"There is a Christian Party – I like that!" When Donald Dewar, the first First Minister of the reconstituted Scottish Parliament in 1999, launched the Scotland Bill in 1997 he announced: "There shall be a Scottish parliament," and added: "I like that!" Similarly, "There is a Christian Party – I like that!" You can add …
Category: Politics
Ineffective deradicalisation programmes
The two London Bridge murders by a radicalised terrorist highlight the ineffectiveness of some prison deradicalisation programmes. Those jailed for islamic terrorism offences are reaching the end of their prison sentences, and their release from prison will test the rehabilitation programmes during their imprisonment. The current stabbings demonstrate that the value of human life was …
The BBC and the democratic deficit
Voters complain that they hear from would-be politicians only at election time. The fact is that most voters don't want to hear from would-be politicians at any time, but only from those who are already in power, or likely to be helped by their political party to gain power. The same is true of the …
Tactical voting
Tactical voting is of interest to the major parties because it maintains their dominance over the political scene. There is always ‘an issue’ at each election which the major parties use to persuade voters into voting tactically for them. This squeezes out the minor parties and this is seen in the UK and USA where …
Christians and political party loyalty
Brexit has tested Westminster party loyalties to breaking point and it is testing the raison d’être of these parties. There is a realignment along Brexit lines and this General Election is clearly about Brexit – unless one is a Tory. Boris Johnson and the Tories are clearly fighting for their party rather than the country, …
Political statistics
The 2016 UK Referendum, whether to stay in the European Union, was the largest vote in UK history. 17.4 million people voted "Leave" and it seemed clear that Britain wanted to leave the EU and that this would happen. The tail wagging the dog However, we live in an era when the tail wags the …
Brexit has (not yet) arrived
Today was meant to be Brexit Day. At 11 p.m., when this post is published, the UK was meant to leave the European Union – postponed for a third time. However, I hope that the end is in sight, now that a General Election has been called for 12 December 2019. Brexit 1 was 29 …
Representative democracy
Brexit has demonstrated the importance of voting for the person whom you want to represent you in the House of Commons. The current situation of a minority Government bound by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 has highlighted the following issues: Direct and Representative democracy Should an MP honour the wishes of the country in a …
New highs and new lows in the EU Project Fear
EU Project Fear has reached new heights and Remainers' skulduggery has reached new depths. BBC Newsnight reported tonight that Jean-Claude Juncker said: “a Brexit without an agreement would lead to the collapse of the United Kingdom”. A threat or a prediction from this false prophet of doom? Is the wish the father of the thought? …
Continue reading New highs and new lows in the EU Project Fear
Trusting the Prime Minister
Boris Johnson is fair game in the Brexit civil war. It is open season with the impeaching of the American President Donald Trump and revisiting Johnson's record when he was the mayor of London. It shows the spirit of the age but it is compounded by those who cannot see themselves. As the Scottish bard …
Donald's Thoughts 