During the debate last Monday on the Parliamentary Voting Systems and Constituencies Bill there were a couple of interesting little debates one of which was on votes at 16. I have been in favour of this for many years now and I gave my reasons in the debate http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/101213-0002.htm#10121330000257 . The Government opposed it arguing that this was not the right Bill for the such an addition.
The problem really is that this Bill is vital to the coalition. The Conservatives want the reduced number of constituencies and the Liberals want the alternative vote system. The fuller debate covers the different voting systems. Because the Government are committed to having the referendum on the voting system on the same day next May as the other local and regional elections they cannot afford to lose any time putting in additional material. The same applied to votes for prisoners which was also lost.
My Lord as far as votes for 16 year olds go, I can only say there exist`s 12 year olds that possibly know more than I. 30-40 year olds that probably shouldn`t be able to vote, along with some elderly and members of the House as far as I`m concerned. Where to draw the line is an extremely hard question as age is immaterial and an IQ test out of the question and possibly in disregard to Human rights. I don`t know the answer, nothing will ever be right.
As far as the politicing goes, you`re all as bad as each other and to be honest right now it`s getting on my nerves. It`s a power game to those in Parliament but no game for us out here, MP`s feel the pinch – give themselves a raise, don`t like IPSA – Oh you know that one is coming don`t you. But the people – Let them eat cake !
I am becoming rather tired of the games even on this blog and I hope others will back me up when I say of late they are increasing. I don`t care if you`re a tory or labour, I will listen to reason not flags or colours. I obviously cannot listen to Lib-Dems cos they tell lies all time.
I think the Queen should get hold of you one by one and knock your heads together like naughty kids. Let`s see some commitment to the electorate, to the people of this Nation. And let`s see some common sense, don`t ignore me because you think I`m uneducated in your realm – I know how the laws you make effect people like me and I will tell you things you never thought about. I won`t take prisoners and I talk plainly and sometimes I`ll say OOops sorry I was wrong – something alien to Parliament.
Let`s cut the crap, Cameron stop taking the mick out of the haircut and being smug. Milliband if you`ve debated and had a change of heart be proud of that and not shy away from it, I got it wrong but I believe this right, nothing wrong with that.
It`s nearly Christmas, so cut it out. You wonder why people have such a derisory view of Parliament !
The House of Lords, in football terms the crowd(the electorate) would be singing “the ref has got no father”. You`re in charge, they`re temporarily playing the game but your letting them tell you what to allow and disallow, grow a pair !
CH: Point of order! You relied in 0110110101 words. As the blogs terms and conditions could be regarded as FA in hex notion this could be confusing to some. The blogs terms and conditions recommend a maximum 250 base 10 words be used in replies.
Sir, my noble horrible friend Senex 😉
I cite
* rule 1) You reply to my post was not lively enough, nor did it build on anything or respected my wish to use 1000000 words !
* rule 2) You hate me don`t you
* rule 7) I`m not sure you had your parents permission
* rule 8) I`ve checked your birth certificate and you`re not really Senex are you ?
* rule 9) You posted using an non-English language namely binary code and I`m sure FA meant something different.
The 250 word rule being equivalent to 30 minutes of speaking in the House, not including er, um etc., is to be shortened to 50 words in order to include the young who can state War & Peace in 20 words using text talk. k m8
😉
No-one should vote until they are old enough to have been over the age of majority when the date of the PREVIOUS election was called. Then they would have seen, as an adult, both the campaign promises made by the parties and how they lived up to them later.
I make no reference whatever to current events. My first election was when Harold Wilson first became PM, and I recall with acute embarrassment how much I believed of the campaign rhetoric.
Many young people are both clever and knowledgeable. But that is not enough: there is no substitute for a certain amount of experience.
Carl: this, along with other recent comments from you, fairly reflect an almighty anger that has been growing in recent years due, in part, to the avalanche of rights, regulations, do’s and don’ts shoved up our noses faster than a dozen lines on a banker’s Friday night out. After all this stuff, after all the exposés, after an election that nobody won, nobody is happy.
I am rather taken by the sheer passion of your comment.
Me? I’m taking notes.
Can I suggest that if you believe in democracy then you have a duty to get involved – and that includes putting yourself forward to do the job you say others are not doing well enough. That is why I got involved.
There are many ways of making your voice heard.
and that includes putting yourself forward to do the job you say others are not doing well enough
==============
name them. Who in the Lords isn’t doing their job?
“That includes putting yourself forward to do the job you say others are not doing well enough.”
My Lord, I would love nothing better however with a past history that is not exactly a glowing reference I would not past the first hurdle.
“There are many ways of making your voice heard.”
Indeed there are and I had hoped here was one are you suggesting this is not the case ?
Carl.H I hear you loud and clear!