TLC 9 Posted September 8, 2006 Blair is rumoured to be pitched to leave around May time, but isn't the general election around then as well? How can labour expect to garner any votes when they don't even know who their party leader is. Maybe Screaming Lord Such wasn't so crazy after all.... Elections have often been held around May time, but a general election can be held at any point within 5 years of the previous one. The occasional debate crops up about whether the incumbent party should have the right to choose the date (as they do now) or if there should be a fixed term of say 4 years. On the one hand, picking your own date can be very useful and a bit of an unfair advantage, i.e. calling a snap election when you happen to do something vote-winning like start a war. On the other hand, if the date is set in stone you can't 'force' an election upon a rubbish government with lots of back bench rebels, meaning nothing gets done as bill after bill is defeated. Indeed, in 1974 there were two general elections, held in the May and October. The second was called because the first was so tight and nothing was getting passed in the commons except for the usual wind; I think there was a Lib-Lab pact in the October election to get a decisive majority. The collapse of this a few years later helped lead to Mrs T's large majority in May 1979. Glad to have cleared up lots of unasked questions there! ps Screaming Lord Sutch has made some sensible suggestions in the past, at least according to www.omrlp.com anyway: - Votes at Eighteen – Lord Sutch’s National Teenage Party campaigned in 1963 - Stolen by Harold Wilson in 1966.Commercial Radio - Lord Sutch campaigned for commercial Radio since 1964 – Stolen by Ted Heath in 1973. Abolition of the 11 plus exam - Stolen by the Labour Party. 1960’s All- day opening for pubs – Lord Sutch campaigned in 1988 - Stolen by Tony Blair in 2005. Passports for Pets – Campaigned by Lord Sutch in 1992 - Stolen by Tony Blair 2001. OMRLP party policy 1992 - Special ramps at the back of busses for the elderly and disabled – Stolen by Transport Secretary Stephen Norris in 1995. Heated bus shelters that are turned on full in summer and of in winter, OMRLP Policy: 2001 – Stolen by Bradford City Council in 2003. Devolution for Scotland, England and Wales, OMRLP Policy: 1990 – Stolen by Labour Party. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,688 Posted September 8, 2006 To be fair, Lord Sutch also had some lunatic ideas; my own favourite being to turn the European butter mountain into an artificial ski slope. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bald rick 9 Posted September 8, 2006 To be fair, Lord Sutch also had some lunatic ideas; my own favourite being to turn the European butter mountain into an artificial ski slope. I liked the suggestion to put the Houses of Parliament on wheels, so that each city in the country could have a turn at hosting it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Holy Diver 0 Posted September 8, 2006 My favourite was their idea of filling the albert hall with Blancmange. I was going to mention that 24 hour pub open times was one of their ideas, but you already went ahead and quoted it. Blair has said he'll probably be out within the next 12 months, but I wouldn't be suprised if they oust him before that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
themaninblack 2,112 Posted September 8, 2006 You know I have a feeling Blair might cark it in office y'know. I was told the other day that Bruno Brookes, the DJ, had the same angio-plasty-whatever proceedure as TB, but whereas TB's condition was spun as something minor, Brookes very definitely had a heart attack. He looks old and tired and is approaching the age of that other loopy sociopath Peter Sellers, and we all know what happened to him.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,688 Posted September 8, 2006 maninblack; I don't think so, Blair's health is too well monitored for that. Brookes on the other hand - ALLEGEDLY - had a diet of junk food, columbian marching powder and - generally - a dessert of slapper's minge, all told, his lifestyle explains the level of good taste he displayed on air. Anyway, TB'S arse'll be out of the door in weeks, even he can live that long. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TLC 9 Posted September 8, 2006 maninblack; I don't think so, Blair's health is too well monitored for that. Brookes on the other hand - ALLEGEDLY - had a diet of junk food, columbian marching powder and - generally - a dessert of slapper's minge, all told, his lifestyle explains the level of good taste he displayed on air. Anyway, TB'S arse'll be out of the door in weeks, even he can live that long. Putting on my insurance hat, to agree with MPFC angioplasty is such a successful and straightforward operation these days that most insurers have took it off their list of things they'll pay out for with a Critical Illness policy. They started to get fed up with people claiming however many hundreds of thousands of pounds from their policy and then being right as rain a short time later, bless their cotton socks. If people must claim, I think insurers are aggreived if the claimant doesn't have the deceny to die or at least get left crippled or left in a vegetative state. For those who don't know but care, angioplasty is where an umbrella type thing is put in a blocked aretery and then put up to unblock it; much much safer, easier and non-invasive than a bypass apparently. Combine that with the assumption that Blair will have access to a pretty good surgeon and I think he'll be ok for now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
themaninblack 2,112 Posted September 8, 2006 maninblack; I don't think so, Blair's health is too well monitored for that. Brookes on the other hand - ALLEGEDLY - had a diet of junk food, columbian marching powder and - generally - a dessert of slapper's minge, all told, his lifestyle explains the level of good taste he displayed on air. Anyway, TB'S arse'll be out of the door in weeks, even he can live that long. Who's to say TB hasn't had a dab of the ol' Bugle Juice himself? Those election campaigns and trips around the world can be so tiring! What was it Jarvis Cocker was saying about 'cocaine socialism'? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,688 Posted September 9, 2006 Maninblack; if you've got evidence to back that up it'll never be worth more to the press than during this weekend. Please drop in and post occasionally when you're sunning yourself on your own island. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
themaninblack 2,112 Posted September 9, 2006 Maninblack; if you've got evidence to back that up it'll never be worth more to the press than during this weekend. Please drop in and post occasionally when you're sunning yourself on your own island. That's very perceptive of you...that is what I do! Look at the stats: 300 odd posts in 18 months. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,688 Posted September 9, 2006 Aye, but will you still be bothered when you've sold yer Bliar exlcusive to the press? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Magere Hein 1,400 Posted September 9, 2006 Elections have often been held around May time, but a general election can be held at any point within 5 years of the previous one. The occasional debate crops up about whether the incumbent party should have the right to choose the date (as they do now) or if there should be a fixed term of say 4 years. On the one hand, picking your own date can be very useful and a bit of an unfair advantage, i.e. calling a snap election when you happen to do something vote-winning like start a war. On the other hand, if the date is set in stone you can't 'force' an election upon a rubbish government with lots of back bench rebels, meaning nothing gets done as bill after bill is defeated. May I humbly propose the Dutch approach: parliament has a constitutional maximum term of four years, after which it dissolves itself and new general elections are called, normally, though not always, in the same month the previous elections were held. Secondly, the monarch may dissolve parliament at any moment, which happens often at the request of the incumbent government when they have lost confidence of parliament. General elections are called for the first convenient moment, normally after some three months. Last time this happened was last June. Because of parliament's summer recess general elections will be held on 22 November 2006. regards, Hein Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
themaninblack 2,112 Posted September 9, 2006 Maninblack; if you've got evidence to back that up it'll never be worth more to the press than during this weekend. Please drop in and post occasionally when you're sunning yourself on your own island. That's very perceptive of you...that is what I do! Look at the stats: 300 odd posts in 18 months. Just scurrilous rumour, not even that... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anubis the Jackal 77 Posted October 2, 2006 Man armed with knife arrested in Downing Street (insert Gordon Brown gag here...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,688 Posted October 2, 2006 Doctors are examining the man to establish whether he is fit to be interviewed. Who gets him, Parky or Jonathan Woss? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
themaninblack 2,112 Posted October 2, 2006 Elections have often been held around May time, but a general election can be held at any point within 5 years of the previous one. The occasional debate crops up about whether the incumbent party should have the right to choose the date (as they do now) or if there should be a fixed term of say 4 years. On the one hand, picking your own date can be very useful and a bit of an unfair advantage, i.e. calling a snap election when you happen to do something vote-winning like start a war. On the other hand, if the date is set in stone you can't 'force' an election upon a rubbish government with lots of back bench rebels, meaning nothing gets done as bill after bill is defeated. May I humbly propose the Dutch approach: parliament has a constitutional maximum term of four years, after which it dissolves itself and new general elections are called, normally, though not always, in the same month the previous elections were held. Secondly, the monarch may dissolve parliament at any moment, which happens often at the request of the incumbent government when they have lost confidence of parliament. General elections are called for the first convenient moment, normally after some three months. Last time this happened was last June. Because of parliament's summer recess general elections will be held on 22 November 2006. regards, Hein An idea that popped into my head last week was that the leader of the Labour Party could be elected and then gets reelected (unapposed or contested) after a period of 5 years (a term) but with a maximum of two terms (10 years). This is irrespective of whether Labour are in govt or in opposition and subject to early retirement, resignation or death. This can be pushed through the Labour Party constitution and avoid all this tedious bollocks about 'the succession'..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DevonDeathTrip 2,366 Posted October 28, 2006 Peter Foster, the conman who caused scandal for the Blairs, is in a spot of bother in Fiji. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DevonDeathTrip 2,366 Posted October 31, 2006 Peter Foster, the conman who caused scandal for the Blairs, is in a spot of bother in Fiji. Doctors in Fiji have confirmed that Australian conman Peter Foster's health is failing dramatically after going without food for seven days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
football_fan 42 Posted December 27, 2006 Tony Blair's BA flight overshoots runway A British Airways plane carrying 343 passengers and crew, including Prime Minister Tony Blair and his family, overshot a runway while landing at the Miami International Airport. No injuries were reported. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olveres 8 Posted February 23, 2007 I think the Labour party's crowning achievement is the death of politics. There's nothing left to vote for. Noel Gallagher Erm didn't you endorse good old Tony in 1997? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Windsor 2,235 Posted May 10, 2007 Tony Blair will leave office on the 27th June 2007. Just thought I'd bring a smile to Josco's (and perhaps everyone elses) face. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
themaninblack 2,112 Posted May 10, 2007 Tony Blair will leave office on the 27th June 2007. Just thought I'd bring a smile to Josco's (and perhaps everyone elses) face. ...and boy, he's going to milk it in the next 7 weeks, telling anyone who'll listen how great he is while waiting in the wings, Gordon Brown will recieve the most brutal shoeing from the press. By the the time 'Broon' gets in, the media will convince us that no less a figure than Atilla the Hun has taken charge and we all should run to the hills as the Brown hordes will plunder and pillage every nook and cranny of our green and pleasant land.... ...or something like that! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Banshees Scream 110 Posted May 11, 2007 Tony Blair will leave office on the 27th June 2007. Just thought I'd bring a smile to Josco's (and perhaps everyone elses) face. Not that I really care who the next UK prime minister will be, it is just I'm not up for many of the liberal runners in the United States such as Hilary Clinton, who I just think at this place and time would make a depressing president and a target that could be manipulated by third world country natives. If somebody could put her in a card board box and mail her to London, I would pay for the mailing bill. Let her be a prime minister, not the president of the United States. I'm all for Rudy Giuliani. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dave 0 Posted May 11, 2007 it would be faintly hilarious if Gordon Brown dropped dead before june 27 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Daniella Hardy Posted May 11, 2007 Hilary Clinton, who I just think at this place and time would make a depressing president and a target that could be manipulated by third world country natives. Please give details. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites