Your not so handy guide to the 2017 General Election, what to do if you're a Scottish voter and just about everything else related to the forthcoming election.
A few things Mr Corbyn believes:
- His views on Europe are somewhat muddled; he voted against the UK joining the European Community in the 1975 referendum but reluctantly campaigned to remain in the European Union in the last referendum. Source - He believes in the re-nationalisation of the railways; a solution to a problem that never existed.* - He believes in a united Ireland; a possible threat to the Union and a threat to the stability of Northern Ireland.* - He believes in the re-structuring of NATO and has previously called for it to be scrapped. This may well be a major risk to national and international security.* *Source |
Jeremy Corbyn sporting his full-on Lenin communist look
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But hang on - If I don't vote Labour are you advocating the Conservatives?
Not at all!
- Theresa May campaigned to keep the UK in the European Union but, since becoming the Prime Minister, has been leading the country towards a 'hard Brexit'. - Mrs May was adamant that there will be no election before 2020, but here we are. - She wants to bring back Grammar schools - a sure fire way to worsen social equality and re-ignite the 'class war'. - University tuition fees have been increased again, now standing at £9,250 increasing every year with inflation (which is bound to rocket if we follow a 'hard Brexit'). - She has invited Donald Trump to the UK for a state visit in his first year in office, despite massive opposition from the public and some politicians. - For some reason, Mrs May has some weird aversion to a televised debate (much like her predecessor). |
![Picture](/uploads/1/0/4/7/104743767/published/851995388.png?250)
Did you know?
This flag is the 'Flag of Europe'. Although also the flag used by the European Union, it has no political meaning. The 12 stars were chosen in 1955 as they were a symbol of unity and had no political connotations.
As well as being used by the EU, this flag is also used by the Council of Europe; an organisation that advocates the rule of law, human rights and democracy.
Council of Europe
This flag is the 'Flag of Europe'. Although also the flag used by the European Union, it has no political meaning. The 12 stars were chosen in 1955 as they were a symbol of unity and had no political connotations.
As well as being used by the EU, this flag is also used by the Council of Europe; an organisation that advocates the rule of law, human rights and democracy.
Council of Europe
What issues will the main party's fight this election on?
Having watched Prime Minister's Questions on the 19th April and the subsequent debate on calling the General Election, this is what we think the five main political party's will base their election pledges on:
Brexit: Hard or soft?
What type of Brexit are we going to get? The Conservatives and UKIP seem to be heading towards a 'hard Brexit' while the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National party seem to be heading towards a 'soft Brexit'. Of course we don't know about Labour yet - Mr Corbyn keeps sending out mixed signals.
Brexit (noun) -Source-
1.1 - The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
hard (adjective) -Source-
1.1 - Done with a great deal of force or strength.
1.2 - Requiring a great deal of endurance or effort.
1.3 - Difficult to bear; causing suffering.
1.4 - Difficult to understand or solve.
soft (adjective) -Source-
1.1 - Not strong or violent.
1.2 - Sympathetic, lenient, or compassionate, especially to a degree perceived as excessive; not strict or sufficiently strict.
1.3 - Willing to compromise in political matters.
I'm a Scottish voter, how on Earth will I decide who to vote for?
We understand your plight. Left, centrist, right; pro-independence, anti-independence; pro-EU, anti-EU.
Blimey
Blimey
We hoped that helped - it probably didn't did it?
![Picture](/uploads/1/0/4/7/104743767/editor/858556205.png?1492685698)
Re-nationalisation of the railways: Good or bad?
One of Mr Corbyn's main pledges in his leadership campaign was to take the railways back into public ownership - something we've described as a solution to a problem that never existed - but why?
Formed in 1948, BR took control of most of the UK's rail services until it was dissolved in 1997. BR had a terrible knack of making less people use the railways, as the following numbers show:
One of Mr Corbyn's main pledges in his leadership campaign was to take the railways back into public ownership - something we've described as a solution to a problem that never existed - but why?
Formed in 1948, BR took control of most of the UK's rail services until it was dissolved in 1997. BR had a terrible knack of making less people use the railways, as the following numbers show:
1850: 67,400,000 passengers
1882: 636,000,000 1914 (start of WWI): 1,550,000,000 1919 (WWI ended in 1918): 1,444,800,000 1939 (start of WWII): 1,226,000,000 1945 (end of WWII): 1,372,000,000 1947: 1,140,000,000 -British Railways setup- 1948 (nationalisation): 996,000,000 1982: 630,000,000 1997 (privatisation): 846,000,000 -British Rail dissolved- 2015: 1,717,000,000 |
So, somehow, BR managed to cut passenger numbers down to the same level as 1882 - that's when trains looked like this by the way:
Stylish
Let's not forget Gibraltar in all of this
The British Overseas Territory at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea - they have monkeys there; one sat on me. It was weird.
![Picture](/uploads/1/0/4/7/104743767/editor/gib.png?1492695730)
Having overwhelmingly voted to remain in the European Union with a result of 19,322 against 823, this election will be closely followed by Gibraltarians. As the territory is somewhat of a hotspot for retirees, a large proportion of jobs in Gibraltar are taken by Spanish nationals.
It is, therefore, essential that Gibraltar keeps free movement of people - something that can only be achieved by either remaining in the EU or a 'soft Brexit'.
It is, therefore, essential that Gibraltar keeps free movement of people - something that can only be achieved by either remaining in the EU or a 'soft Brexit'.
Pickles, Burnham and other election losses
![Picture](/uploads/1/0/4/7/104743767/editor/899885836.jpg?1492867436)
Some big names (and big bellies) have announced their intention not to stand in the forthcoming General Election. Here's a few of them and their reasons for not seeking re-election (probably) . . .
George Osborne: Took the job of editor at the London Evening Standard in mid-March of this year. He suffers from a rare disorder that means he has delayed reactions of over a month. He faced mass calls for his resignation as an MP when he took the editing job as it was seen as a conflict of interest.
Andy Burnham: Has decided to stand for the role of Mayor of Greater Manchester - an election he is tipped to win. After coming fourth and then second in successive Labour leadership contests, Mr Burnham is desperate to win something and clearly doesn't think the general election will go his way.
Douglas Carswell: Former Conservative, former UKIP and current Independent MP for Clacton has stood down purely because he's changed his mind (yet again) - plus independents barely ever get in and UKIP are now more useless than, well, their presence at the European parliament.
Eric Pickles: Once seen eating a salad (!?) Mr Pickles has had to stand down as he is struggling to merely stand up
George Osborne: Took the job of editor at the London Evening Standard in mid-March of this year. He suffers from a rare disorder that means he has delayed reactions of over a month. He faced mass calls for his resignation as an MP when he took the editing job as it was seen as a conflict of interest.
Andy Burnham: Has decided to stand for the role of Mayor of Greater Manchester - an election he is tipped to win. After coming fourth and then second in successive Labour leadership contests, Mr Burnham is desperate to win something and clearly doesn't think the general election will go his way.
Douglas Carswell: Former Conservative, former UKIP and current Independent MP for Clacton has stood down purely because he's changed his mind (yet again) - plus independents barely ever get in and UKIP are now more useless than, well, their presence at the European parliament.
Eric Pickles: Once seen eating a salad (!?) Mr Pickles has had to stand down as he is struggling to merely stand up
To debate or not to debate?
![Nick Clegg adressing a rally with](/uploads/1/0/4/7/104743767/published/497158753.jpg?1493413102)
First occurring as part of the 2010 general election, television debates, along with the phrase "I agree with Nick", have become somewhat of a tradition in British politics. But, just like the Labour Party, support for them has pretty much disappeared, with David Cameron refusing to have a head-to-head debate with Ed Miliband in 2015, presumably because he just couldn't compete with that mili-banter.
Theresa May: The newly unelected leader of the Conservatives has continued this great tradition of refusing television debates, saying instead that she prefers to "get out there and meet the voters", because what better way is there to get your message to the nation than speak to one racist guy on his doorstep? (Apart from speaking to 8 million people sat watching the TV, obviously.)
Jeremy Corbyn: Of course, anything that Theresa May does, Jeremy Corbyn also wants to do. Therefore, he recently announced that he will not be taking part in a debate, unless Theresa May is too. No one knows the reasons behind this decision (just like with any of his decisions), but its safe to assume its probably because he hasn't actually got any policies worth debating, since there's a general agreement that no one likes them anyway.
Theresa May: The newly unelected leader of the Conservatives has continued this great tradition of refusing television debates, saying instead that she prefers to "get out there and meet the voters", because what better way is there to get your message to the nation than speak to one racist guy on his doorstep? (Apart from speaking to 8 million people sat watching the TV, obviously.)
Jeremy Corbyn: Of course, anything that Theresa May does, Jeremy Corbyn also wants to do. Therefore, he recently announced that he will not be taking part in a debate, unless Theresa May is too. No one knows the reasons behind this decision (just like with any of his decisions), but its safe to assume its probably because he hasn't actually got any policies worth debating, since there's a general agreement that no one likes them anyway.
Polls close in:
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Polls close (again) in:
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Ok, so that election was great judgement on Theresa May's part, not that I'm complaining at all. The question now is, when will another election be called? It surely can't be long, the proposed deal between the Conservatives and DUP has more holes in than Swiss cheese. Therefore, the question we have for you is when will we next be heading to the polls? Of course, a poll is the best way of answering this.
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The deadline to register to vote is the 22nd May, make sure you have registered by then to vote in the general election on the 8th June.
Don't forget to re-register if you have recently moved and intend to vote in your new constituency; such as students at university.
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