Archive for the ‘British current affairs’ Category
British general election (11): some of the constitutional questions that might arise
April 21st, 2015 by Roger Darlington
This General Election may be a nightmare for political parties and a bewilderment to the voters, but commentators and pundits are loving it because the outcome is so uncertain and potentially all sorts of new issues might need to be addressed. In a piece entitled “The politics of legitimacy”, the BBC’s deputy political editor James […]
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How religious are the British?
April 19th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Not much at all – as revealed by a new survey commissioned by the “Observer” newspaper of social attitudes in Britain: Which of the following religions or belief systems, if any, do you associate with? Church of England = 33% Catholicism = 10% Other Christian = 9% Islam = 3% Hinduism = 2% Judaism = […]
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British general election (10): is an election that does not produce an overall winner really so unusual?
April 18th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
“Hung parliaments may seem unusual but they are not. Britain had 20 governments in the 20th century, according to Prof Robert Hazell of University College London’s constitution unit. Of these, five were coalitions and five were minority governments. Only 50% of these governments were the “traditional” single-party majority government that Britain’s first-past-the-post electoral system is […]
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British general election (9): why are the polls all over the place?
April 14th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
The latest Guardian/ICM survey (a phone poll) has the Conservatives ahead by six points. Meanwhile, a YouGov poll (an internet survey) for the Sun published on Sunday night showed a three-point Labour lead. A series of internet polls last week had Labour’s lead ranging from three to six points. But a ComRes phone poll released […]
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British general election (8): the first leaflet of the campaign
March 31st, 2015 by Roger Darlington
I have just had an exchange on Facebook with Luke Parker, my Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Brent North. I wrote: “Thanks for your election leaflet received today – the first from any party in this election. Twice you refer to “compassionate reform of the benefit system”. I am wondering if this is an oxymoron or […]
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British general election (7): if there is just one difference you need to understand
March 28th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
“At the last general election, 12% of voters did not support Conservative, Labour or Lib Dem candidates: on average, in the polls during March this year, the number of respondents saying they intended to vote for other parties was 26%.” This is a quote from a piece by David Cowling – someone I knew 45 […]
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Should the democratic process be subject to thresholds?
March 16th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
The UK Conservative Party’s 2015 election manifesto is expected to promise that a future Conservative Government, if elected, would dramatically tighten up industrial action laws, with a minimum 50 per cent ballot participation threshold alongside a requirement for unions in ‘core’ public services to obtain a minimum 40 per cent majority of all those eligible […]
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British general election (6): the key could be Scotland
February 28th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
“The evidence suggests that no single party will win an outright majority on 7 May. But with more than two months until voting day, and with the margins between possible government scenarios so tight, there are enough moving parts to yet turn the wheels in favour of either Cameron or Miliband. At this stage, the […]
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British general election (5): exactly 100 days to go
January 27th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
So, what will be the result of the election in three months time? Like all observers and commentators, I don’t know – but here are the main options: Majority Conservative Government – very unlikely Majority Labour Government – very unlikely Conservatives in coalition with Liberal Democrats – possible Labour in coalition with Liberal Democrats – […]
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British general election (4): how a chocolate soldier has riden to the rescue of the Centre-Left
January 22nd, 2015 by Roger Darlington
“Britain stands on the edge of a cliff with the general election only 105 days away. Will we vote Tory or Ukip for Euro referendum chaos, lasting two years at least and putting thousands of businesses, millions of jobs and our long-term peace and security at risk? Or will Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green and all […]
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