Chesterfield Online Forum

General Category => Politics => Topic started by: Pete on November 14, 2014, 12:44:23 PM

Title: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: Pete on November 14, 2014, 12:44:23 PM
The committee chair, Labour MP Graham Allen, said: “Our democracy is facing a crisis if we do not take urgent action to make elections more accessible to the public and convince them that it is worth voting.

“Turnout for the last general election was only 65% – almost 16 million voters chose not to participate – and millions of people are not even registered to vote. This is not an acceptable state of affairs for a modern democracy.


I think this is a good idea. If it was a paid holiday for voting (if someone doesn't vote, they lose the day's pay) if might make folks think a bit more about our political leaders - and reassess their position as a voter.
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: therealjr on November 14, 2014, 04:04:40 PM
Elections are now fixed terms for May elections. Which would mean 3 bank holidays in the same month and 4 in the space of 5 weeks if Easter is late. Add to that the fact that fewer and fewer people are actually qualifying for bank holidays off these days and I think he's in cloud cuckoo land.
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: ironsky2 on November 14, 2014, 05:09:24 PM
I think the real problem here is people have become really fed up with the mainstream parties and lost faith in politics in general hence why so many people don't vote anymore. It will make no difference if you made a general election a bank holiday if people have all but given up on our MPs the real question here is what can be done to get people back interested in our political system. A good start would be start listening to people !
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: Slacker on November 15, 2014, 05:29:33 PM
People ought to be able to find time within the 15 hours, nobody works that long (though if UKIP ever get in they would probably end workers' rights)
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: therealjr on November 15, 2014, 06:31:28 PM
It's terrible you know that UKIP can make sweeping statements without any evidence to back it up that play on people's fears when considering who to vote for. In fact you'd fit right in Slacker!!!!
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: Old Cruser on November 15, 2014, 06:34:31 PM
I think the real problem here is people have become really fed up with the mainstream parties and lost faith in politics in general hence why so many people don't vote anymore. It will make no difference if you made a general election a bank holiday if people have all but given up on our MPs the real question here is what can be done to get people back interested in our political system. A good start would be start listening to people !

I would agree with you there ironsky
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: Pete on November 15, 2014, 06:38:18 PM
Not only do they not listen, some of them listen, then ignore.

I have asked on more than one occasion if the Labour party agreed with the Tories fracking plans. No Labour supporter ever replied!

It's the Greens for me.
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: therealjr on November 15, 2014, 06:47:30 PM
Said it before times many. They don't listen because they don't have to. They know that a) 50% of all parliamentary seats haven't changed hands since 1970 and b) the average time that one or the other of the main parties has been out of power is around 6 years.
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: Slacker on November 15, 2014, 07:49:48 PM
It's terrible you know that UKIP can make sweeping statements without any evidence to back it up that play on people's fears when considering who to vote for. In fact you'd fit right in Slacker!!!!

Much of our employment law stems from EU legislation
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: Pete on November 15, 2014, 08:07:53 PM
<cough>Fracking</cough>
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: therealjr on November 15, 2014, 10:58:00 PM

Much of our employment law stems from EU legislation

And??? Or is there no defence if your sweeping statements?
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: Slacker on November 16, 2014, 08:48:29 AM
Much of our employment law came from the EU, no wonder bosses wanting to exploit workers love UKIP Minimum paid annual leave (now 28 days a year including bank holidays)

• Additional rights for agency and temporary workers and for part-time workers

• Current pregnancy and maternity leave rights

• Parental leave

• Working time (which includes a maximum of a 48-hour week unless you agree otherwise, and minimum rest breaks each day)

• Equal pay

• Anti-discrimination rules on race, sex, disability, age and sexual orientation

• Data protection rights

.........

Though a public holiday would be beneficial for people such as teachers who want to stand as council candidates (or help campaign)
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: therealjr on November 16, 2014, 10:54:46 AM
• Anti-discrimination rules on race, sex, disability, age and sexual orientation

Ah I see because UKIP is such a racist, sexist, homophobic party. Correct?
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: Slacker on November 16, 2014, 07:17:15 PM
Just a summary of what's come from the EU
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: therealjr on November 16, 2014, 07:56:17 PM
But do you agree the assessment of UKIP?
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: ironsky2 on November 16, 2014, 07:57:54 PM
Ah I see because UKIP is such a racist, sexist, homophobic party. Correct?
Well done you have just come 'out' as a UKIP fan.  :D
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: therealjr on November 16, 2014, 08:10:44 PM
No I'm not. And I'm also not a supporter of sweeping negative statements that can't be substantiated. The assessment is one that I've no doubt Slacker would agree with (if that is he were ever brave enough to have an original thought rather than re-gurgitating everything from party hq). Only problem is that amongst their Mep's elected this year were an Asian 7 women and a gay!!! But everyone still believes the quote
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: ironsky2 on November 16, 2014, 08:23:39 PM
No I'm not. And I'm also not a supporter of sweeping negative statements that can't be substantiated. The assessment is one that I've no doubt Slacker would agree with (if that is he were ever brave enough to have an original thought rather than re-gurgitating everything from party hq). Only problem is that amongst their Mep's elected this year were an Asian 7 women and a gay!!! But everyone still believes the quote
Why can't an Asian person or a women or a gay man stand for office ? I'm gay and served in the Army so by your thinking I shouldn't have been allowed to serve now who's making 'sweeping' negative statements?
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: therealjr on November 16, 2014, 09:41:17 PM
Sorry ironsky you appear to have misunderstood me. People make that sweeping statement about UKIP and it's accepted without looking at it properly. Then you find out who stood as candidates for them that gives a different picture. But everyone believes what the opposition tells them
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: ironsky2 on November 16, 2014, 10:08:02 PM
Sorry ironsky you appear to have misunderstood me. People make that sweeping statement about UKIP and it's accepted without looking at it properly. Then you find out who stood as candidates for them that gives a different picture. But everyone believes what the opposition tells them
All is forgiven. The real problem here is people are just tired of the whole political system vote Labour nothing changes vote Tory nothing changes vote for a hung parliament you guessed it nothing changes the only thing that changes is things get a lot harder. I don't think UKIP are up to the job of running this country in fact I can't think of any party who is capable of running this once great country its fair to say there will be some head scatching on who to vote for in 2015!
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: Fly on November 16, 2014, 10:17:55 PM
Sadly, If he was still alive, I'd have voted for Screaming Lord Sutch bless him.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screaming_Lord_Sutch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screaming_Lord_Sutch)

It's all bollo*** IMHO.
You're either part of the scheme, or not.

Slacker, was there a reason you never replied to Pete's comment about fracking ?
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: therealjr on November 16, 2014, 10:51:48 PM
Of course there is. He's waiting for central office to tell him what to post!!! I could actually save him the wait. Labour are in favour of fracking in principle but want to see it more regulated
Title: Re: MPs propose national holiday for general elections
Post by: ironsky2 on November 16, 2014, 10:56:40 PM
And disregard public opinion on fracking which proves why people are turning there backs on politics! With that its goodnight from the one and only Ironsky2 over and out.