So who should those of us living in England vote for tomorrow? I intend to vote Green – it seems to me that in England that is the best way to give a positive expression to the discontent with mainstream parties. I particularly hope that those who have the opportunity to vote for Rupert Read in the East of England will do so. Their support for renationalizing the railways would be enough for me, but actually I find myself in agreement with the large majority of their platform. I reproduce here an article from the ever excellent Peter Tatchell.
The Greens – not UKIP – are the real alternative to the political Establishment
By Peter Tatchell
Each of the three Establishment parties has succeeded in alienating its core vote. Labour over Iraq and the casino banking culture that flourished during its tenure in office. The Tories over Europe and equal marriage. And the Lib Dems over tuition fees and propping up of one of the most anti-egalitarian governments of modern times. All have been tainted by the scandal over MPs expenses. As a result, participation in mainstream politics is declining further than ever.
The UK’s first-past-the-post voting system is said to produce strong governments, avoiding what many perceive as the grubby infighting that dominates politics on the continent. But it isn’t working anymore. Millions of votes don’t count in rock solid safe seats and supporters of small parties are unrepresented or under-represented in parliament.
Many voters damn the political elite with the familiar refrain: “They’re all the same.” This is fairly true with regard to the big three parties: Labour, Tory and Lib Dem. There is very little difference between them these days. They all embrace, to marginally varying degrees, neo liberal economics.
Many people are, however, desperate for an alternative but they fear their voice will not be heard.
The European elections this Thursday offer a chance for something different. Because they use a system of proportional representation (PR), we have an opportunity to vote for what we believe in, without fearing that our votes will be wasted. PR is sometimes a mixed blessing. It was PR that allowed UKIP a foot in the door at the last Euro poll, and in this election it looks like the anti-EU party will win more seats than anyone thought possible for a new party 15 or even 10 years ago.
Nigel Farage entered the European Parliament in 1999. This was also the year that Caroline Lucas was elected as one of the UK’s first two Green MEPs (the other was Jean Lambert). She went on to become the first Green MP at Westminster. A parliamentary seat still evades Farage and his party.
UKIP supporters want to withdraw from the EU. They fantasise about plucky Britain standing alone against the world. UKIP stirs this nostalgia for ‘Great Britain’ and excites fear about immigrants and refugees. It has filled some of the void created by the discredited mainstream politics and, in particular, by the weakness of the orthodox left.
But for people who believe in social justice and equality, and who want action to thwart climate destruction and to protect the precious environment on which all life depends, the Greens – not UKIP – are the real alternative to the big three parties.
The Green vote is seen by some people as a protest vote, and there is no reason why it shouldn’t be. It is a vote against Labour’s failure to defend working class people and its initiation of the part privatisation of education and health care. It is a vote against the Lib Dem’s abandonment of principle in favour of power. It is a vote against Tory austerity which makes ordinary people pay for the economic crisis created by reckless bankers. It is most certainly a vote against the homophobia, xenophobia and climate change denial of UKIP.
But in this election, voting Green it is also a vote for something. The Greens are a party that offers an imaginative, alternative positive vision of how our future could look. This is fairly unique, given the broad political consensus between the stale, grey Tories, Labour and Lib Dems.
Unlike the three Establishment parties and UKIP, the Greens advocate decisive EU action to close tax avoidance loopholes and tax havens, tax empty homes and financial transactions, cap banker’s bonuses, axe nuclear weapons, prioritise energy conservation to cut household bills and to introduce rent controls, a living wage and free education.
http://www.reasonstovotegreen.org.ukAs a veteran of nearly 50 years of political campaigns, I look toward 22 May with a strange mixture of hope and fear. Fear that the hate-mongers of UKIP are poised to advance and to challenge some of the gains in minority rights and human rights, with the aid of their far right allies in the European Parliament. But also hope that the Greens may eclipse the Lib Dems; including the election of new Green MEPs such as Peter Cranie in North West England and Rupert Read in the East of England. Both lost narrowly last time. A tiny swing to the Greens will get them elected and, in the North West, will have the added bonus of probably surpassing the British National Party vote and thereby blocking the re-election of BNP leader Nick Griffin.
Make sure you vote: Show UKIP and the three Establishment parties the red card. Give the Greens a chance.
Phil
I thought Craig’s rejoinder to you :
“Haven’t noticed you successfully starting one either.”
was rather good. If I judge from your peevish response, it obviously hit the bulls-eye.
Off you go to man the barricades, Phil!
No, I don’t think I can vote tomorrow. Green was the only option in that list, but Rupert Read seems naive and ideological, too likely to support war, and possibly too easily influenced, or rather, tricked. I’ll have to spoil my ballot just to show I wasn’t too apathetic to vote.
There’s something very naff about this election, it really is the most pointless exercise in the failure of democracy I’ve ever seen. It’s like Eurovision or It’s a Knockout, it doesn’t seem to know what it’s meant to be testing. And a clear majority of the contesting parties are opposed to the existence of the election itself! They’ve managed to split their vote several ways; those who get elected can all quibble about how best to avoid participation in Europe!
They tell us that voters are apathetic; at least us voters aren’t actively trying to dismantle our own platform. This really is surreal.
“John Goss
Left Unity (giggle) 1200 armchair revolutionaries who all hate each other”
Bit mean-spirited Craig. All parties have to start somewhere, including the SNP, and having stood in Blackburn you know how hard it is to get grass roots support from scratch. Left Unity was only launched last year. It had its first conference on March 29.
The Birmingham Branch is hardly likely to man the barricades since a good few are my age. With nearly 2000 members now I bet even the major parties are envious of that kind of growth. The purpose is not necessarily to stand candidates so much as support candidates of other parties with a left platform. So if the Green candidate has left credentials support her. I would certainly support Caroline Lucas. The Green Party has a bigger task than Left Unity because it contains believers in green policies across the full spectrum (right to left).
In brief it is seeking to win back the ground negated by Labour when it became another neo-Con party.
“I’m a little surprised your enquiring mind hasn’t questioned why it’s taken so long for her to re-appear and whether or not it’s actually her or a look-a-like.”
It’s because I don’t trust our media. Neither do I support Kim Jong-un. There’s a journalist from Wolverhampton who believes every piece of shit he’s fed from the South Korean media channels. Korea was a country fucked up by the Yanks, like Vietnam and Ukraine, and I’m sure your enquiring mind could find a few more if you searched dilligently.
You’ve all ignored an important option that will be right under your noses on election day.
When the votes are tallied, you will have either voted for the establishment, voted for someone else or not voted which is like voting for the establishment.
Why don’t you just vote for the least likely candidate. It doesn’t matter what they represent, at least you know they don’t ostensibly represent the establishment. And their failure to win obviates the moral question. PLUS it is TALLIED and those numbers count for something – ie the number of people who didn’t vote for the establishment!
“It’s because I don’t trust our media.”
Including reports in that media that this woman is alive after all?
Can’t see how Korea was “fucked up” by the Yanks. If it hadn’t been for the UN intervention all of the peninsula would be under Kim Jong-unstable’s control and that gives a whole new definition to “fucked up”.
“From what i remember in Norwich North Craig didn’t have any problem with the greens. It was with the BBC for allowing the Green candidate to take part in the televised debate, but not him, which was pretty unfair.”
Not quiet so, Duncan. Rupert agreed that his fellow UCLU union member and rector of Dundee university at that time, was excluded from a debate on EDUCATION.
Rupert has more muck sticking to him and some lurkers here know him to be a ruthless academic, philosophy or otherwise.
One minor quibble:
Make sure you vote: Show UKIP and the three faces of the Establishment party the red card. Give the Greens a chance.
Voting endorses this joke of illusory democracy.
Tony Opmoc – spot on regarding the eugenicist agenda of the Greens.
And yes, I’m very well too, thanks.
Glad yours is still working too – you did make me lol.
Cheers
make sure that you spoil your ballot card, because all those who for weeks have been peddling their half truth and wishful thinking, will want to see all the spoiled votes.
You won’t believe how eager they are to group around a table, with all election agents being called to peruse and candidates quivering for any vote that might be contrued and judged to be his.
I hope that the spoiled votes have it tommorrow, especially in the Eastern region, could not care less who will sit down in Brussels, take the money and raise their hand to unelected Commissioners vested interest thoughts/policies.
Greens are able to win by using the same trickery the other political parties use to bamboozle and turn off the wrong kind of voters, they do not need our special pleading.
German Greens are breakfast to the established parties and the Green party of England Wales and Scotland, is learning from their EU me/assages.
Spoiling your vote will simply marginalise any explanation of why the majors didn’t win it. There will be no reporting of your clever scribblings over the paper, nor the snot you snorted over it, nor the blanks where ticks, crosses or numbers should be. Your spoiled vote will simply be reported as “invalid” and people will be left to imagine why – stupid, illiterate, drunk, crazy, recalcitrant.. a lost opportunity.
Mary
21 May, 2014 – 1:03 pm
“Is Palestine ‘solidarity’ going soft?”
Sadly so Mary.
Although there are many staunch supporters in the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign some of those at the top in the organisation seem to have softened their approach.
I think that is due to infiltration by the pro-Israel Jews for Justice for Palestinians who are a group supporting a two-state solution (which is practically dead in the water) but who are also Zionist in that they want Israel to be recognised as a Jewish state; a state for Jews, run by Jews for the sake of Jews.
I actually live in what was a highly political area – normally on a day like today – there would be loads of posters – stuff on poles – and stuff on windows…Today I looked – didn’t see any UKIP Posters. I didn’t see any conservative posters – except possibly a blue one – in a window – which said save our hospital. We live in a very “Liberal” Area. There were zero Labour Posters – or any evidence whatsoever Labour exists.
Amongst a Very Large Number of Homes and Gardens – I only Saw One Obvious Political Poster It Was (LibDem)..
So I Reckon The Turnout will Be about 30% and UKIP will get Well Over 50% of The Vote.
Tony
John Goss,
Sorry. I don’t think there is any chance for the British Left until they get over the idea that they have to pay disproportionate respect to the ideas of ugly women with short hair in Andy Pandy suits.
Craig @8.16p
Hah! Now that’s the kind of commentary that I hope for but rarely see. Good stuff.
Habbabreak. ON!
The only way of creating a political earthquake tomorrow is by voting UKIP. If UKIP poll strongly enough it will be curtains for Miliband, Clegg and Cameron, and we might get some decent leaders.
Wouldn’t it be amusing if Diogenes found an honest entity in ugly women with short hair in Andy Pandy suits?
Such persons are where you find them after all, even if, in the most unlikely of places.
Craig,
“ugly women with short hair in Andy Pandy suits”..
Just admit it; you’ve applied for a top post in the Football Association..:-p
Hope Not Hate out and about in Croydon:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BoGgd-uIgAADR9w.jpg
I’m sure the irony was entirely lost.
Mary – BDS is NOT anti-Israel. In fact it legitimizes Israel.
Now, if one reads BDS Declaration, he will find to his surprise that BDS is not against the Jewish occupation of 78% of the historic Palestine. BDS uses the word “occupation” for the West Bank and Gaza Strip but not even for East Jerusalem which all were occupied by Israel as result of its 1967 War of Aggression. The BDS demands from Israel; 1) Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands occupied in June 1967 and dismantling the wall, 2) Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality (meaning Israel has the right to exist within pre-1967 borders); and 3) Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.
http://rehmat1.com/2014/04/28/bds-legitimizes-israel/
O/T but given Salmond’s claim (also endorsed by Craig in several recent posts) that there is ‘massive opposition to Ukip in Scotland’, these findings from pollsters based in Craig’s alma mater provide interesting food for thought this election day-
http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/referendum-news/seven-out-of-ten-scots-back-ukip-policy-on-immigration.
“Sorry. I don’t think there is any chance for the British Left until they get over the idea that they have to pay disproportionate respect to the ideas of ugly women with short hair in Andy Pandy suits.”
If this means not supporting what is called “positive discrimination” I agree. I noticed some positive discrimination at the conference and will continue to fight against it, by and large. My experience is that women are equally capable as men. However I do think, in general, they need more encouragement to get involved in politics, probably because they do not want to be labelled as “ugly women with short hair and Andy Pandy suits” or whatever other offensive term might be applied. At the conference there was a vocal woman, who spoke very eloquently about the need for proper health rights for the disabled. I could not see her, so I adjusted my position. She was in a wheelchair herself, and I thought good for her. But it was what she had to say that was more important than how she looked.
” ugly women with short hair in Andy Pandy suits.”
Sexism Mr Murray? Surely not; unless you’re suggesting that good looking, long haired women in tight dresses make better politicians.
http://lamutamu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/slide_967_16216_large.jpg
Goodnight.
Prince Charles who just concluded a 4-day visit to part of Canada, made some real waves. Daily Mail claimed that Prince Charles in a “private” conversation with a Canadian Jewish volunteer “likened” Russian president Putin to Hitler.
Commenting on the “smoking gun”, Dr. Daniel Pipes, on his blog called Prince Charles “a secret Muslim convert”.
http://rehmat1.com/2014/05/22/canadian-jew-prince-charles-likened-putin-to-hitler/
” Dr. Daniel Pipes, on his blog called Prince Charles “a secret Muslim convert”. ”
Bearing in mind the attitude of Islam towards adulterers I’d have thoughtthat unlikely. Besides the comparison of Putin to Hitler is hardly new or even original.
I have been a member of the Green Party ever since it was The Ecology Party. At one point I was quite active in my local party.
But I agree with Mary – FFS, do not vote for Rupert Read. Look at his website, his blogs and his writings on Left Foot Forward and Liberal Conspiracy. Especially his naive views on Syria.
I don’t trust him not to turn into another supporter of Western military intervention under the guise of “humanitarian” intervention, just like the appalling Joschka Fischer.
Rupert Read is one of the reasons I have reduced my financial support for the Green Party in recent years. Another is I think they are at risk of becoming corrupted by power.
But apart from Rupert Read, I endorse Craig’s advice to vote Green.
@Kempe
Can’t see how Korea was “fucked up” by the Yanks.
‘American planes dropped 635,000 tons of bombs on Korea — that is, essentially on North Korea –including 32,557 tons of napalm, compared to 503,000 tons of bombs dropped in the entire Pacific theatre of World War II.2 The number of Korean dead, injured or missing by war’s end approached three million, ten percent of the overall population. The majority of those killed were in the North, which had half of the population of the South; although the DPRK does not have official figures, possibly twelve to fifteen percent of the population was killed in the war, a figure close to or surpassing the proportion of Soviet citizens killed in World War II.’
http://www.japanfocus.org/-charles_k_-armstrong/3460
Do you seriously not consider that an example of a nation being ‘fucked up’ by another?
https://s.bsd.net/38degrees/main/page/-/images/eu-graphic-v2.png
Sent from 38 Degrees last night.
In under 12 hours polling stations across the UK will open for the European election. But it’s really hard to cut through the party political bickering to get to the real facts about where the parties stand on actual issues!
No matter what your politics are – the European election gives us a chance to spread the news on where political parties stand on the issues 38 Degrees members care about. [1]
What will the Tories or Labour do in the EU to crack down on tax dodging? What will the Lib Dems do to protect our bees? Where do the Greens stand on international trade deals like TTIP? This week, thousands of 38 Degrees members have pulled together to make scorecards which rank where the parties stand on the issues we all care about. [2]
Please have a look at the results below. All political parties standing in the EU election were asked to respond to the issues 38 Degrees members prioritised as the most important. Not all of them responded. [3] But the ones that did then had their answers rated out of 5 by thousands of us. And to help make sure it was impartial, the political parties’ names weren’t linked to any of their answers. So, 38 Degrees members didn’t know who they were scoring.
Graphic showing the ratings of the parties on the link at the top.
Can you share the results with your friends and family? It’ll help them cast their votes based on the issues – not on party politics.
Only 35% of the UK electorate voted in the 2009 European election. [4] But groups like 38 Degrees prove that we’re not apathetic and we do care about the issues that affect us all. So hopefully these results will help lots more people cast their vote on the issues, not on personalities.
If you’re still unsure who to vote for, you can also decide to spoil your ballot paper – it shows that people do care, but don’t agree with the choices on the ballot. [5]
And remember, you might need your umbrella to get to the polling station tomorrow.
Thanks for everything you do,
Megan, James, Becky, Maddy & the 38 Degrees team
PS: If you’d like a bit more information about the European election – whether that’s what voting system it uses, what the parties said in full, or other tools you can use to match your views with the parties, there are a bunch of helpful links in the notes. [6]
NOTES
[1] Your Medway: European Election: Why you should vote on May 22
http://www.yourmedway.co.uk/news/european_elections_why_you_should_vote_on_may_22_1_3541624
[2] 38 Degrees: European Election Issues Poll:
http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2014/05/16/european-election-issues-poll/
[3] The questions were sent to all parties standing in the EU election for which contact details could be found, in order to represent as many parties as possible whatever their size.
The parties that responded with answers that met the guidelines sent are: the Animal Welfare Party, the Christian People’s Alliance, the Conservative Party, the European People’s Party, the Green Party, the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, the National Health Action Party, the Pirate Party UK, and the Yorkshire First party. UKIP unfortunately were the only party standing in every region that didn’t respond to the questions, which is why they aren’t shown on this card.
The following parties were messaged through their websites, asking for an email address to send the questions to, but they did not respond: We Demand A Referendum Now, Traditional Unionist Voice, The Socialist Party of Great Britain, National Liberal Party – True Liberalism and the English Democrats.
The Your Voice party did not have an email address on their site, or a contact box to ask for an email address. The Roman Party .ave did not have a site or any way of contacting them.
All other parties standing in any region received, at the very least, an email asking for responses to the questions.
[4] UK Political Info: European Parliament election turnout 1979 – 2009:
http://www.ukpolitical.info/european-parliament-election-turnout.htm
[5] Guardian: Spoiling your ballot: the third way:
http://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-northerner/2012/nov/05/police-and-crime-commissioners-police-spoilt-ballot-paper-north-yorkshire
[6] For more information about the EU election itself, including why the voting system used is fairer than in the general election you can read this blog:
38 Degrees: EU election how does it all work:
http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2014/05/21/eu-elections-how-does-it-all-work/
And to read the parties statements in full, you can go here:
38 Degrees: Where UK parties stand on issues important to 38 Degrees:
http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2014/05/21/where-uk-political-parties-stand-on-issues-important-to-38-degrees/
I am in the mood for images today. I think they have more impact than all the words.
Here’s one for Michelle.
http://cdn.rt.com/files/news/26/d3/80/00/bnioo3bimaawyk0.si.png
~~~
I trust work at RAF Croughton for the Americans is going on apace.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/washington-spends-200m-creating-intelligence-hub-in-britain-9391406.html
and that the drone operators at RAF are honing up their skills with the joysticks.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/rpas.cfm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Waddington