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  • tpfkartpfkar Posts: 1,579
    Courtesy of @BritainElects:

    Warlingham West (Tandridge) result:
    CON: 56.5% (-0.6)
    LDEM: 33.6% (+12.6)
    UKIP: 9.9% (-4.0)
  • fitalassfitalass Posts: 4,561
    RobD said:

    fitalass said:

    RobD said:

    fitalass said:
    Isn't the problem that it's a multi party state, only that one party completely eclipses the rest?
    As the article points out. "So in Holyrood, legislative proposals brought forward by the SNP government are neither challenged nor given proper scrutiny by SNP MSPs. Their correct function here is to bring independent critical thinking to the government’s policy. But instead, government bills are afforded obedient adulation, no matter how flawed. This results in Scotland producing the lowest quality legislation in Europe."

    The latest example of this is the Named Person Law, as Jim Sillars pointed out, it would never have got through Westminster in its current form. That such an intrusive law could be passed with so little proper scrutiny should worry us all in Scotland.
    "Lowest quality in Europe"? Is that a stat, or just an opinion?
    The SNP won a majority in 2011, and under a Parliamentary voting system that was meant to prevent it. Now that has really thrown up the draw backs of having a totally on message Government party that doesn't allow any dissent, and also totally dominates the Parliamentary committees with no secondary revising Chamber to scrutinise or curb poor legislation. Quite simple, there is no way that legislation like the appalling Named Person law would have survived its passage through Westminster and got the Statute books in its current form.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,947
    Moses_ said:

    BBC news

    Jeremy Corbyn has dismissed an offer from challenger Owen Smith of becoming party president in the event his rival wins the Labour leadership.
    He told BBC Newsnight it was "a job that doesn't exist" and compared the role to that of "director of football".
    He also said his attitude to rebels who opposed his leadership would be one of "charity" rather than "malice"

    Stick to your guns Jezza!
  • LowlanderLowlander Posts: 941
    Another piece of the family silver being sold off.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36855983

    Or as Hammond describes all UK cashpoint withdrawls sending wealth overseas :

    The new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, said the Vocalink deal "shows that Britain remains an attractive destination for international investors".

    It's so good to know that all these British owned and run businesses losing their ability to grow British wealth is such a great signal to the economy.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,705
    Lowlander said:

    Another piece of the family silver being sold off.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36855983

    Or as Hammond describes all UK cashpoint withdrawls sending wealth overseas :

    The new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, said the Vocalink deal "shows that Britain remains an attractive destination for international investors".

    It's so good to know that all these British owned and run businesses losing their ability to grow British wealth is such a great signal to the economy.

    A private company being sold is now "selling the family silver"?
  • LowlanderLowlander Posts: 941
    edited July 2016
    fitalass said:

    RobD said:

    fitalass said:
    Isn't the problem that it's a multi party state, only that one party completely eclipses the rest?
    As the article points out. "So in Holyrood, legislative proposals brought forward by the SNP government are neither challenged nor given proper scrutiny by SNP MSPs. Their correct function here is to bring independent critical thinking to the government’s policy. But instead, government bills are afforded obedient adulation, no matter how flawed. This results in Scotland producing the lowest quality legislation in Europe."

    The latest example of this is the Named Person Law, as Jim Sillars pointed out, it would never have got through Westminster in its current form. That such an intrusive law could be passed with so little proper scrutiny should worry us all in Scotland.
    50% of Scotland backs the SNP. That's how democracy works. The only reason that Westminster needs a scrutinising chamber is because it gets a majority dictatorship based on 35% of the vote.

    If the SNP only got 35% of the vote, then the comittee stage would challenge pretty much every policy they put forward.
  • IcarusIcarus Posts: 1,017
    and an election in Burbage Stretton, Hinckley Leicestershire
  • LowlanderLowlander Posts: 941
    edited July 2016
    fitalass said:

    William_H said:

    It seems rather ridiculous to talk about a one party state when they don't even have a majority in the Scottish parliament

    It was the very fact that the SNP Government was beginning to take on the appearance of a one party state that cost them their majority at Holyrood just a couple of months ago. Ruth Davidson and the Scottish Conservatives ran a very successful election campaign by offering to be a strong opposition, and they dramatically increased their number of MSP's as a result.
    Did you even look at what happened?

    The SNP lost out on D'Hondt because there was a (fairly convincing) argument they would win all the FPTP seats and that the list vote would be better cast for other pro-Independence parties. Independence kept the majority and that meant a pretty significant pivot of the Greens to be "Independence come what may". Thats a big win for the SNP.

    Of course, as a die hard, minority Unionist, I'm sure you will lie to yourself. Its pretty funny to watch.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 56,314

    kle4 said:

    Freggles said:

    What is the point of these small, insignificant, fractured ultra-left parties like 'People for Profit'?

    There's no point, they're just full of people who lack even the basic social skills to exist in a larger group. Hence the difference between the CPGB and the CPGB-ML, to pick just one example.

    My favourite is the fantastically ill named Left Unity. Which I believe itself had a split in at least one place, with a former Left Unity comrade standing as an indy against the other Left Unity candidate.
    http://leftunity.org/communist-platform-statement-on-the-candidacy-of-steve-freeman/
    I've never felt more confident that Brexit will lead to Britain becoming the Singapore of Europe.
  • MikeLMikeL Posts: 7,810
    PlatoSaid said:

    THE TIMES: Cameron's honours list blocked by Whitehall #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers https://t.co/yYefMyMZVV

    There have been approx 7 Con retirements in the House of Lords in the last few months - they need to get as many new ones through as possible in order to give them at least a chance of winning a decent number of votes when Lab + LD combine against them.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,902

    kle4 said:

    Freggles said:

    What is the point of these small, insignificant, fractured ultra-left parties like 'People for Profit'?

    There's no point, they're just full of people who lack even the basic social skills to exist in a larger group. Hence the difference between the CPGB and the CPGB-ML, to pick just one example.

    My favourite is the fantastically ill named Left Unity. Which I believe itself had a split in at least one place, with a former Left Unity comrade standing as an indy against the other Left Unity candidate.
    http://leftunity.org/communist-platform-statement-on-the-candidacy-of-steve-freeman/
    I've never felt more confident that Brexit will lead to Britain becoming the Singapore of Europe.
    You mean we're gonna ban chewing gum?!!
  • MarkSeniorMarkSenior Posts: 4,699
    Reading Southcote Lab hold

    Lab 934 Con 381 LDem 77 Green 66
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,983
    Britain Elects ‏@britainelects 10s10 seconds ago
    Southcote (Reading) result:
    LAB: 64.1% (+21.4)
    CON: 26.1% (-8.8)
    LDEM: 5.3% (+1.0)
    GRN: 4.5% (+0.1)
    No UKIP candidate from 2015.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 56,314

    kle4 said:

    Freggles said:

    What is the point of these small, insignificant, fractured ultra-left parties like 'People for Profit'?

    There's no point, they're just full of people who lack even the basic social skills to exist in a larger group. Hence the difference between the CPGB and the CPGB-ML, to pick just one example.

    My favourite is the fantastically ill named Left Unity. Which I believe itself had a split in at least one place, with a former Left Unity comrade standing as an indy against the other Left Unity candidate.
    http://leftunity.org/communist-platform-statement-on-the-candidacy-of-steve-freeman/
    I've never felt more confident that Brexit will lead to Britain becoming the Singapore of Europe.
    You mean we're gonna ban chewing gum?!!
    No, just being sarcastic about the cornucopia of lefty nutters we manage to produce.
  • MarkSeniorMarkSenior Posts: 4,699
    Noerthampton Westone Lib Dem gain from Con

    LDem 583 Con 319 Lab 270
  • tpfkartpfkar Posts: 1,579
    I think this is Westone in Northampton:

    LD 583
    Con 319
    Lab 270

    I said they looked confident....
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,983
    12 seconds ago
    Liberal Democrat GAIN Westone (Northampton) from Conservative.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 56,314
    tpfkar said:

    I think this is Westone in Northampton:

    LD 583
    Con 319
    Lab 270

    I said they looked confident....

    Interesting result. Are you local?
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 80,099
    edited July 2016
    Icarus said:

    and an election in Burbage Stretton, Hinckley Leicestershire

    Lib Dem hold on 33% swing !

  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,391
    Doesn't seem like the lds gain much if at all in lab areas.
  • tpfkartpfkar Posts: 1,579

    tpfkar said:

    I think this is Westone in Northampton:

    LD 583
    Con 319
    Lab 270

    I said they looked confident....

    Interesting result. Are you local?
    There's nothing for you here :)

    Near enough to give them an hour yesterday delivering some eve of poll leaflets in the sunshine.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,391
    edited July 2016
    Wait, left unity don't care about winning elections, but have a problem with unelected judges?! Surely their issue is the wrong unelected establishment is in power not the principle of it bring unelected, given they don't even care about their own election. Nutters.

    Good night.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 80,099

    12 seconds ago
    Liberal Democrat GAIN Westone (Northampton) from Conservative.

    Winning here. Will be aiming for Toby's seat in 2020 I reckon ;)
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 80,099
    Hold up seems Northampton was the 33% swing.
  • nunununu Posts: 6,024
    tpfkar said:

    I think this is Westone in Northampton:

    LD 583
    Con 319
    Lab 270

    I said they looked confident....

    Wow. Libdems are making a real recovery especially against the Tories.
  • PClippPClipp Posts: 2,138
    kle4 said:

    Doesn't seem like the lds gain much if at all in lab areas.

    It seems to be the Tories who are on the slide this week.

    I am not surprised.
  • nunununu Posts: 6,024
    kle4 said:

    Doesn't seem like the lds gain much if at all in lab areas.

    Labour aren't in government the Tories are.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,705
    MikeL said:

    PlatoSaid said:

    THE TIMES: Cameron's honours list blocked by Whitehall #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers https://t.co/yYefMyMZVV

    There have been approx 7 Con retirements in the House of Lords in the last few months - they need to get as many new ones through as possible in order to give them at least a chance of winning a decent number of votes when Lab + LD combine against them.
    No news on the hinted at hereditary peerage? @JohnO will be disappointed.

    Truss looking quite resplendent there!
  • sladeslade Posts: 2,221

    tpfkar said:

    I think this is Westone in Northampton:

    LD 583
    Con 319
    Lab 270

    I said they looked confident....

    Interesting result. Are you local?
    The Lib Dems came quite close to winning this ward in 2015. Even so - a very big advance.
  • justin124justin124 Posts: 11,527
    Lowlander said:

    fitalass said:

    RobD said:

    fitalass said:
    Isn't the problem that it's a multi party state, only that one party completely eclipses the rest?
    As the article points out. "So in Holyrood, legislative proposals brought forward by the SNP government are neither challenged nor given proper scrutiny by SNP MSPs. Their correct function here is to bring independent critical thinking to the government’s policy. But instead, government bills are afforded obedient adulation, no matter how flawed. This results in Scotland producing the lowest quality legislation in Europe."

    The latest example of this is the Named Person Law, as Jim Sillars pointed out, it would never have got through Westminster in its current form. That such an intrusive law could be passed with so little proper scrutiny should worry us all in Scotland.
    50% of Scotland backs the SNP. That's how democracy works. The only reason that Westminster needs a scrutinising chamber is because it gets a majority dictatorship based on 35% of the vote.

    If the SNP only got 35% of the vote, then the comittee stage would challenge pretty much every policy they put forward.
    I believe it was only 46.5% in May this year.
  • sladeslade Posts: 2,221
    slade said:

    tpfkar said:

    I think this is Westone in Northampton:

    LD 583
    Con 319
    Lab 270

    I said they looked confident....

    Interesting result. Are you local?
    The Lib Dems came quite close to winning this ward in 2015. Even so - a very big advance.
    It turns out that the LD candidate represented the area for 23 years until he was ejected in 2011. It happened to me as well that year - perhaps I could make a comeback!
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,705
    Lowlander said:

    fitalass said:

    RobD said:

    fitalass said:
    Isn't the problem that it's a multi party state, only that one party completely eclipses the rest?
    As the article points out. "So in Holyrood, legislative proposals brought forward by the SNP government are neither challenged nor given proper scrutiny by SNP MSPs. Their correct function here is to bring independent critical thinking to the government’s policy. But instead, government bills are afforded obedient adulation, no matter how flawed. This results in Scotland producing the lowest quality legislation in Europe."

    The latest example of this is the Named Person Law, as Jim Sillars pointed out, it would never have got through Westminster in its current form. That such an intrusive law could be passed with so little proper scrutiny should worry us all in Scotland.
    50% of Scotland backs the SNP. That's how democracy works. The only reason that Westminster needs a scrutinising chamber is because it gets a majority dictatorship based on 35% of the vote.

    If the SNP only got 35% of the vote, then the comittee stage would challenge pretty much every policy they put forward.
    I think the point being made is that there is no internal scrutiny/opposition, and all measures proposed by the executive are effectively rubber stamped.
  • nunununu Posts: 6,024

    Lab 940
    Con 302
    LD 180
    People Before Profit 129
    UKIP 104
    Lab 56.8% (+2.8)
    Con 18.2% (+5.4)
    LD 10.9% (+5.1)
    LPBP 7.8% (-5.6)
    UKIP 6.3%

    Read more: http://vote-2012.proboards.com/thread/8254/elections-july-21st#ixzz4F5WnGxXl
  • justin124justin124 Posts: 11,527
    Chorley Rural North, Lancashire

    Con 1144 (43.8%; +2.7)
    Lab 1042 (39.9%; +2.1)
    UKIP 303 (11.6%; -5.7)
    LD 125 (4.8%; +1.0)

  • david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 18,361
    justin124 said:

    Lowlander said:

    fitalass said:

    RobD said:

    fitalass said:
    Isn't the problem that it's a multi party state, only that one party completely eclipses the rest?
    As the article points out. "So in Holyrood, legislative proposals brought forward by the SNP government are neither challenged nor given proper scrutiny by SNP MSPs. Their correct function here is to bring independent critical thinking to the government’s policy. But instead, government bills are afforded obedient adulation, no matter how flawed. This results in Scotland producing the lowest quality legislation in Europe."

    The latest example of this is the Named Person Law, as Jim Sillars pointed out, it would never have got through Westminster in its current form. That such an intrusive law could be passed with so little proper scrutiny should worry us all in Scotland.
    50% of Scotland backs the SNP. That's how democracy works. The only reason that Westminster needs a scrutinising chamber is because it gets a majority dictatorship based on 35% of the vote.

    If the SNP only got 35% of the vote, then the comittee stage would challenge pretty much every policy they put forward.
    I believe it was only 46.5% in May this year.
    41.7% in the regional vote, which is the relevant one for top-up seats.
  • DromedaryDromedary Posts: 1,194
    Since when did being a donor to a political party give a person a legal interest in how it interprets its rules?
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,705
    Dromedary said:

    Since when did being a donor to a political party give a person a legal interest in how it interprets its rules?

    Donor and a member?
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 56,314
    Draft text of Trump's speech - http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/full-transcript-donald-trump-nomination-acceptance-speech-at-rnc-225974

    Big business, elite media and major donors are lining up behind the campaign of my opponent because they know she will keep our rigged system in place. They are throwing money at her because they have total control over everything she does. She is their puppet, and they pull the strings.

    That is why Hillary Clinton’s message is that things will never change. My message is that things have to change – and they have to change right now.


    America is a nation of believers, dreamers, and strivers that is being led by a group of censors, critics, and cynics.

    Remember: all of the people telling you that you can’t have the country you want, are the same people telling you that I wouldn’t be standing here tonight. No longer can we rely on those elites in media, and politics, who will say anything to keep a rigged system in place.
  • nunununu Posts: 6,024

    Draft text of Trump's speech - http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/full-transcript-donald-trump-nomination-acceptance-speech-at-rnc-225974

    Big business, elite media and major donors are lining up behind the campaign of my opponent because they know she will keep our rigged system in place. They are throwing money at her because they have total control over everything she does. She is their puppet, and they pull the strings.

    That is why Hillary Clinton’s message is that things will never change. My message is that things have to change – and they have to change right now.


    America is a nation of believers, dreamers, and strivers that is being led by a group of censors, critics, and cynics.

    Remember: all of the people telling you that you can’t have the country you want, are the same people telling you that I wouldn’t be standing here tonight. No longer can we rely on those elites in media, and politics, who will say anything to keep a rigged system in place.

    Really trying to learn from the Brexit campaign then.
  • DromedaryDromedary Posts: 1,194
    edited July 2016
    nunu said:

    Draft text of Trump's speech - http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/full-transcript-donald-trump-nomination-acceptance-speech-at-rnc-225974

    Big business, elite media and major donors are lining up behind the campaign of my opponent because they know she will keep our rigged system in place. They are throwing money at her because they have total control over everything she does. She is their puppet, and they pull the strings.

    That is why Hillary Clinton’s message is that things will never change. My message is that things have to change – and they have to change right now.


    America is a nation of believers, dreamers, and strivers that is being led by a group of censors, critics, and cynics.

    Remember: all of the people telling you that you can’t have the country you want, are the same people telling you that I wouldn’t be standing here tonight. No longer can we rely on those elites in media, and politics, who will say anything to keep a rigged system in place.

    Really trying to learn from the Brexit campaign then.
    One big difference between Trump and Leave, and what makes me hesitate to invest more in Trump at Betfair, is that it's easier to stop one man than one side of a referendum campaign.

    He's trying to win votes from Democrats, especially Sanders supporters. And he will win some. Clinton can't exactly say that people should vote against Trump because he's isolationist, not militarily aggressive enough, and wrong to criticise elite rule, rigging and corruption. She has almost as poor a perceived profile as he does.

    What she can hammer away at is that he's a dangerous nutter with zero experience in public service. But since he's saying the country is broken, which it is, his political brand is pretty strong.
  • fitalassfitalass Posts: 4,561
    RobD said:

    Lowlander said:

    fitalass said:

    RobD said:

    fitalass said:
    Isn't the problem that it's a multi party state, only that one party completely eclipses the rest?
    As the article points out. "So in Holyrood, legislative proposals brought forward by the SNP government are neither challenged nor given proper scrutiny by SNP MSPs. Their correct function here is to bring independent critical thinking to the government’s policy. But instead, government bills are afforded obedient adulation, no matter how flawed. This results in Scotland producing the lowest quality legislation in Europe."

    The latest example of this is the Named Person Law, as Jim Sillars pointed out, it would never have got through Westminster in its current form. That such an intrusive law could be passed with so little proper scrutiny should worry us all in Scotland.
    50% of Scotland backs the SNP. That's how democracy works. The only reason that Westminster needs a scrutinising chamber is because it gets a majority dictatorship based on 35% of the vote.

    If the SNP only got 35% of the vote, then the comittee stage would challenge pretty much every policy they put forward.
    I think the point being made is that there is no internal scrutiny/opposition, and all measures proposed by the executive are effectively rubber stamped.
    Exactly, and this does not make for good robust legislation.
  • nunununu Posts: 6,024
    "zero experience in public service"

    The mood has changed people don't care about this anymore, or if they do think the experience Hilary has is bad.
  • nunununu Posts: 6,024
    Can we take bets on how many times he will say "take back control"?
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,902
    nunu said:

    Can we take bets on how many times he will say "take back control"?

    Let's make PB great again!
  • nunununu Posts: 6,024

    nunu said:

    Can we take bets on how many times he will say "take back control"?

    Let's make PB great again!
    PB is already great!
  • nunununu Posts: 6,024
    Manafort: "Many women feel they can't afford their lives. Their husbands can't afford to pay for the family bills." Trump's campaign manager on why women will vote for Trump.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited July 2016

    nunu said:

    Can we take bets on how many times he will say "take back control"?

    Let's make PB great again!
    PB has always been great, which is more than we can say for either the USA or the UK. I think society in both countries reached a peak some time in the 1990s — perhaps around 1993 or 1994 — and it's been a slow decline ever since. I like watching those videos of complete rides on the various tube lines, partly because they were filmed around that time and it's interesting to remind oneself of what life was like then. The Central Line video, which oddly enough I picked up on VHS from a stall at the West Somerset Steam Railway at Minehead, was filmed in February 1992 for example.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,705
    AndyJS said:

    nunu said:

    Can we take bets on how many times he will say "take back control"?

    Let's make PB great again!
    PB has always been great,
    The fact we have enjoyed two AV threads already this year (count them!) truly shows PB is at it's zenith. Long may it continue!
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited July 2016
    Good question:

    "Short-fuse Britain: why is everyone so bloody angry?"

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/short-fuse-britain-why-is-everyone-so-bloody-angry/

    "Last weekend, my children and I were nearly knocked into the canal by a cyclist incandescent with rage that I was walking by the canal. He was followed by a peleton of similarly rude men in a tearing hurry who refused to give way to pedestrians, as they are supposed to."
  • nunununu Posts: 6,024
    Really weird how the U.S and U.K unemployment rates have been shadowing each other for years now. Both at 4.9%. I know the labor participation rate in the U.S has been falling, and the numbers will be measured differently, but still I find it a bit odd given how different our economies are.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    nunu said:

    Really weird how the U.S and U.K unemployment rates have been shadowing each other for years now. Both at 4.9%. I know the labor participation rate in the U.S has been falling, and the numbers will be measured differently, but still I find it a bit odd given how different our economies are.

    We seem to be similarly angry as well.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,902
    Mmmmm.... Ivanka :)
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,705
    Looks windy in the conference center!
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,902
    Here he is!
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,705

    Here he is!

    Trump Force One!
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    "Conrad Black
    The brilliant Donald Trump deserves to win
    His political achievements are already unprecedented, and his insight amounts to genius"

    http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/07/the-brilliant-donald-trump-deserves-to-win/
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    RobD said:

    Here he is!

    Trump Force One!
    He's standing there with an independent hair....
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    "Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grub."
    - and Donald.

    Welcome to Trumpton
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 56,314

    Mmmmm.... Ivanka :)

    The Democrats will be Ivanquished.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,705
    Didn't say "get her out"... a shame :p
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 56,314
    RobD said:

    Didn't say "get her out"... a shame :p

    That's real self-discipline.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670

    HYUFD said:

    Speedy said:

    It seems my view that Cruz doing a Gove on Trump only helps Trump, is starting be to shared by others in the media:

    https://twitter.com/matthewjdowd/status/756106221367726080

    As I said, people may like or may not like Caesar, but they definitely don't like Brutus.

    To be fair to Cruz though he never pretended to support Trump unlike Gove with Boris. Cruz gave Trump his congratulations but just refused to endorse him. Of the convention so far I think Scott Walker gave the best speech and if Trump-Pence loses I could see a Cruz v Walker battle in 2020 for the GOP nomination
    Walker was an excellent Reagan/Thatcherite governor taking on vested interests and would make a great President IMO.
    Walker is wank. Vested interests my arse. He exempted public unions that supported him from his union 'reform' laws.

    Walker will be no less a wank candidate in 2020 than he was this time out. He has a middling governors record at best with a miasma of scandal and corruption hanging around him.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    fitalass said:

    RobD said:

    fitalass said:

    RobD said:

    fitalass said:
    Isn't the problem that it's a multi party state, only that one party completely eclipses the rest?
    As the article points out. "So in Holyrood, legislative proposals brought forward by the SNP government are neither challenged nor given proper scrutiny by SNP MSPs. Their correct function here is to bring independent critical thinking to the government’s policy. But instead, government bills are afforded obedient adulation, no matter how flawed. This results in Scotland producing the lowest quality legislation in Europe."

    The latest example of this is the Named Person Law, as Jim Sillars pointed out, it would never have got through Westminster in its current form. That such an intrusive law could be passed with so little proper scrutiny should worry us all in Scotland.
    "Lowest quality in Europe"? Is that a stat, or just an opinion?
    The SNP won a majority in 2011, and under a Parliamentary voting system that was meant to prevent it. Now that has really thrown up the draw backs of having a totally on message Government party that doesn't allow any dissent, and also totally dominates the Parliamentary committees with no secondary revising Chamber to scrutinise or curb poor legislation. Quite simple, there is no way that legislation like the appalling Named Person law would have survived its passage through Westminster and got the Statute books in its current form.
    The legislation that was supported by Labour?
This discussion has been closed.