The UK Election
I am not much interested in Biden Vs Trump at the moment, because over here we have our own elections taking place on Thursday 4th July.
I haven't watched the seemingly endless TV debates between Starmer (Labour) and Sunak (Conservative, current PM). In typical British Fashion, people have picked out the funny stuff. Starmer saying his father was a 'toolmaker'. Sunak trying to identify with the masses by saying he grew up without Sky TV (oh, the deprivation).
When I vote, I am taking a different approach this time. Here, we don't vote for Sunak or Starmer, the respective leaders of the party. We vote for members of parliament in our own constituencies who represent either the two main parties or some of the others liberal Democrats, Green, or whoever might have a representative standing locally.
Victory is gained for the party that gets the most of its representatives in 'seats' across the country.
People forget that they AREN'T voting for Sunak or Starmer. They are voting for Joe or Jane Bloggs standing to be MP of Scarborough or wherever. Yes, they represent the party politics, but they also represent your local area, and run individual campaigns based on what they will do specifically for their constituency.
This year, I am voting for the representative of a locally formed party. This party won't be leaders of the country, but if they get a seat at the house of Commons, they'll represent this underfunded and under-considered corner of the world.
I am voting for someone that lives and works in North Yorkshire, not someone that lives and works in Westminster.
I am voting for someone who will also be working at a local level, as well as sitting in the big house of parliament.
In short, for the first time, I am voting parochially, not nationally. It's not about the two horse race for the top job. I am not choosing a Labour candidate just to get Labour in.
Perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps I am 'throwing away' my vote on a member of a party that will not be leading our nation at the end of next week. But I believe the ideals of the candidate and the party I will choose more closer align with my values than the others. Possibly more closely align with the party I thought I was voting for all the years I was eligible to vote.
If more of us voted for the person standing in front of us, not the ones in the top spot in Westminster, perhaps it wouldn't be a two party race, and perhaps there would be less national disparity when it comes to funding and facilities.
But whilst people continue to view this as Starmer versus Sunak, that won't happen.
Unless you live in their constituency, you aren't voting for either of them.
My advice to all those voting on Thursday is: Look at the people standing in your area. Read their blurb. Check they live and work where you live and work. Ask what they want for YOUR town/city/region. These are the names you will be putting a cross against. NOT Sunak and Starmer.
GoWiSt
Poet Rating
Rank: 217
Short Works Rating
Review Stars
RE: The UK Election
Hello, Scarbrems!
It seems there'll be fireworks going off in both of our necks of the wood come July 4th. Literal ones for us here in the U.S. and metaphorically political ones over there in the U.K.
I envy you guys for having relatively young and fit candidates running for prime minister--Sunak, Starmer, Farage, etc.
I agree with your personal political philosophy and policy to vote for a local, and thus much better known, candidate, whose ideologies, work ethics, policies and record/achievements are more familiar and tangible
He/She will be the one to actually effect real change/reform and development in the area.
I'm curious, though, and you don't have to answer if you don't want to, but what party does your choice candidate belong to (if not the traditional/conventional Conservative or Labor ones)?
RE: The UK Election
Message edited:
Hi GoWist, The party is called the Social Justice party. Basically they were formed just down the road in a small town called Whitby. They stand for the local working folk; their needs and rights. I have always been 'old school' Labour. I want this country to be run by and for its working people. I care about the issues that affects us on a daily basis, those of us with ordinary lives. I don't want us to steal from the rich, I just want those of us who do the ordinary jobs that keep this country clean, educated, healthy and safe to be valued, instead of being constantly passed over in favour of those who couldn't give two shits about any of us. The party of the workers used to be Labour. They aren't interested in us any more. They are more interested in scoring points off the opposition. They will still be better than the godawful Tories, but they won't get my vote.
In my lifetime, I don't recall a PM in their 70s/80s.
GoWiSt
Poet Rating
Rank: 217
Short Works Rating
Review Stars
RE: The UK Election
From your limited, lay assessment/perspective, Scarbrems, how well do you think your Social Justice Party candidate is doing/faring in your local constituency, compared to his/her counterpart-opponents of the Conservative, Labour and other parties?
So far, is there a realistic chance--perhaps, from recent polling--that your choice candidate could win that local seat on July 4th?
RE: The UK Election
I don't know. Probably not well, but disruptions do happen.
GoWiSt
Poet Rating
Rank: 217
Short Works Rating
Review Stars
RE: The UK Election
So, Scarbrems, can you provide a statistical breakdown of how many of the 650 seats were won by which candidates of what parties?
Did your Social Justice Party candidate win your local constituency seat? Who did, and of what party?
RE: The UK Election
Message edited:
There's not a lot of point giving you candidate names. It if The names of individuals across the country don't mean much to me, let alone someone from elsewhere. I can tell you Islington North was won by former Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn who stood as an independent.
The Seats granted by party are:
Labour: 412 seats Conservatives: 121 Reform UK: 5 Green Party: 4 Liberal Democrats: 72 Scottish National Party: 9 Plaid Cymru: 4 DUP: 5
The remainder were won by independents/lesser known parties. I would have to delve a bit to find exactly what those were. In my constituency, the Labour candidate won comfortably with 17, 758 votes. The SJP got 285.
GoWiSt
Poet Rating
Rank: 217
Short Works Rating
Review Stars
RE: The UK Election
Thanks for the update, Scarbrems.
I guess Labour did very well, and K. Starmer will be U.K.'s next prime minister. I hope he performs well.
Sorry your man (o woman) from the SJP didn't win your constituency's seat. I count you as number 1, however, in those 285 votes.
Don't stop believing!
jlsavell
Poet Rating
Short Works Rating
Novel Rating
Review Stars
RE: The UK Election
Message edited:
Emma, I have read your informative post. I will admit I know very little about how your elections or government works in your country. I have heard quite a bit on the news as of late.
I am very interested and hope to garner more knowledge about your country's elections and governing. I am afraid any question I ask now would make no sense.
It is embarrassing to know you, Gloria, Steve and CD know more about our country than many Americans and that many if not most of us, know very little about other countries other than what we garner on news or have been taught.
RE: The UK Election
Jlsavel don't worry, I don't know much about how most countries politics work. Some would say I don't know how American politics works, but those of us you mentioned might think we do because we get told about it. It's big news when America has her elections because America is in the sort of global position whereby it actually affects us.
The UK isn't as influential as it once was. It matters less to Americans who our PM is. We aren't a threat to you.
