Click your protest against Murdoch papers' campaigns trying to stop real democracy - from AVAAZ

Dear friends around Britain,

There’s real hope for change in this election -- but with just days to go, kingmaker Rupert Murdoch and the tabloid press are pushing ridiculous hysteria to stop a coalition for reform. Let’s join with others, turn the tide and show them we, the voters will decide:

In just a few days, Britain could elect an unprecedented coalition with a mandate for urgently-needed reform and the support of most voters – it’s democracy in action!

But a few partisan hacks want to hang onto politics as usual -- and some of them own powerful tabloids. Hacks like billionaire Rupert Murdoch, whose Sun is pushing nasty hysteria about coalition government threatening Biblical disasters -- working to ensure that Murdoch, not we voters, is the "kingmaker" in our country.

Britain is ripe for change -- and not only in Westminster. In the next eight days, let's turn the tide against the poisonous politics of our arrogant media moguls and their toxic tabloids, and demand that they treat Britain’s people and democracy with respect. An unprecedented popular outcry could shame them into piping down -- sign the petition and forward this email now!

http://www.avaaz.org/en/the_kingmaker/?vl

 

40% of the British press is owned by Rupert Murdoch alone. Reinforced by a handful of media proprietors, editors and millionaire donors, his hacks have repeatedly sought to tip the balance of our democracy and to bolster their own power -- we can't let them succeed!

Politics as usual has failed to deliver. From reforming and cleaning up politics to building a green economy, and from the future of public services to the public finances -- it’s time for real change, not just rearranging of the deckchairs.

It may have taken the spin doctors, millionaire donors and media moguls by surprise, but we, the voters, will decide the outcome of this election. So let’s unite for change and a better politics, and show that we, the voting public will decide our government. Take action now -- click the link below, then forward this message before it’s too late!

http://www.avaaz.org/en/the_kingmaker/?vl

 

With hope and determination,

Paul, Alice, Iain, Ricken and the whole Avaaz team

PS In a poll sent out to all 380,000 members of the Avaaz network in the UK, 92% of us said we should run a campaign against media scaremongering and in support of a balanced, reforming parliament - and we're teaming up on this campaign with 38 Degrees, the UK movement for people-powered change!

Sources:

http://www.newser.com/off-the-grid/post/448/will-murdoch-lose-britain.html

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7100966.ece

 

http://labs.38degrees.org.uk/headline/

 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/election2010/2942670/Election-2010-The-no-win-nightmare.html

 

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/93eeac2c-4e16-11df-b437-00144feab49a.html

 

http://www.charter2010.co.uk/news/who-says-hung-parliaments-cant-be-effective

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/apr/18/clegg-media-elite-murdoch-lib-dem

 

Don't forget to take action now! Click here: http://www.avaaz.org/en/the_kingmaker/?vl

 

Posted via email from sunwalking's posterous

Labour and Tories running scared - why - because we might be getting real democracy in the UK

Willie Sullivan, of 'Vote For A Change' writes

It's as if someone's hit a big red "panic" button.

Everywhere you look - in the newspaper, on the telly - political leaders are talking about a hung parliament as if it would be the end of the world as we know it.

Of course, they're right. A hung parliament would be the end of the world as we know it - the world of voiceless voters, unaccountable MPs, and broken politics.

That's why we can't miss our chance to make it happen this 6 May - and make history for our democracy.

Invite your friends to find out how they can vote this 6 May for a hung parliament:

 

Wondering what panic sounds like? A lot like this:

"I want a majority, so obviously a hung parliament would be a bad thing for this country because I want a majority."
- Gordon Brown

"We think a hung parliament would be damaging... the uncertainty would be bad for Britain."
- David Cameron

The politicians are running scared. They're looking at the same poll numbers we're looking at.

They know we've got the best chance we've had in years to bring about a reforming parliament that will change the balance of power in our politics - by giving voters more of a voice.

It all comes down to this time next week. Tell your friends to join our campaign to vote for a reforming parliament next Thursday:

http://www.voteforachange.co.uk/PanicButton

 

Thank you,

Willie

The old tribal dominators of the UK still don't get do they!

We want REAL DEMOCRACY not your corrupt old politics and we want in right now! - especially now!

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The Guardian asks if bigotgate will be the end of Gordon and Labour?

A new headache for Gordon Brown? Photograph: Dominc Lipinski/PA

It had to happen sooner or later. Gordon Brown, whom spinners have been schooling in the arts of warm, casual conversation, has revealed a bit of his spikier side.

After meeting voters in Rochdale, he stepped into the prime ministerial limousine with his microphone still on. He was recorded describing a woman he had just spoken to as "bigoted". They'd been discussing, among other things, immigration and the economy.

Is this the gaffe to bury Gordon? Or do you find his frankness refreshing in a sea of platitudes?

via guardian.co.uk

Click on link to read comments.

Posted via web from sunwalking's posterous

UK Election: Yellow Tories?

While British democrats are looking forward to a hung  parliament and a progressive realignment with a referendum on PR, ground is being prepared for a Yellow Tory coalition.

The idea was originally floated with brio and verve by Guido Fawks last Sunday. In yesterday’s update he notes that Nick has said (rightly) it would be inconceivable to allow Brown to “squat” in No 10 if he came third while Cameron has refused to rule out permitting PR if the Lib Dems want to work with him. Matt d’Ancona gave the whole idea a walking in his Sunday Telegraph column.

Fawks argues that Cleggite Lib Dems are not on the left in the way many of his party’s rank and file are supposed to be. Their leadership and the Tories “share key liberal ideological tenets – localism, decentralisation, transparency and a preference for market based solutions”.

Arguably the two most influential big party blogs, Conservative Home and Left Foot Forward both dumped on Fawks.  But Tim Montgomerie on the right and Will Straw on the left share an antipathy to those of us who want modern liberty and an end to the database state. [CORRECTION only Conservative Home has, Straw OPPOSES ID cards, see comment below, and the word "dumped" is unfair to Montgomerie's elegant prose].
 
In his dream scenario Fawks imagined the new double-C, Clegg-Cameron government as follows:

The average age of the cabinet is now 44, the centre-piece of the Queen’s speech is to be a Great Repeal Bill, undoing 13 years of authoritarian legislation and strengthening civil liberties, restricting the growth of the surveillance and database society. The Big Society reform programme promises to fundamentally re-balance state and society in favour of a smaller more open government.  Cable promises an emergency budget within 30 days signalling tough action on the deficit.

PR appears to have slipped out of the priorities, which I hope the Lib Dems would find unacceptable.

via opendemocracy.net

Click on link to read the rest of Anthony Barnett's article

Posted via web from sunwalking's posterous

The Liberal Democrat breakthrough can succeed | Anthony Barnett | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

On Sunday, Gordon Brown said historians would record his approach to the Lib Dems so far as "an attempt to get them involved in what I call a progressive consensus". I don't know about historians, but as far I am concerned, while I'd welcome a realignment on the left, it is now inconceivable this could be led by Gordon Brown.

The reason why he pursued this appeal to the Liberal Democrats is because of the huge potential increase in their support. We want to remind ourselves what is driving it. When Labour attacked the Conservatives over the influence of Lord Ashcroft's millions, William Hague told the House of Commons: "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". Two weeks later, when David Cameron demanded an inquiry into former Labour ministers putting themselves up to hire, Lord Mandelson replied: "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones".

According to Monday's ICM poll, commissioned by Power 2010, "Ninety-six per cent believe it is important that the next government cleans up politics and reforms our democracy". That's everybody. Those 4% who don't agree probably didn't hear the question or were lobbyists.

But it is not going to happen if the two-party duopoly continues. It could, however, start to change if there is indeed a Lib Dem breakthrough. The welcome possibility of a hung parliament could be a historic opportunity to begin the real reform of our democracy that voters now demand.

via guardian.co.uk

Click on link to read more of Anthony Barnett's article.

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Charities say parties must commit to a Fairness Test for tackling the deficit | Ekklesia

Church Action on Poverty and other leading charities have today asked for a commitment from all party leaders, and particularly those of the three biggest parties, that tax rises and spending cuts will not hit the poorest hardest.

In a letter sent and published on 26 April 2010, groups including Church Action on Poverty, Child Poverty Action Group, Barnardo’s, the Trades Union Congress (TUC), and the Equality Trust called on the leaders to commit to a ‘Fairness Test’ on any tax rises or spending cuts needed to reduce the deficit.

The test, undertaken by government, would measure the likely impact of any policy to ensure it did not increase income inequality. It would be developed by the Treasury with input from other departments. As well as better informing government decisions, it would allow greater scrutiny by independent bodies.

Niall Cooper, National Coordinator of Church Action on Poverty, commented: “As our politicians make tough decisions in the time ahead, they have the opportunity to make our society fairer. They must ensure that the wealthiest people in our society make a fair contribution, and that those who already have little are not driven further into poverty."

He added: "Politicians talk a great deal about inequality – but a Fairness Test would show that they are really committed to closing the gap between rich and poor.”

Richard Wilkinson, co-director of the Equality Trust, explained: “We’re asking all party leaders to assess the impact that their policies will have on income inequality and ensure that the rich, rather than the poor, shoulder the main burden of reducing the deficit."

“Reducing the deficit could be the perfect opportunity to narrow the record gap between rich and poor in the UK. But if the wrong policies are chosen, inequalities will widen still further, damaging people’s lives and the social fabric of our society,” concluded Wilkinson.

Meanwhile, Shan Nicholas, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said: “Whoever is in government to make the tough decision on cutting the deficit, they must put fairness at the heart of the process for families on low incomes. If tax rises or spending cuts lead to greater inequality, the promise all parties have made to end child poverty by 2020 will not be met."

Martin Narey, Chief Executive of Barnardo’s declared that "it is shameful that in this, one of the richest nations in the industrialised world, a child born into a poor family is more likely than ever to start accumulating disadvantage at birth."

"Whoever is in Government must seize the opportunity to reverse the growth in inequality and tackle child poverty so that every baby born in the UK has a more equal chance to contribute to the future wealth and prosperity of our society," said Narey.

Church Action on Poverty (www.church-poverty.org.uk) is an ecumenical Christian social justice charity, which mobilises churches to work alongside others to tackle poverty in the UK.

via ekklesia.co.uk

Click on link to go to the Ekklesia site

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Which of the fairness parties will you been voting for? - Collective wealth of Britain's 1,000 richest people rose 30%, the biggest annual increase in list's 22-year history

Lakshmi Mittal topped the rich list for the sixth straight year. Photograph: Sebastien Pirlet/Reuters

The collective wealth of the country's 1,000 richest people rose 30% last year in the wake of the economic crisis.

Their combined wealth rose by more than £77bn to £333.5bn, the biggest annual increase in the 22-year history of the Sunday Times rich list. The number of billionaires rose by 10 to 53.

via guardian.co.uk

Click on link to read the full Guardian report

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Look what Cameron intends to do to the North-East - shades of Thatcher's cruelty - The Guardian

David Cameron said the size of the state had got too big. Photograph: David Levene

David Cameron sparked a fresh row on public spending last night when he indicated that the north-east of England and Northern Ireland may face a squeeze under the Tories.

In a move condemned by Labour as "alarming", the Tory leader said the state's share of the economy was too big in some parts of the country.

"In Northern Ireland it is quite clear – and almost every party accepts this –that the size of the state has got too big," Cameron told Jeremy Paxman in an interview on BBC1.

"We need a bigger private sector. There are other parts of the country, including in the north-east. The aim has got to be to get the private sector, to get the commercial sector going.

"Over the next parliament we have got to see a faster growing private sector, we've got to broaden our economic base and we need to have a rebalancing of the economy between the commercial and private sector on the one hand and between the state sector on the other."

Labour was quick to criticise Cameron. Liam Byrne, the chief secretary to the Treasury, said: "Alarmingly for regions outside London [David Cameron] claimed investment in the regions like the north- east was unsustainable, while at the same time saying that tax cuts for millionaires were sustainable.

"With every passing day David Cameron's big society sounds more and more like the same old Tories – tax cuts for the few at the expense of cuts to essential services and to our regions."

via guardian.co.uk

Hexham, the North-East, and the UK need a new politics of real democracy, not a Cameron-Thatcher devastation. If you have a job and don't want to lose it don't vote Tory.

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Ethics election poll watch: Hung parliament on cards as race tightens but 'others' losing ground (ComRes) | Ekklesia

The ComRes poll for tomorrow's Independent on Sunday and Sunday Mirror shows a tighter race between the big 3 parties, but has 'others' losing ground significantly:

Con 34% (-1)
Lib Dem 29% (+2)
Lab 28% (+3)
Other 9% (-4)

(compared with most recent ComRes poll published 21 April)

This leaves the Conservatives short by 55 of a majority on www.electoralcalculus.co.uk as follows:

Con 271
Lab 254
LD 93

Andrew Hawkins, chairman of ComRes points out:

· Overall it looks like the Lib Dems had a very modest boost from Thursday night although Gordon Brown’s performance has clearly boosted his party’s rating

· Turnout looks set to be really quite high – 66% say ‘absolutely certain’ to vote, the highest registered of this campaign

· The number of people who are ‘absolutely certain’ to vote but who are undecided about who to vote for now stands at 3.3million British adults. This compares with 2.5m last week and 5m the previous week ie pre-first debate

· Lib Dem support is still strongest among the younger age groups – 41% among 18-24s

· Labour is ahead among C2s and DEs ie its core social groups while 35% of ABs say they’ll vote Lib Dem

· The Lib Dem figures are particularly strong in the North of England – this is entirely consistent with their instant poll on Thursday evening

via ekklesia.co.uk

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How New Labour have stolen the UK people's freedom and democracy right under the ignorant noses of the masses - Vote Independent or Lib Dem in Hexham & UK

How New Labour have stolen the UK people's freedom and democracy right under the ignorant noses of the masses - Vote Independent or Lib Dem in Hexham & UK

Comedian Shappi Khorsandi looks into how New Labour have stolen the UK people's freedom and democracy right under the ignorant noses of the masses, systematically destroying freedom of speech - especially against the government, and turned a democratic country into a police state worthy of the Adolf Hitler, Stalin, Chairman Mao, and the New World Order.

If Labour are going to work with the Lib Dems they better ditch many of their ways of behaving.

And don't forget that much of this started with Thatcher.

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Tories want us to believe they've changed. Ho ho! - slammed over climate commitment | Ekklesia

The commitment of prospective Conservative MPs to tackling climate change is under question today after it was revealed that only two Tory candidates have backed a package of key measures to slash UK emissions.

The green measures, which have been put forward by Friends of the Earth, have been supported by scores of Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates.

During the election campaign, thousands of Friends of the Earth supporters contacted their candidates to support the environmental charity's four climate pledges. So far these have been backed by 285 Green Party candidates (out of around 300), 156 Liberal Democrats, 85 Labour and only two Conservatives.

Of the three main parties, only Nick Clegg has replied to a letter co-signed by over 8,000 supporters - asking them to commit to real action to tackle climate change.

via ekklesia.co.uk

In Hexham and the UK we want real change, real democracy not the 'We'll say anything to win a few votes!" of the tired old, corrupted parties.

Click on link to read all of the Ekklesia article.

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Sun tight-lipped on poll 'censorship' claims | Charter 2010

The Sun has declined to comment on Liberal Democrat claims that it censored one of its own polls showing significant support for the party, The Independent reports.

Lib Dems are said to be angry that the pro-Tory Sun failed earlier this week to publish details of a YouGov poll - commissioned by the Murdoch-owned tabloid - which suggested that voters fear a Liberal Democrat government much less than a Conservative or Labour one.

The unpublished findings contained a raft of positives for the Nick Clegg's party - not least the suggestion that only 21 per cent viewed with dismay the prospect of a Lib Dem administration, against 45 per cent fearing the Tories and 51 per cent Labour. It further indicated that voters would switch to the Lib Dems in landslide-scale numbers if they thought the party had a significant chance of winning the election - an unlikely prospect under the current first-past-the-post system.

Prominent Lib Dem Loard Oakeshott told the Indy: "The numbers show that half the country cannot stand Gordon Brown and the other half can't stand David Cameron. I wonder why The Sun wouldn't share this news with its readers?"

YouGov president Peter Kellner said in a commentary on the unpublished poll that it was no longer outlandish to ask whether Clegg could end up as prime minister.

via charter2010.co.uk

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Channel 4's FactCheck Blog - Will hung parliament lead to IMF bailout?

Will hung parliament lead to IMF bailout?

Author: FactCheck|Posted: 8:40 pm on 21/04/10

Category: Conservatives, Economy, Election 2010, George Osborne | Tags: bailout/ IMF/ Ken Clarke

The claim
“If the British don’t decide to put in a government with a working majority and the markets think that we can’t tackle our debt and deficit problems, then the IMF will have to do it for us. That will be the view outside.”
Ken Clarke, Shadow Business Secretary, 21 April 2010

The background
In a press conference earlier today Ken Clarke warned of dire consequences in the financial markets if the election resulted in a hung parliament.

According to Ken, the market reaction could force the UK to go cap-in-hand to the International Monetary Fund for a loan, just like Greece is having to do now.

Pressed by Channel 4 News, the shadow chancellor, George Osborne, backed Mr Clarke’s comments, saying that the last time the IMF came in was when “the governing party did not have a workable majority in parliament” in the late 1970s.

Mr Osborne added that people needed to be aware of the consequences of a hung parliament: “I don’t think people should underestimate the economic consequences of political instability in their country when at a time when we are running one of the largest budget deficit in the developed world, when people have questioned our credit rating and when you can see there is a very serious problem with unemployment and business confidence.”

So should British voters be worried of the economic consequences of a hung parliament, or is it just political scare-tactics?

The analysis
Britain is unusual that in it rarely has a hung parliament – the last time one was elected was in 1974. But countries like Spain, Germany and Holland regularly return a minority government.

In fact, Professor Luis Garicano of the department of management at the London School of Economics, says that the claim that a hung parliament could spook the markets to the extent that an IMF loan is needed is an “absurd proposition”.

“I’m very surprised that the press are so insistent in this point,” says Professor Garicano. “It’s not going to make any difference from the outside. I think every foreign economist is flabbergasted by the suggestion.”

Professor Garicano says the real concern of the markets would be the progress of the new government in reducing the deficit and adds that the UK is fortunate that the three main parties are well regarded internationally and similarly-minded on economic issues.

Professor Garicano’s assessment is supported by another academic, Professor Philip Booth of the Institute of Economic Affairs. He says the three main parties’ approach to tackling the UK’s debt and deficit are “more or less the same”.

Professor Booth echoes Professor Garicano that the main issue influencing whether or not the IMF will be called in will be the new government progress in tackling the deficit. But he adds this is a medium term problem that won’t be affected by short-term political instability.

Professor Booth also casts doubt on the influence of political instability on the problems that led to the Callaghan government’s approach to the IMF in 1976. He says it actually was the result of years of financial mismanagement by both Labour and Conservative governments.

The verdict
While markets don’t like uncertainty, our economists agree that having three main parties with similar economic outlooks provides some degree of stability.

So despite the Conservatives’ insinuations, a hung parliament would not lead directly to an IMF bail out. In the words of Professor Booth, this particular Conservative claim is a “red herring”.

But – as all of this is opinion not fact – FactCheck will wait to see what happens post May 6th before declaring fact or fiction.

via blogs.channel4.com

Click on link to read more of Channel 4's FactCheck-ing

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Hang 'em - Vote for a (real) change, not a Tory or Labour sham

via hang-em.com

Click on link to find out more

Posted via web from sunwalking's posterous

In the 'Nick' of time | openDemocracy

Tomorrow, I hope oD will publish an overview on the electoral insurrection now seemingly underway in Britain. In it I say that "popular desire for real reform has lifted the Lib Dems onto its shoulders". One reason for this is that in the course of the first TV debate the party's leader became instantly know as "Nick". I was laughing about this with Jeremy Gilbert at the University of East London, where I'd been to speak at a colloquium on the meaning of the election (if you wish, you can listen to all three hours here). It's not always that this name tagging happens. Even with Blair, 'Tony' was an uncertain identification. Unlike 'Ken' or 'Boris' when you instantly know who is being referred to. Jeremy agreed. He remembered someone predicting that Kinnock would never win an election because he was never popularly known as Neil (whereas Thatcher was known as Maggie). Will the same rule apply to Brown, although he is sometimes referred to as Gordon, and to Cameron, who is never known as David? Go to it, Nick!

via opendemocracy.net

Click on link to read the full article

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Voter Power Index results for Hexham - just look at the unfairness of the current FPTP system

Winner takes all

Note: there have been boundary changes for this constituency since the last election. These are notional results.

via voterpower.org.uk

Click on link to see full picture

Posted via web from sunwalking's posterous

Want help with who to vote for? - see the UnlockDemocracy comparisons of the parties

The UnlockDemocracy campaign by Charter88 has an excellent comparison of all the political parties on these issues;

A Vote for Democracy?

 

 

looks at the parties' policies in five key areas:

• Fair, Open and Honest Elections

   
• Rights, Freedoms and a Written Constitution

   
• Stronger Parliament and Accountable Government

   
• Bringing Power Closer to the People

   
• A Culture of Informed Political Interest and Responsibility

Go HERE to check out the comparisons one by one.

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Human Rights: remembering Mexico and Iran as we seek a better political system in the UK

In this once in a life-time election in the UK there are many issues relating to the human rights of our citizens and to the need to re-structure our political system. 

However as we concentrate on all of those issues we should also be grateful for the country and system we have, if we compare it to many other places in the world.  I've been reminded of two such places recently.

The first is Mexico.  I suspect that many of us don't realize how bad things are in Mexico for so many people - because of the power and corruption from drug barons. 

The Los Angeles Times has a whole series of articles HERE that details how severely Mexico is suffering under this drug plague.

The second is Iran - and the plight of the Baha'is there in particular.  One particular young man's story show's what the Baha'is and other minorities are suffering in Iran.  Here is an extract;

I knew everything. It was possible I would be put in prison and get tortured. That this was no joke. I was young but I did not consider myself more important than others who had gone before me and trodden the path of defending humans and human rights.

I have always believed that a person is supposed to at least fight for and stand up for his or her own rights. All the same, I did not limit myself to some minimum. The only thing I did not think about was exile, about emigrating from my motherland.

I had previously spoken to my mother about going abroad. I had told her that I did not want to be uneducated, that I would go, study and come back. I knew I was not the type to actually leave but at least I could talk about it. My mother would say, "No, without you … I would not be able to tolerate your being in some distant place."

Then, after life fell apart, after the arrest of the members of the Reporters Committee and after death threats to Hesam Misaghi, Navid Khanjani[1] and myself, I was forced to go into hiding. My mother came to Mashhad one day and said, "Go … Sepehr go, do not stay here, go." It was then that I realized I had to face reality. The threats and the difficulty of imagining me in prison had left her with little energy and strength.

Because of my belief in the religion of Baha'ism I had tasted the bitterness of discrimination many times. My yearning to see my university entrance exam results was never fulfilled and I was forbidden from entering university[2]; of course, I was in much better condition than my friends who were being expelled from university after two or three semesters and despite good grades. We always felt a fear inside, the churning of prolonged threats.

I thought to myself, “What are those in prison or those who are sometimes killed guilty of? Guilty only of believing in a different religion?

I had seen off my Baha'i friends and relatives who had decided to flee and emigrate. I will never forget that cursed airport terminal where I had to say goodbye to my loved ones, those tears we shed with each other and for each other. I always asked myself, for what? Why shouldn't they have a way to study and work here? Why should they welcome the pain of distance in a life that is anyhow so transient…?

The kind of goodbyes that had been so painful and strange for me became my own destiny.

When I began receiving calls and threats from the intelligence service, , I was forced to make a decision, a choice that was all too easy to make. When you have only one choice, you have to go with that and the only option I had was to leave. Sometimes the choice is not only about you. Sometimes others are involved. I was not able to go on like that. I have to be honest with myself.

There were a thousand hurdles I had to go through in order to get out..............................

Go HERE to read the rest of Sepehr's story.

I'm not ashamed of wanting to improve matters in my country, England and the UK, but I know I should recognize, and feel solidarity with, extraordinary challenges in so many other countries.

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Check out 'Voter Power' - try it for your constituency - results for Hexham

Hexham

Voter Power Index

Rank #187 of 650

Voter power in Hexham

0.311

Constituency marginality

Fairly safe

In Hexham, one person does not really have one vote, they have the equivalent of 0.311 votes.

The power of voters in this constituency is based on the probability of the seat changing hands and its size.

While you might think that every vote counts equally, where you live in the UK has a huge effect on your power to influence the election.

How does Hexham compare?

Voters in Hexham have 1.23x more voting power than the UK average.

Average UK voter power

0.253

The average UK voter only has the power of 0.253 votes. This is because most of us live in safe seats, where the outcome is pretty much certain regardless of how we vote.

Hexham ranks #187 out of 650 constituencies in the Voter Power Index.

UK constituency marginality

We can be almost certain that 60% of seats will NOT change hands in the general election (very safe or ultra safe seats).

Further information

Marginality

The more times a seat changes hands, the more marginal it is deemed to be.

• 1992 Con
• 1997 Con
• 2001 Con
• 2005 Con

Constituency size

-12.30%

This constituency is smaller than average, which means a voter here is more likely to affect the national result.

Number of voters: 60,019

Average constituency: 68,433

2005 election data

58% of votes discarded

57.61% of those who voted in Hexham in 2005 did not vote for the winning candidate. These votes count for nothing in the First Past the Post system.

2005 General Election result

Winner takes all

Note: there have been boundary changes for this constituency since the last election. These are notional results.

via voterpower.org.uk

If tis doesn't make us think nothing will

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Paddy Ashdown intervenes in hung parliament debate - politics.co.uk

Former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown has jumped into the hung parliament debate by rejecting claims an indecisive outcome to the general election would be bad for the country.

"Is a hung parliament a disaster for Britain? Absolutely not," he told politics.co.uk in an exclusive interview.

Senior Labour and Conservative politicians have sought to address the recent surge in the polls for Britain's third party by arguing a hung parliament would undermine Britain's AAA credit rating.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has talked of a "balanced" parliament in a bid to make the prospect of a Commons without any party holding an overall majority more attractive. He has shied away from directly addressing the issue, however.

Now Lord Ashdown, who led the Liberal Democrats from 1988 to 1999, has addressed Gordon Brown and David Cameron's concerns head on.

"Take a lot at the top eight OECD [Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development] countries - seven of them have coalition partnership governments and they've done the most effective responses to the economic crisis," he said.

Greece, which is expected to announce its decision on receiving assistance from the IMF in the next two weeks, is a majoritarian government, Lord Ashdown pointed out.

He said he did not believe the markets would crash in the event of a hung parliament, saying they had "already discounted for that possibility", before adding: "I think the British people may be wise to say we don't want any of you to govern, we want you to work together.

via politics.co.uk

Click on link to read article

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Poll shows Lib Dems ahead of Labour

A new ComRes poll for ITN/The Independent  also shows the Lib Dems up an impressive and potentially game-changing 8%, with the Tories down four points and Labour down two since an equivalent poll taken the night before the debate.

That leaves just four points between all three main parties - with the Tories on 31%, the Lib Dems on 29% and Labour on 27%. Repeating last night's YouGov numbers, this poll shows the race has been blown wide open by the first televised debate on Thursday.

Translated to the election on a uniform swing, the new poll would deliver a hung parliament, with Labour as the largest party on 278 seats, the Tories on 238 and the Lib Dems on 103, according to the UK Polling Report.

64% of people agree with the statement that "regardless of how I vote, Nick Clegg should play some part in the next government."

via labourlist.org

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Age UK | General Election | Our Manifesto

Each of us has our own list of what we want the next government to do. It’s based on our families, and our hopes and worries for the future:

• We want to be financially secure.
• We want to be well, and confident that the NHS is there for us when we’re not.
• We want to stay independent, with care and support if needed.
• We want to be seen as people and not labelled because of our age.
• We don’t want to be lonely or left out of our communities.

We expect the next government to do their bit to make this possible.

Age UK’s manifesto sets out the issues that we know are important to those of us in later life and our families. Whatever our age, everyone should be able to expect a happy and secure later life.

It is our challenge to the next government to help us achieve this.

via election.ageuk.org.uk

Click on link to find out more

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How do I know who to vote for? - this new site might help - Vote for policies, not personalities!

Vote for Policies is a campaign to make politics about policies, not personalities (or anything else for that matter).

Who should I vote for?

This website came from an idea to help us and our friends figure out who to vote for in the 2010 UK General Election. The aim is to help us all make a more informed, unbiased decision about which party to vote for. Politics is for all of us, and we hope this site will make it easier for all of us to get involved.

Why policies?

Because policies are what actually change our lives. By focusing on policies we can ignore the media hype, negative spin and personality battles that distract our politics from what really matters - improving how we live.

For more information on how we chose the parties and policy summaries, please visit our FAQ page.

via voteforpolicies.org.uk

Click on link to go to their site

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Don't forget to register - some of your forbears died getting us the right to vote - you've only got until Tuesday.

 Make sure you're registered to vote people.... 0800 3 280280 if you wanna register. You've got til Tuesday!

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Don't forget to link up with 'Hang Em' - a hung parliament is the key to real democracy

Don't forget to link up with the great new campaign here - http://hang-em.com/ - a hung parliament is the key to real democracy

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The Press Association: Social media's hung parliament bid

The latest campaign in favour of a hung parliament - using social media such as Facebook and Twitter - is to be launched, it has been disclosed.

Hang `em is urging voters to back candidates with a record of "independence, rebellion and integrity" in the General Election.

Organisers said they hoped to bring about reform to the political system through a hung parliament.

Anthony Barnett, former director of Charter 88, the constitutional reform campaign, said: "The aim of Hang 'em is not ideological. It is not about voting for a candidate whose views you agree with and is likely to lose.

"It's about voting for people with integrity and character - the more independent the better - including Tories and Labour candidates with a record of rebellion."

via google.com

We have to break the stranglehold of the two Thatcherite parties - Labour & the Tories.

In Hexham we have an outstanding Independent - Dr Steven Ford - http://www.stevenford.co.uk/

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Labour's 100 achievements for 100 days - How many of these did the Tories oppose?

 

With only a hundred days to go to the local and probable general elections, Progress is today launching 100 Labour achievements for 100 days. Our goal is to celebrate the difference that Labour has made to life in the UK and across the globe every day until May 6, reminding party members, activists and supporters of what we have achieved and telling the world why the party fights on for a fourth term.

Much has been done, and much remains to do. With this countdown we can reflect on past accomplishments and think ahead to the challenges facing us on May 7.

Please email us with your one favourite Labour achievement and a suggestion of which day this could be marked on.

21. Extended free eye tests for over 60s leading to millions more pensioners improving their eyesight since April 1999

22. The Climate Change Act 2008 which makes the UK the first country in the world to have legally binding long-term targets to cut carbon emissions and a framework in which to do so

23. Police numbers up by 16,000 since 1997, alongside more than 16,000 Police Community Support Officers

24. Over three quarters of GP practices now offer extended opening hours for at least one evening or weekend session a week

25. Removing the majority of hereditary peers in the first stage of House of Lords reform, as the Labour general election manifesto today promises a referendum on reform of the upper chamber

26. The Northern Ireland peace process, as policing and justice powers are devolved to Stormont at midnight

27. A free nursery place for every three and four year old, shortly before Labour announces its commitment to extend the places to two year olds in the manifesto

28. Paid annual leave currently standing at 28 days per year - as nominated by a Progress Magazine reader

29. All prescriptions are now free for people being treated for cancer or the effects of cancer, and teenage girls are offered a vaccination against cervical cancer

30. The car scrappage scheme, which helped boost motor manufacturing and sales during the recession, and was introduced by Peter Mandelson... on the day that he delivered a powerful speech to a Progress audience lambasting the Conservatives' plans for economic development

via progressives.org.uk

Click on link to see list

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Clare Short and 'Hang_Em' - on BBC Radio 4

via bbc.co.uk

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Hang 'em » The first (untelevised) Independents Debate

via hang-em.com

Click on link to see more about the 'Hang_Em' campaign

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Broken links? Tory technology policy examined | Magazine | Progress

The impression of a fully worked up piece of policy is undermined when you realise that most of the content sits in other manifestos

A while ago, the Conservatives started talking a lot about technology. They sharpened their new media operation when Rishi Saha, Craig Elder and Sam Coates came on board and, together, wrested the party's online output away from the policy wonks and press office old boys. A recent profile in Wired magazine cemented the idea, at least in the geek collective, that the Conservatives are leading the way online.

But what's interesting is how the ideological online divide is playing out. The Conservatives have an attack-dog website that responds quickly to a daily agenda. Look at the speed with which they reacted to the BA strike - an early decision was taken to focus on the issue and the massive site front page was given over to the issue for the day.

Labour, without the advantages of a big online spend, has had to innovate. The Conservatives have shown that money can buy a tasty website (it cost £240k to set up) and talented people to make it fly. But Labour's ability to build a community in the online world has enabled the party to subvert the ultra-slick opposition machine. What an inversion of the power balance! Labour is in power, but has been able to achieve cut-through in an overwhelmingly cynical mass media audience by subverting the messaging of an opposition that has become too much like government.

via progressives.org.uk

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What can a visit to South Africa tell us about Cameron? | Columns | Progress

Cameron's arrogant two-fingered salute to the anti-apartheid movement in the 1980s shows poor judgement compared to Brown's lifelong progressive values.

When Gordon Brown was 23, as a post-graduate student and Rector of Edinburgh University, he was an active and vocal opponent of apartheid in South Africa. His opposition to apartheid then reflects the progressive values that he now takes into this election campaign.

When David Cameron was 23 he went on a free trip to South Africa, funded by a lobbying group founded by a former member of the South African military intelligence to bust sanctions against South Africa, and organised by a member of the Monday Club. This doesn't suggest that as a Thatcherite researcher in the Conservative Research Department in 1989 David Cameron was a supporter of apartheid, although some of his party's MPs at the time were. Nor does it suggest that he agreed with his then-party leader Margaret Thatcher that Nelson Mandela was ‘a terrorist.' Nor does it even suggest that Cameron supported his party's opposition to sanctions against the apartheid government (although there is no evidence that he didn't.) But it does suggest poor judgement, and at best ambivalence towards the situation in South Africa in the late 80s.

via progressives.org.uk

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'The era of two tribes is over, whoever wins' - Vernon Bogdanor - Times Online

Who governs Britain? That is the question being put to the voters on May 6. But two other questions lurk uneasily in the background. The first is: how is Britain to be governed? The second is: will there remain a Britain to be governed, or will the election give a further push to the forces of Scottish separatism? The general election puts into the melting pot not only the first- past-the-post electoral system, with its natural accompanying single-party majority government, but also the unity of the United Kingdom itself.

Until recently, the Liberal Democrats were the only leading party proposing a change in the electoral system, and their advocacy could easily be dismissed as special pleading. Labour, however, now promises a referendum in October 2011 on the alternative vote. This is a landmark event marking the first occasion since the war that a governing party has specifically proposed electoral reform.

The Conservatives, although severely disadvantaged by first past the post, renew their commitment to it in their manifesto.

via timesonline.co.uk

Click on link to read this excellent article by Prof. Bogador

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Lucas calls for 'Green New Deal': ePolitix.com

The Green Party is has called for a "Green New Deal" to tackle the duel challenge of climate change and the economic slump.

Speaking at the launch of their election manifesto, "Fair is worth fighting for", in Brighton this morning, party leader Caroline Lucas MEP said she believed her party was "on the edge of a breakthrough" into Westminster politics.

Lucas is the favourite to take the south coast seat of Brighton Pavilion from Labour, giving the party its first ever Westminster MP.

The Greens came a close third at the last election, securing 9,530 votes compared to the Tories who got 10,397.

Labour won the seat with 15,427, a majority of 5,030, but the current MP David Lepper is not contesting this election.

The party is also targeting Norwich South, with candidate Adrian Ramsay hoping to unseat former home secretary Charles Clarke who has a majority of 3,653.

And they are looking to snatch the London seat of Lewisham Deptford, currently held by energy minister Joan Ruddock.

If successful in gaining all or some of their target seats, the Greens said they would not vote to "prop up" a Conservative government in the event of a hung Parliament.

Lucas dismissed David Cameron's attempts to make his party more environmentally aware as a public relations stunt, and said they had simply "polished up" their green rhetoric for their manifesto.

The Tories were guiltily of "diminishing the ambition" of environmental policies in the European Parliament, she added.

via epolitix.com

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Can a hung parliament bring real democracy?

It was good to see a few people making the case for a hung Parliament yesterday. Amongst them on BBC news 24 were the Green Party's deputy chair and candidate in Norwich South, Adrian Ramsay, and the Labour Minister Ben Bradshaw, who was a little more restrained for obvious reasons. It makes a change from many who bury their heads in the sand, and hope it will all go away.

The big argument/ evidence against a hung Parliament so far, has not been fear of instability per se. It has been fear in the currency markets (not the stock market) that there would be insufficient fiscal prudence. As John Rentoul has pointed out, the concern is that Nick Clegg and Vince Cable say cutting too deep and too early will put the recovery at risk. This is essentially an issue of party policy.

A fact-check on the claims being made about a hung Parliament has been produced which suggests that the fear in the markets has also been overplayed. Firstly, it is far from clear that falls in Sterling can be ascribed to expectations of a hung Parliament. It also suggests that any fears may already be ‘priced in’ and so, as they say, the only way is up.

But there is a sense in which the more the polls point toward a hung Parliament, and people get used to the idea that it might happen, the more it is likely to take place. There is an element of the self-fulfilling prophesy. It is not so much that people will deliberately go out and vote for it. It is rather that people realise their votes for Lib Dems and ‘others’ (a combined total of over 30 per cent in the latest polling) might have an effect after all. One of the big arguments against such parties is of course "well you will never be in Government so why bother?".

As voters think about the idea, and it settles, they will also begin to hear the benefits, as well as the downsides which have only been highlighted thus far.

Liberal Conspiracy has pointed out a number of benefits, particularly looking at examples around the world (and in the UK) of coalition Government:

- Coalition governments generally have no problems tackling massive budget deficits

- Sharing power has hardly been a disaster in Scotland, Germany and numerous other countries, and often been a success

- It can deliver a more representative Government

- It can produce greater accountability which large majorities do not deliver

- It can be fairer. Lib Dems for example with 20 per cent of the vote, in coalition with Labour on 30 per cent (total 50 per cent) would carry more authority than a Tory Government on 40 per cent. It would also be right for the Lib Dems to have a say in a significant proportion of the decisions.

via ekklesia.co.uk

Click on link to read Jonathan's article.

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SUPPORT THE ROBIN HOOD TAX - call from 350 economists

As economists from across the world, we call on you to implement a financial transaction tax (FTT).

This tax is an idea that has come of age. The financial crisis has shown us the dangers of unregulated finance, and the link between the financial sector and society has been broken. It is time to fix this link and for the financial sector to give something back to society.

Even at very low rates of 0.05% or less, this tax could raise hundreds of billions of dollars annually and calm excessive speculation. The UK already levies a tax on sharetransactions of 0.5%, or ten times this rate, without unduly impacting on the competitiveness of the City of London.

This money is urgently needed. The crises of poverty and of climate change require an historic transfer of billions of dollars from the rich world to the poor world, and this tax would offer a clear way to help fund this.

Given the automation of payments, this tax is technically feasible. It is morally right. We call on you to implement it as a matter of urgency.

via robinhoodtax.org.uk

Click on the link to see the list of economists including two Nobel laureates.

The UK and HEXHAM need commitment to the Robin Hood tax - we need the Robin Hood tax.

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BBC News - Election 2010: Green Party launch 'ambitious' manifesto

Caroline Lucas hopes to become the party's first MP

The Green Party of England and Wales have set out manifesto plans to make Britain a "greener and fairer society".

Party leader Caroline Lucas said they would create a million new jobs and reform the tax system to "redistribute" income to the less well-off.

Key pledges include a "living wage" of £8.10 an hour, a "citizen's pension" of £170 a week and £44bn of investment in transport, housing and energy schemes.

There are more than 300 Greens standing at the election in England and Wales.

Ms Lucas, who is standing as a candidate in Brighton, said her party was "on the brink" of getting its first MPs elected to Westminster.

'Ambitious programme'

The party are hoping to capitalise on the widespread anger with the three largest parties over the expenses scandal as well as uncertainty over the future direction of the economy.

via news.bbc.co.uk

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Vote for hung parliament, says campaign group | UK | Reuters

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LONDON (Reuters) - If you think a hung parliament would be the worst outcome of the May 6 election, think again.

A group of political reform campaigners claims that far from ushering in a period of ineffectual leadership, an inconclusive poll outcome could be a blessing for Britain's economy and a powerful catalyst for change.

"Hang 'Em is about challenging the traditional party system," Jonathan Bartley, one of the campaign's founders, told Reuters, referring to the name of their campaign for a hung parliament.

"We want to tap into the anti-politics feeling following the expenses scandal to renew democracy and make politics more accountable."

A hung parliament, where no party has an outright majority, has long been feared in financial markets because political deadlock would hamper efforts to cut Britain's record budget deficit.

But proponents of the "Hang 'Em" campaign say such worries are unfounded. They point to an OECD study which shows that seven of the 10 biggest deficit-cutting programmes since the 1970s took place in countries with coalition or minority governments.

A hung parliament is looking an increasingly likely outcome of next month's poll, with the Conservative party's lead over Labour having halved over the past year.

The non-partisan initiative, which is backed by open Democracy, the thinktank Ekklesia, Charter 2010 and Progressive Parliament, is urging voters to back independent candidates or those representing smaller parties in a bid to change politics from the ground up.

via uk.reuters.com

Click on link to read article.

The UK and here in Hexham we need real democracy not Labour or the Tories

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Liberal Conspiracy » Voters want hung parl. than Tory or Labour win

The Times / Populus poll tonight shows the Conservative lead slipping to 3pts. The Tories are at 36%, Labour at% and Libdems on 21%.

More interesting is the general level of annoyance at all three major parties.

The Times reports:

The latest poll shows that 32 per cent of the public now hope for a hung parliament (as opposed to expecting one), against 28 per cent wanting a Tory majority and 22 per cent a Labour one. Lib Dem voters prefer a deal with Labour than the Tories in a hung parliament, by 44 to 31 per cent. The public is evenly split 40 to 42 per cent about whether they want Labour or the Tories in either a majority or a minority government.

…

Voters were asked to say which party had proposed eight key manifesto pledges. They wrongly identified four: reducing the increase in national insurance contributions (naming Labour not the Tories); allowing unsuccessful schools, hospitals and the police (the Tories, not Labour); tightening up takeover rules (the Tories not Labour); and requiring foreign workers employed in public services to speak fluent English (the Tories not Labour).

In only one case, the £150-a-year tax break, did more than half of voters (60 per cent) correctly identify the party making the proposal.

Which basically confirms my point that most voters don’t really pay attention to policy pledges.

via liberalconspiracy.org

The UK and Hexham needs real democracy instead of the current sham

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The value of depression - article from DailyGood

In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. --Albert Camus

Upside of Depression:
It's everywhere. As inescapable as the common cold. Every year, 7 percent of us will be diagnosed with the grey clouds of depression. But how well do we really understand it? Charles Darwin claimed that depression was a clarifying force, focusing the mind on its most essential problems. And the grey clouds hit him hard, leaving him "not able to do anything one day out of three." More recently, researchers say that depression has a secret purpose, and it's best to ride out, rather than conceal, the pain. Like a fever that helps the immune system fight off infection, depression might be an unpleasant yet adaptive response to affliction. Maybe Darwin was right. We suffer- we suffer terribly- but we don't suffer in vain. [more]

Be The Change:
Feeling blue? Reflect on afflictions in your life that might be triggering you to withdraw.

via dailygood.org

Click on link to sign up to the DailyGood

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Make My Vote Count - MPs cannot duck change

Remember, Remember the 5th of November ... duckhouses, POWER and pullouts.

http://VoteForAChange.co.uk/10000

On 5 November the Vote for a Change campaign floated a model of a duck house down the River Thames to Westminster. For those inside Parliament, the message was simple: 'you can't duck change'. There is no possibility of effective self regulation at Westminster. The fundamental questions - like how we hire and fire our MPs - can't be left to politicians. But it can be left to the voters on Election Day with a referendum on the voting system.

This action is one of a series of campaign activities piling up the pressure on MPs in the run up to the Queen's Speech on 18 November. Our activities range right the way from a meeting next week with Gordon Brown and one-to-one lobbying of Labour MPs; to supporter emails to a "rogue's gallery" of high profile electoral reform opponents; taking the Gravy Train to MPs of all parties who are roadblocks to reform; and getting 60 young people together outside Parliament dressed as zombie politicians for a Halloween stunt.

http://www.voteforachange.co.uk/blog

Adding another notch to our lobbying of Labour MPs and decision-makers, this coming week's edition of the New Statesman magazine contains a 32-page pullout section on electoral reform. You can pick up a copy of the New Statesman from your local news stand.

We've also set an ambitious goal: 10,000 letters to those MPs who are resisting reform and propping up our rotten political system for their own benefit. Can you help us reach 10,000 today by sending a letter now?

via makemyvotecount.org.uk

Click on link to read much more - and support VoteForAChange

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Should the UK get rid of its extremes of poverty & wealth? - MP3 interview

• Download mp3

Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, academic epidemiologists at Nottingham and York universities respectively, are authors of The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better.

They explain why relatively unequal societies such as Britain and the United States are more likely to suffer from a range of problems, including low life expectancy, illiteracy, stress, and a high crime rate. Even climate change is less of a challenge for a society with a narrow gap between rich and poor.

via guardian.co.uk

The average voter just doesn't know what's been done to them. Look;

Labour as well as the Tories have been screwing the middle classes as well as the poor for 4 decades.

The lower 50% of the UK population in 1973 owned 12% of the wealth - that by 2003 had fallen to 1% - yes 1%.

Where has the other 11% of the wealth gone - to the mega-rich of course.

"In 1976, excluding property, the bottom half of the UK population owned 12% of the marketable wealth; by 2003 that had fallen to just 1%. In the same period, the
share enjoyed by the top 10% rose from 57% to 71%. Even when property is included, the bottom half of the population still only owns just 7% of the country’s wealth."

Consider the current sickening every-hour TV ads in which the poor are being invited to send in their few bits of gold. Where do you think that value is being transferred to?

As with the National Lottery the blood of the poor is being transfused to the bloated bodies of the mega-rich'

Social justice matters - to everyone - for a programme for a New Politics see HERE This is why in Hexham were supporting Dr Steve Ford - see HERE

SEE

http://www.respublica.org.uk/articles/spend-investment

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6861008.ece -

http://www.respublica.org.uk/articles/new-tories-will-stop-class-becoming-caste

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/742025ee-e5b4-11de-b5d7-00144feab49a.html?catid=2&S...

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/wealth1209.pdf

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4 Way race in Hexham - but who is missing - has Labour given up the ghost already?

Prospective parliamentary candidates

• General election 2010

• Andrew Duffield, Liberal Democrat
• Steven Ford, Independent
• Guy Opperman, Conservative
• * Incumbent MP

The 2005 general election

Peter Atkinson, Conservative	17,605	42.4%
Kevin Graham, Labour	12,585	30.3%
Andrew Duffield, Liberal Democrat	10,673	25.7%
Ian Riddell, English Democrats	521	1.3%
Thomas Davison, Imperial Party	129	0.3%
Candidate	Votes	Share %

Conservative majority: 5,020

Turnout: 68.8%

The 2001 general election

via guardian.co.uk

Get rid of the corrupted parties - be Independent, vote Independent - vote Dr Steven Ford in Hexham.

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