Discussion: The UK Election Thread

[Mystirious]

I think it could just be a PR stunt but then I am a cynical ***** at the best of times. If this is genuine though it's rather refreshing. I'm not sure if I buy into it completely but it has surprised me a little

[regwec]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/8703427.stm

The Queen opens the new parliament. I post this here because I thought the pictures might amuse some non-UK readers!

[Mystirious]

It amuses me and I'm English born and bred. The pomp and ceremny of the monarchy never ceases to make me s******.

[Raiden]

Originally Posted by regwec

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/8703427.stm

The Queen opens the new parliament. I post this here because I thought the pictures might amuse some non-UK readers!

Very interesting to see as an American on UK's political system that blends monarchy and republic as one.

[Spidey-Bat]

The monarchy doesn't do much of anything.

[regwec]

Which is the point, really. We have as a national figurehead somebody with no executive power. The Queen or King is never a partisan political figure. In this way, the country is theoretically never divided as it would be if the head of state was a Labour or Conservative politician.

[chamber-music]

So some background plotting is going down in Westminister

Black MP is hot tip to be the next Tory leader

A SECRET operation is under way to propel a black Tory MP to the party leadership amid signs that David Cameron’s referendum pledge on the European Union will not revive Conservative fortunes.

Adam Afriyie, a self-made multimillionaire, is being groomed as a surprise candidate to succeed the prime minister if Cameron fails to deliver a majority in 2015.

More than 100 Tory MPs have been approached about whether they would support a bid by the Windsor MP, who has an eight-strong team in place. A covert campaign to line him up for the leadership has been under way for at least three months.

A friend said: “The team are well organised. They are very concerned about the long-term future of the party and believe Adam is the future. He has a fantastic back story and is very impressive".

[Pink Ranger]

Originally Posted by chamber-music

So some background plotting is going down in Westminister

Black MP is hot tip to be the next Tory leader

... I'll be in my bunk.

[regwec]

There is always plotting at Westminster. The story here isn't really that Adam has a pool of support (that's inevitable for any ethnic minority MP- see also Chuka Umunna), but that somebody had briefed against him by implying that he is disloyal. They might either be Cameron loyalists who want to dampen his powder, or supporters of another Conservative rebel who want to lay a false trail.

[Dr. Evil]

Originally Posted by chamber-music

So some background plotting is going down in Westminister

Black MP is hot tip to be the next Tory leader

Is Britain ready for a Black Prime Minister?

Of course, the British media will probably compare him to the Current President of the United States, perhaps even if he assumes leadership of the Conservatives.

[regwec]

Racism isn't really much of a thing, here, so I think people would actually be pleased to have the opportunity to vote for a minority candidate. Nevertheless, there is a much higher proportion of Asian Britons than black Britons, so it may seem surprising if the latter group provides a prime minister before the former.

[Dr. Evil]

Originally Posted by regwec

Racism isn't really much of a thing, here, so I think people would actually be pleased to have the opportunity to vote for a minority candidate. Nevertheless, there is a much higher proportion of Asian Britons than black Britons, so it may seem surprising if the latter group provides a prime minister before the former.

The United States has a larger population of Latinos than Blacks and yet the latter group elected a President.

Then again, a lot of Obama's first election meant hope for the African American community after everything they had to endure. To them, he means that all of their hard work in the 1950's and 1960's paid off.

Out of all of the countries in Europe, I have always thought that Britain would one day elect their first minority PM. The ones who would probably be last would probably be France or Italy.

He better be prepared for the British media calling him "The British Obama" if he heads up the Conservatives.

[regwec]

Yes, that seems inevitable.

[Dr. Evil]

BTW, I think Britain is most likely out of all of the European countries to have a Black Prime Minister. I think if France, Germany, Italy or other European countries elect a minority as head of government, it would either be someone of North African or Arab descent.

Of course, you are only 34 years ahead of us in having a Female leader.

[chamber-music]

They did a poll in the UK when Obama won about if the British electorate would elect a black or asian Prime Minister and most people said yes.

The problem is less of if the people would support them and more if the political parties would. Diane Abbot was a token gesture in the Labour leadership race because she was a black women and really left wing.

I thing we will see a British Asian Prime Minister than a Black one first.

Britain also had a Jewish Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli although he converted to Christianity at the age of 12. Pretty amazing considering how much anti-semitism was around in the 19th century. There is a statue of him in Parliment square.

[regwec]

Yes, and Disraeli was Queen Victoria's favourite Prime Minister.

[terry78]

Originally Posted by Dr. Evil

The United States has a larger population of Latinos than Blacks and yet the latter group elected a President.

Then again, a lot of Obama's first election meant hope for the African American community after everything they had to endure. To them, he means that all of their hard work in the 1950's and 1960's paid off.

Out of all of the countries in Europe, I have always thought that Britain would one day elect their first minority PM. The ones who would probably be last would probably be France or Italy.

He better be prepared for the British media calling him "The British Obama" if he heads up the Conservatives.

Haha, France and Italy are kind of closet racists. Forward thinking on the surface, but....

[regwec]

Many French and Italians are of course blameless, but many are not even in the closet. Don't forget that Jean-Marie Le Pen came second in the French presidential race in 2002.

[chamber-music]

Well France does have politician Harlem Desir who is chair of the French Socialist Party.

There are also French black politicians like Alain Dolium and Rama Yade. Yade was junior foreign minister for human rights although many people say she was appointed by Sarkozy to appeal to racial minorities, women and the youth.

Italy had Berlusconi which says it all really.

[terry78]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bulls-d...8404--nba.html

Now here's something we can all get behind.

[regwec]

What service would you cut, or which tax would you raise, in order to fund that?

[chamber-music]

All British sports is funded by performance and our Basketball team sucks and don't win that much so its no suprise funding is cut.

I doubt we would qualify for Rio anyway. We got a spot in London because we are the host nation.

[Pink Ranger]

Originally Posted by chamber-music

All British sports is funded by performance and our Basketball team sucks and don't win that much so its no suprise funding is cut.

I doubt we would qualify for Rio anyway. We got a spot in London because we are the host nation.

I didn't know you guys even called it Basketball. I just assumed you'd call it something different like Bounceshot or Dribblypass just to mess with us.

[regwec]

Netball, played exclusively by girls, is a bigger game here. People tend to play basketball very casually- like an outdoor game of pool. It just doesn't tend to be thought of as a serious competitive sport.

[Pink Ranger]

Originally Posted by regwec

People tend to play basketball very casually- like an outdoor game of pool. It just doesn't tend to be thought of as a serious competitive sport.

The Toronto Raptors have a similar philosophy.