Mike, what you're talking about will happen everywhere, rich people have better educated kids who go on to be more succesful. People break through these barriers all the time ably demonstrated by yourself.
In the current climate I think the notion of a 'liberal' Britain is as much a misnomer as Great Britain. Unfortunately what people dont see is that with the advent of the terror laws and such, Britain today is on par with some of the countries we detest 4 and a half years for a drunken tweet? sounds like Iran to me The whole 'gay marriage' debate, is for me, nothing short of gay extremism. No different to the muslims wanting to implement shariah here The notion of equality is not attained through gay marriage as being proposed (by a handful of gay people by the way). This has already been achieved with the civil partnerships bills. The current fuss is about getting one over on the religious institutions. I dont have time for the chiurch personally, but they have a belief that is being forced to be changed, what about the churchs rights?
I agree. Social mobility is very important and that's why we should remove the few remaining aspects of the British political system which are class based rather than ability based, such as the Monarchy and to a lesser extent the House of Lords.
please log in to view this image This is from the The Church of England's official site No other religious denomonation is represented in the House of Lords and no other civilised country (except Vatican City, Iran, Saudi Arabia) has unelected religious leaders making the law of the land.
What does gay marriage have to do with the church, unless you're talking about ceremonies being performed within their buildings?
If you haven't been roughly bummed by bigger boys at either Eton or Fettes as a child then you've no chance in British politics.
Not sure if that was aimed at me. For me it will be the next step. My understanding is that once the marriage law is passed any gay person being turned away from a church/synagogue/mosque would have the legal footings for a hate crime
My only issue with the house of lords is hereditary peers Democracy doesn't always work Sometimes a lord is needed for his experience and ability and respect
Sounds unlikely. Presumably homosexuals don't qualify for marriage in those institutions, in the same way that somebody of another denomination or religion wouldn't. Could a Jewish couple sue a mosque for refusing to allow them to be married within it's walls?
I actually used to feel the same way, however i dont anymore My main reasoning being that they are so far removed from what the man on the street faces or sees.
As it stands no. There is certain in built 'protection' if you like. It would be interesting what the legal point of view would be if your example was to occur, should the whole gay marriage laws be implemented
I just don't see the point in the distinction between a civil partnership and a marriage. As I understand it, the only difference is that you can either do one or the other, depending upon the sexuality of those involved and you can't do both. Seems pointlessly divisive, to me.
6 of one half a dozen of the other. The true equality lies in how the law sees the partners. The rights of partners and entitlements etc If I recall there was once a requirement to have a registry office marriage for people of other faiths as well as their own ceremonies This no longer exists and a certificate of marriage from the relevant authourities is sufficient and recognised As I said above, this fuss is less about marriage and more about having a go at the church. My understanding is that gay couples have the same rights under the law as hetrosexual couples. Therefore a non issue
The man on the street is fickle He could vote a lord out because he doesn't like him, even though the lord could be a business genius It should be reformed though
That Bullingdon club photo - exactly the same goes on in the US, a republic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Kappa_Epsilon#Notable_members As for the bishops and as I asked earlier, what backwards laws have they foisted upon us? I'd be more worried about this Catholic head of state who you want to install.
