|
|
Post by andrew111 on Aug 14, 2021 9:13:21 GMT
That depends on your definition of Scottish Highlands. If by Highlands you mean the Highland Council area, then the Liberal Democrats held all the parliamentary constituencies in that area from 2005-15 (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross, Ross, Skye & Lochaber, and Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey). And also 1983-1997 and 1964-1970 and indeed most of the time up to 1945 It wasn't a tradition though, obviously. We have that ex-cathedra |
|
|
|
Post by Davıd Boothroyd on Aug 14, 2021 9:16:32 GMT
Biggs has proved every bit as dreadful as expected, and unless he is deselected, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Lutfur Rahman wins again. Rahman is now eligible to stand again, then? His brand of machine politics actually has a fair amount in common with the "old" Labour right. It really doesn't. Not if you're aware how it actually operated. |
|
|
|
Post by Merseymike on Aug 14, 2021 9:23:47 GMT
Biggs has proved every bit as dreadful as expected, and unless he is deselected, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Lutfur Rahman wins again. Rahman is now eligible to stand again, then? His brand of machine politics actually has a fair amount in common with the "old" Labour right. Or the old union left, for that matter. They aren't that different. Boss politics. Liverpool has suffered from it for years. Yes, he can run again. I think he could well beat Biggs who I wouldn't vote for under any circumstances. Not that I'm a great fan of Rahman but at least he did bother to try and deal with the enormous housing problems in the borough. The attempt to frame Aspana Begum when it appears that one of their own councillors and her ex husband was involved and the jury clearly believed Aspana Begum shows how low they have sunk. She used to work for Rahman in his Labour days. Given Starmer has said nothing at all about her treatment, a defection would not surprise me. |
|
peter
Conservative
Posts: 47 
|
Post by peter on Aug 14, 2021 9:38:44 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by grahammurray on Aug 14, 2021 10:05:24 GMT
The Conservatives could have given her one of their allocation. |
|
|
|
Post by Davıd Boothroyd on Aug 14, 2021 10:24:01 GMT
If the facts are as presented, the Minister should be considering her position for attempting to give orders to an impartial body which is guaranteed independence.
|
|
|
|
Post by listener on Aug 14, 2021 10:34:33 GMT
Could someone summarise the Chloe Smith story for the benefit of those of us blocked by a Telegraph paywall. We are not all Telegraph subscribers!
|
|
|
|
Post by grahammurray on Aug 14, 2021 10:40:31 GMT
Could someone summarise the Chloe Smith story for the benefit of those of us blocked by a Telegraph paywall. We are not all Telegraph subscribers! Elections watchdog accused of blocking minister from observing ballot Local Conservatives had suggested Chloe Smith observe the Tower Hamlets by-election to witness the measures brought in by the borough By Lucy Fisher, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR 13 August 2021 • 9:30pm Chloe Smith A backlash has erupted against the elections watchdog after it was accused of blocking a minister from observing a town hall ballot this week. Tory critics heaped scorn on the Electoral Commission for preventing Chloe Smith, the constitution and devolution minister, from witnessing measures put in place for a council by-election in Tower Hamlets on Thursday. The law allows for “accredited observers” to be present at polling stations during ballot day. Inquiries about Ms Smith attending the ballot were submitted last week. But in an email response seen by The Telegraph, a council representative said that the Commission “would not appoint anyone as an accredited observer who has any political affiliation”. A spokesman for the Electoral Commission confirmed on Friday that political affiliation would be considered “relevant” when deciding whether to approve someone as an accredited observer. The spokesman added: “We are not aware of a minister being actively prevented from entering a polling station at [Thursday’s] election... We did not receive an application to register as an observer from any member of the UK Government.” Local Conservatives had suggested Ms Smith, who is bringing forward legislation on elections reform, could benefit from seeing in person the measures implemented in the borough to prevent ballot offences taking place. This included polling officers watching out for, and halting, multiple people entering the same voting booth, in order to prevent individuals facing pressure to vote in a certain way. Lord Hayward, a Tory peer and elections expert, heaped criticism on the Electoral Commission: “It is inappropriate to say that a minister with responsibility for a specific issue is not allowed to view that issue in practice in a local authority where there has been a history of problems, to see what they are doing to solve them.” Cllr Peter Golds, a Conservative councillor, said that the plan had been for Ms Smith to come with her private secretary, adding: “There was to be nobody there with coloured rosettes or leaflets.” Electorial Commission ‘completely overreached’ He accused the Electoral Commission of having “completely overreached” by effectively blocking her presence inside any of the three polling stations in the ward. “The law doesn’t say what are ‘accredited observers’. The Electoral Commission has assumed the law,” he said. Cllr Golds added: “Surely the Returning Officer is entitled to invite the minister, and indeed the shadow minister, in an area where there have been ongoing difficulties with elections, to walk in and observe the conduct of an election? Only for a few minutes. She wouldn’t have been accompanied by anyone political.” The regulator’s move threatens to deepen tensions with the Conservative Party. Amanda Milling, co-chairman of the Conservative party, last summer called for the watchdog to be overhauled or abolished, alleging that it had become “accountable to no one”. She said it was “not fit for purpose”, after it referred a series of Brexit campaigns to the police, resulting in “lengthy and often unnecessary investigations”, she claimed. It is understood that the party is seeking to improve relations with the regulator following the arrival of a new chairman this spring. |
|
peterl
Green
Congratulations President Trump
Posts: 8,473
|
Post by peterl on Aug 14, 2021 10:48:49 GMT
No, it has long been the policy that accredited observers must be free of any political affiliation. All the Conservatives needed to do was to appoint Smith as a count agent. Though that would of course have required talking to the local party, who may not have appreciated an attempt to "muscle in" on a local contest. |
|
|
|
Post by bigfatron on Aug 14, 2021 10:54:44 GMT
Ah, so this is a complaint about the Electoral Commission not giving approval for an accreditation that it was never asked to approve.
I also note that the councillor says “Surely the Returning Officer is entitled to invite the minister, and indeed the shadow minister, in an area where there have been ongoing difficulties with elections, to walk in and observe the conduct of an election?" without any suggestion that the returning officer did, in fact invite her; the only invitation appears to have been from local Tories, who don't actually run elections in Tower Hamlets AFAIK?
Probably the Returning Officer can invite the minister, but they apparently didn't, which points to his rhetorical question being rather mendacious.
In essence, a manufactured 'affront' in the ongoing culture wars and to serve the Tory purpose of replacing the Electoral Commission with a more compliant alternative...
|
|
|
|
Post by andrew111 on Aug 14, 2021 12:46:14 GMT
Ah, so this is a complaint about the Electoral Commission not giving approval for an accreditation that it was never asked to approve. I also note that the councillor says “Surely the Returning Officer is entitled to invite the minister, and indeed the shadow minister, in an area where there have been ongoing difficulties with elections, to walk in and observe the conduct of an election?" without any suggestion that the returning officer did, in fact invite her; the only invitation appears to have been from local Tories, who don't actually run elections in Tower Hamlets AFAIK? Probably the Returning Officer can invite the minister, but they apparently didn't, which points to his rhetorical question being rather mendacious. In essence, a manufactured 'affront' in the ongoing culture wars and to serve the Tory purpose of replacing the Electoral Commission with a more compliant alternative... Maybe the Returning Officer could invite a Minister to the count (I doubt it), but certainly not as an "accredited observer". That requires a direct application by Chloe Smith to the EC. Tower Hamlets correctly pointed out that that this would likely not be allowed because the guidance is quite clear regarding political affiliation. As said, she could have been appointed as an agent to attend polling stations, postal vote opening, and/or the count by the local Tories, but that would have required organisation a couple of weeks ago. As far as I know one thing electoral law does NOT give is any special privileges to Ministers. There are very good reasons for that, and if the Tories want to change that it just shows the slippery and undemocratic slope they are on. |
|
|
|
Post by Davıd Boothroyd on Aug 14, 2021 12:51:04 GMT
Also it needs to be noted that Chloe Smith had actually visited to support the Conservative Party candidate in the election. Her partiality was specific to this particular election, not just general.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2021 13:04:40 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by robert1 on Aug 14, 2021 13:04:48 GMT
May I suggest that people do not speculate on the basis of totally inadequate information.
Having been involved from the start, at this stage, all I will say is that certain events are being misrepresented-including on this thread. These will be pursued privately and may involve other parties-privately.
|
|
|
|
Post by Davıd Boothroyd on Aug 14, 2021 13:18:42 GMT
May I suggest that people do not speculate on the basis of totally inadequate information. Having been involved from the start, at this stage, all I will say is that certain events are being misrepresented-including on this thread. These will be pursued privately and may involve other parties-privately. A bit bloody late to say that. The issue was brought to this page by Peter Golds, leader of the Conservative group on Tower Hamlets council. Conservatives can hardly expect to launch a partisan attack on the Electoral Commission and then shut everyone else up when the facts about this fundamentally anti-democratic move are pointed out to them. |
|
timmullen1
Labour
Closing account as BossMan declines to respond to messages seeking support.
Posts: 11,823
|
Post by timmullen1 on Aug 14, 2021 14:06:06 GMT
Biggs has proved every bit as dreadful as expected, and unless he is deselected, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Lutfur Rahman wins again. Rahman is now eligible to stand again, then? His brand of machine politics actually has a fair amount in common with the "old" Labour right. I think so; banned for five years in 2015. |
|
|
|
Post by bigfatron on Aug 14, 2021 15:17:55 GMT
May I suggest that people do not speculate on the basis of totally inadequate information. Having been involved from the start, at this stage, all I will say is that certain events are being misrepresented-including on this thread. These will be pursued privately and may involve other parties-privately. We're simply commenting on the facts as they are stated by the ToryTelegraph - are you saying that they are incorrect? |
|
|
|
Post by grahammurray on Aug 14, 2021 17:23:22 GMT
May I suggest that people do not speculate on the basis of totally inadequate information. Having been involved from the start, at this stage, all I will say is that certain events are being misrepresented-including on this thread. These will be pursued privately and may involve other parties-privately. If the information so far is inadequate then feel free to update it. Why would an issue like this be pursued privately? |
|
|
|
Post by Defenestrated Fipplebox on Aug 14, 2021 17:24:44 GMT
Robert1 is saying this as a MP.
He's following the government whip on the matter.
|
|
Khunanup
Lib Dem
Portsmouth Liberal Democrats
Posts: 12,012
|
Post by Khunanup on Aug 14, 2021 17:29:38 GMT
Let's be clear here.
The Conservative Party are a party that at their core is interested in Power, the accumulation & wielding of it.
In and of itself, that is not a problem, politics itself being about power at a greater or lesser extent for all but the most fringe of political organisations.
But at the moment the Conservative Party is in a phase of them believing themselves to be synonymous with the Country and the State, assisted by the weakness of the opposition and the dire quality of their cabinet who are, almost to the person, politically naive party hacks.
This starts to lead to the expectation that the levers of the State should work for them and so low-level corruption creeps in (happens everywhere with unthreatened polities in the UK, but rarely gets reported outside of Private Eye etc). Jobs for mates, attack institutions that don't do as you wish, etc. etc.
|
|
