UK Politics

[reohn2]

Does anyone know what SEZs are?
I'd never heard of them but here's Carol Vorderman discussing them with David Powell:- https://youtu.be/WJTw8gGES8Y?si=kpfPqdp2lh-uteyX

[reohn2]

I've just heard Kemmy Badenoch descripe the £10million donation to the Tory party by an abject racist who won't apologise and the party won't return the money as,trivia!
Just how deep in the sand have the Tories buried their heads on this and many other similar issues?

[Jdsk]

Does anyone know what SEZs are?
I'd never heard of them but here's Carol Vorderman discussing them with David Powell:- https://youtu.be/WJTw8gGES8Y?si=kpfPqdp2lh-uteyX

They probably move activity around rather than creating more. But their political attractiveness is obvious.

Private Eye reports frequently on whatever it is that's happening in Teesside.

Jonathan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_economic_zone
https://ifs.org.uk/publications/freepor ... ll-we-know
https://yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/hom ... -interest/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teesside_Freeport

[reohn2]

Thanks I'll read the links at leisure,but they seem like another Tory scam IMO.

[Jdsk]

From another thread:

All the signs are that a Starmer gov, even with a large majority, is going to disappoint those hoping for a major change in UK politics. There are clear signs of a shift away from radical policies (e.g. green agenda) towards the right, and Rachel Reeves is already buttering up and accepting large donations from the usual lobby groups - e.g. gambling.

Combined with the dire financial state that will be inherited, I'm afraid the best that can be hoped for is a change in morality - i.e. fewer dodgy Tory MP's - but not much else.

This is such an important point: improving the behaviour of the executive is crucial, and quite different from any changes in policy, whether economic, social or on any other axis.

"Trust in Public Life: Restoring the Rôle of Constitutional Watchdogs":
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit ... ublic-life

Jonathan

[Psamathe]

Tory party fined £10,750 by Electoral Commission for not accurately reporting non-cash donations
...
The Conservative party has been fined £10,750 by the Electoral Commission for failing to accurately report non-cash donations worth more than £200,000.
...

Anybody surprised?

Ian

[Jdsk]

The Electoral Commission isn't in the list of constitutional watchdogs in the preceding post, but many of the problems are the same. And as that report suggests it may be smarter to strengthen what's already in place than to try to build from scratch. I've been very concerned by their weakness over voter suppression.

Jonathan

[Jdsk]

Transparency is crucial to democracy. Two vignettes today:

HMRC have reversed their intention to close the tax helpline for six months of every year. One day after it was announced

The heads of the Civil Service and of MI6 have resigned their membership of the Garrick Club. One day after Case was justifying it to a Select Committee.

Jonathan

[Mike Sales]

Transparency is crucial to democracy. Two vignettes today:

The heads of the Civil Service and of MI6 have resigned their membership of the Garrick Club. One day after Case was justifying it to a Select Committee.

Jonathan

And after their membership, and that of many other Establishment males, was revealed in a certain far left newspaper.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/202 ... ablishment

[Jdsk]

Transparency is crucial to democracy. Two vignettes today:

The heads of the Civil Service and of MI6 have resigned their membership of the Garrick Club. One day after Case was justifying it to a Select Committee.

And after their membership, and that of many others establishment males, was revealed in a certain far left newspaper.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/202 ... ablishment

Yes

Jonathan

[Jdsk]

Extremism is the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, that aims to:
(1) negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; or
(2) undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights; or
(3) intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in (1) or (2).

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gove ... -extremism

Hmmm... does anyone see any problems?

Oh, Conservative donors allegedly saying "It’s like trying not to be racist but you see Diane Abbott on the TV and you’re just like, I hate, you just want to hate all black women because she’s there, and I don’t hate all black women at all, but I think she should be shot." would seem to break section (1).

West Yorkshire Police are investigating:
https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/new ... eting-2019

Jonathan

[Jdsk]

...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-l ... e-68419849

I cannot believe she meant that. Apart from anything else, there's verified footage of the sting recorded by Times journalists which will be trotted out whenever this issue is reported. And there's absolutely no form of patronage available to the PM or his spinners to make it - or Scott Benton - go away.

I don't understand this point. It reads to me that Dodds thinks that Benton is bang to rights, as shown by the video.

I was trying to say that the more this is dragged out, the greater the damage to the government. I cannot see any electoral benefit to the (Labour) opposition in a prompt resolution of this.

Benton has resigned before the results of the recall petition are known.

Jonathan

[reohn2]

Are the Tories trying to eliminate young people from voting by having an October GE?
Here's a 15minute LBC video,though the first 5.30minutes puts a strong case forward for it:- https://youtu.be/qUAS4Q364ZI?si=FEHpC5GIPeOdt0kB

What with that and photo ID now needed to vote,there have been more Tory MPs done for sexual misconduct whilst in office than there have been people found guilty of voter fraud!

These people are the enemies of democracy!

[Jdsk]

Are the Tories trying to eliminate young people from voting by having an October GE?
Here's a 15minute LBC video,though the first 5.30minutes puts a strong case forward for it:- https://youtu.be/qUAS4Q364ZI?si=FEHpC5GIPeOdt0kB

What with that and photo ID now needed to vote,there have been more Tory MPs done for sexual misconduct whilst in office than there have been people found guilty of voter fraud!

These people are the enemies of democracy!

Yes, I suspect that they might include this in their calculations.

But it could backfire as Universities respond by publicising the process for and advocating registration by students.

Jonathan

[reohn2]

Are the Tories trying to eliminate young people from voting by having an October GE?
Here's a 15minute LBC video,though the first 5.30minutes puts a strong case forward for it:- https://youtu.be/qUAS4Q364ZI?si=FEHpC5GIPeOdt0kB

What with that and photo ID now needed to vote,there have been more Tory MPs done for sexual misconduct whilst in office than there have been people found guilty of voter fraud!

These people are the enemies of democracy!

Yes, I suspect that they might include this in their calculations.

But it could backfire as Universities respond by publicising the process for and advocating registration by students.

Jonathan

Only could be,students may well be preoccupied with the biggest change in their lives,leaving home,settling into new accommodation and reorganising their lives in total not to mention their apprehension of a new learning period in the lives and going out for a pint or three!