The General UK Politics (Past and Present) Discussion Thread

DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
edited September 2018 in General Discussion Posts: 17,728
Palace_of_Westminster%2C_London_-_Feb_2007.jpg

So, due to public demand I am creating this thread so that we can continue the fascinating discussions we have been having over the EU referendum and the race for the Tory premiership. As both of those events have now been decided, this is a more general thread on the topic of UK politics and related matters, both past and present.

I know that we can discuss politics here on this community without getting into arguments and without too much moderator supervision. I know that you won't let me down in this regard.

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--The Lord @Dragonpol M.P.
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Comments

  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,728
    So to get the ball rolling in this thread here's an interesting video on the US versus the UK political systems:

  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    So, if the PM has no term limits, it's all up to the people to decide how long he/she stays in office? Margaret Thatcher was PM for 11 years, but shouldn't she have been it for 15 years, if each election happens every 5 years?
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited July 2016 Posts: 23,883
    Margaret Thatcher was PM for 11 years, but shouldn't she have been it for 15 years, if each election happens every 5 years?
    At the time that Maggie was in charge, there were no 'fixed terms'. The maximum parliamentary term prior to an election having to be called was 5 years, but it could be less as well.

    She won in 1979, then called and won an election in 1983, and did the same thing again in 1987. However, prior to the completion of her last term, she enacted the Poll Tax in the UK, which was a very unpopular community charge. There was also opposition from within her party to her views on the ERM (European Exchange Rate Mechanism, a precursor to the Euro). Finally, the Conservatives were down in the polls to Labour.

    There was bickering within the party, and subsequently an internal Conservative leadership challenge by Michael Hesseltine, an MP, which was successful enough to force her to resign. Hesseltine, while able to topple Thatcher, didn't get the top job itself, which went to John Major, who was a supporter of hers. British politics can be quite Machiavellian, as you may have seen recently.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,728
    So, if the PM has no term limits, it's all up to the people to decide how long he/she stays in office? Margaret Thatcher was PM for 11 years, but shouldn't she have been it for 15 years, if each election happens every 5 years?

    5 years is the longest that any Parliament can sit for under statute law. Before the Fixed Term Parliaments Act was passed by the Coalition Government a PM had the power to decide when to dissolve Parliament and call a General Election. Thatcher had until 1992 to call another election but she was forced to resign in November 1990 after a vote of no confidence in her as Conservative Party leader.

  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    I see. So, towards the end, Maggie wasn't very well liked? Besides the Conservative and Unionist Party and Labour Party, the last time anyone from another party held office was 1918, with David Lloyd George, right? Is this just because the Conservative and Unionist and Labour Parties are the two biggest ones?
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited March 2019 Posts: 17,728
    Yes, the rise of the Labour Party eclipsed the old Liberal Party and 1922 was the last time that the Liberals held power. See George Dangerfield's book The Strange Death of Liberal England (1935) for more details.

    There was a Lib-Lab pact between 1977 and 1978 and more recently the Liberal Democrats formed part of the 2010-2015 Coalition Government with the Conservatives. The Conservatives then won an outright majority at the 2015 General Election.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    So what really is the difference between the House of Lords and the House of Commons?
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,728
    So what really is the difference between the House of Lords and the House of Commons?

    Put at its simplest the Commons is elected by popular vote whereas the Lords is unelected and depends instead on 90 hereditary peers with the rest made up of Life Peers appointed by the Prime Minister and the leaders of the other parties. Life peerages were introduced in 1958 and as the name suggests they only last while the holder is alive, unlike a hereditary peerage which continues down through a family line from generation to generation.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    Basically, the House of Lords is one of the cushiest jobs in the world & an example of old fashioned British patronage at its finest.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    :))
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    Ooh, this is quite exciting!
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,728
    Theresa May's first PMQs in the House of Commons today. She acquitted herself very well indeed and looked every bit the Prime Minister. I wish her and her Government every success in the days, months and years ahead.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    It appears, so far at least, that I and @bondjames are the only one interested in this.
  • MrcogginsMrcoggins Following in the footsteps of Quentin Quigley.
    Posts: 3,144
    Not so its just that I've not had a lot to say just yet !.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    I'm always eager to learn more, so I'll be popping in and viewing the discussions here and there as well.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    ORDER! Questions to @Dragonpol. Number one, Mr Speaker.
    What are some of the ideals for the Unionist & Labour Parties.

    Did I do that right? :D
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,728
    This article just might help some of our American cousins to understand the past few weeks of political drama in the UK:

    https://www.buzzfeed.com/tomphillips/may-day?utm_term=.xtoQAwLnV#.bwgZJQX9d
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    That was rather funny. Did an excellent job of summing it up for all the people who haven't got a clue what is going on.
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    That was rather funny. Did an excellent job of summing it up for all the people who haven't got a clue what is going on.

    Cameron and Osborne you mean?
  • ChriscoopChriscoop North Yorkshire
    Posts: 281
    It's been a rather interesting few weeks politically in the UK, thankfully things seem to be settling down here. Next it's the Americans turn with the Clinton v Trump drama, i can see that turning very toxic very quickly, and if Trump trumps Hillary what will that mean for the UKs special relationship? Mrs may will to handle Trump with kid gloved I think??
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 7,969
    Chriscoop wrote: »
    It's been a rather interesting few weeks politically in the UK, thankfully things seem to be settling down here. Next it's the Americans turn with the Clinton v Trump drama, i can see that turning very toxic very quickly, and if Trump trumps Hillary what will that mean for the UKs special relationship? Mrs may will to handle Trump with kid gloved I think??

    Welcome to the forum! :-bd
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    Perhaps a few toys and something shiny will keep Trump occupied for
    a while. ;)
  • ChriscoopChriscoop North Yorkshire
    Posts: 281
    Thank you very much :D
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited July 2016 Posts: 17,728
    Welcome to our community, @Chriscoop! You might know me as a certain Silhouette Man over at "the other place". :D
  • ChriscoopChriscoop North Yorkshire
    Posts: 281
    Thanks Dragonpol, it's good to see others on here I already know. :-h
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,080
    Welcome to the forum, @Chriscoop, nice to see a fellow Yorkshireman on here!
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,728
    Chriscoop wrote: »
    Thanks Dragonpol, it's good to see others on here I already know. :-h

    Yes, there's a few of us over here, including @stag.
  • ChriscoopChriscoop North Yorkshire
    Posts: 281
    Oh yes I've spotted the stag and tp, in fact it seems I'm in good company.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    Although now you've found us, we'll have to find somewhere else to meet ! :P :D
    A belated welcome.
  • stagstag In the thick of it!
    edited July 2016 Posts: 1,053
    For those who don't already know I'd just like to point out Chriscoop is on a mission to destroy the worlds stock of Alpha Romeos! One down many more to go!

    ;)
This discussion has been closed.