Suella Braverman a disgrace to humanity

English as an ethnicity literally does exist. You can take a DNA test and it will tell you what percent English you are. Im sorry but you’re spouting bollocks here.

This is all an argument about what the word “English” means. Not really about who is English.

There is ambiguity. English can mean someone with a UK passport living in England, participating in its civic life and belonging to the community therein; or it can mean the ethnic groups who came over from the marshy coast of Jutland and Friesland and mixed with the local British, and remained static for about 1,400 years.

Admitting that the later is relevant, true and valid does NOT mean that you think being ethnically English is a prerequisite for being English as a member of the civic group.

People are misunderstanding one another at best and purposely twisting other people at worst. I agree with @Araminta1004 that it’s a dangerous and divisive thing to do for a small short term political advantage. We don’t need these sort of wedges.

@pointythings

By their deeds shall you know them.

Over what time frame would the deeds need to be observed?

If someone was considered not to be good, would they be barred from voting?

Sounds like a long and expensive vetting process considering there are approximately 48 million registered voters in the UK.

I love the way you're extrapolating from things I haven't said... All I did was point out some basic human values.

Of course not.

@pointythings

I love the way you're extrapolating from things I haven't said... All I did was point out some basic human values.

Not extrapolating anything, but asking how your definition of a good person can be applied.

Applied to what? Everyone is entitled to vote provided they meet age, nationality and residency criteria. I wouldn't dream of suggesting the arseholes of this world should be disenfranchised. All I said was that it's possible to be intelligent and also an utter twat. Just a simple statement of fact, it's not that deep.

@pointythings

All I said was that it's possible to be intelligent and also an utter twat. Just a simple statement of fact, it's not that deep.

Okay. I can’t remember the name of the posters who suggested that voting should be limited to those with a university degree.

I would lower the age to 16 for those who are working. Seems harsh that people who are paying tax can’t vote because they have not reached 18.

I was definitely not the person suggesting only degree educated people should vote.

I disagree with your idea though. It opens the door to incremental disenfranchisement. First adults who don't work, then pensioners, then naturalised citizens, until we were right back in the 18th century. Of course the chipping away would come from both sides of the political divide, with each side acting in a title for tat sequence. Let's not.

@pointythings

First adults who don't work,

In UK, adult is defined as aged 18 and above. So, out of work adults and pensioners are eligible based on age whether they are working or not.

However, if there are not enough vacancies for 16 to 18 year olds. Then yes, those who are looking for work, but can’t find could argue it’s not their fault.

then naturalised citizens.

If someone has become UK citizen and has UK passport, why would they not be allowed to vote if they are 18 or older, working or not?

Scotland reduced the voting age to 16 for their independence referendum in 2014.

You have missed the point I was making. Completely.

The most ludicrous part of that QT was the man repeatedly asking if Braverman knew what the word indigenous means in a tone of confident patronising certainty of his superior knowledge, before telling her that he was born here therefore indigenous.

Of course the supplicant diversity is our strength panel just left him to his own embarrassment. It's far too scary for them to explain his mistake to him as ensuing shrieks of racism would have broken the sound barrier. He was all over social media being congratulated on his "slam dunk burn".

Suella was given a good verbal kicking instead.

What a pathetic state the BBC is in. Words mean whatever the diversity says they mean.