Labour to give 16-year-olds the vote

Arriving in Manchester, before Labour conference, Ed Miliband told young people of his vision for a Labour Britain: He believes 16-year-old should have get vote.

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CyberPunk65
i-thorts' i-Politics September 30th 2012

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If 16- to 18-year-olds could vote, George Osborne might have thought twice about getting rid of EMA (Educational Maintenance Allowance) - it would have hit Tories at ballot box.

Ed Milliband MP speaking at the Labour Party conference. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Miliband has a project to "rebuild Britain" by involving young people more in politics. He wants young people to have a voice.

Miliband concedes that the coalition’s welfare system changers are acceptable to Labour, but lacked compassion towards the disabled.

Miliband admits agreeing with some of the government’s policies - but not most of them.

He can’t "wave a magic wand" though.

"We can’t have people going to food banks while millionaires have been given £40,000 tax cuts." Miliband argues, "It’s not right."

Privileged Tory MP Tells Youths: Leave School, Become An Apprentice, or Sing For Your Supper

With the job market shrinking each month and a lack of employer enthusiasm, a Tory MP has told the youth of Britain they should busk to pay for travel expenses to find work.

This is just another Tory living in a fools paradise.

And to tell school leavers not to bother staying on, as they be better off leaving at 16 and getting an apprenticeship, is just pain foolishness. The employment market has not been made as buoyant as they expected (post Olympics); so employers aren't taking on apprenticeships at the moment.

i-Views: 51% Lib Dems Are Dissatisfied with Clegg as Leader!

Nick Clegg takes a battering in the latest (Mori / Ipsos) poll; 66% of those voting were unsatisfied with him.

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• • CyberPunk65
  • i-thorts' i-Views, Wednesday 19 September 2012

Nick Clegg and David Cameron. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This isn't exactly news for anyone that lives in the UK. Clegg's popularity has dropped steadily since the election.

Labour Ahead in the Polls - So Far - States Poulace Poll in The Times

There are now whispers in the House about defeat (in the 2015 elections) for Cameron and Clegg, which could impact heavily on their party leadership, ahead of the conference season - due to new Poulace poll (in the Times) putting Labour ahead.

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• • CyberPunk65
  • i-thorts & i-politics Magazine, Day 18 September 2012

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 13: Labour Party Leader Ed Miliband speaks at The Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre on June 13, 2011 in London, England. Ed Miliband used the speech to dismiss newspaper reports that he is under-achieving as the Labour leader, and that his brother, David Miliband is destablising his leadership. Ed Miliband told journalists that Westminster rumours about his leadership is 'irrelevant to most people's lives'.

(Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

The race to win the next general election is already on, and Labour has taken the lead. A 50 point lead ahead of Conservatives. (45% of those questioned would vote Labour in at the next general election; that's a five point increase since July polls.) This could (if the polls are right) put Ed Miliband on course for a masive victory in 2015.

The Tories are down to a 30% share of votes in a general election - a four point drop! Nevertheless, in the very same poll, 23% are happy with how David Cameron carried out the activities of Prime Minister; putting him is ahead in the popularity race. And 34% thought he would do a better job as PM than Mr Miliband. (That's more people would like to see Cameron remain as PM next time round.)

The voters branded Miliband and Nick Clegg as both: "out of his depth", "weak", and "indecisive". Cameron was branded: "doesn't listern", and "arrogant". Voters branded alll three parties: "out of touch".

Social Media Party - The British Political Party That Promise You More

Reblogged from i-thorts' i-Views:

Social Media Party
Launch!  

A new British political party launched 10/09/2012: The Social Media Party. “A cross-party party” designed to appeal to members from the full political spectrum.

generic multi-axis political spectrum chart (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We believe in a state that allows individuals to take part in the decision-making process that affects their lives, to contribute fully to that society (and their own communities) to attain these ideals. United by a common belief in respect, equality, education, and social justice.    -The (British) Social Media Party’s mission statement claims.

So why is this non-entity (unknown) taking on the big three? Because with the help of the social media world any party can!

To put it in their words: “We can out-campaign them. This is a social media world and the main three are still thinking mainstream. They Tweet and Like now rules the globe.”

It’s obvious that they’re switched-on to the technicalities of a digital environment, but is it possible for a non-entity to really take on these titans?

Well the Green party was once a non-entity and now they have a nice percentage of the votes. Labour too were once newcomers on the political scene (now they are major players).

Mobile web growth (Photo credit: Will Lion)

So how does the Social Media Party expect to go from zero to hero?

“We promise all our voters power. Power of autonomy, power to choose policies, power to decide how their vote Will count.”

Is this a return to a call for proportional representation?

“In social media terms, every like and each tweet counts, so should every single vote! That’s true democracy in action!”

But can they win elections?

“I believe we can! Elections are all about numbers. Twitter and Facebook are our battle grounds. Once something goes viral theirs no stopping it! We just need to go viral. Lol.”

Would you vote for the (British) Social Media Party?

YesNoMaybeUndecided

VoteView ResultsPolldaddy.com

Why the Social Media Party Could Win a British Election

.: social-media-party :.
(Photo credit: cyberpunk65)

Today is the birth of a new political party

(British) Social Media Party

If you look at the party-system we currently have, its obvious none of the major players seem to have a clue how to use social media for political gain.

Once they get to grips with it not being about mico-party-political broadcasts, then they might get somewhere. But with only a handful of MPs sharing the nouce or having the gumption to use social media properly, it makes the  Social Media political party very threatening to the big three.

Say, for instance, that the MPs with social media skills had formed their own party (a party formed across the political divides) with the sole purpose of changing the political scene and really allowing the people to have their say; they would sweep the boards!

It would be a landslide win!

Their former parties wouldn't know what hit them!

Social Media can be that effective.

One of the reasons social media works is diversity. So they would have to put aside previous party squabbles with this realisation in mind.

Could it work? Yes. Would politicians put aside petty differences to gain the ultimate power? You bet!

Policies are easy: let the people decide. (Then there can never be a backlash. You wanted it you got it. It was your idea.) Who could argue with such logic.
Mass media would be part of the championing process. (The British press loves an underdog. And if they try to sabotage a campaign? Then the strengths of social media would batter their arguments with mass rebuttles. Even the press can't fight - all reader demographics - everyone!)

This is the beauty of the idea. Win on all levels. It's a win win situation! That really is the power of the tweet and the like.

All we need now is a few politicians to start the ball rolling.

Got to love the (British) Social Media political party.


Now that's something to Blogs about lol....

[join today on Google+]

Related articles:

• The Dutch Elections 2012: Wisdom Of Crowds?
• Can Social Media Break the Two-Party Political System?
• Businesses Should Mimic The Politicians With #SocialMedia with [Infographic]
• Democrats Like To Mix Politics & Social Media More Than Republicans, Independents [Study]
• Political Parties missing opportunities to engage with constituents, warns Punch

Let Both Coalition Parties Do Battle

Prepare for both coalition parties to commence battle.

At the Lib Dem conference (around the end of this month) the party will considers the proposals for wealth taxes. Earlier this months, Nick Clegg  attempted to shape that debate by floating the consideration of a new wealth tax (see Lib Dems Tax Unearned Wealth). 

A Further Drop in High Street Sales

British Supermarkets Suffers
Drop in Consumer Sales

Consumer Spending (Photo credit: 401(K) 2012)

"Supermarket chain Morrisons has reported a dip in sales and profits, blaming the continued pressures on consumer spending...  Chief executive Dalton Philips said the figures reflected 'sustained pressure on consumer spending'." - Morrisons sales and profits fall BBC News.

Morrisons, being the 4th largest supermarket, isn't the only casualty recently hit by the UK Recession.

"Co-operative Group profits fall by a third"
Last updated Thu 23 Aug 2012 -ITV NEWS - Tweet 8:07am, Thu 23 Aug 2012

The report by (ITV News a couple of weeks ago) that the Co-operative Group profits fell by one third - due to food sales suffering aggressive competition from other supermarkets - while the banking arm was also struck by the double-dip.

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Related Articles:

Co-operative Group profits plunge 16%

Morrisons Sees Profit and Sales Dip In 2012

Morrisons slashes store openings but forges ahead with move online

UK factories among the strongest in Europe but sector remains mired in recession

Double-Dip Recession - Britain's Not Working

Westminster digested: Osborne is a little worried http://t.co/CO2CiVM3

http://twitter.com/cyberpunk65 Westminster digested: Osborne is a little worried http://t.co/CO2CiVM3 #blg http://t.co/CO2CiVM3 http://twitter.com/cyberpunk65/status/242524896406691840 September 03, 2012 at 08:30AM

The Curious Thing About A Coalition

COALITION CABINET
RESHUFFLE  

Cameron is said to be reshuffling his cabinet early this month (September). The move is in the hope of rekindle his party's low spirits and appeasing the right. It's hoped that fresh faces will revive Tory standing in the poles.

Twitter   September 02, 2012 at 02:27PM

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  Ray Burr @cyberpunk65
  @YouGov: Update - Labour lead on 6: Latest Sunday Times results 31st Aug-2nd Sep - CON 35%, LAB 41%, LD 9%, UKIP 7%; APP -36

The call for William Hague to replace George Osborne as Chancellor of the Exchequer is a tacktick to appear like a softening of the current hardline policy concerning welfare cuts. However, will this will be enough, with Britain in the current double-dip resession and our shocking ecconomic performance of late?

Rumours has it, that all the all the 'big guns' will be staying but there are to be promotions also.

He has a juggling act to perform: He needs to keep the grassroots Conservatives happy, while appealing to the voting public. To do this he has to keep on with his policies to keep the right incheck and also seem to be for the people. Something the even a master of spin, like him, will find difficult.

Having said that, it's a curious fact that in reality, as part of a coalition government, the Tories have to appoint Lib Dems to posts (a certain fixed number), so Cameron can't do much at all. That means that he has to keep them happy too...

How David Cameron is to achieve all this and keep everyone happy is total speculation so far. But we don't have to wait too long.