tagged w/ UK Election 2010
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The Guardian said a few days ago the Daily Show put UK satirists to shame with their segment on the UK elections, where Jon Stewart showed 'the moment Gordon Browns political career left his body' during the bigot-gate scandal.
Though once again the Daily Show humour eye turns towards the UK elections, mocking the fact we haven't got a written down constitution and once again admiring the Jeremy Vine virtual world graphics, describing it like levels in a computer game. It's all very gigglesome.
In the second video on the website, the UK election segment talks to John Oliver a hilarious UK comedian who co hosts The Bugle Podcast. In the segment Oliver shouts at Stewart for not taking the hung parliament seriously.
Click the link for the video. HilariousThe Guardian said a few days ago the Daily Show put UK satirists to shame with their... more
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So votes have been cast - unless you happen to live in Manchester, London, Sheffield and Liverpool and got turned away from the polling station because you left it a bit late - what actually happened in the 2010 General Election? While not all the votes have been counted yet, but "with more than 500 general election results in out of 650, the BBC is predicting a hung Parliament with the Tories as the largest party." Perhaps this means Cameron will have to adjust his plans for 'big society' and instead opt for a medium-sized one. Clearly there were no big winners or any sort of decisive victory last night, and as The Times puts it "Elections are usually about whether or not the voters want to change their government. This one has been more about the electorate's desire to change the entire political system." Meanwhile the Mirror gave us some searing insight about Cameron yesterday, with the revelations that at breakfast he ran out of eggs and later he and SamCam went to the pub, where he was "he was spotted supping a coke". Meanwhile, Gordon Brown has gone back to Downing Street. The Daily Mail's take on this was that "Mr Brown's decision to return to Number 10 this morning will be seen as an indication that he intends to seek a coalition deal with the Lib Dems in a desperate attempt to cling to power." Either that or he was mournfully packing his stuff into boxes.And what about Cleggmania? That didn't turn out so great either, the BBC reports that the Lib Dem vote was up just 0.9% from what it was in 2005. While Nick Clegg retained his sat in Sheffield Hallam, he admitted the Lib Dems had a "disappointing night". Heck, even Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik lost his seat, which many considered a safe one AND he had it off with a Cheeky Girl. What does a guy have to do to keep his constituency? I expect now Nick Clegg is sitting back and waiting for phone calls from Brown and Cameron asking to be their new BFF.Yesterday also saw a little bit of history made, and I'm not talking about former Ukip leader Nigel Farage reenacting scenes from a rural zombie film. Green Party leader Caroline Lucas won a seat in Brighton Pavilion - making her the Green's first ever MP. She was apparently a favourite to win the seat, which had been held by Labour since 1997 and was a Conservative stronghold before that. Good news (of sorts) also for Labour (sort of) in Rochdale, home of 'bigot gate' - Labour managed to keep hold of this seat with the Lib Dems coming second. In the days and weeks to we can expect a lot of talk about coalitions, legal disputes, voting scandals, permutations of government and the like. In fact it seems only one thing is clear - that things are unclear. I'm going for a lie down now. So votes have been cast - unless you happen to live in Manchester, London, Sheffield... more
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I feel a true representation of what David Cameron is really thinking.
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Along with the debates, the BBC is airing a program hosted by Newsnights Jeremy Paxman who will interview the party leaders for the election. However, the Guardian reported last week,that so far, the other two parties haven't booked interviews.
Monday night saw the first interview with Nick Clegg and you can see the full interview in the link.
The interview opens with:
"Paxman: Nick Clegg lets first establish what planet we're on. Your not going to sit there are you, and claim you could be the next prime minister.
Clegg: I'd like to be the next prime minister
Paxman: but your not going to be in the result of this election."Along with the debates, the BBC is airing a program hosted by Newsnights Jeremy Paxman... more
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With political parties buying Facebook and Google ad spaces (so far seen Tory and Lib Dem adverts online) there's a new way the election is using the internet and it's to get people registered to vote.
Teaming up with the Electoral Commission Facebook will ask users if they're registered to vote, and if you pick 'No' then you'll be redirected to a website were you can register.
"The deadline for voter registration for the 6 May general election is 20 April - later than in previous elections.
The Electoral Commission estimates that 3.5 million people who were eligible to vote in England and Wales in 2001 were not registered."-BBC
Are you registered to vote? will Facebook be able to convince you to if you're not?With political parties buying Facebook and Google ad spaces (so far seen Tory and Lib... more
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The Guardian write an interesting article stating that Brown and Cameron are avoiding to confirm interviews with Newsnight interviewer Jeremy Paxman. It was disappointing to hear that Paxman wouldn't be hosting any of the debates, but the reasoning might be because the two parties don't want to risk the voters reactions after a grilling interview.
"Neither of the two party leaders seems in any rush to sign up for the Paxo treatment, even though invitations to the two men went out months ago. [...] One [BBC] insider said: "They are doing GMTV interviews, doing interviews with God knows who. On this they are running scared and using the TV debates as cover."- Guardian
However, it does sound like Nick Clegg has signed up for an interview, though he does already appear on Newsnight at times, so it's doubtful one nominee appearance will cause others to join.The Guardian write an interesting article stating that Brown and Cameron are avoiding... more
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Twitter can be used to help MPs this election to reach out to voters, however, for Labour PPC Stuart MacLennan his Tweets have caused offensive and calls for him to resign.
"Stuart MacLennan's tweets included "God this fairtrade, organic banana is shit. Can I have a slave-grown, chemically enhanced, genetically modified one please?", "Made my connecting train. No first class it would appear. Sitting opposite the ugliest old boot I've ever seen too" and "Lots of chavs at Stirling station"."- The Guardian
In an apology MacLennan stated he now realises the tweets were offensive and silly. Yet in the Guardian article they state surprise that no other Labour MPs advised MacLennan against such tweety language.
http://waugh.standard.co.uk/2010/04/labour-ppc-jokes-re-slavery-attacks-chavs-on-twitter.html
[Update] MacLennan's been sacked.
In another political offensive langauge case a UKIP chair was caught and suspended after sending a offensive rascist post on a Community Care website.
"The remarks focused on Muslims, Romanian Gypsies and African and Caribbean communities."-BBC. Full story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/england/8609891.stmTwitter can be used to help MPs this election to reach out to voters, however, for... more
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A great short segment from Channel 4 news, which highlights the changes in technology, attitudes, finance and politics that took place from the last election.
By looking back the video can help us look forward to show what issues will be stronger in this election and the possibility that there are unknown issues ahead for the party who wins the election.
For example, with an increase in the internets placement in our lives they suggest facebook and twitter will play a role in the election campaign.
There's even a hint that the three party leaders now might not be in power after the next five years.A great short segment from Channel 4 news, which highlights the changes in technology,... more
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On Tuesday during the election announcement the workers for Network Rail were going to strike, however a challenge in the High Court prevented the strike action.
Now the Rail Union plan to put out fresh ballots to vote for a new strike, which could take place just before or after the election, causing whichever Government in place to face the strikers. The issue is over job cuts with the Rail Union placing blame at the Government and Network Rail.
"Last week 1,200 track workers at rail company Jarvis were dumped on the dole in another move tied in with Network Rail's £5 billion cuts programme and the Government have not lifted a finger to help those men and women"-Bob Crow
There was also news yesterday of teachers planning to strike over cuts, which made me think that if it's true that all parties will have to make big cuts, then they all risk facing large amounts of strike action.On Tuesday during the election announcement the workers for Network Rail were going to... more
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Before the election coverage and campaigning starts to annoy us to the point of mild irritation, why not watch this great mash up of speeches by Cassetteboy.
It mixes speeches from all three parties, so like the debates, we'll be able to laugh at all three party leaders.Before the election coverage and campaigning starts to annoy us to the point of mild... more
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This will be my first election in the UK (I grew up and have since lived abroad), so I am asking everyone who they will vote for and why.
The question is responded to with a drawn out sigh and a shrug of the shoulders. Most everyone I speak to says they are deeply disappointed by Labour, and are somewhat repulsed by the idea of the country being run by Conservatives. Mentioning the Lib Dems leads to another shoulder shrug and some mumbling about a wasted vote.
It doesn't appear to be a case of apathy, but rather one of dissatisfaction bordering on dismay. Nobody really connects with any of the candidates or the parties.
So I'm left shrugging my shoulders.
Does anyone in the UK really want to vote in this election?
It doesn't appear so.
This will be my first election in the UK (I grew up and have since lived abroad), so I... more
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dlamb
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added this
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2 years ago
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The Guardian reports that David Cameron will be addressing a private TED conference for the UK's "leading thinkers, doers, creators and catalysts" on 10 February. Apparently he will be sharing what is billed as an "idea worth spreading" or even more exciting, a "provocative new idea".
However, the attendees have been told that Cameron's presence, and thus his new idea are "a secret and we want to keep it that way."
One can only surmise that this election won't be about ideas...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/jan/20/david-cameron-secret-idea-tedThe Guardian reports that David Cameron will be addressing a private TED conference... more
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dlamb
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added this
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2 years ago
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It's official. A deal between the broadcasters (BBC, ITV and BskyB) and the three main UK political parties (Labour, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats) have been given the green-light to have a series of leadership debates in the run-up to the general election.
Each debate (similar the US for the election) will last between 85 and 90 minutes, ITV goes first followed by Sky and then the BBC. Sky even pushed for this since September, so far they have 15,000 signitures and counting. The SNP and Plaid Cymru both wanted to be in the leadership debate.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8425280.stmIt's official. A deal between the broadcasters (BBC, ITV and BskyB) and the three... more
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