to think that an election on the 12th December is a bad idea because it will affect Christmas at primary schools?

[chomalungma]

How many Christmas plays will be on on that day?

I am sure some will be able to be altered - but it's a really crappy time to close a school for voting when there are parties, school plays and the end of term atmosphere.

There are other reasons as well - but this is just one that may not have been thought about.

It's worth noting that the MN demographic skews towards the sort of person who is more likely to be engaged and prioritise voting. I genuinely am going to sort a postal or proxy as I'll be away from home most of the 12th of December, but being the sort of person who does that makes me more likely to be on here in the first place. We can tut tut about buying that, Lidl etc and totally dismiss the possibility that a reasonable person would be deterred by Christmas activities, but there are people who will and they're not likely to be posting on here saying so.

Also if it's true that non-LA schools don't have to let their premises be used, then it might actually mean that the election is a bad idea on that basis alone. If an academy decides the nativity or party or cake sale or whatever is more important than an election then it's a tough shit situation.

Churches aren't always that suitable - lots of village churches don't have proper disabled access, toilets, heating etc.

Churches can also be unsuitable depending on the demographic of the area.

There's a church building in the middle of our village. Location and facilities wise it's the absolute ideal location, however it's a church that's very loud about their bigoted views. So not a neutral building for anyone from the LGBT community to vote in, or any of the local Muslim community, considering the shit they have taken from the church members over the years.

It is a thing

www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/if-boris-cancels-my-sons-shtty-nativity-play-hes-got-my-vote-20191025190104

I loved the shitty nativity plays 😭

If there is a Nativity or concert- the school would just move the date. Parties in schools are usually later than this. To be honest, the later the festivities start in school, the better.

Just reading an earlier post, I am shocked people are still using glitter to make reindeer food. Most schools are eco schools (or aspire to be) so shouldn't be using glitter. It's bad for the environment and can get into our food.

Things Boris Johnson doesn’t take into account when planning:

1. Nativity plays
2. Facts
3. The country’s interests
4. Anything other than his career.

Everyone is in the Christmas spirit, joy and goodwill to all, schools getting ready for Christmas, people in the Christmas mood - and then polling for an election.

Oh do me a favour OP!

Have you heard of the expression "Playing the fiddle while Rome burns"?

Here's what it means

To do something trivial and irresponsible in the midst of an emergency; legend has it that while a fire destroyed the city of Rome, the emperor Nero played his violin, thus revealing his total lack of concern for his people and his empire

If you think people in UK are all going to have a jolly old time this Christmas, you are on a different planet.

Haven't you been reading the news about the 85,000 retail jobs lost? And what about the stress SMEs are going through (my DH being one) because of the uncertainty created by the almighty Brexit clusterfuck?

Your comments show you're seriously out of touch and haven't a clue.

Haven't you been reading the news about the 85,000 retail jobs lost? And what about the stress SMEs are going through (my DH being one) because of the uncertainty created by the almighty Brexit clusterfuck?

do you think the GE will make things better?
i admire your optimism.

I rhink the election is more important and schools will cope.

For those saying just move it to another day - thats fine in a small school but at my sons primary each year did their own nativity play twice (70 kids in each year) so that is 14 afternoons.

They school used to be a polling station and close but then were able to get it moved to the community hall once that was up and running, I think they use schools were their is no alternative.

If you think people in UK are all going to have a jolly old time this Christmas, you are on a different planet

To quote some people on here, even during the war, when life was crap, people were dying etc, they still tried to enjoy the feeling that Christmas can bring. Bringing people together, the lights, the joy of family life and being together.

But thanks for 'explaining' to me about what fiddling whilst Rome burns.

An election before Christmas will not solve these problems.

People should be able to try and make the most of Christmas, despite the circumstances the UK finds itself in. An election just before it is not ideal.

@Helmetbymidnight you miss my point, I didn't suggest a GE will "solve" anything. My point was that this country is in the worst kind of chaos imaginable and the OP saying everyone will be jollying up by 12 Dec so won't want a GE is not a universal truth if they took time to consider the economic climate and the downturn in retail being one of the many signs of the shit-storm ahead.

I'll have a fantastic Christmas if the current Labour opposition get kicked into the long grass.

I don't think the OP is being ridiculous. December is a bad time for a GE for all sorts of reasons. I also think that December is a hideously busy time for schools & this would add an extra layer of stress, just because the government is mendacious & incompetent.

This thread has just been quoted in Parliament in the debate about the date of the election by Michael Tomlinson MP

Waves....even though you are Tory

Ok

If a Christmas play doesn't go ahead..oh I think we will survive...

Great thread. Congratulations on being mentioned in committee stage.
How often does that happen with parking threads? Even those with diagrams.

Great thread. Congratulations on being mentioned in committee stage

I'm more bloody concerned about having to ask for more time off work

^Exactly this. Most people have taken or booked all their annual leave by now. How on earth are parents supposed to sort ad hoc childcare at such short notice given they haven't even set a date yet. Do schools get a choice in whether or not they are used as polling stations? Surely there are more appropriate venues that won't cause issues for millions of parents?

borntobequiet

Parents are not going to be impressed with trying to change time off for plays and Christmas activities. Nor are their bosses. Christmas is crazy when you have kids at primary school!

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have minded missing my nativity when I participated. Someone on Thursday mentioned lobster number three. Well I'll go one better. I was one of the people making the inn full. Oh wait. Did I say people. I meant MINCE PIE!!!!!!

It's not going to make a difference

Those that are planning on using postal votes, I think that Royal Mail are planning pre Christmas strikes including Black Friday

An election in December in general is a bad idea. Even worse because we persist in putting the clocks back in winter.

Haven't you been reading the news about the 85,000 retail jobs lost?
Yes, I've just been reading that.

The headline is a bit misleading because the 85,000 is an equivalent figure - "there is a 2.8% fall in the number of retail employees in the three months to the end of September, compared with the same period a year before" - which the British Retail Consortium has calculated as being equivalent to 85,000 job losses.

"Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, which published the retail employment numbers, urged the government to provide more help for retailers as she said the number of retail jobs had been declining for more than three years."

What is confusing is that the British Retail Consortium warned the government at the end of last year that the proposed immigration rules would leave the retail industry short of staff - even though retail jobs had been declining for more than four years;

“Setting the main cut-off for hiring workers from outside the UK at £30,000 would leave retailers and their supply chains recruiting from a very small pool of domestic labour, the vast majority of whom are already in work,” BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said.

"The Home Office said the scheme aims to fill staff shortages in various sectors–such as retail shop floor staff–once free movement ends after the UK’s divorce from the EU comes into affect."

"BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said [in a letter to Sajid Javid] that there were at present 92,000 retail industry vacancies and that “meeting this demand is difficult without resourcing from the widest possible labour pool”.

Therefore, it would appear that if people are losing their jobs in the retail sector they must be finding work in other sectors pretty quickly - otherwise there wouldn't be so many unfilled vacancies.