April 8, 20169 yr Snowdon is calling for the UK to take to the streets a la Iceland and force Cameron out. It wouldn't change anything though. Still some tory twat leading. There's a protest organised for tomorrow morning outside Downing Street. It will be interesting to see how many people show up! There's also a petition to hold a general election this year: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/122946 Currently at almost 59,000 signatures. Hopefully it gets to the 100,000 mark and Parliament debates the issue. It will still be difficult to trigger an election without a good amount of Tories being behind it, so highly unlikely to happen.
April 8, 20169 yr I think (prepares to be corrected) in order to break the fixed parliaments act we'd need a substantial number of tories to vote for it as it has to pass with a massive majority. I want to say ⅔ need to vote to dissolve parliament. So basically will never happen.
April 8, 20169 yr I think the only people who have truly been disturbed by this are those who already hated Cameron. Which is disturbing in itself. Edited April 8, 20169 yr by Harve
April 8, 20169 yr I think (prepares to be corrected) in order to break the fixed parliaments act we'd need a substantial number of tories to vote for it as it has to pass with a massive majority. I want to say ⅔ need to vote to dissolve parliament. So basically will never happen. A two-thirds majority is required to dissolve parliament and call an election. Alternatively, a simple majority is enough to win a vote of no confidence. However, that would still need some Tories to abstain or vote for the no confidence motion.
April 8, 20169 yr Recorded it, great show :) Some good jokes tonight, and a nice little nod to Ronnie Corbett.
April 8, 20169 yr I think Have I Got News For You was one of the first times I saw my dad crying cos he laughed so much in the episode after the whole Angus Deaton thing came out lol Edited April 8, 20169 yr by Steve201
April 8, 20169 yr I think (prepares to be corrected) in order to break the fixed parliaments act we'd need a substantial number of tories to vote for it as it has to pass with a massive majority. I want to say ⅔ need to vote to dissolve parliament. So basically will never happen. Yeah, that's correct. It's highly unlikely to happen unless the Tories turn on Cameron, but even then they'd just choose someone else to form a new government rather than trigger an election.
April 10, 20169 yr R Nic has published her Tax Return: http://www.snp.org/nicola_sturgeon_publishes_tax_return Your move Dave.
April 10, 20169 yr Your move Dave. He did it last night. The only thing of note was him getting £200k from his mum and inheriting £300k from his dad, which has got John McDonnell saying the system is wrong if he didn't pay inheritance tax on it. Mild fear that we may somehow end up with the biggest scandal for the Prime Minister somehow still ending up a negative for Labour if he's going to choose to die on that hill.
April 10, 20169 yr Author Personally think every single MP should be publishing their tax affairs. As voters its a fact that could significantly affect who one sticks an x in for and who an ex for. Personally i would never vote for anyone who uses the very very wrong uk legal offshore tax avoiding strategy.
April 11, 20169 yr Personally think every single MP should be publishing their tax affairs. As voters its a fact that could significantly affect who one sticks an x in for and who an ex for. Personally i would never vote for anyone who uses the very very wrong uk legal offshore tax avoiding strategy. Surely that would require all candidates, even the no-hopers, to publish their tax return. That would mean some people would have to breach the clause in their contract that says they can't disclose their salary to anyone. It is perfectly reasonable to insist that MPs have to register the source of zany additional income. It is also right that they have to disclose an approximate figure, i.e. within pre-set ranges. That all allows voters to determine whether their actions as an MP could be influenced by those extra sources of income. It also allows constituents to know to what extent their MP considers their job as an MP to be a full-time one. However, I am not convinced that all MPs (let alone all parliamentary candidates) should have to publish their tax return.
April 11, 20169 yr Win for Corbyn on this issue I think :)! Depends whether or not he's going to push the inheritance tax thing. If not, yep. If he does...
April 12, 20169 yr Author Surely that would require all candidates, even the no-hopers, to publish their tax return. That would mean some people would have to breach the clause in their contract that says they can't disclose their salary to anyone. It is perfectly reasonable to insist that MPs have to register the source of zany additional income. It is also right that they have to disclose an approximate figure, i.e. within pre-set ranges. That all allows voters to determine whether their actions as an MP could be influenced by those extra sources of income. It also allows constituents to know to what extent their MP considers their job as an MP to be a full-time one. However, I am not convinced that all MPs (let alone all parliamentary candidates) should have to publish their tax return. Good point about confidentiality clauses. Though i'd ban those too for wages and bonuses and finance generally! My wages are public domain as a council employee you just look up what the job title scale is, and i dont have a problem with that. Most people on low wages dont have a problem with disclosure its the ones on generous salaries who want it kept private, or those earning cash from other ways. Personally i think MPs are underpaid the basic salary should be higher especially the top jobs but in return we have a right to expect them to prove they are acting in the best interests of the country and not in the best interests of themselves. Second jobs not permitted, being MP is not a part time wage subsidy its a vocation in my eyes not vacation B-) If this assurance can be demonstrated without tax returns i'd be ok with that i guess..
April 12, 20169 yr It is perfectly reasonable to insist that MPs have to register the source of zany additional income. Like dressing as a clown on weekends?
April 12, 20169 yr Good point about confidentiality clauses. Though i'd ban those too for wages and bonuses and finance generally! My wages are public domain as a council employee you just look up what the job title scale is, and i dont have a problem with that. Most people on low wages dont have a problem with disclosure its the ones on generous salaries who want it kept private, or those earning cash from other ways. Personally i think MPs are underpaid the basic salary should be higher especially the top jobs but in return we have a right to expect them to prove they are acting in the best interests of the country and not in the best interests of themselves. Second jobs not permitted, being MP is not a part time wage subsidy its a vocation in my eyes not vacation B-) If this assurance can be demonstrated without tax returns i'd be ok with that i guess.. I wouldn't ban second jobs. At an extreme that would prevent them spending a few hours per week writing a newspaper column. However, they ship;d be expected to declare any additional jobs, how much time they take up and an approximate earnings figure. It is then up to the electorate whether they find that acceptable, or whether they want a different MP. Of course, a better electoral system that meant there were no safe seats would be a help.
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