General Election Thursday 4th July 2024

[Unknown74]

Trying to keep out of this as much as possible, I know I have to vote but...........?

[Nighthawke]

No you do not have to vote. You have a right to vote but it is not compulsory. The Ballot Act of 1872 put paid to "enforced voting".

[raptor9]

People died to give us the vote. Those that don't vote have no right to complain later. IMHO it should be compulsory.

[Condor68]

About time, the people will decide..

The people decided to leave the EU and that turned out well? Politicians got the blame for for obeying the wishes of the Electorate.

[Nighthawke]

People died to give us the vote. Those that don't vote have no right to complain later. IMHO it should be compulsory.

I agree with most of that - I was simply pointing out the reality to "Unknown74".

Re your last part - many more people have also died for our democratic rights - including the freedom to vote or not.

[Pune]

About time, the people will decide..

The people decided to leave the EU and that turned out well? Politicians got the blame for for obeying the wishes of the Electorate.

The politicians got the blame for lying to the electorate

[Unknown74]

I was only stating my own opinion, I know we're all entitled to have our own.........

[Nighthawke]

But you did not express an opinion, you stated an incorrect fact, hence my post.

[C24]

But you did not express an opinion, you stated an incorrect fact, hence my post.

Surely a fact cannot by definition be incorrect?
Fact,
something that is known to have happened or to exist, especially something for which proof exists, or about which there is information:

Vote! The trip to the voting booth will be good for you

[Philly1971]

The trouble is, living in Epping, we have Conservative MP Eleanor Laing, who has one of the biggest Conservative majorities in the country, so she could probably punch someone in the face and then take a massive dump in the middle of the high street and she will still get voted in. So my vote for an alternative will be a total waste of time and effort, and even if I were to have some kind of brain seizure and actually decided to vote for her, she doesn’t need my vote either. So I tend to use my democratic right to spoil my voting paper by drawing a c*ck and balls over her name. Makes absolutely no difference to the flawed first past the post voting system, but at least I get a cheap laugh out of it.

[Pune]

The trouble is, living in Epping, we have Conservative MP Eleanor Laing, who has one of the biggest Conservative majorities in the country, so she could probably punch someone in the face and then take a massive dump in the middle of the high street and she will still get voted in. So my vote for an alternative will be a total waste of time and effort, and even if I were to have some kind of brain seizure and actually decided to vote for her, she doesn’t need my vote either. So I tend to use my democratic right to spoil my voting paper by drawing a c*ck and balls over her name. Makes absolutely no difference to the flawed first past the post voting system, but at least I get a cheap laugh out of it.

I would vote tactically, I live in a Tory stronghold, it's always been Tory, a Labour vote would be wasted so a tactical vote for Lib's by the locals is probably the answer, a waste of a vote by spoiling your voting paper is a totally ridiculous thing to do, not to mention frustrating the lovely people that do the counting, just a thought.

[baz1]

I will be looking forward to the six live Tv debates that Rishi as challenged Starmer to take part in with great interest.
Edit bring on Martin Lewis!!

[Gary]

Starmer has agreed to 2 debates according to Sky News.

[baz1]

Rishi wanted 6 one a week leading upto the election seems like he cant Hack that

[Gary]

Rishi also wanted to be a good PM. Looks like he's out of luck on both counts. Even the political pundits said 6 was over the top. No one wants to sit through 6

[baz1]

I guess Starmer doesn't Rishi to try to cut his 20-point deficit that makes sense.

[Gary]

I’m a traditional swing voter. So have no political allegiance. You have to just look at the numbers of conservatives MPs saying their not standing. It’s like rats leaving a sinking ship.

Starmer could walk on stage during the first debate and have a dump, bow and walk off without speaking and he’ll still have a double figure lead.

Tories will likely never get my vote again for what they’ve done to the armed forces in the last 14 years.

[James Cutting]

Absolutely spot on and well said. People still blame Labour for the state we're in, ignoring the last FOURTEEN (14) years of Tory 'power' making things worse.

My opinion is it's time for change. Whoever it is, it needs to be changed. Just because Starmer leads Labour, that can still change down the line.

[Condor68]

About time, the people will decide..

The people decided to leave the EU and that turned out well? Politicians got the blame for for obeying the wishes of the Electorate.

The politicians got the blame for lying to the electorate

Think it was Farage who did that, loads of people went for his closed borders dream.Still its done now see what the next lot can muck up .

[Steven]

Conservatives plan to bring back mandatory National Service

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpddxy9r4mdo

The Conservative Party has said it would bring back mandatory national service if it wins the general election.

It said 18-year-olds would have a choice of either joining the military full-time, or volunteering one weekend every month carrying out a community service.

The party is proposing a Royal Commission to consider the details but would plan for the first teenagers to take part in September 2025.

The cost is expected to be around £2.5bn per year.

Under the plans, young people could choose a full-time, 12-month placement in the armed forces or UK cyber defence, learning about logistics, cyber security, procurement or civil response operations.

Their other option would be to volunteer one weekend per month - or 25 days per year - in their community with organisations such as fire, police and the NHS.

Well this should put the cat amongst the pigeons!