Off Topic Political Debate

This just shows up the current debate about who should have power. There can be little debate about the fact that the population hand over their sovereignty to the MPs. The population vote for individuals to represent them, but the MPs are not delegates, and should use their own judgement to do what is right for the country, not just for those who voted for them, or their party. Sometimes we agree with their judgement and sometimes not.
The party system clouds the democracy, but does give the voters the chance to elect people whose views most closely agree to their own. This breaks down when a party says that it supports something in it's manifesto, which I don't think many read, and then doesn't carry it out. For those who wish to influence a party policy they can join and have a say, but how many can be bothered? The voter will not always agree with their MP, but also the MP will not always agree with their party. This where the MP needs to show that he is not a carbon copy of the leadership, but if there is the chance of promotion how many will?
The system does not look clever when you have a minority government, and a leader who wishes to impose their view which is not supported by all the MPs or a clear majority of the population. It leaves the voters confused about just what is being done on their behalf, and confused about where the country is going in relations to it's partners around the world.

 

Most supporters of parties, and also members, agree with only about 80% of their party policy - and this is no different for the leader. Compromise is the name of the game in politics - you begin when you join a party - you go for the one with the highest correlation with your own beliefs, and you then try to influence from within (but everyone else is doing the same). Then further compromises arise when coalitions are formed and you find that only 60% of your beliefs are represented - but even this is often enough. Should Corbyn throw in the towel because he is the head of a party which does not represent his ideas 100% and thus hand the game to the Tories on a plate ? - or stay and change what he can.

 

You have to be pragmatic. As a voter, I've never agreed with everything any party has offered. Recently, I've tended toward the Greens - until Corbyn. I don't want Trident, but I believe most of the rest of what Labour offer is best for our countries. I doubt if he's a royalist but he and I would have to compromise on that too.

 

Despite the so called majority of MP's not supporting Brexit they obviously had the decency to recognise the referendum result which was well debated and the high turn out showed much interest by the population. The MP's reinforced the nation's view by overwhelmingly supporting the route to Brexit in their large positive parliamentary vote.

Over 70% of UK citizens now want to get on with Brexit a.s.a.p.

 

I have been reading some political diaries of politicians from both left and right. What has become very clear in my mind is that most of them enter parliament with the idea of doing their best for the people they serve, but over time they become more interested in furthering their own rise through government. Some of the things they say about having to look interested when constituents come to see them with problems doesn't inspire me with confidence. The contempt some show for the voters can be quite sickening. Yes of course we go through life having to be pragmatic, but I have the impression that far too many MPs are prepared to completely set aside their beliefs just to advance their own career. I have known some who are quite happy to serve and have worked hard for the people, but I distinguish them from the members of a cabinet/government.

 

Looks as if they will be disappointed again then, as the talks this week are only going to be about technical matters, nothing of substance.

 

Corbyn and Starmer are facing a backlash from senior MP's in Labour's traditional heartlands after announcing a dramatic shift in party policy to back continued membership of the EU single market beyond 2019. One MP said the policy would be " very damaging in hundreds of Brexit-voting seats" Another said "This is a disaster in northern towns where we got UKIP's vote by backing Brexit and immigration controls as soon as possible"

The Labour Party leadership is in utter disarray, they ignore their traditional supporters at their peril. The electorate will lose any respect they may have had for politicians if their views are disregarded.

 

I think that we sometimes have a rather biased view of politicians, their life and their work. If I wanted to be rich I would not go into politics but rather into management. The annual salary of an MP. is 74,000 pounds per year - they are able to claim allowances to cover running an office and employing staff - also to maintain a constituency residence and one in London. even if you get to the top, are the rewards that much greater ? TM. earns significantly less than Troy Deeney (less than Seb Prödl as well).

 

Lord Ashcroft says that 63% of Labour voters were for remain. The policy was agreed by the executive committee, so they are prepared to put a united front on the policy. As has been discussed above not everyone can be brought on board all the time. What it does mean is that a few Tories sticking to their beliefs could put the bills in danger of failing.

 

I sometimes wonder why anyone would want the job. I would not sparkle on a radio or TV programme at 8.00 am.

 

It really matters little as far as I'm concerned - the two parties are as hostile as each other when it comes to Scotland, and my preference is to have neither in government. For mine, independence is the best course of action for Scotland - to rid ourselves of red & blue Tories at our leisure.

 

Amid the in-fighting amongst EU leaders a new poll in France showed only 29% of those polled believe they have gained from the EU. Whilst most French voters remain committed to the EU membership, a majority feel "pessimistic", "angry" or "disgusted" about the way it is currently functioning. The French President's popularity continues to fall.

 

What has that got to do with the Labour Party following the wishes of two thirds of it's voters?

 

There is much more going on than the splits in the Labour Party.

 

Scotland's new Queensferry Crossing, completed yesterday, to open tomorrow.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...s-third-forth-bridge-is-ready-to-open-9166506

Mocked at by Labour as an SNP 'vanity project', funding refused by the Tory/LibDem coalition - both of whom now naturally hail it as a testament to 'British engineering' - it's toll-free, fully paid for and finished at £245 million under budget. A free lesson for Westminster from the SNP on how to spend taxpayers' money wisely.

 

Paid for by the Barnett Formula.

 

Is that what accounts for this?

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Black tie and armband in deference to the post-Brexit economy, one supposes?

 

Good to see that Greece is slowly getting back on track. First of all they have been able to offer Government Bonds for sale after a long time, and now they have a €110 bn deal with the Chinese to provide easy access of goods into the EU.

 

Are you watching the Merkel-Schulz debate cologne? Reports that I read suggest that Schulz is not doing very well, but that is in English.