Sam Freedman @Samfr · 59m The government argued, when making their visa changes, that not allowing care workers to bring dependents would only cause a drop in dependents, not care workers.
First month suggests that's very much not true and, on their own analysis, is a big problem.
An old mate of mine told me today the Leeds Tories are bricking it. There’s a good chance their group leader will be unseated by a Green challenger. The ward is Wetherby, a formerly rock solid Tory, affluent market town in leafy, rural-ish NE Leeds. He’s a former mayor of Wetherby and is well known and is hoping incumbency helps, but a Green was elected last time and apparently it’s all a bit squeaky bum time. They expect all the other Tories up for re-election to lose, some of those from formerly rock solid Tory wards too.
Blimey. If Wetherby falls then the Tories are in even more shit than their dire polling suggests.
'Wetherby Has Fallen' could be the new 'Were You Still Up For Portillo?'
These Gerard Butler movies are getting sillier with every sequel.
An old mate of mine told me today the Leeds Tories are bricking it. There’s a good chance their group leader will be unseated by a Green challenger. The ward is Wetherby, a formerly rock solid Tory, affluent market town in leafy, rural-ish NE Leeds. He’s a former mayor of Wetherby and is well known and is hoping incumbency helps, but a Green was elected last time and apparently it’s all a bit squeaky bum time. They expect all the other Tories up for re-election to lose, some of those from formerly rock solid Tory wards too.
Blimey. If Wetherby falls then the Tories are in even more shit than their dire polling suggests.
'Wetherby Has Fallen' could be the new 'Were You Still Up For Portillo?'
These Gerard Butler movies are getting sillier with every sequel.
Interesting chat to the polling office staff this morning; they felt it was a long day but decent money for sitting at a desk.
Checking up it is about £20 per hour.
Today being £230 + 20% extra for running two polls + £30 for a training session.
Given that ours are PCC and D2N2 Mayor with notalot of voters, I can see the attraction.
That's nearly 2 weeks of basic state pension.
You can volunteer to be on the list. You probably won't get it as priority will almost certainly go to current or former local authority staff, but people always drop out as the date approaches and some venues are tough to fill, so you never know.
Friend of mine, in his student days topped up his income by working as a polling clerk. Long time ago now, of course.
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
Interesting chat to the polling office staff this morning; they felt it was a long day but decent money for sitting at a desk.
Checking up it is about £20 per hour.
Today being £230 + 20% extra for running two polls + £30 for a training session.
Given that ours are PCC and D2N2 Mayor with notalot of voters, I can see the attraction.
That's nearly 2 weeks of basic state pension.
You can volunteer to be on the list. You probably won't get it as priority will almost certainly go to current or former local authority staff, but people always drop out as the date approaches and some venues are tough to fill, so you never know.
Bank tellers used to be popular choices to count the votes but .. CASH!
Do people ever wonder what people from abroad make of those declarations when you have characters like Count Binface etc on the stage .
They struggle to comprehend it.
I'll tell you an anecdote on these lines.
Back in circa 2011 Barack Obama rang to speak to David Cameron, he was genuinely perplexed to learn that David Cameron was out delivering leaflets/canvassing in his constituency of Witney and that Dave would call him back in an hour or so as the mobile reception in West Oxfordshire was bad.
Think how fab things would be if he had acknowledged his limitations and stuck to leafletting.
It's comments like this that lead to me using that Nigel Farage photo in thead headers. #CollectivePunishmentForInsultingDave
No out of context photo will ever trump Corbyn dressing up for the Last Leg in a tuxedo, fur coat and a Bentley.
Farage came sickeningly close to revealing his Last Leg in the photo we’re being threatened with.
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
How hard is it to check the suitable list of IDs? Are people doing this on purpose? And as for the government getting to decide what counts and what doesn’t, that might be because governments pass legislation…
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
How hard is it to check the suitable list of IDs? Are people doing this on purpose? And as for the government getting to decide what counts and what doesn’t, that might be because governments pass legislation…
Yes indeed. I didn't and don't support the changes, I regarded them as unnecessary even if not quite the outrageous idea in principle that some have suggested, but that's a particularly dumb way of attacking it.
Perhaps its arrogance, but I do sometimes find myself thinking I could do a better job crafting opposing arguments for things I don't even oppose, than the people actually opposing them.
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
How hard is it to check the suitable list of IDs? Are people doing this on purpose? And as for the government getting to decide what counts and what doesn’t, that might be because governments pass legislation…
It has dawned me that both my driver's license and passport renewal windows are October/November time this year and that I need to make other plans to vote.
An old mate of mine told me today the Leeds Tories are bricking it. There’s a good chance their group leader will be unseated by a Green challenger. The ward is Wetherby, a formerly rock solid Tory, affluent market town in leafy, rural-ish NE Leeds. He’s a former mayor of Wetherby and is well known and is hoping incumbency helps, but a Green was elected last time and apparently it’s all a bit squeaky bum time. They expect all the other Tories up for re-election to lose, some of those from formerly rock solid Tory wards too.
Blimey. If Wetherby falls then the Tories are in even more shit than their dire polling suggests.
'Wetherby Has Fallen' could be the new 'Were You Still Up For Portillo?'
I should add, if you’re tempted to stay up for such an epochal event, counting in Leeds doesn’t start until 11am. So it will be a very long night indeed.
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
How hard is it to check the suitable list of IDs? Are people doing this on purpose? And as for the government getting to decide what counts and what doesn’t, that might be because governments pass legislation…
It's fucking ridiculous that there's any kind of confusion about what you need to do at the polling station to be able to vote. I think yes, someone is indeed doing it on purpose.
The locals: can anyone truly be arsed to kick the Tories this time out?
What change of direction would you hope to enact? They've changed leaders time and again and still they circle the drain. They are gone, gone, gone. And kicking them will make them run from a GE all the more.
OK, I didn't vote for them, but I didn't burn to hurt the Tories or send them any kind of message this time out. They are irrelevant. And I think that will limit the scale of their losses.
So today was two polls, the local ward and the metro mayor. I went down to the golf club at lunch and cast for the incumbents, the Green councillor who stands in every single election I vote in and Tracy (above the Green councillor option).
I reckon about a quarter of the names were crossed off on the street names alphabetically close to me - not sure if that includes those signed up for postal votes or actually represented decent turn out. One sizeable street seemed to be putting on a good show.
An old Carribbean lady was being helped around forms of identification by the station assistant having been turned away.
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
How hard is it to check the suitable list of IDs? Are people doing this on purpose? And as for the government getting to decide what counts and what doesn’t, that might be because governments pass legislation…
It has dawned me that both my driver's license and passport renewal windows are October/November time this year and that I need to make other plans to vote.
I've already requested a postal vote for you - no ID required.
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
How hard is it to check the suitable list of IDs? Are people doing this on purpose? And as for the government getting to decide what counts and what doesn’t, that might be because governments pass legislation…
Yes indeed. I didn't and don't support the changes, I regarded them as unnecessary even if not quite the outrageous idea in principle that some have suggested, but that's a particularly dumb way of attacking it.
Perhaps its arrogance, but I do sometimes find myself thinking I could do a better job crafting opposing arguments for things I don't even oppose, than the people actually opposing them.
I think it's entirely reasonable to make that argument. Governments have a political incentive to fiddle with the forms of ID required. Tory governments can skew it to ID forms held by older voters. Labour can skew it away from them and so on. If you're going to do ID (and it's unnecessary and an obvious attempt at voter suppression) then the government should not be the ones deciding on what ID is valid. It should be devolved to an independent organisation.
Only anecdotal, but from my various electoral acquaintances, in the smaller elections to date there has been not as much fuss about the ID rules as they were expecting, so it will be interesting if there has been more now, of it is remains at the level of minor irritation.
Because if it is the latter, Labour may only bother to tweak the rules, not get rid of the requirement.
Went to vote for the West Mercia PCC at 9pm. Very quiet as expected.
These elections will be disproportionately influenced by turnout in places where there are local elections. In Shropshire I expect turnout to be very low.
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
How hard is it to check the suitable list of IDs? Are people doing this on purpose? And as for the government getting to decide what counts and what doesn’t, that might be because governments pass legislation…
It has dawned me that both my driver's license and passport renewal windows are October/November time this year and that I need to make other plans to vote.
Don’t think the ID needs to be valid? You used to be able to use expired uk passports to prove right to work
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
How hard is it to check the suitable list of IDs? Are people doing this on purpose? And as for the government getting to decide what counts and what doesn’t, that might be because governments pass legislation…
Yes indeed. I didn't and don't support the changes, I regarded them as unnecessary even if not quite the outrageous idea in principle that some have suggested, but that's a particularly dumb way of attacking it.
Perhaps its arrogance, but I do sometimes find myself thinking I could do a better job crafting opposing arguments for things I don't even oppose, than the people actually opposing them.
I think it's entirely reasonable to make that argument. Governments have a political incentive to fiddle with the forms of ID required. Tory governments can skew it to ID forms held by older voters. Labour can skew it away from them and so on. If you're going to do ID (and it's unnecessary and an obvious attempt at voter suppression) then the government should not be the ones deciding on what ID is valid. It should be devolved to an independent organisation.
Can't say I agree with that one. Farming things out to independent organisations is not always a solution.
Regardless, many will persuasively argue against the principal of requiring ID even if it was or had been devolved to an independent organisation. The types of ID which are permitted is not the main objection, so quibbling over what counts and who gets to decide is just a distraction and a pretext for just arguing the whole thing is wrong.
I would suggest the government would not mind having that argument, it is one they can make concessions on, whilst entrenching the overall principal.
Only anecdotal, but from my various electoral acquaintances, in the smaller elections to date there has been not as much fuss about the ID rules as they were expecting, so it will be interesting if there has been more now, of it is remains at the level of minor irritation.
Because if it is the latter, Labour may only bother to tweak the rules, not get rid of the requirement.
If you're postal voting, you only supply the ID at application, I dropped off the parental votes for Andy Burnham and I had to fill in a form but not provide ID. The oldies are generally quite organised on this score. Its younger people without driving licences who generally don't have ID to hand.
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
How hard is it to check the suitable list of IDs? Are people doing this on purpose? And as for the government getting to decide what counts and what doesn’t, that might be because governments pass legislation…
It's fucking ridiculous that there's any kind of confusion about what you need to do at the polling station to be able to vote. I think yes, someone is indeed doing it on purpose.
I voted without any photo ID today. The lady in front of me was asked, but I wasn’t. They seemed to be happy with my polling card (which I don’t think qualifies under the Tories’ crazy new rules?)
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
How hard is it to check the suitable list of IDs? Are people doing this on purpose? And as for the government getting to decide what counts and what doesn’t, that might be because governments pass legislation…
It's fucking ridiculous that there's any kind of confusion about what you need to do at the polling station to be able to vote. I think yes, someone is indeed doing it on purpose.
I voted without any photo ID today. The lady in front of me was asked, but I wasn’t. They seemed to be happy with my polling card (which I don’t think qualifies under the Tories’ crazy new rules?)
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
How hard is it to check the suitable list of IDs? Are people doing this on purpose? And as for the government getting to decide what counts and what doesn’t, that might be because governments pass legislation…
It has dawned me that both my driver's license and passport renewal windows are October/November time this year and that I need to make other plans to vote.
Don’t think the ID needs to be valid? You used to be able to use expired uk passports to prove right to work
Good point:
Out of date photo ID You can still use your photo ID if it's out of date, as long as it looks like you. The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
How hard is it to check the suitable list of IDs? Are people doing this on purpose? And as for the government getting to decide what counts and what doesn’t, that might be because governments pass legislation…
It has dawned me that both my driver's license and passport renewal windows are October/November time this year and that I need to make other plans to vote.
Don’t think the ID needs to be valid? You used to be able to use expired uk passports to prove right to work
Good point:
Out of date photo ID You can still use your photo ID if it's out of date, as long as it looks like you. The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
How hard is it to check the suitable list of IDs? Are people doing this on purpose? And as for the government getting to decide what counts and what doesn’t, that might be because governments pass legislation…
It's fucking ridiculous that there's any kind of confusion about what you need to do at the polling station to be able to vote. I think yes, someone is indeed doing it on purpose.
I voted without any photo ID today. The lady in front of me was asked, but I wasn’t. They seemed to be happy with my polling card (which I don’t think qualifies under the Tories’ crazy new rules?)
No, it doesn't.
The feeling is that we are living in a historically short-lived transitional epoch before digital really kicks in and the authorities know where everyone is at all times and so questions of verification of identity won't arise.
An old mate of mine told me today the Leeds Tories are bricking it. There’s a good chance their group leader will be unseated by a Green challenger. The ward is Wetherby, a formerly rock solid Tory, affluent market town in leafy, rural-ish NE Leeds. He’s a former mayor of Wetherby and is well known and is hoping incumbency helps, but a Green was elected last time and apparently it’s all a bit squeaky bum time. They expect all the other Tories up for re-election to lose, some of those from formerly rock solid Tory wards too.
That surprises me because my call is Conservatives doing okay in North Yorkshire when it comes to Mayor election, it will be a third Tory win with Street and Houchen. North Yorkshire overall will always be Tory. For ever and ever.
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
How hard is it to check the suitable list of IDs? Are people doing this on purpose? And as for the government getting to decide what counts and what doesn’t, that might be because governments pass legislation…
It's fucking ridiculous that there's any kind of confusion about what you need to do at the polling station to be able to vote. I think yes, someone is indeed doing it on purpose.
The confusion is the idiots who can’t take a minute to check what’s needed. No matter if you agree with the need for ID or not, make your vote count and follow the rules.
Net change in council seats for... -478 | Conservative +273 | Labour +129 | Lib Dem +52 | Greeen +24 | Other
Would be very bad but not quite Wellingborough bad for the Tories
I have a feeling in my bones the Tories will do better than that. Based on recent council by-elections where they’ve had a few surprising holds and even a couple of gains, and based on the fact the mystical 10-15% Reform vote (which is just disgruntled Tories) has nowhere to go today except back home.
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
How hard is it to check the suitable list of IDs? Are people doing this on purpose? And as for the government getting to decide what counts and what doesn’t, that might be because governments pass legislation…
It's fucking ridiculous that there's any kind of confusion about what you need to do at the polling station to be able to vote. I think yes, someone is indeed doing it on purpose.
What even a former Prime Minister and in power when the law was passed? Actually thinking on it is exactly the sort of caper he would do on purpose. Gets him in the papers and rubbing his successor’s nose in the mess of the overnight results.
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
How hard is it to check the suitable list of IDs? Are people doing this on purpose? And as for the government getting to decide what counts and what doesn’t, that might be because governments pass legislation…
I was checked twice.
On the door "have you got ID". At the desk "please show me your ID".
We had a discussion whilst I was voting about the precedent of using a penis as a mark, whilst also talking about volunteering etc.
The suggestion was made that were I to volunteer I should not ask that of the interviewer as my first question.
Six candidates for mayor, incidentally.
One thing often forgotten about Mr Political Job in Nottinghamshire Ben Bradley is that he is only 34.
Net change in council seats for... -478 | Conservative +273 | Labour +129 | Lib Dem +52 | Greeen +24 | Other
Would be very bad but not quite Wellingborough bad for the Tories
I have a feeling in my bones the Tories will do better than that. Based on recent council by-elections where they’ve had a few surprising holds and even a couple of gains, and based on the fact the mystical 10-15% Reform vote (which is just disgruntled Tories) has nowhere to go today except back home.
Con -300 Lab +140 LD + 90 Green +30 Other +40
That's awful for Labour and excellent for Rishi. It looks like game-on!
"A former soldier said he was left “gutted” today when he was denied a vote at the polling station, as his Veteran ID was turned down as a valid form of photo identification.
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
How hard is it to check the suitable list of IDs? Are people doing this on purpose? And as for the government getting to decide what counts and what doesn’t, that might be because governments pass legislation…
It's fucking ridiculous that there's any kind of confusion about what you need to do at the polling station to be able to vote. I think yes, someone is indeed doing it on purpose.
I voted without any photo ID today. The lady in front of me was asked, but I wasn’t. They seemed to be happy with my polling card (which I don’t think qualifies under the Tories’ crazy new rules?)
No, it doesn't.
Would have been under my version of the system. I’d require either the polling card or if you don’t present that, then you must prove who you are with ID.
Had an interesting 9 hours on the doorstep knocking up in Cowley (Oxford) (we don't have local elections in my patch this year). A totally different feel to the anti-Government sentiment that dominates my area - in Cowley, Labour and the LibDems are seen as the parties in power at City and County level, and there's a substantial backlash against the LTNs being put in by the (LD) County Council. The Tories were barely on the field, but "independent" anti-LTN candidates were hoovering up the usual Tory vote and peeling votes off all the other parties too. I don't think any national party will do well there, though it probably doesn't have much significance in national terms.
OK, let me start a subject. For whatever party you are aligned to - what is your ideal batting line up to spin the party line on election night?
For my money - get Jonathan Reynolds on first, don't want to fall asleep for the bulk of the results so don't put him in the middle of the night, Lucy Powell in the lully bit that needs some general vacuity, Ashworth to be combative for the early meat, then Pat McFadden for the wry summing up.
Do people ever wonder what people from abroad make of those declarations when you have characters like Count Binface etc on the stage .
They struggle to comprehend it.
I'll tell you an anecdote on these lines.
Back in circa 2011 Barack Obama rang to speak to David Cameron, he was genuinely perplexed to learn that David Cameron was out delivering leaflets/canvassing in his constituency of Witney and that Dave would call him back in an hour or so as the mobile reception in West Oxfordshire was bad.
Think how fab things would be if he had acknowledged his limitations and stuck to leafletting.
It's comments like this that lead to me using that Nigel Farage photo in thead headers. #CollectivePunishmentForInsultingDave
No out of context photo will ever trump Corbyn dressing up for the Last Leg in a tuxedo, fur coat and a Bentley.
He scrubbed up quite well as I remember. Derek Guy would approve I am sure.
Starmer needs to read his twitter. He needs better fitting jackets or to shed a few stone.
I was watching the football tonight. Knock on the door. Sorry to trouble you. Have you and Mrs Al voted today? It was my MP. Quite impressed, as the election here was just for the PCC and a single councillor by-election.
Net change in council seats for... -478 | Conservative +273 | Labour +129 | Lib Dem +52 | Greeen +24 | Other
Would be very bad but not quite Wellingborough bad for the Tories
I have a feeling in my bones the Tories will do better than that. Based on recent council by-elections where they’ve had a few surprising holds and even a couple of gains, and based on the fact the mystical 10-15% Reform vote (which is just disgruntled Tories) has nowhere to go today except back home.
Con -300 Lab +140 LD + 90 Green +30 Other +40
That's awful for Labour and excellent for Rishi. It looks like game-on!
Judging from the expresserati the reform voters would rather stay home than vote "consocialist' since it is a "status quo" party that "betrayed brexit".
I was watching the football tonight. Knock on the door. Sorry to trouble you. Have you and Mrs Al voted today? It was my MP. Quite impressed, as the election here was just for the PCC and a single councillor by-election.
Leverkusen extending their unbeaten run in all competitions!
An old mate of mine told me today the Leeds Tories are bricking it. There’s a good chance their group leader will be unseated by a Green challenger. The ward is Wetherby, a formerly rock solid Tory, affluent market town in leafy, rural-ish NE Leeds. He’s a former mayor of Wetherby and is well known and is hoping incumbency helps, but a Green was elected last time and apparently it’s all a bit squeaky bum time. They expect all the other Tories up for re-election to lose, some of those from formerly rock solid Tory wards too.
That surprises me because my call is Conservatives doing okay in North Yorkshire when it comes to Mayor election, it will be a third Tory win with Street and Houchen. North Yorkshire overall will always be Tory. For ever and ever.
Wasn't there a poll putting Labour ahead in NY?
And not even close. But completely against the narrative.
I was wrong in Rochdale, the narrative was right. Trust the narrative more than difficult to do mayor polls?
An old mate of mine told me today the Leeds Tories are bricking it. There’s a good chance their group leader will be unseated by a Green challenger. The ward is Wetherby, a formerly rock solid Tory, affluent market town in leafy, rural-ish NE Leeds. He’s a former mayor of Wetherby and is well known and is hoping incumbency helps, but a Green was elected last time and apparently it’s all a bit squeaky bum time. They expect all the other Tories up for re-election to lose, some of those from formerly rock solid Tory wards too.
That surprises me because my call is Conservatives doing okay in North Yorkshire when it comes to Mayor election, it will be a third Tory win with Street and Houchen. North Yorkshire overall will always be Tory. For ever and ever.
Wasn't there a poll putting Labour ahead in NY?
And not even close. But completely against the narrative.
I was wrong in Rochdale, the narrative was right. Trust the narrative more than difficult to do mayor polls?
The NY mayoral includes York which will be about 1/3 of the total weight, right?
Comments
@Samfr
·
59m
The government argued, when making their visa changes, that not allowing care workers to bring dependents would only cause a drop in dependents, not care workers.
First month suggests that's very much not true and, on their own analysis, is a big problem.
https://twitter.com/Samfr/status/1786121267898200178
Conservatives -550
Labour +300
Lib Dem +100
Green +100
Others +50
Under the Tory government’s new draconian voter ID rules, his photo ID did not qualify as a valid document required in order to cast a vote in the local elections today.
Former soldier Adam Diver wrote on X: “I’m not one for complaining but I am gutted! I spent 27 years in the Army and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my Veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. “I will be fighting for this “special ID” to be “more” formal.” The Electoral Reform Society said the case showed the “arbitrary nature of voter ID rules” in which the government gets to decide what counts, and what doesn’t.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer replied to the veteran with an apology and said he’d try to update the list of valid IDs before the general election. The MP for Plymouth Moor View said: “I am sorry about this. The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.” "
https://leftfootforward.org/2024/05/tory-mp-apologises-to-veteran-denied-vote-at-polls-over-valid-photo-id/
[runs and hides]
Perhaps its arrogance, but I do sometimes find myself thinking I could do a better job crafting opposing arguments for things I don't even oppose, than the people actually opposing them.
·
45s
NEW | Our 2024 local election forecast:
Net change in council seats for...
-478 | Conservative
+273 | Labour
+129 | Lib Dem
+52 | Greeen
+24 | Other
It's going to be a terrrrrrrrrrible night for the Tories...
The locals: can anyone truly be arsed to kick the Tories this time out?
What change of direction would you hope to enact? They've changed leaders time and again and still they circle the drain. They are gone, gone, gone. And kicking them will make them run from a GE all the more.
OK, I didn't vote for them, but I didn't burn to hurt the Tories or send them any kind of message this time out. They are irrelevant. And I think that will limit the scale of their losses.
So today was two polls, the local ward and the metro mayor. I went down to the golf club at lunch and cast for the incumbents, the Green councillor who stands in every single election I vote in and Tracy (above the Green councillor option).
I reckon about a quarter of the names were crossed off on the street names alphabetically close to me - not sure if that includes those signed up for postal votes or actually represented decent turn out. One sizeable street seemed to be putting on a good show.
An old Carribbean lady was being helped around forms of identification by the station assistant having been turned away.
And that was that.
NEW | Our 2024 local election forecast:
Net change in council seats for...
-478 | Conservative
+273 | Labour
+129 | Lib Dem
+52 | Greeen
+24 | Other
Would be very bad but not quite Wellingborough bad for the Tories
Because if it is the latter, Labour may only bother to tweak the rules, not get rid of the requirement.
These elections will be disproportionately influenced by turnout in places where there are local elections. In Shropshire I expect turnout to be very low.
Regardless, many will persuasively argue against the principal of requiring ID even if it was or had been devolved to an independent organisation. The types of ID which are permitted is not the main objection, so quibbling over what counts and who gets to decide is just a distraction and a pretext for just arguing the whole thing is wrong.
I would suggest the government would not mind having that argument, it is one they can make concessions on, whilst entrenching the overall principal.
Out of date photo ID
You can still use your photo ID if it's out of date, as long as it looks like you.
The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id
NEW THREAD
Con -300
Lab +140
LD + 90
Green +30
Other +40
On the door "have you got ID".
At the desk "please show me your ID".
We had a discussion whilst I was voting about the precedent of using a penis as a mark, whilst also talking about volunteering etc.
The suggestion was made that were I to volunteer I should not ask that of the interviewer as my first question.
Six candidates for mayor, incidentally.
One thing often forgotten about Mr Political Job in Nottinghamshire Ben Bradley is that he is only 34.
For my money - get Jonathan Reynolds on first, don't want to fall asleep for the bulk of the results so don't put him in the middle of the night, Lucy Powell in the lully bit that needs some general vacuity, Ashworth to be combative for the early meat, then Pat McFadden for the wry summing up.
It was my MP. Quite impressed, as the election here was just for the PCC and a single councillor by-election.
I was wrong in Rochdale, the narrative was right. Trust the narrative more than difficult to do mayor polls?