6727

The Tories before the madness of Brexit, and Labour in the Blair era, and the LibDems, all had very similar economic policies.

Now they are all wildly different. Labour has moved much further left (in rhetoric, if not in manifesto commitments) while the Tories have abandoned any claims to be doing anything for economic reasons at all.

6728

31 January it is.

6729

Oh awesome. I’ll be in the UK then. Definitely voting.

edit: my bad. I assumed you were talking about an election.

6730

Is it though?

6731

Which still isnt happening, because Johnson’s Dysfunctidiocracy is still in effect.

LibDems might get it with their bill though. I think LibDems/SNP probably have least to lose from this.

6732

If there were a gold medal for not understanding British politics, I’d probably fail to win it through some obscure technicality.

6733

You’d need to fight me for the title.

I’m vaguely interested in what’s going on in the UK, so i keep popping in this thread, but I still have no idea what’s going on there.

6734

Yeah. I drop by, go ‘huh’, and leave.

6735

I haven’t a clue tbh. I think to understand chaotic minority governments with a parliament that fights each other and no one has control or a majority you need to be Italian. Or Taiwanese if i remember some of those politician brawl videos correctly.

6736

I’m an UK resident with a vested interest in the outcome of the process, follow politics, listen to the news daily, read a Serious weekly newspaper and keep on top of the BBC news site.

And I’ve lost track as well.

Send help.

6737

Lots of leaks from the Peoples Vote meltdown.
(See the whole thread)

This one was fun:

6738

Not a good look for the main party pushing for a new referendum.

6739

I think what is needed is joint US/UK referendum to determine which country’s government is more screwed up. Although, I think UK should lose automatically if we complete our impeachment trail before you guys leave or stay in the EU.

6740
6741

Here we go then. Just to complete the madness.

6742
6743

The only thing in this process that would have interested me is the enfranchisement of 16 year olds. That would have changed politics overnight. EU citizens too, but that’s more about Brexit than changing the political landscape.

6744

You guys are looking at giving the vote to 16 year olds? Huh. Not sure what I think about that.

6745

That’s the age of consent and being able to serve in the Armed Forces in the UK. If you can die for your country you can vote in it. If you can legally have children you should be able to vote too.

UK’s rather random list is as follows:

  • Get married or register a civil partnership with consent
  • Drive a moped or invalid carriage
  • You can consent to sexual activity with others aged 16 and over
  • Drink wine/beer with a meal if accompanied by someone over 18
  • Get a National Insurance number
  • Join a trade union
  • Work full-time if you have left school
  • Be paid national minimum wage for 16/17 year olds
  • Join the Armed Forces with parental consent
  • Change name by deed poll
  • Leave home with or without parental consent
  • In certain circumstances you must pay for prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests
  • Choose a GP
  • Consent to medical treatment
  • Buy premium bonds
  • Pilot a glider
  • Buy a lottery ticket
  • Register as a blood donor, but you won’t be called to give blood until you’re 17
  • Apply for a passport without parental consent

Also, we give the vote to boomers, no matter their mental condition, and look what they did. Brexit and Trump.

6746

Yep, that makes sense. I wasn’t aware that 16 was the age of consent.