i-thorts' i-Politics: Michael Gove: Labour think poor children should stick to their station

Labour politicians believe children from disadvantaged backgrounds should "stick to the station in life they were born into", the education secretary, Michael Gove ... criticised the widespread opposition to the English Baccalaureate, the performance measure introduced in 2010 which gauges secondary schools by the proportion of pupils who get a C or above in six GCSEs ...

« Read the Rest @ Guardian »,,

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Do Tories have the right to criticise Labour (concerning Education), when they, themselves, have limited povety-struck families from further education on an economic basis? See: « Welfare Cuts: Not in Our Back Yard »

Rotherham By-Election: Labour Secures Victory

Labour wins three by-elections on a night that saw a surge in support for UKIP and dismal results for the Tories and Lib Dems.

The Conservatives finished fifth behind not only UKIP but also the British National Party and Respect, while Tory candidate Simon Wilson only held onto his deposit by a whisker.

Labour candidate Sarah Champion has won the Rotherham by-election with a majority of more than 5,000 votes over second-place UKIP.r

Read the Rest @ BBC News »

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also see: « i-Views:- Ukip: the party that's coming in from the cold? »

Margaret Moran received £53,000 in bogus MP expenses

Margaret Moran, former Labour MP for Luton South, received more than £53,000 in fraudulent expenses, a jury has found, despite her being mentally unfit to stand trial.

Though jurors at Southwark crown court in London were unable to return a guilty verdict, they unanimously ruled the 57-year-old former assistant whip committed 15 counts of false accounting and six counts of using a false instrument over claims for parliamentary expenses between 2004 and 2008.

Read More @ Guardian »

Labour MP claims £164 for birthday cards at taxpayers' expense

Margaret Moran claimed £164 for birthday cards and £50 for Christmas cards as part of a £53,000 parliamentary expenses fraud, a court heard today.

Margaret Moran, the former Labour MP, forged invoices for more than £24,000 of non-existent goods and services as part of a £53,000 parliamentary expenses fraud, a court heard yesterday.

Read More @ Telegraph »

Labour Calls for £7.20 an Hour 'Living Wage'

Ed and David Miliband have put their political rivalry aside to work on plans for millions of workers to be paid a “living wage” of at least £7.20 an hour - Read More @ Telegraph »

Why Is The Future of Britain’s Nuclear Deterrent Being Debated at the Moment?

Taken from (British) Social Media Party:
Why the Nuclear Deterrent Has Had Its Day!!

One year after the expected date of the next election - sometime in 2016 - the UK will be making the decision of to commit about £20 billion to replace the four Vanguard submarines (which will be approaching the termination of their service), each of which carries a Trident D5 missile.

A Trident missile armed Vanguard class ballistic missile submarine leaving its base in the Firth of Clyde. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Since 1994, these four submarines and their nuclear weapons system have provided the UK's main deterrent. The question is, is Trident really a deterrent - or merely a political insurance policy?

If a country like Iran or North Korea should launch a nuclear attack on Britain, then four Triden D5's wouldn't stop the barrage of weapons that would expectedly be thrown at us. So why do we have them?

The answer is a simple one. To strike back and cause damage to any aggressor that might think to wipe us out. Vanguard has the ability to take Trident close enough to hart any aggressor.

They doesn't really protect, they might deter slightly, but that are good for retaliation. "Wipe us out," they threaten, "and you'll regret it!" That's as bad a a dog that barks at a burger after he's robbed your house.

The truth about the nuclear deterrent is: it isn't one at all. No sane person wants to go down in history for pressing the button; and wiping out thousands of innocent individuals. Nuclear isn't like a missile that can take out a specific military target - it burns indiscriminately, men women and children alike. A Trident D5 is powerful enough to destroy a major capital city (like New York). There are no winners in a nuclear strike - not even the aggressor.

During the 1980's, Labour were commitment to unilateral disarmament. However, the 1983 elections put pay to their plans; and from the moment Tony Blair took on leadership of the party, Labour's stance on defence toughened.

English: United States Trident II (D-5) missile underwater launch. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Conservatives stance is to back full Trident replacement. The Liberal Democrats want something else, a policy that is distinct and radical; a less elaborate deterrent might suffice. (Whatever that less-elaborate-deterrent might be is still unclear.) Ed Miliband has not said where he wants to take Labour - concerning the nuclear deterrent.

£20bn in capital expenditure is a cost that Britain can ill afford.

We have a rare opportunity to make a radical change.

Labour says Cameron's 'need to make prison work' is empty rhetoric

Private firms, voluntary groups and charities will be paid to help offenders turn their lives around, the government have decided. This is a new drive to beat crime, put forward by the Conservatives.

David Cameron, Leader of the Conservative
Party, United Kingdom. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

David Cameron has spoken out in a fight against crime - his most intense since taking office. All but the most high-risk prisoners will be given help by 2015.

Cameron has warned though there isn't a "blank cheque" for this initiative; he expects "more for less".

Cameron invited that serious crime would hold long prison sentences. He is adamant that he's no going "soft" or being "liberal" in crime. Stating that "...we need to make prison work."

Labour's Shadow Justice Secretary, Sadiq Khan, accused the Tories of " empty rhetoric" yesterday. Adding: "After 29 months, this Tory-led government's justice policy is in tatters. Today's announcement.... is ... a weak Prime Minister who is pandering to the backbenchers..."

This comes after a week where Andrew Mitchell was forced to reign (after swearing at the police) and George Osborne was caught in First-Class rail with a none-First-Class ticket (and refused to pay the upgrade fee).

I hicks that if Mr Cameron wants to shoe he's tough on crime, then he need to start with his own MP's.

Conference season is boring!

They say a week in politics is a long time; but with this Labour Party conference it's seemed longer.

• 
• • CyberPunk65
  • i-thorts and i-politics,
    Saturday 6th October 2012

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

To me, conference season is a time for leaders to show off their metal in the face of their true believers.

But so far it's been boring. Where are the rising stars, nipping at the proverbial ankles? Where are the party goofballs and political suicides?

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."

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.

• 
• • 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.

• 
• • 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+]

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• Political Parties missing opportunities to engage with constituents, warns Punch