This shows how many votes you needed to get a seat in Parliament last Thursday:-
The election result was decided by just these constituencies where there was a change in party:-
Finally, according to the Electoral Reform Society, this would be how the seats would stack up under a Proportional Representation system:-
CON 244 LAB 201 UKIP 83 LD 52 SNP 31 Greens 25 DUP 3 PC 3 SF 3 UUP 2 SDLP 2 Alliance 1
Jack Monroe is in the process of a full statistical vote analysis might be worth keeping an eye out for: agirlcalledjack.com
ReplyDeleteProblem with this is that UKIP would be all powerful (probably in a coalition with the Tories) and I'd be packing my suitcase heading to any country that would take me in. The problem here is nothing that the electoral system is broken, but that it is masking the rise of the Far Right!!!
ReplyDelete..... Possibly !
Delete'Possibly' is right - people may well have voted differently under a proportional system. There were lots of reports of Tory voters being urged to support Nick Clegg, for instance, and the Green Party may have attracted rather more votes from people if they actually felt they had a chance of being represented by a Green MP. And some of the 30%+ of non-voters might have decided to go to the polling station rather than stay at home.
DeleteSaying that PR is bad because it would let Ukip in is a poor, anti-democratic, argument.
Whatever model is used as an election system, I personally see much trouble ahead.
DeleteCameron promises a European in out referendum, and a British (Tory) bill of rights, whilst Scotland remain adament that they will not leave the European union. I doubt too that they will accept a British bill of rights from a Tory government.
If the in/out referendum goes ahead(and thats the least the Tory back benches will accept), I can't see any alternative for Scotland but their own in/out referendum again on independence.
I think the SNP may hold considerable leverage throughout this parlimentry term.
Proportional representation IS a better system but the UKIP/rise of the Far Right factor is a concern.
DeleteThe danger is that if DC isn't reeled in we'll probably end up shut out of Europe, separated from Scotland and with a nuclear submarine doing horseshoe runs around the south of England. No human rights, no unions, and no freedom of speech or right to protest.
Of course it won't matter to the rich as they're protected by Tory policy. Interesting times though!
By your reasoning, Australia, Norway and Switzerland are all run by 'Far Right' governments. Just because they control their own borders. Diversity training shouldn't be allowed - because some people can't distinguish political smears from reality. They've got you well trained, you may have a chance of keeping your job if you keep fitting 'far right' into descriptions of your masters opponents. Pfft.
DeleteToo late the conservatives encompass the far right.
DeleteI've read several reports since the election that suggest that the Tories have been left a bit wrong footed as they didn't expect to win by a majority, and had calculated that they could blame their coalition partners for holding them back from delivering on the promises they made in their manifesto and campaign.
ReplyDeleteIt seems they may now have to do some fast rethinking, as theres no scapegoat now.
It'll be interesting to see what they do, but I suspect it will be brutal never the less.
Yes and that no tax increase during the term of this tory shower will become one of their fast broken promises almost as quick as coward CLEGG the Idiot broke the back of the Liberal party.
DeleteTheir spin claims putting the national interest first . Cleggs ego is his national interest and selfishly destroyed the Lib Dem party for his name as a deputy nobody. Well done Clegg Political no mark in history. Twice you put them back in and they wont give you the steam off their breath . Then what he resigns as leader of a party that has no one in it . Politics HAHAAH
It will also be very important for Cameron and this Government that he/they don't go down in history as ' the PM/party that lost the Union'. Add that to the miniscule majority and I think they have some real headaches in front of them.
ReplyDeleteUnlocking Potential - Rob Allen's Blog
ReplyDelete" Monday, 11 May 2015
What's on the cards from Michael Gove?
What will Michael Gove‘s appointment as Justice Secretary mean for the penal system? As a Times columnist he declared himself a liberal on criminal justice yet favoured the return of the death penalty. Like his predecessor Chris Grayling, he is an ideological and divisive figure. Gove not only fell out spectacularly with the workforce while Education secretary but also with Theresa May, the minister with whom he will now have to work most closely. Restorative justice might well need to be urgently available in Whitehall. "
For the rest : -
http://reformingprisons.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/whats-on-cards-from-michael-gove.html?showComment=1431343954384#c6505886988851598492
Gove won't give a toss about probation. He's only in it for himself and for his share holder friends.
ReplyDeleteKhan stands down.
ReplyDeleteFrom Twitter: -
" Sadiq Khan MP @SadiqKhan
Being Shadow Justice Secretary for last 4 1/2 yrs has been a privilege but now is the right time to step down
http://sadiqkhan.tumblr.com/post/118692155610/exchange-of-letters-between-sadiq-khan-mp-and …
https://twitter.com/SadiqKhan/status/597753988021387264 "
"
ReplyDeleteLabour Press
Harriet Harman announces new Shadow Cabinet appointments
Labour’s new Shadow Cabinet is:
Leader of the Opposition and Acting Leader of the Labour Party
Harriet Harman MP
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chris Leslie MP
Shadow Foreign Secretary
Hilary Benn MP
Shadow Home Secretary
Yvette Cooper MP
Shadow Lord Chancellor, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
Lord Falconer of Thoroton ""
FOR THE REST SEE : -
http://press.labour.org.uk/post/118688491784/harriet-harman-announces-new-shadow-cabinet
A comment piece in today's Guardian by Zoe Williams does illustrate how the categories shift.
ReplyDelete'These words – left, far-left, centrist, right – have no objective meaning. The ideas of the centre ground – that the private sector is better at everything, that growth is the highest value for a society to aspire to, that people on benefits must be starved into work because they’re lazy – would five years ago have been called the right, and five years before that been called the far right.'
So Blair's favourite QC, Charlie Falconer, has been let out of his ermine cage to tackle the ventriloquist dummy that is Govey. Maybe he'll prove that Gove has weapons of mass destruction & legitimise an invasion of Petty France?
ReplyDeleteNot entirely as Falconer can only ask oral questions in The House of Lords, the Opposition senior spokesperson in the House of Commons will be Gove's principal parliamentary adversary.
DeleteCharlie Falconer is good news. He is knows about Probation and was a great support for the brief months after he took over from John Reid when the MOJ was created. He was the one who said " it's time that the sun came out for Probation" Today we need a miracle rather than the sun !!
Deleteyes, really good news. Just an other five years til we find out if the public agree.
DeleteOff topic but should be read.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/g4s-failed-paul-mcguigan-allowing-9235577
What was probations involvement?
DeleteI think they threw 'probation' in cause it sounded good. After all we getting the shit for everything else, why not take the share of the blame with our bum chums G4S
DeleteSo today they launch their new assault - benefit cuts, plus doubling "free childcare". So, if you haven't a job for any reason, you'll be harried & hounded & humiliated & homeless. But if you're prepared to take any old job on zero hours contracts, they'll pay for your children to be looked after by strangers...??? Going on the rates of childcare around here it'll cost twice as much to pay for childcare than to pay benefits. There's a fundamental cultural issue at stake here. Why not let mum or dad raise their children, and pay them? Why do mum & dad have to be wage slaves, with others paid to look after the children? I was raised in a culture where family looked after the children, they weren't sent away to nursery or boarding school or raised by Nanny.
ReplyDeleteThe Party of the working people? Not for me - its more like the Party of social control, of generating dependency. Thatcher started the benefit culture by introducing the notion of "benefits entitlement"; she and her cronies dismantled 'working Britain' and left it dependent on state benefits. Then, having made it possible to survive on benefits rather than take a shitty job on shitty wages, they pointed the finger & blamed the unemployed for the 'benefit culture'.
And so it goes...
Sorry...what is it you are arguing for. We have had female emancipation since you put these thoughts together. Childcare is needed so women and men can go to work. We have become a more progressive society. I'm not a Tory. I'm a Labour voter but we lost the election by alienating people who just go out to work and/ or have careers. Get real, please. We all know people who are happier claiming benefits than working. It may not be wholly their fault - maybe brought up in families where they have never seen people working, but surely we shouldn't be making that an easier option for them.
DeleteI'll start to be concerned about the estimated £1 billion benefit fraud after they have tackled the estimated £70 billion tax evasion/fraud.......concentrating on benefits just shows people have swallowed the Tory & newspaper line.......Bobbyjoe
DeleteJust had to pay my daughter's childcare bill for last two months after her zero hours contract exploitative employer fucked off without paying her a penny. Lawyers are on the case. Bill for 2 X children, pre- & post-school (2 hours daily) + holidays (8 hours daily) = £1,800.
DeleteMaybe I should just send the invoice to Dave?
Is this how the progressive society operates? Seems more oppressive to me.
I'm not advocating exploitation. Clearly that isn't progressive.
DeleteStarted yesterday, 86000 signatures so far. Human Rights Act:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.change.org/p/david-cameron-mp-rt-hon-david-cameron-mp-we-call-on-the-government-and-the-prime-minister-to-provide-a-national-referendum-on-the-planned-abolition-of-the-human-rights-act?recruiter=77014256&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_term=mob-xs-share_petition-no_msg&fb_ref=Default
Why are Kent,Surrey and Sussex recruiting to the extent that they are????
ReplyDeleteBecause we are totally understaffed on the coal face and won't be able to fulfill the contract????
DeleteMore highly paid managers always useful / needed??????
We, in Cumbria and Lancs, having previously been told by Sodexo they want rid of 30% of us, are just waiting to see when/if / how this will happen. No chance of any recruitment for us.
Delete"Why not let mum or dad raise their children, and pay them? Why do mum & dad have to be wage slaves, with others paid to look after the children?"
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree 07:18. We need to move away from state control that tell us only what they want us to know. we need a different kind of society. A society based on community spirit and co-operation.
Also agree anon 07:18 and quite frankly despair at anon 16:32.
ReplyDeleteI'm anon 07:18. I grew up in a difficult environment in the 1960s/70s. Family support was essential & everyone (family AND friends) rallied round. Work was freely available for men & women, there were some issues around inequality (understatements aside), but everyone seemed to make choices & 'get by'.
DeleteWithout wanting to give away who I am, I find it hard to watch what I regard as "modern parenting", i.e. kids are farmed out to paid care whilst mummy & daddy bust a gut to pay the bills. Some colleagues tell me their entire PSO wages pay for their monthly childcare. I'd choose to stay at home & enjoy the kids. They're only young for a fraction of time. Why watch them grow up through the eyes of a nanny & mobile 'phone footage when you can be there yourself?
Don't believe the hype!
I was lucky enough to have the choice to give up work to look after my child or not. I chose to stay at home for 2 years then work part time. You are right, they are only young for a fraction of time. Then what? Many well qualified and experienced friends left their jobs for 5 years and can now find no job at all let alone a career. Equality for women in the workplace remains appalling and there is no sight of this issue being addressed any time soon.
Deleteand as the youngest of six I watched my mum be a slave to her children and got through on 'mothers little helpers'. Her life changed when my overbearing dad allowed her to get a part-time job. There was no family network to help her. Despite her love for us, she still calls those her dark years. Work freed her and set a good example for my sister, that you can look after yourself as well as your children. My mum will always be an inspiration to me but please don't tell that that should have been her lot.
Deletea member of CRC staff (PO) walked out sick today after having had a panic attack at their desk. The amount of work is just overwhelming and looming/missed deadlines contributed to the attack. This was in full view of an open-plan office.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting close to this myself!
DeleteHow sad but a reality that is going to be replicated across the patch
ReplyDeleteAs if any manager or privateer is going to give a monkey's.
DeleteA dumb statement. Managers are caught up in this too. 70% of Sodexo managers are going to lose their jobs. Of course they care.
DeleteI get no support from my manager- just a shrug of the shoulders!
DeleteApologies, I meant senior managers who have colluded with this whole process and even now continue to tell the Emperor how beautiful his new clothes look.
DeleteAnon 20:51 same happened in NPS NE same area two very capable POs......both off for months with work place stress...made ill by work...disgraceful
ReplyDeleteQuestion to Anonymous13 May 2015 at 06:36: If they care the situation with stress would not have happened in the first place and it wont stop putting POs through sickness meeting...... Words are cheap in my view...
ReplyDeleteDedication is one thing, dedication to the point of collapse is another. Pleease look after yourselves.
ReplyDeleteIn our middle size office there is something interesting happening. CRC staff are spending even less time with clients/ offenders and spending all their time on ridiculous OASys targets. Meanwhile, in the NPS there is a sense of calm and thoughtfulness - reflective practice perhaps. People are talking about practice all the time, and a move away from group based interventions to more individualised pathways of work. Bloody hell - despite the CRC owners talking about client centred approaches and desistance all the time, it is actually taking hold in the NPS.
ReplyDelete