

While the vote in Gorton and Denton may be described as a 'protest' vote the strength of both the Greens and Reform performance is something to worry all of us not just Labour.

OP posts:
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17
scottishgirl69 · 28/02/2026 12:51

TopPocketFind · 28/02/2026 12:44

This didn't happen 🙄

Neither was the vote rigged

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I don't believe it happened either. People are just sore that the Greens won and are using anything to try and undermine the result

TopPocketFind · 28/02/2026 12:44

climbintheback · 28/02/2026 12:32

how many observers would it take to stop half a dozen men ushering granny and auntie into a booth - and there may be 6-8-10 booths!

This didn't happen 🙄

Neither was the vote rigged

peanutbuttertoasty · 28/02/2026 12:36

Hence it needs enforcing properly. I imagine some of these people can be very intimidating and not above threats of physical violence.

I also think there should be strict photo ID requirements, possibly biometric in the future. And postal votes should be abolished as too open to abuse.

climbintheback · 28/02/2026 12:32

how many observers would it take to stop half a dozen men ushering granny and auntie into a booth - and there may be 6-8-10 booths!

BIossomtoes · 28/02/2026 12:32

Underthinker · 28/02/2026 12:29

It looks more like you dont like what observers have reported in this case so are attacking the whole idea of elections observers in general. It may not be that, but that seems the most obvious explanation.

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You can draw whatever conclusions you wish. My reasons are logical and fact based. I really don’t care what groundless assumptions you decide to make. Everything I’ve said applies in every case.

Underthinker · 28/02/2026 12:29

BIossomtoes · 28/02/2026 12:20

Because I think they’re a waste of time and space. If elections are to be monitored - and I absolutely think they should - it should be by people with the power to address any breaches on the spot. I’ve already explained why I think they’re pointless ad nauseum.

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It looks more like you dont like what observers have reported in this case so are attacking the whole idea of elections observers in general. It may not be that, but that seems the most obvious explanation.

EasternStandard · 28/02/2026 12:21

RedToothBrush · 28/02/2026 12:12

'would'

That's quite the assumption.

Why would DV lie?

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I just looked at their site. Why do you think they would @soddingspiderseason?

BIossomtoes · 28/02/2026 12:20

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/02/2026 12:15

I have the same question to you, Blossomtoes.

Why are you so unhappy with the observers monitoring the vote?

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Because I think they’re a waste of time and space. If elections are to be monitored - and I absolutely think they should - it should be by people with the power to address any breaches on the spot. I’ve already explained why I think they’re pointless ad nauseum.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/02/2026 12:15

BIossomtoes · 28/02/2026 12:14

Why indeed? Odd that nobody else who was present will corroborate their account.

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I have the same question to you, Blossomtoes.

Why are you so unhappy with the observers monitoring the vote?

BIossomtoes · 28/02/2026 12:14

RedToothBrush · 28/02/2026 12:12

'would'

That's quite the assumption.

Why would DV lie?

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Why indeed? Odd that nobody else who was present will corroborate their account.

Pleasealexa · 28/02/2026 12:14

Anyone doubting the impact of a good strategy need only look at our neighbours, Ireland. Ireland's GDP is now double the UK's. They are getting the tax revenues, through attracting companies with lower Corporation tax.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/02/2026 12:14

soddingspiderseason · 28/02/2026 12:08

Yes, it is illegal. And all poll staff have training to identify undue influence. If they had seen it, they would have stepped in.

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Are you unhappy with independent observers monitoring the vote?

peanutbuttertoasty · 28/02/2026 12:14

soddingspiderseason · 28/02/2026 12:08

Yes, it is illegal. And all poll staff have training to identify undue influence. If they had seen it, they would have stepped in.

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And yet…

RedToothBrush · 28/02/2026 12:12

soddingspiderseason · 28/02/2026 12:08

Yes, it is illegal. And all poll staff have training to identify undue influence. If they had seen it, they would have stepped in.

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'would'

That's quite the assumption.

Why would DV lie?

soddingspiderseason · 28/02/2026 12:08

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/02/2026 11:32

By doing what they did now and by highlighting breaches at the ballot box.

Everyone who is entitled to vote has the right to vote independently, according to their belief. Coercing has no place in democracy.

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Yes, it is illegal. And all poll staff have training to identify undue influence. If they had seen it, they would have stepped in.

scottishgirl69 · 28/02/2026 11:59

peanutbuttertoasty · 28/02/2026 11:57

Every polling station should have police presence to ensure elections are conducted legally. The military if necessary if resources don’t allow. Essential democratic processes cannot be reliant on volunteers from the community to enforce the law. There’s no reason to disbelieve the independent observers. It seems nobody was upholding the law in a number of polling stations. Why would that be? Why weren’t people stopped from entering the polling booth in multiple numbers? Regardless of the outcome of the election, it stinks.

I have never once voted and have anything happen like that. Never seen people go in two at a time or discussing who to vote for. Would not be allowed

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/02/2026 11:59

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/02/2026 11:42

Of course it's normal to have these conversations, they have no place at the ballot box though.

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Sorry, that was meant to be the booth, not the box.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/02/2026 11:58

scottishgirl69 · 28/02/2026 11:56

Who said they happened at the ballot box

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Sorry, meant the booth.

peanutbuttertoasty · 28/02/2026 11:57

Every polling station should have police presence to ensure elections are conducted legally. The military if necessary if resources don’t allow. Essential democratic processes cannot be reliant on volunteers from the community to enforce the law. There’s no reason to disbelieve the independent observers. It seems nobody was upholding the law in a number of polling stations. Why would that be? Why weren’t people stopped from entering the polling booth in multiple numbers? Regardless of the outcome of the election, it stinks.

scottishgirl69 · 28/02/2026 11:56

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/02/2026 11:42

Of course it's normal to have these conversations, they have no place at the ballot box though.

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Who said they happened at the ballot box

Pleasealexa · 28/02/2026 11:50

ManukaMoneyMaker · 28/02/2026 11:31

The government absolutely can change the law to clamp down on tax avoidance. Or is a House of Commons briefing paper too 6th form for you to consider? https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN02956/SN02956.pdf

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We all agree tax evasion should be clamped down on but the examples discussed here are different. Tech companies can choose where their legal entities are based and pay tax according to that country. You can't tie down a tech firm to one country simply because of the infrastructure that sits behind it. It isn't the same as bricks and mortar shops or a manufacturing plant.

Europe allows these movements, legal entity in one country offering services to all other European entities but paying tax on that income in one country. When you buy from Amazon your order is likely to be processed outside the UK and only the storage of the goods and delivery is within the UK - which is subject to tax.

BIossomtoes · 28/02/2026 11:49

Would reform be complaining if they had won

I think we all know the answer to that.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/02/2026 11:42

scottishgirl69 · 28/02/2026 11:38

There's no proof anyone was co erced. It's quite normal to have conversation with family about who you are going to vote for for

It's completely misogynistic to suggest that women were forced to vote Green by their husbands

Would reform be complaining if they had won

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Of course it's normal to have these conversations, they have no place at the ballot box though.

scottishgirl69 · 28/02/2026 11:38

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/02/2026 11:32

By doing what they did now and by highlighting breaches at the ballot box.

Everyone who is entitled to vote has the right to vote independently, according to their belief. Coercing has no place in democracy.

Show quote history

There's no proof anyone was co erced. It's quite normal to have conversation with family about who you are going to vote for for

It's completely misogynistic to suggest that women were forced to vote Green by their husbands

Would reform be complaining if they had won

RedToothBrush · 28/02/2026 11:36

ManukaMoneyMaker · 28/02/2026 11:31

The government absolutely can change the law to clamp down on tax avoidance. Or is a House of Commons briefing paper too 6th form for you to consider? https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN02956/SN02956.pdf

Edited
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How do you think the public would respond?
How do you think Amazon would respond?

Yes I do think it's 6th Form politics. They'll be a reason they havent progressed a government paper to law won't there?

There's no such thing as a magic bullet.