O/T - None Of The Above [NOTA]

[Scouseport_Shrimp]

My disillusionment of UK politics has now reached the stage where I'll be adding a further box to my voting form at the Ballot Box, and adding an X to it. This in effect will spoil my voting form, but should still be counted, and the number of spoiled papers announced.

I hope that enough folk do the same to make their voice heard.

[Phil Anderer]

Whilst I understand your frustration, I hope not too many people do the same, as it increases the possibility of a majority government voted in by a minority of the people. Please don't misinterpret that as supporting the Tory scaremongering over a Labour supermajority, it's just that our voting system is skewed towards two parties, making it possible to get a significant majority with less than 40% support of the population who bother to vote, never mind those who don't.

[black morse]

My disillusionment of UK politics has now reached the stage where I'll be adding a further box to my voting form at the Ballot Box, and adding an X to it. This in effect will spoil my voting form, but should still be counted, and the number of spoiled papers announced.

I hope that enough folk do the same to make their voice heard.

For the first time in 60 years I'll be doing the same Scouseport.

[Gone_Shrimping]

I would tend to agree with Scouseport.

This has to be the worst bunch of politicians that have ever been put in front of the electorate.

I am considering abstaining.

Where is Screaming Lord Sutch's party when you need them , they make more sense ! Or Lord Buckethead.

[Billy bodger]

His kniws what the youngsters think, no wonder last time they stayed away in their droves! Us oldies are now so dissatisfied with our politics we will be joining them or spoiling our ballot papers.
I won't be surprised if it's a low turn out. Then as pointed out candidates get elected while more have abstained, the madness in that.

It's a shame the monster raving looney party doesn't have candidates in every constituency, at least it would be established parliament is a joke,

[marky No.1]

Yes, the biggest majority will be those that don't bother voting. Even worse now youngens have to register and have I.D. to do so

[P/T Indie]

There is a looney party member standing in Crewe you can follow him on tick tock I would vote for them if they stood round here.

My son wants me to write on mine your all big dosser s

[Scouseport_Shrimp]

I see Keith hasn't, so far, allowed himself to be drawn into this thread.

[Keith]

I see Keith hasn't, so far, allowed himself to be drawn into this thread.

How could I resist a personal invite? I agree, the choice is between two very uninspiring leaders, or a protest vote. Obviously, you are voting for a local voice in Westminster, but the reality is, a vote for the next Prime Minister. For many people, the vote will be 'which do I dislike the most?' then vote for the other one.

For once, I agree politically with Scouseport_Shrimp, in that a spoiled vote is better than not voting at all.

The whole world is going down the pan as far as politics is concerned. The UK choice may be poor, but the USA choice is utterly dreadful! 350 million people, and they are the best two they can find? I genuinely believe the USA is getting close to civil war. Whoever is the next President, around 50% of the population will not accept it. I was talking to an American couple at the TT Races. They appeared sane, so I tentatively asked "can I mention politics? What's going on over there?" The woman said that she and her sister had traced their Irish grandmother and had just got their Irish passports, then their husbands & children had now been able to apply for them too. "If Trump wins, it will break my heart to leave my country, but we will be coming to Europe". I said, "the problem you've got, that at least we don't is, the crazy-people have guns". He replied, "oh, we've got plenty of guns too". I said, "and that's how civil war starts". She said, "yup. Hence the Irish passports".

And then there is France!

If spoiling your vote, what you write isn't counted, so "none of the above" counts exactly the same as a big cross through the paper, only the big cross, or scribbling out, is quicker. However, all spoiled votes are shown to the candidates, who have to agree there is not a clear indication of choice, so you could send a personalised message to them

Brighten up a long and boring count for them, and get it off your chest for you!

[jbc.shrimp]

My disillusionment of UK politics has now reached the stage where I'll be adding a further box to my voting form at the Ballot Box, and adding an X to it. This in effect will spoil my voting form, but should still be counted, and the number of spoiled papers announced.

I hope that enough folk do the same to make their voice heard.

I tried this in the last local elections for Lancaster City Council. No spoiled paper were announced, they simply aren't counted.

[vvm]

I see Keith hasn't, so far, allowed himself to be drawn into this thread.

However, all spoiled votes are shown to the candidates, who have to agree there is not a clear indication of choice, so you could send a personalised message to them

Brighten up a long and boring count for them, and get it off your chest for you!

I didn't know that, assumed they just got binned and it was a bit of a useless exercise so that's interesting to know.

Ultimately though, the tories have been so monumentally bad that the priority for me has to be voting against them. In most constituencies that means voting for Labour, so be it.

[Billy bodger]

Spoilt voting papers! Well that’s ok just be careful what you write on them, you can be prosecuted!!

[redrobo]

I see Keith hasn't, so far, allowed himself to be drawn into this thread.

However, all spoiled votes are shown to the candidates, who have to agree there is not a clear indication of choice, so you could send a personalised message to them

Brighten up a long and boring count for them, and get it off your chest for you!

I didn't know that, assumed they just got binned and it was a bit of a useless exercise so that's interesting to know.

Ultimately though, the tories have been so monumentally bad that the priority for me has to be voting against them. In most constituencies that means voting for Labour, so be it.

....and expect tax increases in road fund; petrol, electric for electric vehicles, council tax, alcohol. vapes and a host of other stealth taxes that will hit the cost of living...again. Mind you whoever is in power will have to do something similar to cover the repayment cost of the Covid furlon which we seem to have forgotten about.

One thing for sure that whoever is in power they will be unable to do everything they claim....especially the NHS which sound bites suggest that the private sector will see an increase in its use by the NHS and Government...,but at what cost and more importantly who pays for it.....

[Zip It Shrimpy]

My view, for what it is worth, and I'm hoping others will agree.

The Conservatives have utterly disgraced themselves over the last 8 or more years.

For that reason I want them to loose sufficient seats so that they aren't the official opposition. I would prefer the Liberal Democrats to hold Labour to account. Imagine them having 6 questions at every PMQs on Wednesday to scrutinise Labour on rebuilding the country and questioning every penny of tax spend, instead of a whining Suella Braverman or Liz Truss scoring back and forth cheap politics.

The result of the Tories actions and the lack of a credible opposition means our country is in a mess and probably needs a bigger tax burden to recover to where we were as a country in 2012, a year when it was OK to be proud to be British. There's no reason why the super-rich and the tax avoiding multinationals shouldn't bear almost all of that burden.

Politics needs to change. The Tories need to be demoted to minor voice for a while. Electoral Reform is needed to solve the First Past the Post stupid way we let minority forces form a government.

Check out http://www.stopthetories.vote for tactical voting advice in your constituency.

[dazza]

not wanting to light the blue touch paper here however theres very little talk about reform here

i personally thought his 'contract' was quite a interesting listen

its time there was some real opposition rather than the 2 poor mainstream parties

as the man in the debate said ' are these the best 2 this country has to offer'

[Gone_Shrimping]

not wanting to light the blue touch paper here however theres very little talk about reform here

i personally thought his 'contract' was quite a interesting listen

its time there was some real opposition rather than the 2 poor mainstream parties

as the man in the debate said ' are these the best 2 this country has to offer'

Agreed , the UK is about to replace a shocking PM with someone even worse.

Nigel Farage is the only one who has sounded to me like he understands what normal people want. Unfortunately the UK is heading for becoming an Islamic Republic.

[Zip It Shrimpy]

Unfortunately the UK is heading for becoming an Islamic Republic.

Why is that?
Were you thinking of converting your religion, Gone_Shrimping?
I'm Atheist so I wont be going to Friday Prayers with you so no Islamic Republic for me.

Nigel Farage is the only one who has sounded to me like he understands what normal people want.

I count myself as a normal person. I did look at the Contract that Dazza refers to, so I could see what Reform wants me to sign up to. I wholeheartedly agree with one clause of the contract. Which clause do you think is the best one in the Contract they want you to sign up to?

[Gone_Shrimping]

Unfortunately the UK is heading for becoming an Islamic Republic.

Why is that?
Were you thinking of converting your religion, Gone_Shrimping?
I'm Atheist so I wont be going to Friday Prayers with you so no Islamic Republic for me.

Nigel Farage is the only one who has sounded to me like he understands what normal people want.

I count myself as a normal person. I did look at the Contract that Dazza refers to, so I could see what Reform wants me to sign up to. I wholeheartedly agree with one clause of the contract. Which clause do you think is the best one in the Contract they want you to sign up to?

You need to see what has happened to London , Manchester , Bradford , Birmingham , Rochdale , Luton etc etc where Islam is taking over. Asian Grooming gangs allowed to roam in places like Rotherham , Rochdale etc and other Labour controlled areas. If that's what you want , good luck !

[Zip It Shrimpy]

Agreed , the UK is about to replace a shocking PM with someone even worse.

You're right that neither Sir Keir Starmer or Rishi Sunak have the charm, personality or charisma of Tony Blair or David Cameron or the VISION of a Margaret Thatcher

I wonder whether the VISION thing is a deliberate action by Sir Keir Starmer to appeal to the greater number. I suspect we'll see more of the Labour VISION when they're seeking re-election in 5 years time and we've got over this toxic time in history.

[dazza]

i agree about the islamic theory

i read recently about a teacher ( islamic teacher ) who said to his pupils

whether they were white or not , that we as white brits are going to be the minority
as we as a nation are more focussed on careers and other things in life whereas the muslims are interested in big families 4-5 children whereas career minded brits may just opt for 1 or maybe 2 children
and that we are creating our own problem

he was sacked i believe however you have to agree with his sentiment there was a lot of truth in it

[Gone_Shrimping]

Agreed , the UK is about to replace a shocking PM with someone even worse.

You're right that neither Sir Keir Starmer or Rishi Sunak have the charm, personality or charisma of Tony Blair or David Cameron or the VISION of a Margaret Thatcher

I wonder whether the VISION thing is a deliberate action by Sir Keir Starmer to appeal to the greater number. I suspect we'll see more of the Labour VISION when they're seeking re-election in 5 years time and we've got over this toxic time in history.

Starmer has no vision whatsoever and is likely to be overthrown within a couple of years by Rayner or some similar person.

Farage will have to merge Reform with the Conservative Party before 2028.

[Zip It Shrimpy]

You need to see what has happened to London , Manchester , Bradford , Birmingham , Rochdale , Luton etc etc where Islam is taking over.

Some of my family lived in Bradford. Fabulous city for a night out at a curry restaurant, possibly some of the best food I've ever had. Admittedly Bradford has a large Pakistani population but neither I nor my family have ever been asked to convert to Islam.

I lived in the East Midlands a while back and found the local Hindu population very friendly. I don't think their religion want to convert others. Your either born a Hindu or you are not.

Our local area has always had a large Polish community since the late 1930s and they also kept their religion to themselves

With regard to grooming gangs there's paedophiles of all religions and nationalities, the biggest organisation being the Catholic Church (IMO)

[Gone_Shrimping]

You need to see what has happened to London , Manchester , Bradford , Birmingham , Rochdale , Luton etc etc where Islam is taking over.

Some of my family lived in Bradford. Fabulous city for a night out at a curry restaurant, possibly some of the best food I've ever had. Admittedly Bradford has a large Pakistani population but neither I nor my family have ever been asked to convert to Islam.

I lived in the East Midlands a while back and found the local Hindu population very friendly. I don't think their religion want to convert others. Your either born a Hindu or you are not.

Our local area has always had a large Polish community since the late 1930s and they also kept their religion to themselves

With regard to grooming gangs there's paedophiles of all religions and nationalities, the biggest organisation being the Catholic Church (IMO)

My ex in-laws moved from Bradford to Morecambe due to how awful it was becoming and that was many years ago. If being swamped by Pakistani gangs is the price of a good curry then no thanks ! The Mayor of London permits the flying of Palestinian flags and allows them to demonstrate and desecrate war memorials without any arrests but cracks down when a peaceful demonstration by indigenous Londoners takes place. He takes no notice of Just Stop Oil demonstrators sitting in the road stopping traffic but tells the police to arrest anyone moving them out of the way sometimes so an ambulance can get through.

[Dave (Barra)]

According to the last census this area is 1.6% Islamic. Forgive me for not panicking about the fall of society as we know it.


David Morris out, inshallah.

[Gone_Shrimping]

According to the last census this area is 1.6% Islamic. Forgive me for not panicking about the fall of society as we know it.


David Morris out, inshallah.

What % Oldham , Bradford , Rochdale , Preston , Luton , Leeds ?