General Election Vote

The monarchs role in parliament is really just ceromonial. Yes the Queen 'technically' appoints the Prime Minister, but in reality this is done by long established conventions, and it would provoke a major constitutional crisis if she refused a Prime Minister.
As an indication of this, the Queen also 'technically' has to approve all bills passed by government before they can become laws. In reality, it is just a rubber stamping process, and has been over 300 years since this approval was refused.

Also, note that the Queen appoints the PM, that is different from appointing or approving the formation of the government.
Any idea that our Liz would refuse a government that included UKIP is sadly miguided, simply wouldn't happen.

Thankfully it never came to that anyhow, and Farage and co were routed. Hopefully Nige will retire gracefully and not re-stand for leadership, and UKIP will all but disappear from the scene.


As for scottish independance, bear in mind that there is a tory majority. 56 mp's is great, but in reality, it counts for nothing, because the tories can do as they please with their majority, and if they don't choose to give scotland another referendum, it won't happen. Like it or not, that is democracy within the union, the union that scotland just voted to remain part of!

^ well articulated Munch

Well thankfully the UKIP movement never quite took off up here, I didn't even know up until polling day that we had a candidate in my constituency as I had to do a double take on the ballet paper.

Whoever he was he must have been hiding as I never even received so much as a UKIP leaflet through my door and neither did I see any campaigning either but in saying that UKIP MPs are not exactly renowned for their hard work.

The most common place to find potential UKIP wannabes or existing serving members would be within the confines of a boozer as most likely they'll be the ones that are causing all the trouble

The total number of votes for UKIP in Scotland was as follows - 47,078
The total number of votes for SNP in Scotland went as follows - 1,454,436

Enough said.............

(10-05-2015 17:49 )babelover48 Wrote:  I wonder how the Constitution would survive if Charles was King? If Charles had to make the decision I don't think he would make the right choice as I don't think politics is one of his strong points.

What do you think he's been doing for the past 60 years (not counting the comedy and the failed romance)? His environmental attitudes are pretty well known, though maybe you don't count that as politics? Then there's that whole thing about him writing nasty letters to previous governments.

Charles is more likely to get his hands dirty if he gets to be King than you clearly realise.

I apologies I forgot

(10-05-2015 18:25 )SecretAgent Wrote:  SB do you know if the UK Parliament has to give permission for another referendum vote as they did last time?

According to the UK Government website the answer is yes. Even a non-binding referendum would need permission because the Scottish Parliament has no power in constitutional matters. Even a non-binding referendum is regarded as a constitutional matter.

(10-05-2015 20:21 )tony confederate Wrote:  

(10-05-2015 18:25 )SecretAgent Wrote:  SB do you know if the UK Parliament has to give permission for another referendum vote as they did last time?

According to the UK Government website the answer is yes. Even a non-binding referendum would need permission because the Scottish Parliament has no power in constitutional matters. Even a non-binding referendum is regarded as a constitutional matter.

That will please SB no end!!

Any recent sightings of 'Ed Stone'?

(10-05-2015 18:30 )munch1917 Wrote:  As for scottish independance, bear in mind that there is a tory majority. 56 mp's is great, but in reality, it counts for nothing, because the tories can do as they please with their majority, and if they don't choose to give scotland another referendum, it won't happen. Like it or not, that is democracy within the union, the union that scotland just voted to remain part of!

Technically they could refuse but realistically, given the current political situation, I don't think they could in the same way that the Queen couldn't realistically veto a government.
They could, of course, agree then stall it forever and a day while they argue over the fine details.

Sturgeon has already said that this election was not about independence and she has no mandate for another independence vote. If that is to occur it will form part of the SNP manifesto for the next Scottish Parliament elections. In the meantime Cameron has confirmed he will move to implement the recommendations for transfer of further powers to Scotland agreed after the independence vote. Sturgeon has said today the General Election result shows that the Scottish electorate want those powers to go even further but whether any more concessions will be given remains to be seen.

So before any further independence vote happens the Scottish people will be able to see the effect of them getting more powers. I don't doubt the intelligence of the electorate to then decide if they need/want independence or are happy with what I think was referred to as Devo Max.

People should be careful about assuming that in the General Election people voted in such numbers for the SNP because they wanted independence.