Westministenders: Before the Fire Alarm of Rome goes off

[RedToothBrush]

I’m going to keep this one very simple.

THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS 22ND MAY.
www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Postal votes start to go out on 23rd May.

Your challenge is to persuade someone to register to vote or to get someone who is considering not to, to get their arse to the polling station.

Go forth and harass. Especially women and the young.

That’s it. No frills OP.

I do enjoy a nice BBC reality check.

Reality Check: What's been going on with pay?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39915066

Surely our vote is anonymous!!

Simple answer: no.

Long answer: it should require a special court order to match up ballot stubs and numbers.

Tinfoil hat answer: UK authorities generally have a "relaxed" attitude to complying with the law - as a cursory glance at Theresa Mays career would reveal.

The Associated Press‏*@AP*
BREAKING: Merkel says Germany prepared in principle to discuss EU treaty changes if necessary.

novaramedia.com/2017/05/14/how-young-voters-could-defeat-the-tories-in-key-marginals/
How Young Voters Could Defeat the Tories in KeyMarginals

This is an interesting study. One that needs to be looked at for the future but I don't think will have enough time to make a difference for this election, but do please give to 18 - 25 year olds to encourage them to vote.

Corbyn is absolutely a communist and this is Not Good

The labour manifesto as leaked is not even remotely communist. If the Tories hadn't shifted so far to the right it would not even be considered particularly radical. Or are we not talking about policies here but a general unspecified air of communism and a dislike of his taste in hats?

Bigly, I didn't make any links between the manifesto & communism - I specifically said the man - Jeremy Corbyn:

Corbyn is absolutely a communist and this is Not Good. Extreme left & communism is just as scary as extreme right & fascism; Corbyn has been consistent in his beliefs for decades - I do not believe for a second that he's 'been on a journey' and softened his views (as Emily Thornberry would have us believe).

So 'general unspecified air of communism and a dislike of his taste in hats' it is then.

but do please give to 18 - 25 year olds to encourage them to vote.
Thanks red I'm not in a marginal, but posting the register to vote forms, wherever.

Well, what can you say.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tories-immigration-video-dog-whistle-politics-accusations-theresa-may-a7736721.html

May is an embarrassment.

Well done to Cathy in Oxfordshire, though. May doesn't seem very clear on the difference between mental health and mental disabilities. But she's never cared for anyone has she.

Personally I dislike cruel racists.

May doesn't seem very clear on the difference between mental health and mental disabilities. But she's never cared for anyone has she.

Not only that, but May's answer was an insult. "We are focussing help on people most in need", or words to that effect, the subtext being 'We have decided you are not in need, get stuffed.'

For such an unpopular party, labour seems very popular.

For such an unpopular party, labour seems very popular.
I sincerely hope that this translates into votes, and denies May the majority she craves.

Sinn Fein's new face John Finucane believes he can end domination by unionists
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/sinn-feins-new-face-john-finucane-believes-he-can-end-domination-by-unionists-35712959.html

“Sinn Féin is the only party which can take this seat from the DUP, which can send a clear message to Theresa May that she has no mandate to take the North out of the EU, that she has no mandate for Tory cuts and she has no mandate to continue to deny equality and rights for all",

Sinn Fein seems to be the only British party standing on a clear remain agenda.

Too late for Sinn Fein candidate in the south east?

The Associated Press‏*@AP
BREAKING: Merkel says Germany prepared in principle to discuss EU treaty changes if necessary.*

What does this mean in real money? as my Grandmother used to say ?

It's as anonymous as your vote.

Speaking of dodgy voting practices, I know someone who has two polling cards in different constituencies.

There is a new consensus in Germany – Brexit should be clean, and Britain should pay for it
Where German pragmatism and prosperity were once best served by a closer relationship with London, now they depend on the cohesion of the single market.
^www.newstatesman.com/politics/brexit/2017/05/there-new-consensus-germany-brexit-should-be-clean-and-britain-should-pay-it^
frumpety I don't know the answer to your question but I learnt a new word for the British: " Insel­affen"

I have a similar issue understanding why people in China support Xi as the overwhelming majority actually do in spite of the repression, human rights violations and hardening authoritarianism and nationalism

I think it exemplifies how authoritarian regimes kind of groom people. If it's all you know and you're subjected to constant propaganda and alienation of alternative views, it becomes harder to resist. Most people simply want stability (hence why that word is being hijacked atm) and don't want to constantly feel anger or fight their government - it's exhausting and dangerous. So you find a way to accommodate that.

The Mail has been grooming its readers for years.

^Invisible Election: How political parties target you for your vote
Everybody in the country is being measured, followed and assessed for their views and how they might change^.

Prof Margetts said: "I think the electoral commission would say themselves that they don't know very much about what's going on.

And they find it difficult to place any checks and balances on this and I think that's something we should be looking at

Indeed, the Electoral Commission had recommended to the Government that this world of social media big data politics should be properly regulated to ensure the fairness of elections.

news.sky.com/story/invisible-election-how-political-parties-target-you-for-your-vote-10878316

So apart from the electoral fraud in 2015, Mercer, the Mail, this^, and the under hum of Britain First, female labour MPs still being targeted with abuse, surrealist voting card allocation, it seems pretty fair, all in all.

On a serious note that is why I am against the huge increases to the tax free PA. Anyone else noticing how often Tory MPs talk about being fair to the "Taxpayer" when challenged on falling incomes for low waged families?

I've been wary of this ever since seeing research (which I can no longer find) saying that paying tax makes you "happier". Well, more invested in society if you feel you pay in and have an actual stake in it.

Callmecordelia agree re the TTIP. It was posts following a Stiglitz article that I found more persuasive.

How outdated election rules let parties 'buy' marginal seats using Facebook

Conservatives are outspending their opponents 10 to one on light-touch regulated Facebook, experts say

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “The Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000, which was passed by a Labour Government, provides a distinction between candidate-focused spending and party-focused spending.

It would simply not be practical to put constituency limits on national party-based campaigning, as many forms of campaigning simply cross geographical boundaries, particularly in an internet age

round.www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/election-2017-facebook-ads-marginal-seats-tories-labour-outdated-election-spending-rules-a7733131.html