tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post4073436570667374714..comments2023-09-24T01:25:13.638-07:00Comments on Witterings from Witney: State funding of political partiesWitteringsfromWitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026875251366365154noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-31752180937223700112012-01-30T12:45:15.879-08:002012-01-30T12:45:15.879-08:00TT: True but unlike other areas, the political sho...TT: True but unlike other areas, the political shop is limited in what it sells and the sheep duly buy.......<br /><br />Anon: That's what I like, someone who takes all the benefits of the club and gives nothing back..... :) (joke)<br /><br />TT: Interesting - must google those.....WitteringsfromWitneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16026875251366365154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-22530367233505608462012-01-30T00:39:51.547-08:002012-01-30T00:39:51.547-08:00Funnily enough one of the quirks of English legal ...Funnily enough one of the quirks of English legal practice is that Insurers do not offer Legal Insurance Policies as in Germany where DAS and ARAG are leaders.....German legal fees are codified and listed in BRAGO - a catalogue listing all charges so it is clear insurers can budgetTomTomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-15787357253525382182012-01-29T23:25:29.422-08:002012-01-29T23:25:29.422-08:00While a lot of people, the press included, moan ab...While a lot of people, the press included, moan about the actions of unions, they forget that the unions are there to represent their members. In an ideal world unions would not have been needed, obviously it is a far-from-ideal world.<br />I would just like to point-out that EVERY strike is the end result of the failure of negotiation and every strike has to be balloted. That is the law. From my viewpoint union membership gives me massive advantages, not least of which is negotiated pay increases. Other benefits are much better workplace safety and free legal representation. Oh, and I've never been on strike. Still time though !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-51634437029265346392012-01-29T13:15:05.803-08:002012-01-29T13:15:05.803-08:00political parties should operate just like any oth...<i>political parties should operate just like any other business.</i><br /><br />Oh but they do ! You forget what they have to sell.....Access, Public Contracts, Subsidies.....<br /><br />The Unions received "Training Funds" from taxpayers in return for donations to Labour; Paid Councillors to fund party candidates, plus contracts and favours.....<br /><br />With the Conservatives it is all so very different.....Cash for Access, Favours, Contracts, Planning Regulations "reformed", Privatisation of Armed Services Recruiting - the Capita Connection and Conservative donations<br /><br />Yes, I think politics operates " like any other business" http://www.blogger.com/profile/14883248700500971682TomTomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-56655055954138314272012-01-29T09:10:57.895-08:002012-01-29T09:10:57.895-08:00TT: Thanks for the link. I was aware of them but o...TT: Thanks for the link. I was aware of them but others may not be.<br /><br />DH: Could not agree more, but then is this a ploy to encourage low turnout, thus cementing their own positions?<br /><br />r_w: Again, have to agree with your last point!<br /><br />PCoo: Yup, knew about the 'Short' money etc and yes, agree no state funding!<br /><br />PC: Interesting idea - see IPJs suggestion too?<br /><br />Anon: Yup, DD and referism is the answer!<br /><br />IPJ: Interesting idea, but you are creating yet another set of 'crats. Much simpler to say no state funding!<br /><br />Anon: Fair point.<br /><br />c: It is obvious politicians want an even more and tighter stitch up!WitteringsfromWitneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16026875251366365154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-22335437165619559622012-01-29T08:59:04.629-08:002012-01-29T08:59:04.629-08:00This is like having three companies, each receivin...This is like having three companies, each receiving state subsidies and with legislation in place to encourage people to buy their products. They set up a cartel to make sure they churn out things for their convenience and are only in limited competition.<br /><br />It would be no surprise that they churned out mediocre rubbish and they wouldn't survive if they were forced to make things people were willing to pay for.<br /><br />As it is, mainstream political parties receive quite a lot of state funding.cosmicnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-42243145918418480542012-01-29T07:07:58.872-08:002012-01-29T07:07:58.872-08:00Funny.
The CONSERVATIVES made it necessary for the...Funny.<br />The CONSERVATIVES made it necessary for the political levy to be OPT-IN years ago, pre-1997, and I CLEARLY recall having to sign and return said form to my union stating that I wished it to continue.<br />They made it a legal necessity in order to de-fund the Labour party without being seen to do so.<br />Over 90% of those who returned the form voted to continue with the levy. Those who didn't return it ceased to pay.<br />The rules of said levy are here:<br /><br />http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/TradeUnions/Tradeunionmembership/DG_179239<br /><br />Now, where do I see shareholders having to confirm their company contributions ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-44227986367005325832012-01-29T06:38:41.515-08:002012-01-29T06:38:41.515-08:00If, and I say if, the State is to become involved ...If, and I say if, the State is to become involved in campaign donations and spending, then why not make them responsible also.<br /><br />Firstly NO payments from state to party whatsoever.<br /><br />Secondly ban all political party campaigning and replace it with an <b>Election Media Authority</b>.<br /><br />The EMA would be the only body able to publish election material, and they MUST do so for every candidate who properly registers, in the same amounts and volumes, giving no party large or small any advantage over any other party whatsoever.<br /><br />The EMA would be responsible for getting that out to the media, who must also publish on a fair basis, i.e. no exclusions, and the EMA would also make a single, or maybe two, home delivery of each party leaflet.<br /><br />No more, no less. Level playing field for every party, large or small.<br /><br />Finally make the EMA subject to an audit, where criminal charges are laid at any breach of the code.<br /><br />Just an idea.IanPJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-29829606074658489472012-01-29T05:48:07.954-08:002012-01-29T05:48:07.954-08:00Why have a two MP restriction?
Sounds like a stitc...Why have a two MP restriction?<br />Sounds like a stitch-up for the small parties.<br />Referism -bring it on!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-12307902512330587142012-01-29T04:57:46.264-08:002012-01-29T04:57:46.264-08:00As Paul C says and I should have made clear, I als...As Paul C says and I should have made clear, I also abhor any idea at all of any form of State support or financing for political parties.PeterCharlesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-47707466605878682042012-01-29T04:54:45.661-08:002012-01-29T04:54:45.661-08:00I would cap all donations at no more than £50 from...I would cap all donations at no more than £50 from any individual source to a political party and limit that to a maximum of ten donations a year. I would allow much higher donations for independent candidates and perhaps for parties that currently have no elected MPs, all in the cause of diluting party politics and encouraging independence among MPs. For political parties all but small donations must be suspect. <br /><br />A person giving £1,000 to a local independent candidate would most likely simply be a fulsome supporter of that candidate's position.PeterCharlesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-8664860356639536022012-01-29T04:53:31.674-08:002012-01-29T04:53:31.674-08:00I abhor the notion of state funding of political p...I abhor the notion of state funding of political parties. If the cannot raise the money from their supporters then they don't deserve it. Actually they do receive money from the state already. First there is 'Short money' which is currently paying the Labour party £6,024,340.74 for 2011/12. Then there is the Lords' equivalent, Cranborne money, which funds the Labour party to the tune of £522,102. Even Sinn Fein who refuse to take the oath get £103,894.59. All the details can be found <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/lib/research/briefings/snpc-01663.pdf" rel="nofollow">here</a>.Paul Coombeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09143484729379464693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-27642332870558948762012-01-29T04:37:12.803-08:002012-01-29T04:37:12.803-08:00Surely the bottom line WfW is that in a free marke...Surely the bottom line WfW is that in a free market (ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha), political parties should operate just like any other business.<br /><br />Their success should depend on the number of sales made, the more they sell, the more that can be put into research and development. <br /><br />Of course the media, should not be advertising their wares without some sort of contract… The BBC under its charter should not be advertising at all.<br /><br />There…<br /><br />Sorted, and without a requirement for a "Political and Constitutional Reform Committee".<br /><br />Incidentally, I rather liked one of the conclusions and recommendations offered on the Parliament website:<br /><br /><i>"But public confidence in politics risks being further undermined if some future scandal intervenes before a solution is in place."</i><br /><br />So rapid action is need and now, before such a scandal is engineered and/or the public realise what we are up to.<br /><br />Talk about a rigged market.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-50869875976461551002012-01-29T02:17:15.811-08:002012-01-29T02:17:15.811-08:00If ever there was an incentive not to vote, the th...If ever there was an incentive not to vote, the thought that actually voting for a candidate might cost tangible money is getting there. How long before that £3 gets bumped up to £10 or more?<br /><br />In context, 33 million voters at £3/head would be £100million wasted on political parties.<br /><br />However, I do like the opt-in requirement for union members, nice touch there.Dave Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-8883358271135711892012-01-29T02:13:04.427-08:002012-01-29T02:13:04.427-08:00Voters Revolt<a href="http://www.votersrevolt.org.uk/?tab=V2" rel="nofollow">Voters Revolt</a>TomTomnoreply@blogger.com