General Chat

Over the past few weeks I have been transferring videos on to DVD and there was a set of Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister. We watched some of them and we did agree that it applied equally today and that was before the expense scandal came out.

I always did say that Tony would get out when it suited him and leave Gordon to carry the can. He did and he handed him a poisoned chalice.

I have only ever voted labour once and that was when Harold Wilson promised price and wages freeze. He carried out 50% of his promise - he froze the wages!

following on from Lynda's comment, I always think of Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister - I'm sure that the government of the day has nowhere near as much power as the Civil Service, the Old Boys Network and the Establishment. It may have been a comedy but I reckon there was a lot of truth in it!
Maz. XX

If another party stepped into No10 tomorrow,they would still take on the problems that already are there,as they wont disappear overnight or weeks or months,and why all blame is being laid at GB or just Labour is misconcepted as all parites were to blame in this claims fiasco,but some are getting out whipping sticks because they expected their leader to make consessions just for them.!

The media dont help by beating hornets nests either.

Merlin,
Perhaps youve not read E Powells papers and speeches from the 1960's concerning Birmingham.Wolverhampton and Walsall, it smacks which way his thinking went on Immigrants.!

the BNP wouldnt exist if people didnt vote for them, so the big question is , why do people feel they have to vote BNP, are there problems with race that the main parties are to scared to deal with, are there problems with race that we are to scared to talk about, because we get accused of being rascist, lets get these problems out into the open and deal with them in a democratic manner, that way people wont need to vote BNP and they will be confined to the dustbin.

Lynda, I think I know what you're saying and it makes perfect sense (to me anyway)

I know what you are saying TW but I think I belong to the group of people who see voting as a right that I can choose to exercise rather than a duty that I have to obey.

I am totally shocked that a country that is mutli-national, multi-cultural and multi-religeon and claims to be anti-rascist has come to a time where it has allowed these low-life racists to infiltrate our politics system ~ how our standards have fallen and what a massive leap we have taken backwards these people are not fit to stand in government over us ~ I know I have a neighbour who is a BNP representive and what a vile excuse of a man he is!

What kind of message does this send out to our children! What a sad day it is! Im representing our schools anti-racism campaign and one of our jobs is re-education and it is very much needed you would not believe the tripe that leaves the mouth of such young people yet it as to be done so we are starting with the parents and the community as a whole this is going to take a lot of doing but we have to do something who knows what kind of society we will be living in, in 10 years time and what kind of citizens we are breeding!

Uggers I will remove my comments if they offend

Hayley will you please stop putting yourself down like that. not having in interest in politics does not make you thick. Got it?

Otherwise I agree with what you say. I bet there won't be many holding up their hands to voting the BNP in, because it was a protest vote I reckon. Voting for the party they thought WOULDN'T get in, and it's backfired on them.

I personally think enforced voting would be a good idea. Let's face it, how different would previous election results be if there had been enforced voting? Who knows? Would Thatcher have been in power all that time? Would Blair?

What I can't understand is....the BNP say they stand for whats British...and dont agree with Europe so whats the point of them having a seat???? OH has just had the news on a women in Manchester said " sorry I voted BNP " ermm Sorry you either believe in what you voted for or why bother so why be sorry, to me that smacks of someone who was maybe brianwashed in to voting BNP by her old man or circle of friends. I didnt vote this time but I am thick and didnt know who to vote for, however I have voted Labour in the past I did in 1997 as I thought Tony Blair would move the country forward in the right direction.

I don't believe in enforced voting (even if you can spoil your paper) in the same way that if you are born in this country I don't believe in id cards. (surely my passport, driving licence etc will suffice if I want to leave the country or drive) It just seems wrong.

Hello Rox - there are definitely some immigrant problems and especially as you say in some areas but a lot of parties are starting to address that now - how effectively remains to be seen. I can understand the anger of some people and I don't assume they are all racist - but the BNP will never be the answer for me.

Hayley, I think it's probably more to do with upbringing than education really - I was brought up to see all people as equal. What I feel our forefathers fought against was everything evil that Hitler and the Nazis stood for and the same goes for the BNP

Merlin, I have every right to say what I want about Enoch Powell. He was a public figure and a politician and I didn't form my opinion without reading a lot of what he said and wrote.

To be fair Merlin, I think most of us would only know Enoch Powell by reading about him, or reading his speeches, especially the 'rivers of blood'. Most of us would not have the privilege of knowing him personally, as most of us would not have the privilege of personally knowing Gordon Brown, but it doesn't take away our right to have an opinion on either of them.

As others have said, the BNP are focussing on many local problems that need to be tackled, but I wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them. It's what they DON'T say that concerns me most.

I don’t practically agree with the education aspect of it, I am poorly educated, however I do have my own mind. I think the BNP party have latched on to the PC and how the media blows it out of all portion, then in wonder the sheep that believe every word that is printed. In my option the BNP is no more than the NF. I detest them and everything they stand for. But I do believe that everyone has the right to their opinion and the freedom of speech that is what I believe my Dad and other’s fought for in WW2. It always worries me that make’s me a hypocrite.

Having read all this,I agree with most of it.As for the BNP.It stinks and all it stadnds for. however there are two things I would like to point out,One is, some one at some time stated, While I may not agree with what you said,I will defend with my life your right to say it. Secondly, the people who were ,( say) a little derogatory about "Enoch Powell" quite obviously did not know him.therefor have ( in my opinion) no right to say what they did. Well you were totally wrong. I knew the man,and all the information he got was given to him by his Immigrant constituants.**M**.

I am in Manchester at the moment,thats where the B.N.P are gaining a lot of support. I find it sad its come to this , I never thought I would see the day that the B.N.P got a seat.
I blame the Labour Party and our Stupid to labour council in manchester,they have pushed people too far in my opinion, they have placed far to many immigrants In North Manchester over a very short period and Im afraid that people feel very angry and let down about this.
and to be honest I can understand their anger, its nothing to do with being racist ,until you have seen it dont judge!

I for one am not a racist in any shape or form,it would be very hard with my mixed genes!lol but integration is usually gradual this has happened over the space of 2-3 years and its crazy!

I'm not surprised by that to be honest Chris, fairly predictable in the current climate.

Another warning for the main parties to pull thier fingers out and do something about the huge political mess we have ruling us at the moment?

I am horrified results coming in from Belfast showing Sinn Fein with the highest votes and yes I know we have a democracy (though sometimes I do wonder) but I lived in N. Ireland for some years and that was through the troubles.

To answer Rd Gee's query - a heavy fine is imposed I believe. What has surprised me that it has been mandatory in Belgium since 1890s and in Australia for all elections since 1924.

I agree with that, Chris - as long as people have the right to protest and spoil their paper I can't see that it's a problem.

and has anyone noticed that it would be possible to see what someone has voted as the officer who gives you for voting slip writes on it the number off your voting card - in effect elections in this country are not totally private