Westminster Politics

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/24/brexit-party-peterborough-byelection-postal-vote

Brexit party challenges byelection result over 'postal vote corruption'

The Brexit party is to launch a formal legal challenge against the result of this month’s Peterborough byelection, where it was narrowly beaten by Labour, claiming that allegations of corruption connected to postal votes need to be investigated.

Nigel Farage, the party’s leader, insisted the challenge was about more than the loss to Labour by 683 votes, saying the wider use of postal votes was open to abuse and needed to be investigated.

“I know people will say: ‘Oh, but it’s sour grapes.’ It isn’t,” Farage told a press conference in London.

“Actually, as far as I’m concerned, this is about a lot more than Peterborough. It is about a system that is wide open to corruption, to intimidation, to bribery, to abuse on a whole number of levels. I have mentioned this a number of times in the past.”

The party plans to issue a petition under the 1983 Representation of the People Act, which allows election results to be challenged retrospectively for reasons including errors or corruption connected to the polling.

Such challenges are rare, with the last successful one coming in 2010, when the Labour minister Phil Woolas was ejected from his Oldham East and Saddleworth constituency after a specially convened election court upheld a complaint that Woolas had knowingly lied about his Lib Dem opponent.

Police investigated five complaints connected to the Peterborough byelection on 6 June, in which Labour’s Lisa Forbes defeated the Brexit party’s Mike Greene in a vote Farage’s new organisation had been tipped to win.

Labour has rejected any wrongdoing, and police have ruled that no offences were committed in three of the five complaints so far looked at.

The Brexit party chair, Richard Tice, conceded that the evidence so far seemed uncertain, but said that was why a full investigation was required.

“You’re absolutely right – there are a lot of rumours, a lot of hearsay, some of which is just that,” Tice said. “There is evidence emerging. That will be presented to the electoral court. It’s wrong to prejudge that, or announce that now.

“It’s only by having a full petition that we can truly get to the bottom of what may or may not have happened here, but also the lessons for the broader system.”

He said there were many unanswered issues: “Why were there rumours that morning that the Labour party had won by 500 votes? There are so many questions. We need answers. And the only mechanism available to us to give us those answers is to lodge a petition under the Representation of the People Act 1983. So we will be doing that this week.”

Both Farage and Tice said they hoped more widely for UK elections to return to the pre-2001 system of voters only being allowed a postal ballot if they can show they are away or ill, rather than on demand. Since then the proportion of general election votes submitted by post has risen from about 2% to 18% in 2017.
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Incredible.
 
Crustanoid said:
Totally agree but if keeping Tories in is their ultimate aim, isn’t Johnson the least safe option now after this story?
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For anyone with a brain then yes of course.
But diehard Tories love Boris because he is a bumbling idiot. And therefore, they can associate with him.
 
vidic blood & sand said:
I wonder how people would get on living in a muslim country if they wanted nothing to do with Islam?
Muslims in islamic countries have phobias about western culture, which is why they ban a lot of things considered normal here.
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What has any of this got to do with the tweet I posted ?

vidic blood & sand said:
Muslims in islamic countries have phobias about western culture, which is why they ban a lot of things considered normal here.
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What has any of this got to do with the tweet I posted ?
I tend to break out in a rash if I have to hear someone talk about GoT, I feel nauseous every time I see a advert for Love Island. What you mean when you say ''phobias about western culture''

And also just because some Muslims far right dictatorships bans lots of things considered normal in the west(Although again I would need you explain this in more detail)doesn't mean we should also do the same.
 
Sweet Square said:
What has any of this got to do with the tweet I posted ?


What has any of this got to do with the tweet I posted ?
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The tweet was about a supposed Islamaphobia problem within the conservative party.

I tend to break out in a rash if I have to hear someone talk about GoT, I feel nauseous every time I see a advert for Love Island. What you mean when you say ''phobias about western culture''
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What if someone wanted a beer in a bar in Saudi Arabia, and then take their girlfriend to the cinema and have a cuddle?

And also just because some Muslims far right dictatorships bans lots of things considered normal in the west(Although again I would need you explain this in more detail)doesn't mean we should also do the same.
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Let's keep it this way, and then there will be no phobias.
 
vidic blood & sand said:
I wonder how people would get on living in a muslim country if they wanted nothing to do with Islam?
Muslims in islamic countries have phobias about western culture, which is why they ban a lot of things considered normal here.
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That's completely besides the point of what's been posted though. The issue is Tory members clearly have a warped perceptions of Islam's influence on the UK because they believe there are no-go areas and that Sharia Law has been implemented in parts of the country. Islamic countries may have their issues (and those issues are severe in some places) but that shouldn't mean we're then hostile to all Muslims as a result considering Muslims themselves are often on the receiving end of Islamic extremism.
 
Cheesy said:
That's completely besides the point of what's been posted though. The issue is Tory members clearly have a warped perceptions of Islam's influence on the UK because they believe there are no-go areas and that Sharia Law has been implemented in parts of the country. Islamic countries may have their issues (and those issues are severe in some places) but that shouldn't mean we're then hostile to all Muslims as a result considering Muslims themselves are often on the receiving end of Islamic extremism.
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How would you think this compares with the Labour, Liberal, Greens and Brexit Parties?
 
Buster15 said:
That is interesting.
What makes you think that.
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Because it's a lose - lose situation as far as I can see. It's either fail to deliver Brexit or crash the economy and breach an international peace treaty. The Tories need a fall guy.

I've heard some commentators say that he's popular with the party because he's a flip flopper who can be plied by good arguments and will cooperate. Basically the opposite to the head strong and charmless May.
 
Dobba said:
The photo of Boris and his girlfriend from 'yesterday', that is doing the rounds, suggests his hair grows at an alarming rate and he's piled the weight back on. Poor guy.
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Genuinely looks like they've used a body double for that photo. Bizarre.
 
Classical Mechanic said:
Because it's a lose - lose situation as far as I can see. It's either fail to deliver Brexit or crash the economy and breach an international peace treaty. The Tories need a fall guy.

I've heard some commentators say that he's popular with the party because he's a flip flopper who can be plied by good arguments and will cooperate. Basically the opposite to the head strong and charmless May.
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OK. Understand although I thought that TM was the sacrificial lamb.
Anyway, Boris has made it a lose/lose situation by his aggressive leave policy.
Most clear thinking people already know that the Tories have wasted the opportunity to leave by end of October by their self inflicted leadership contest.
Whatever Boris may say or think, it is absolutely clear that the EU will not budge one micron on the WA. They already know Boris tactic and will keep saying NO.
It is obvious that the pressure will increase exponentially the closer to the date and hopefully Parliament will veto a no deal.
So. Let's wait and see how it pans out.
 
Dobba said:
The photo of Boris and his girlfriend from 'yesterday', that is doing the rounds, suggests his hair grows at an alarming rate and he's piled the weight back on. Poor guy.
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Poor us if he wins the leadership contest.
 
Like many others, I listen and watch the Brexit discussion and one thing is becoming clear.
Those still advocating Leave are all saying that we Have To leave because of democracy.
None at all are saying that we have to leave because it is the best thing for the country.
Brexit has become self fulfilling.
 
Classical Mechanic said:
I'm more cynical. I think they're throwing him under the bus. Operation 'blame Boris'.
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I think you're giving the Conservative membership far too much credit. They're predominantly a bunch of xenophobic, Islamophobic, bigoted old white people who want a no deal Brexit irrespective of the obvious damage it will cause. That's why they want Johnson. They also fear a Corbyn government above all else. They're not going to vote for someone who they anticipate will be a disaster and consequently pave the pathway for Corbyn to enter Downing Street.
 
Photo courtesy of Damage Control Media:

PRI_70911166.jpg.6703dbc208967cc89f2920ecde1d2445.jpg

"Get off my fecking laptop...darling."
 
BobbyManc said:
I think you're giving the Conservative membership far too much credit. They're predominantly a bunch of xenophobic, Islamophobic, bigoted old white people who want a no deal Brexit irrespective of the obvious damage it will cause. That's why they want Johnson. They also fear a Corbyn government above all else. They're not going to vote for someone who they anticipate will be a disaster and consequently pave the pathway for Corbyn to enter Downing Street.
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Bingo.
 
I never used to think of myself as right wing, but since coming to this forum I realize I am so right wing I solve Ole's current selection problem :lol::lol::lol:
 
BobbyManc said:
I think you're giving the Conservative membership far too much credit. They're predominantly a bunch of xenophobic, Islamophobic, bigoted old white people who want a no deal Brexit irrespective of the obvious damage it will cause.
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What the hell is this shit? :lol:
 
BobbyManc said:
I think you're giving the Conservative membership far too much credit. They're predominantly a bunch of xenophobic, Islamophobic, bigoted old white people who want a no deal Brexit irrespective of the obvious damage it will cause. That's why they want Johnson. They also fear a Corbyn government above all else. They're not going to vote for someone who they anticipate will be a disaster and consequently pave the pathway for Corbyn to enter Downing Street.
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Yeah you're right unfortunately. The fear of Corbyn and Muslims is the predominant reason for going for someone like Johnson. He is far more electable than the likes of Hunt, Gove or Javid.

Oh and they must deliver Brexit or else.
 
vidic blood & sand said:
Wasn't it Cameron who introduced same sex marriage?
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The same-sex marriage bill successfully got through its third reading in the House of Lords on 15 July 2013 and the Commons confirmed all of the Lords' amendments on the following day, with Royal Assent given on 17 July 2013. Yet, even if the bill had passed its second reading in the House of Commons by 400 votes to 175 a few months before, on 5 February 20131, only 127 Conservative MPs were in favour, 35 did not vote and five abstained by voting both in favour and against. It is worth noticing that 136 Conservatives opposed the bill, including two cabinet ministers – Environment Secretary Owen Paterson and Welsh Secretary David Jones –, eight junior ministers, and eight whips
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That was passed despite the Tory party, not because of it.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
That was passed despite the Tory party, not because of it.
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That's a fair and really good point. Kudos!
And so are we saying that the old traditional Conservative / Labour / Liberal system is actually turning into a US Republican / Democrat format with Conservatives split?
 
FlawlessThaw said:


Wow this is pretty pathetic.
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Without commenting on whether or not she should be defending Johnson, you can't criticise her for going into a live interview fully prepared. Otherwise you end up with people making a fool of themselves because they don't have the answer off pat. Like Abott, or Corbyn himself. Would you go into an exam without revising first?
 
vidic blood & sand said:
Wasn't it Cameron who introduced same sex marriage?
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What a narrow way to read history, and it does nothing to undermine what I said. I'm talking about the Conservative party membership, not what legislation one of their PMs introduced in spite of the majority of his MPs opposing it.
 
BobbyManc said:
I think you're giving the Conservative membership far too much credit. They're predominantly a bunch of xenophobic, Islamophobic, bigoted old white people who want a no deal Brexit irrespective of the obvious damage it will cause. That's why they want Johnson. They also fear a Corbyn government above all else. They're not going to vote for someone who they anticipate will be a disaster and consequently pave the pathway for Corbyn to enter Downing Street.
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I'll give you this.
 
Sassy Colin said:
Without commenting on whether or not she should be defending Johnson, you can't criticise her for going into a live interview fully prepared. Otherwise you end up with people making a fool of themselves because they don't have the answer off pat. Like Abott, or Corbyn himself. Would you go into an exam without revising first?
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Without commenting on whether or not Priti Patel is better than Abbott or Corbyn, as a woman who was sacked for carrying out clandestine meetings with foreign officials. It's more that she is being told what to say by the Johnson campaign and she doesn't have the wherewithal to have an original thought. Rightly or wrongly at least Abbott and Corbyn have that.

At least try to look like you it's your own thoughts you are espousing here rather than forced fed information.

To be fair it's not really an indictment of Patel, more so on Johnson. He doesn't really inspire his fellow backers.
 
They don't fear Corbyn because of his competence (or incompetence), or because they believe he's Stalin resurrected; they fear him taking their money away.
 
Sassy Colin said:
Without commenting on whether or not she should be defending Johnson, you can't criticise her for going into a live interview fully prepared. Otherwise you end up with people making a fool of themselves because they don't have the answer off pat. Like Abott, or Corbyn himself. Would you go into an exam without revising first?
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You tend not to be allowed into an exam with the answers already on a sheet for you. It's not good practice. She's an MP who is supposed to support Johnson. It's not a good look to appear incapable of formulating her own arguments in her owns words to explain that or to defend him after he commits yet another blunder. If she supports him or wants to defend his behaviour then she should have no problem giving voice to those reasons.
 
BobbyManc said:
What a narrow way to read history, and it does nothing to undermine what I said. I'm talking about the Conservative party membership, not what legislation one of their PMs introduced in spite of the majority of his MPs opposing it.
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Ok, I concede that I didn't know the actual conservative votes on gay marriage, and that was my bad. I'm trying to get my head around the liberal sympathetic view of Islam when muslim countries strongly oppose LGBT.
I understand that the rights of all people should be protected, but the muslim view of LGBT is very severe. Sort this out for me.
 
vidic blood & sand said:
Ok, I concede that I didn't know the actual conservative votes on gay marriage, and that was my bad. I'm trying to get my head around the liberal sympathetic view of Islam when muslim countries strongly oppose LGBT.
I understand that the rights of all people should be protected, but the muslim view of LGBT is very severe. Sort this out for me.
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You've just been shown that only six years ago 136 Conservative MPs believed that gay people should not even be allowed to marry. The Ottoman Empire decriminalised homosexuality in 1858. It took the United Kingdom until 1967 to do so. Our government pushed a hero of WWII to suicide because he was gay. Was religion a driving factor behind these disparate decisions? You talk in very general terms and make broad sweeping statements which serve only to reveal your own prejudice. There are problems with homophobia everywhere. It is not an issue exclusive to certain followers of Islam.
 
Boris is a fecking coward. Even May had the balls to turn up to answer difficult questions. She talked shite but at least she was there.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48744724

All this does is show you what will happen in future if he becomes PM. He'll take no accountability for his actions. Is that really what people want?!
 
The Mail have dug up a picture from ages ago and are feigning their reporter ‘happened upon’ the happy couple today
 
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