As was also pointed out by the SNP, Holyrood (and I assume the other devolved admins) are continuing their hybrid approaches and voting takes 30 seconds. Not 45 minutes. Westminster is not fit for purpose

For a party that loves to bang on about making state enterprises more efficient, the Tories remain wedded to the idea of retaining what must be the least efficient parliamentary voting system in the world.

This proposed reduction from 2m to 1m social distancing that is getting spoken about is very worrying. There have been some studies that show that even 2m sometimes isn't distant enough but its certianly a lot better than 1m I would have thought.

Edited June 4, 20205 yr by The Snake

For a party that loves to bang on about making state enterprises more efficient, the Tories remain wedded to the idea of retaining what must be the least efficient parliamentary voting system in the world.

I honestly cannot think of another country with this sake archaic system. There’s no need for it. Yeah sure the old building is nice but turn it into a goddamn museum and let’s have a parliament fit for this millennium. Or even stay where you are but renovate to 21st century standards. The Reichstag is a modern parliamentary building in the shell of a historic one. Perfect model. We need a chamber where all members can sit and they should have desks equipped with microphones and voting buttons. Keep the benches If you must but we need microphones and voting buttons and space for all. Either expand it or cut the number of MPs.

 

The system is so outdated in so many ways. The dissolution of the UK will be good for all of us.

I honestly cannot think of another country with this sake archaic system. There’s no need for it. Yeah sure the old building is nice but turn it into a goddamn museum and let’s have a parliament fit for this millennium. Or even stay where you are but renovate to 21st century standards. The Reichstag is a modern parliamentary building in the shell of a historic one. Perfect model. We need a chamber where all members can sit and they should have desks equipped with microphones and voting buttons. Keep the benches If you must but we need microphones and voting buttons and space for all. Either expand it or cut the number of MPs.

 

The system is so outdated in so many ways. The dissolution of the UK will be good for all of us.

 

Perhaps it would be possible to put modern technology as you are stating into the Houses of Parliament without breaking the listed building regulations

 

As for the German building I thought it wasn't called the Reichstag any more but is called the Bundestag because of the understandable negative connotations of the word 'Reich'?

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Edited June 4, 20205 yr by The Snake

Perhaps it would be possible to put modern technology as you are stating into the Houses of Parliament without breaking the listed building regulations

 

As for the German building I thought it wasn't called the Reichstag any more but is called the Bundestag because of the understandable negative connotations of the word 'Reich'?

The parliament itself is the Bundestag but the building is still known as the “Reichstagsgebäude” or most commonly “Reichstag” for short. Officially it’s called “Deutscher Bundestag - Plenarbereich Reichstagsgebäude” and no one, including the federal government has qualms about calling it the Reichstag and most maps pick it out as “Reichstagsgeb.”. The U-Bahn stop on the U55 (soon to be U5) calls it Bundestag only because the stop serves all of the federal buildings in the government quarter and is closer to the main offices of the actual Bundestag rather than the Reichstag building itself

 

The building wasn’t used by the Nazis and the word Reich actually means rich in German so is widely used to this day.

I honestly cannot think of another country with this sake archaic system. There’s no need for it. Yeah sure the old building is nice but turn it into a goddamn museum and let’s have a parliament fit for this millennium. Or even stay where you are but renovate to 21st century standards. The Reichstag is a modern parliamentary building in the shell of a historic one. Perfect model. We need a chamber where all members can sit and they should have desks equipped with microphones and voting buttons. Keep the benches If you must but we need microphones and voting buttons and space for all. Either expand it or cut the number of MPs.

 

The system is so outdated in so many ways. The dissolution of the UK will be good for all of us.

A nice horseshoe-shaped arrangement for the seating would also be a good idea. Too much of the UK system is based on an adversarial approach. We have a Commons chamber with two sides facing each other (with red lines to keep them two sword-lengths apart) and a judicial system which depends far too much on which side can afford a better lawyer.

 

In the meantime, Keir Starmer mentioned at PMQs yesterday a letter he had sent to Johnson offering some degree of cross-party cooperation. He had even flagged up the issue in an interview at the weekend as well as the fact that Johnson hadn't replied even though the letter was sent two weeks ago. Johnson's response was to say that there had been a telephone call between the two. He omitted to mention the fact that it was not a one-to-one conversation, but a conference call involving all party leaders and did not involve a discussion on cross-party cooperation. That reply shows exactly why all party leaders should be very wary of any invitation from Johnson without legally-binding guarantees.

That’s a great point! I’m also struggling to think of a similarly designed legislature, even the hyper partisan US is a horseshoe styled chamber.

 

I think the easier thing to do is just to assure that whatever Johnson said is an outright lie

@1268592018734886912

 

World-beating.

 

@1268592018734886912

 

World-beating.

So when Johnson said that it would be launched within the next twelve days, he actually meant 3 1/2 months.

In slightly better news, particularly for any Londoners here, Face coverings are going to made compulsory on public transport from 15th of June. About a sodding month late of course, but I've come to expect that...

Why from 11 days time?!

 

 

Been mandatory or heavily recommended in countries Governed by people with functional brains for months

In slightly better news, particularly for any Londoners here, Face coverings are going to made compulsory on public transport from 15th of June. About a sodding month late of course, but I've come to expect that...

 

Pointless imo. A) because usage is down by lots nowadays & B) because repeated 'evidence' suggests face masks are pretty ineffective anyway.

 

Not that I ever really need to take public transport anymore, even got myself a bike now. Never thought I'd see the day!

They've emphasised face coverings though, so it can include your own scarf or bandanna etc. which is better as it's reusable, it may not stop it entirely but I know I'd rather have that in an enclosed space of a tube carriage than nothing (not that I'm gonna use the tube at all in the near future until I absolutely have to).

 

I have no idea why it's eleven days later lmao

I'd assume it's 11 days later because it gives everyone time to buy/make face coverings. I'd be raging if they implemented the rule tomorrow and they enforced fines if you didn't have a mask. Agreed it should have been done earlier (when they told people they should go back to work( but I don't see anything wrong with implementing it in 11 days time.

So when Johnson said that it would be launched within the next twelve days, he actually meant 3 1/2 months.

Easy error to make, he's only hooman!!1

I'd assume it's 11 days later because it gives everyone time to buy/make face coverings. I'd be raging if they implemented the rule tomorrow and they enforced fines if you didn't have a mask. Agreed it should have been done earlier (when they told people they should go back to work( but I don't see anything wrong with implementing it in 11 days time.

 

I think it's also when more people will be back to work with non essential shops opening from the 15th.

 

I really think it's not the worst idea but people need to know how to use masks and how to dispose of them or it's pointless as masks make people touch their face more and may also make people not socially distance or wash their hands as they think the mask is enough!

I rather wear a scarf, people will throw masks onto the streets, I've already seen disposable gloves and masks been thrown around in public places, the streets will be littered with them.

Unfounded crap.

 

They’re mandatory in shops and on public transport throughout Germany and I’ve not seen any masks being abandoned on the ground. I’d say about 40% at least have reusable cloth masks now as well. No increase in litter here in the capital.

 

 

 

 

Also @ whoever said that shite about masks being useless. That’s crap. The science backs the use of masks. They reduce the volume of contaminates that you put out into the world and they also cut the volume of contaminates others breathe in. When both parties where a mask the chance of the virus spreading falls dramatically.

Exactement ! No one said masks protect you 100% but at least there's a barrier (or two if both people are wearing masks!) and that significantly lowers the chances of infection.