Westministenders: A New Approach? No chance.

[RedToothBrush]

Next week we will have a new PM. He will be called Boris Johnson unless something very odd has happened.

His first 72 hours will be 'interesting' especially if today's events are anything to go by.

His Cabinet is sure to be a horror show. It was noticable who abstained today - they don't think they will be in a Johnson Cabinet and clearly don't want to be.

To move forward Johnson must be able to survive a rebellion and a Queen's speech before now and 31st October.

And be able to unit his party in order to find a way forward.

And whilst parliament has voted to block proroguing parliament, it could still be dissolved if there is a vote of no confidence.

And what happens if Johnson loses a vote? Will he manage to become PM? Will there be a GE.

All the signs are that next week is going to be a hell of a ride.

Enjoy your weekend.

So you need proxy votes if postal votes aren't allowed.

Except no one said postal votes should not be allowed. Hell, just keep things as they are if you like. However in constituencies and wards where postal voting exceeds a certain threshold, there should be some sort of mechanism to look closer and ensure it's not abused. A mechanism I suggest proponents of postal voting suggest and implement ...

Thursdays is market day so farmers came into town to vote. No need to change it ... tradition innit.

Postal votes - as a member of HM armed forces - deployed anywhere little notice, but the mail gets through (mostly) so I can do my duty and vote in local, national and European elections. We only had 5 rights so not going to give up on this one.

Seems to me elections are too problematic. Maybe we just get rid of them instead ? After all, it's not like they achieve much ... Mr. Livingstone

What do is the new PM announced next week so I can stock up on whiskey and a revolver?

Day I meant

What day is the new PM announced next week

But is it the new PM, or just Tory leader ? Even if we ignore Boris purple prose from 2007 when Gordon Brown came in, there seems to be some real doubt as to whether a Boris-led Tory party can command the majority traditionally expected of the PM.

I have colleagues who were essentially disenfranchised in the referendum by Britain's creaking railway system. Cancelled or delayed trains meant they were not home in time to vote.

Interesting, I'd never thought about that. I remember many Remainers being disenfranchised as a result of postal votes never turning up. This had happened to me in the 2015 election, so I made bloody sure to be home on referendum day. Back in 2015 I was annoyed but figured that my lost vote had made no difference, since my MP (David Gauke) had such an enormous majority anyway. It's anyone's guess how the next election will pan out - I'll make sure me and DS are both registered and present on the day, but as an ex-Labour moderate Remainer I'm damned if I know who to vote for!

Well as Tory leader then. I think it's the 23rd? I'll still have my whiskey ready but might leave the revolver to one side

How would banning postal votes work out for the millions a quick google suggests 5.5 million worldwide of British citizens who live overseas?
We would be completely disenfranchised, unable to vote in the country where we live and in the uk.

How would banning postal votes work out for the millions a quick google suggests 5.5 million worldwide of British citizens who live overseas?

I don't know. It might work out better than RTFT ?

.

If you are away on business, tough.

DH does blocks of work overseas, so being able to vote at weekends wouldn’t necessarily help. That’s why he has a postal vote.

Has this thread been overrun by leavers all of a sudden ? Seems there's a fucktonne of not reading and not comprehending going on to derail it.

Wish I'd kept my fucking mouth shut now.

Well post opinions like personally I'm not a big fan of postal voting and would much rather the default was in person voting and you’re going to get people disagreeing and pointing out that postal votes are the only option for at least some people

Like the Pooh cartoon DGR

Well post opinions like "personally I'm not a big fan of postal voting and would much rather the default was in person voting" and you’re going to get people disagreeing and pointing out that postal votes are the only option for at least some people

No mention of "banning" anywhere though ? But people invented that and then put effort into replying to it as well ...

To be fair on DGR , he has never suggested that postal voting should be banned; just that voting in person should be the default

If there are valid reasons to need a postal vote, eg being unavoidably away on business, being away on holiday (especially for snap elections), working somewhere which makes voting in person impossible (eg electoral officers ), living abroad, then it should be acceptable to get a postal vote.

My dad organises proxy votes as he is often away for 6 weeks at a time, which makes a postal vote not practical.

Finally ! Someone gets it

I'm not a great believer in banning anything - ironically my default is "no banning". Restricting, classifying, informing, yes. Banning. No. I guess it's my leftie-libertarian leanings.

That said, I'm more than happy with the UKs gun laws, although every so often little incidents occur which suggest they could be tougher still. But the bottom line is the number of people who should be allowed to carry a gun - including policeman - should be as low as is possible.

There could be a yearly renewal of postal votes where you have to attend with full ID like you'd provide to open a bank account. Exemptions for disabled people if they choose it. Thoughts?

Far too onerous. It's also making postal voting a "thing" when it really should be an exception that needs justifying. (Much like exemption from jury duty).

Let's just step back a bit and use out brains - like I said, we're not leavers.

My primary objection to postal voting is the fact it opens up the possibility that in some households, the form will simply be appropriated by the male head of the household who will fill it in for all the females listed. Or take it to a third party to do the same. If someone can remove or mitigate against that, then why don't we all postally vote anyway ?

That's my stall set out. Let's see who thinks my apples are oranges now ....

Completely agree DG

I know households where this happens.

No mention of "banning" anywhere though ? But people invented that and then put effort into replying to it as well ...

It was BCF that posted if you’re away on business on polling day, then tough luck. Which is what I originally replied to.

But if DGR wants to take umbrage at people pointing out the realities of being unable to attend a polling station, then feel free.