Forum Topic

Scout Hall

Anybody else been to vote yet, a lot of helpers in the Scout Hall. Bit confusing as your handed 3 papers in different colours, which have to be put in different boxes. Now just got to wait to see who wins.

Barbara Stevens ● 418d18 Comments

The prediction of a labour landslide is quite frightening.Do any of us really want Mick Lynch as the shadow Prime Minister pulling the strings and all the other union leaders given a 'shadow' role for each minister?

Andy Pike ● 417d

If the Tories are eviscerated at the next GE as is predicted  I can see them edging towards support for PR in order to maintain some semblance of relevance.https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/homepage.html currently has the Tories winning just 85 seats compared to Labour's 472.The important things to note about this are:* Reform has 12.3% of the vote and no MPs, hence their call for PR* Tories have 22.9% of the vote but only ~13% of the MPs.The question is what happens between these local election results and the subsequent General Election.If the Tory supporting media feel that the existing Tory party is going nowhere they may switch to pushing Reform UK. If that happens then that will be the death of the Tory party for the next 20 years at least. The existing Tory MPs would defect to Reform UK and so would many of the centre/right-of-centre voters.If that happened then the Tories would need PR in order to have some meaningful representation in the house.Personally I'd love it if Labour took the bold step of putting a PR referendum (using a proper system, not AV) into their 2024 GE manifesto. But I think that's a step too far or too soon. My guess is that if they were going to do it they'd consider such a move near the end of their first term in Government, especially if their popularity was starting to slide.

John Kettlekey ● 417d

Interesting that Richard Tice of the Reform Party was just saying on BBC News that we should have proportional representation - and he seemed to think the Tory party might want it if their support collapses. I'd have to agree with him on the first point about needing PR but I doubt the second point about Tories wanting it will happen.

Michael Ixer ● 417d

Though I'd love to see the back of Khan. The fact is he will be re elected and it won't be because he has an army of people rubbing out votes for his opponents. It will be because the other parties have put up such awful candidates in opposition and that many misguided Londoners think he is doing a good job.

Andy Pike ● 417d

As a way of subverting the ballot it would be very inefficient.  Rubbing out the pencil mark would probably leave a black smudge. If it was within a square on the ballot paper the returning officer might deem it to be a valid vote. I found this story posted by a FB friend both amusing and enlightening about the diligence of returning officers ...https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-32658907

Michael Ixer ● 418d

Andy, wasn't just me, it was on the local Next Site.

Barbara Stevens ● 418d

You can use your own pencil or pen if you prefer according to https://www.electoralcommission.org.ukIMO turnout looked rather low.

Ed Robinson ● 418d

Who would want to rub out someones vote? They are in sealed boxes until opened in front of a whole room full of people.Barbara's off on her 'fix' theme again. A relation of Donald Trump ?

Andy Pike ● 418d

Podtal votes have to be filled in with a black pen. I suspect pencils are cheaper and easier to manage than cheap biros which are often unrealiabe. If expensive biros were used they'd probably disappear very quickly ... I'm just guessing :-/

Michael Ixer ● 418d

Why did we use pencils instead of biro's.  These can be rubbed out.

Barbara Stevens ● 418d

Words fail me other than to say "This made my day" and I feel vindicated in my views about his competency - or lack of it to run the country 🙂https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/02/minister-sorry-as-veterans-find-id-card-not-valid-for-english-elections(Boris forgetting his ID to vote)

Michael Ixer ● 418d

The results will probably be announced Saturday afternoon. Verification of votes takes place tomorrow,  then counting starts 9am Saturday. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/london-mayor-election-result-announce-sadiq-khan-susan-hall-friday-saturday-b1155321.html

Michael Ixer ● 418d

> School polling stationAlways find it amusing that the various Governments bang on about children not missing a single day of education but will happily close down some schools for the day to make them into polling stations.

John Kettlekey ● 418d

Wonder why we had to go to the Scout Hall, Gwendolen Ave was only round the corner to us. It used to be at the Library.

Barbara Stevens ● 418d

We dropped off postal votes at the Brandlehow School polling station, Fawe Park Road this afternoon (no confidence in Royal Mail to deliver them). Not very busy, a couple of people came and went while we were there filling out the new form needed when delivering postal votes to polling stations. 

Michael Ixer ● 418d

The Methodist Church at the end of Gwendolen Avenue.

John Kettlekey ● 418d

Where did you go to vote John.

Barbara Stevens ● 418d

4 ballot papers in West Putney as we've also got a local council By-Election (which is a white ballot paper).

John Kettlekey ● 418d