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Reluctant Hero

Cameron Launches General Election Petition

David Cameron today called for a general election and is going to get every Tory member involved in gathering signatures in a petition.

Normally, I would run a mile at anything the Tories do, but I am sure the sooner they come to power, the sooner we will have independence  Very Happy

http://page.politicshome.com/uk/c..._a_general_election_petition.html
The Lithgae Jambo

A marketing man's gimmick - don't fall for it, RH.
Dave Coull

The Lithgae Jambo wrote:
A marketing man's gimmick
For several years now, my own priority has been that there should be a single-issue, non-party-political, referendum on independence for Scotland, without delay. If anybody was putting that demand forward, but, in their own mind, adding the proviso "however there's no great hurry really, it can wait till we think things look most advantageous for us......." then THAT would be using the demand as a gimmick. But I make no such proviso. I really do want a referendum NOW.

So far as the demand for a general election is concerned, it is fairly obvious how this could benefit David Cameron personally, but, nevertheless, in what way is the demand just a gimmick? Are you saying David Cameron is not genuinely wanting a general election?
The Lithgae Jambo

Dave Coull wrote:
The Lithgae Jambo wrote:
A marketing man's gimmick
For several years now, my own priority has been that there should be a single-issue, non-party-political, referendum on independence for Scotland, without delay. If anybody was putting that demand forward, but, in their own mind, adding the proviso "however there's no great hurry really, it can wait till we think things look most advantageous for us......." then THAT would be using the demand as a gimmick. But I make no such proviso. I really do want a referendum NOW.

So far as the demand for a general election is concerned, it is fairly obvious how this could benefit David Cameron personally, but, nevertheless, in what way is the demand just a gimmick? Are you saying David Cameron is not genuinely wanting a general election?


It's not the demand that is the gimmick, it's the meaningless "petition" - which he'll hold up at QT and wave in the PM's face claiming it's democracy.....

....that is, until the same is done to him.
Alasdair

Surely in the same fashion as a referendum can't be held until a majority in parliament wish it, the same could be said for a GE that's not called by the PM ... double standards if you ask me.

If a minority of MP's force a GE, then a minority of MSP's should be able to force a referendum.
Dave Coull

American presidents are elected for a fixed term. Senators and Members of Congress are elected for a fixed term. Members of the Scottish Parliament are elected for a fixed term. This is the practice in many other countries also. The ability of the British prime minister to call a general election at a time that suits him and his party is a corrupt practice which should have been scrapped long ago. I recognise what is being said about David Cameron being a hypocrite, because he has given no indication that, if and when he becomes PM, he will not continue that corrupt practice.
Alasdair wrote:
a referendum can't be held until a majority in parliament wish it
In general elections, even if a very large percentage of the electorate don't vote, there is no requirement for the winners to have the support of a majority of the electorate (and in fact they virtually never do). Similarly, I don't think there is a requirement that a majority of members of parliament should "wish it". I think the actual requirement is only that a majority of those members of parliament who actually vote on a referendum bill should support it. Prominent Labour MSPs are on record as stating that their Scottish party "will not oppose" a referendum bill in the Scottish Parliament. Now, that was several twists and turns ago, and as a famous Labour leader said a week is a long time in politics, and who can say what the position of Labour MSPs will be in 8 months time, but it remains true that actually voting against a referendum bill in the Scottish Parliament is not going to be easy. This is the reason we got so much crap from unionist politicians and their friends in the media about the referendum being "dead"   -   pure wishfull thinking, because they wanted to avoid being placed in the position of having to vote either for or against. When the referendum bill is placed before the Scottish Parliament, a high level of abstention remains a distinct possibility.
Reluctant Hero

Salmond is now calling for an early election as well.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8057524.stm
Shagpile

Jubilantt jelly wobbleing is Cameron.

Brown jelly wobbleing is the PM.

I believe, at this moment neither are obsessed with Scottish independence.

Now is the time for the GE. Bring it on!
The Lithgae Jambo

Reluctant Hero wrote:
Salmond is now calling for an early election as well.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8057524.stm


Hardly a surprise ....but at least he's not using the petition gimmick.
Reluctant Hero

I take it you don't have much time for petitions TLJ?!

Is it the same with protests?  I remember attending the anti-war protest in Glasgow.  There were thousands of people there and it was the same throughout the rest of the UK, yet they still went ahead with the "war".  What does work in modern politics?
azzuri

Reluctant Hero wrote:
What does work in modern politics?



...bad press.
Lord Pitsligo

There's certainly a mood for an election in this country right now, and an autumn one seems like the sensible thing to me. That'll should give everyone time to work out who broke the rules on expenses and who needs to be de-selected or not voted for.
azzuri

...from a purely selfish point of view, I think the closer the general election is to November 2010 the better, especially since I expect a Tory landslide. Get my drift?! Wink
Reluctant Hero

According to PoliticsHome, there is now a public consensus for an early election.  However, I fully expect Brown to hold on like Major did until 97.

http://page.politicshome.com/uk/public_ready_for_general_election.html
The Lithgae Jambo

Reluctant Hero wrote:
I take it you don't have much time for petitions TLJ?!

Is it the same with protests?  I remember attending the anti-war protest in Glasgow.  There were thousands of people there and it was the same throughout the rest of the UK, yet they still went ahead with the "war".  What does work in modern politics?



I was on that march too !

Anyone can sign a petition and can pretend to be anyone. You can only be one person on a march.

(I'm also in favour of fixed term Parliaments)
Reluctant Hero

According to The Sun (yes, I can't believe I said that either!) Ministers are pushing Brown to stand in October thinking that they can still win!!!!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homep...nister-want-October-election.html
Holebender

I didn't realise they were that far out of touch!

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