Tag archives for Politics
Lies, Damned Lies, Statistics & Statements by Politicians
Lies are being told by all of the politicians running for office the world over. Big lies, small lies, lies of omission and lies of commission. Lies are everywhere. We all know this, it's not for nothing that was talk about this being a 'post-truth' era. So how do you avoid being fooled? A #BeyondPolitics protest banner outside UK government offices (photo: James Kemp) Lies have Power People have always know the lies have power, all the way back. It's just got easier for the normal people to spot them. To quote Jonathan Swift, over 300 years ago: the greatest Liar has his Believers; and it often happens, that if a Lie be believ’d only for an Hour, it has done its Work, and there is no farther occasion for it. Falsehood flies, and the Truth comes limping after it;…
Why vote in the European Elections tomorrow?
You might be forgiven for thinking that tomorrow's European elections are a waste of effort. If you care about brexit, either way, then it's vital you go and vote tomorrow. European Elections Tomorrow we have an opportunity to vote for the members of the European Parliament that represent the UK. After the brexit referendum and the shouting about the EU being unelected this might surprise you. However we've been able to elect Members of the European Parliament (MEP) for decades. Most of us don't, the turnout for European elections is usually really low. Bizarrely, Nigel Farage is an MEP and routinely claims his salary and expenses. The process uses proportional representation. You vote for a party and the parties have lists of candidates. The constituencies are huge. Scotland is one, London is another. Typically they have a population of about…
Is it Time for a Government of National Unity?
Parliament Square last night as the defeat of the EU Exit Withdrawal Agreement was announced (photo: James Kemp) In the UK we're living in divided times, so is it time we had a government of national unity? After last night's defeat of the government's proposed withdrawal agreement it may be time for something different. Labour have tabled a no confidence motion in the government. While it looks likely to fail. However, all it takes is a couple of Conservative or DUP MPs to abstain or rebel and our government will fall. We'll find out later today. Government of National Unity We last had a government of national unity from the early thirties until the end of the second world war. The government was formed of all parties, as was the loyal opposition. The original reason for forming the coalition was…
Snap Election – Some Analysis GE2017
London skyline, with Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower) in the background. (Photo: James Kemp) Yesterday's unexpected announcement of a snap election for 8 June is an interesting development for the UK government. It makes complete sense when you view things with a Conservative party lens. The Conservatives are massively ahead in the polls. The Labour party clearly aren't united enough for an election (especially as it is three years early). It deals with the jibes that the Prime Minister has no electoral mandate (whether you believe those claims or not). Caveats on Polls Opinion polls have significant margins of error. I've blogged about this previously several times. Mid term polls are especially prone to large errors. Voters blatantly misdirect pollsters, or simply change their minds on the day. Either way the apparent 25 point Conservative lead over the Labour part doesn't…
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Media Bias? Or something else? How can we tell?
English: In the political theory of the Overton Window, a new idea fills the window of what the public views as unthinkable, causing the desired idea to shift into the window of what the public views as sensible without the need to explain any benefit of the desired idea. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) We seem to hear allegations of media bias on a regular basis these days. Anytime an interest group isn't getting the glowing coverage they feel that they so richly deserve we hear the shout 'media bias!' The thing is, I don't see much media bias at work. What does Media Bias look like? In the eyes of those that shout about media bias it seems to take these forms: Negative coverage of what their leader or candidate has said Coverage of the opposing point of view Questions about…