Historic. I've seen reasons such as 'Early Closing Day' and 'Market Day'. Lack of public transport might have count against Sunday these days (mind you, in some areas lack of public transport any day …)
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EU Elections 2019
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KashmireHawker
Member
Australia’s General Election last week was on a Saturday and that along with the complusary voting element got a near 90% turnout.
Can’t see why we shouldn’t make a GE a Bank Holiday or on a Saturday; anything for as big as turnout and healthy debeate would be welcome; particularly living in Wolverhampton’s biggest Ward, but with the lowest turnout!
No reason at all for not doing so, although whatever day you choose, some people will be working. Of the two, I would favour Saturday. Many people still tend to go out on Bank Holidays so turnout may decrease, you would also need to schedule the Bank Holiday with about 6 weeks notice - impact on schools, public transport, refuse collection, GPs etc.
Incidentally - 'Wolverhampton's biggest Ward'? By area or by population? Both might be a reason for low turnout. No sound evidence but my feeling is turnout is high in small villages. Oh - and is it worth voting in the ward or are the results a forgone conclusion?
edwin_m
Veteran Member
I can see that getting nasty if it turns out significant numbers have been denied their votes, especially as it's likely most of those people would have voted for pro-EU parties so they don't cancel out as "random" loss/denial of votes probably would. At least someone should be getting an idea of the total in each region and doing a check to see whether they would have affected the results.
There is nothing nice about the UK at the moment.
hexagon789
Veteran Member
Exit poll:
Brexit: 24 (+24)
Lib Dem: 15 (+14)
Lab: 14 (-6)
Con: 10 (-9)
Grn: 4 (+1)
SNP: 2 (-)
Plaid: 1 (-)
From Britain Elects
Brexit: 24 (+24)
Lib Dem: 15 (+14)
Lab: 14 (-6)
Con: 10 (-9)
Grn: 4 (+1)
SNP: 2 (-)
Plaid: 1 (-)
From Britain Elects
SS4
Established Member
Convenient for the anti-EU parties. Haven't EU nationals been able to vote in it before?
I wanted to see the Brexit party crash and burn so I'd never have to see Farage's smug face again. How about he donates that nice fat MEP salary to charity? Or the victims of brexit
People are more likely to be staying away at the weekend. It makes sense to hold elections on a boring mid-week day when people are more likely to be at home, watching Top of the Pops/Tomorrows World etc (these were both traditionally Thursday programmes).
It’s only some EU nationals that have been unable to vote. The local councils are responsible for keeping the electoral roll up to date, including having EU nationals declare on a form that they intend to vote here and not in their ‘home’ country. Some people either didn’t get the form, or the council failed to process it in time, so they were refused when they went to the polling station.
I expect it’s more cockup than conspiracy with the doubt over whether this election would be taking place at all. There were similar issues last time round when there weren’t these factors either.
Social media also has somewhat of an amplifying effect, it’s not clear whether this affected a significant number of people or just a noisy set.
Giugiaro
Member
In Portugal the turnout is currently at 32%... Horrible to see a total lack of interest in these elections. I'm going to laugh so much next time someone says the EU is undemocratic.
Interestingly, more people voted for the staunchly remain parties (LibDem, Green, Change) than the staunchly leave (Brexit, UKIP). It might have been better if Change had stayed out of it, there must be a chance that their votes would have gone to LibDem who might have got another seat out of it.
Does UKIP now have any representation anywhere?
Looks like traditional Tories were telling porkies when they left the Polling Station (from the Exit Poll #97) - claiming to vote blue while actually voting er aqua.
What's the chance of Conservative or Labour wanting an election anytime soon so we are stuck with a minority government. It looks like a very bumpy road.
Does UKIP now have any representation anywhere?
Looks like traditional Tories were telling porkies when they left the Polling Station (from the Exit Poll #97) - claiming to vote blue while actually voting er aqua.
What's the chance of Conservative or Labour wanting an election anytime soon so we are stuck with a minority government. It looks like a very bumpy road.
AlterEgo
Veteran Member
The trends in EU elections don’t usually mirror those in general elections.
Bantamzen
Established Member
Indeed, as UKIP found out winning in the EU elections is not necessarily an indicator for success in a GE. However the resurgence of the Lib Dems might actually put the Brexit party off the idea, it would be somewhat ironic that they of all people could be the spark that restarts the Liberals in Westminster!!
Personally whilst I feel a GE is still needed, this thought is tempered somewhat by the current political situation. I can't see anything but another hung Parliament, and I can't see any meaningful coalitions forming and lasting. Simply put, Brexit has driven a stake into the heart of UK politics & there doesn't seem to be a cure. I predict many years of chaos and uncertainty, which will be very damaging to this country in the long run. Just this last week I spent some time at a family villa in Spain, and not for the first time recently I found myself in quieter moments wondering whether or not many of us have any kind of hope for the future in the UK, & if we might see many Brits bailing out. If I had the funds right now, I for one would be considering it very hard indeed.
Giugiaro
Member
The UK is in the worst position possible. People had to vote on an election they weren't expecting anymore. The government has no support both from the populace (as seen in the EU elections and its close relationship with the Brexit dilemma) and the Parliament. It's Prime Minister has resigned. A new leader won't come about before Parliament closes for the holidays. And the next (and probably) final Brexit deadline gives no room for a proper General Election or Second Referendum. Whatever decision is taken won't have a majority support and will be criticised for years to come.
The EU and its members will probably want the UK out ASAP just to kick the general bottoms of the Brexit Party out of the hemicycle. Not a good situation to be in...
The EU and its members will probably want the UK out ASAP just to kick the general bottoms of the Brexit Party out of the hemicycle. Not a good situation to be in...
squizzler
Established Member
The establishment and moneymen behind the so-called "brexit party" will get behind the tories for the general elections. They tend to use the brexit party as a stalking horse to drive the tory party (and national discourse as a whole) politically rightward.
Shame on all the sheeple who were got out to vote for a party with no actual manifesto but a few clever social media wizards and a load of undeclared cash. Sorry if that sounds blunt, but I really am bitterly disappointed that anyone actually thinks that man Farage is a sincere or deserves to be taken seriously as a politician.
NoMorePacers
Established Member
Nigel Farage is just a camera whore and a clown who will do anything just to get his terrible political ideology (or lack of, as it changes a lot) onto the media. I would like to know what makes him appealing to vote for.
EM2
Established Member
Brexit Party got one more MEP than UKIP had. Hardly a revolution, more a rebranding.The problem is, the pro- and anti- vote was very similar, with anti- slightly ahead by just under 5%. So not much has really changed, except 'the will of the people' can now be demonstrated as wanting to remain.
What I fear will happen is that the Conservatives will line up behind 'no deal' and Labour will line up behind 'people's vote'. I still think Remain would lose.
What I fear will happen is that the Conservatives will line up behind 'no deal' and Labour will line up behind 'people's vote'. I still think Remain would lose.
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Very difficult to get an accurate picture of results. Can be spun either way, & has been. What's for certain is voters don't like Tory or Labour actions and positions on Brexit. Some went to Brexit party, some to Lib Dems and Greens. You could say remain had more votes, but turnout was higher in remain areas, and we don't know for sure which side the Tory/Labour voters were. Turnout wasn't great - a lot lower than the 50%+ in France. Another ref would get a higher turnout, but how would the extra numbers vote?
squizzler
Established Member
Parties in favour of leaving the EU: 10 seats
Parties in favour of Britain staying inside the EU: 23 seats
No rigorously stated policy either way: 38 seats*
*Parties with no manifesto to consult (Brexit - sorry guys but you don't set the rules, if you cannot be arsed to put policy in writing where you can be judged on it in future the don't expect it to count) or hedging their bets (Labour): 38 seats
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Given how split down the middle society is at the moment, it's hard to see any way out of this situation other than another referendum. With the deal seemingly un-passable, I don't think the last referendum or any of the subsequent elections have given any parliament a mandate to pursue a no-deal exit, or indeed a repeal of Article 51.
I don't see that another election at this stage would resolve anything at this time.
I don't see that another election at this stage would resolve anything at this time.
Bantamzen
Established Member
Another referendum may now be inevitable, however it must not be a repeat of the last one. It should be broken into two parts, the first asking if voters wish to continue the leave process or not, the second should be a series of options (backed up with full briefings available) on how to leave if the decision upholds the original. Anything less would be as damaging as the first referendum.
Yes, I think that would be a sensible way forward. If the country wants Brexit, it would have to give a clear steer on exactly what sort of Brexit it wanted, which was what was missing from the first time around.
squizzler
Established Member
The big story is that Brexit party along with labour forms the largest block and is undecided on Britains future EU membership because they never got a manifesto out.
The way these creeps get in is when the public at large allow them to set the rules of public debate. The Brexit party are allowed to have a democratic mandate on this and other policies when they publish a manifesto and get some members elected off the back of it.
The way these creeps get in is when the public at large allow them to set the rules of public debate. The Brexit party are allowed to have a democratic mandate on this and other policies when they publish a manifesto and get some members elected off the back of it.
Of course the papers are spinning the Brexit party win as a sign that we must leave now, which just further cements how stupid the papers are (and by definition how stupid their readers must be if they will buy papers that print such twaddle), let alone the people who vote for a party with no manifesto and someone at the helm that rather than trying to reform the EU just want's to take their money without actually doing anything for it.
I’ve never voted Labour in my life, but I might if:
1) they guaranteed a second referendum
2) they had a different leader, not backed by momentum
They might do one, but not both.
squizzler
Established Member
Quite. Whilst there might be leeway granted for the community minded individual running for local office, to have no manifesto in a party with such media and monetary backing as Farage's is an abject failure means their voters have just elected proxies to sit in Europe who could even quite legitimately cancel leaving the EU if they fancied. The wider media need to be reminded parties can only be held to manifesto commitments and since there is none this means no mandate for leaving the EU, privatising the NHS or any other utterances on the campaign trail.
This is one area where logic and due process can be used for the defence of UK democracy, IMO. In the legal world rather than politics it would probably be concluded that Farage has no mandate on Europe or anything else because there is no contract. The more rigorous, awkward and nit-picky we can be, the better.
I despair for universal franchise - social media sadly seems to have meant game over for democracy. It has become like F1 where the skill of the drivers (politicians) is marginal compared to the budget and engineers you can attract.
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I don't think the Tories will concede a general election anyway. They would have to vote against themselves in a vote of no confidence.
I think it really is down to the parliamentary labour party as it's constituted today.
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