One of the first testing grounds for the new Libertarian Party was fighting the Norwich North By Election. We learned a huge amount. We gained precious little in the way of votes, but a huge amount by way  the cynical way elections are run.

We were criticised for having such a young candidate, but the winning conservative candidate was barely a few years older and had precious little in the way of life experiance either. Which proved to me that the voter does not vote for the candidate but for the biggest party machine.

Whilst holding no brief for the BNP and the English Democrats, the shenanigans in Oldham where the BNP candidate was ejected from a hustings is further evidence of the ongoing ‘fit up’ in local and national elections. Perhaps we should call in Kofi Annan to supervise our elections as well.

The Quiet Man and Dick Puddlecote carried this story yesterday.

Whilst hustings are held on public property and the £500 deposit is payable by all registered parties, hustings should be open to all candidates, not having these private ‘affairs’ . Norwich North was just the same, the LPUK, UKIP (who beat the Greens)and local independents were all not invited to hustings.

I object to the Labour Party on the basis that I object to their core principals of individual coercion and a ‘big state is good’ . However I would never ‘ deny them a platform’. A central tenet of socialism since the seventies. I did not see the Conservatives or Liberal Democrats objecting to the BNP being ejected.

The Labour Party cannot argue the BNP do not deserve to stand because of their racism, considering Jack Straw’s cynical little outburst on Asian gangs preying on young white girls in the days running up to the Oldham election.

Also lets not forget the reason why this by election is being fought. Because an electoral court found again the ‘principled’ Labour Party and Phil Woolas’ activities in the General Election. Harriet Harman was right to eject him from the Labour Party, something a good section of the Labour Party disagreed with as they condoned Woolas’ actions.

If you think we have problems with gerrymandering, I have invited Mik Robertson of the Libertarian Party in Pennsylvania to contribute an article to Anna Raccoon on the problems of even gaining ballot access in the bastion of Democracy- the United States.

Politics- no wonder a huge proportion of the electorate do not bother to  participate any longer.

Stephen Gash
January 11, 2011 at 22:37

The English Democrats exist because of the shenanigans of the
LibLabCON!

The English are being bashed by post-devolution Britain, being expected to
pay for everything, yet receiving none of the benefits the rest of the UK
enjoy. It is England’s forests being sold off for example, with part of the
proceeds being distributed outside of England.

The BNP offer me nothing, because it is British. The British are doing more
than anybody to erase the English.

Simon Cooke January 11, 2011 at 18:00

I fear this (leaving aside the ‘no platform’ stuff where I wholly agree) is
the curse of the small brand. Now I appreciate that we don’t want to see our
politics in terms of heiristics and psychological shortcuts but, truth be
known, that is precisely how it behaves. This presents a problem for small
brands and especially for new entries – it isn’t that the existing brand
behemoths crush you but that the new entry (and/or the small brand) has no
brand equity.

So, rather than saying it ain’t fair (‘cos you know it ain’t), small
parties need to focus on small gains – you aren’t going to win a parliamentary
by-election but, with effort on the ground, you ca pick up council seats, you
can build a platform that may get you into positions elected on list systems
(this has been good for the greens in Europe, Wales and Scotland).

LPUK’s problem isn’t we’re out to get you – we aren’t as you don’t even
register on our radar – but that you are focused on shouting into the echo
chamber rather than on building brand equity.

…better shut up now – any more and they’ll think I’m some kind of 5th
columnist

Andrew P
Withers January 11, 2011 at 22:43

Working on that bit as we speak

david lambert
January 11, 2011 at 15:31

its true elections are fixed, peter mandelson lovely boy that he is, gave
hs assistance to all gay candidates in the election, and i was in tears when
none got in, us gays get such a rough deal in life

Dick the Prick
January 11, 2011 at 14:50

I think gerrymandering in the title is a bit provocative. I think democracy
is certainly open to everyone; OH campaigned as himself last year, it’s just
that the party machine is proper slick in action. Lord Falconer & Lord
Wells (I think) had a right ding dong yesterday over the Constituencies Bill.
Boundaries should change by the next election – pretty tight schedule though
so….who knows? It’ll be interesting if Cleggy loses the AV vote. Think i’m
gonna vote for it just as a piss take – comedy democracy thing.

Subrosa January
11, 2011 at 13:28

I’m of the generation who thinks age does matter Andrew. Having had our
families which are now ‘grown up’ and into their 30s and 40s, we know first
hand the difference between a 25 year old and a 40 year old, regardless of
‘life experiences’.

I support a particular political party, but if they even considered
selecting anyone under 30 as a candidate I wouldn’t vote for them. As a young
person I was very ambitious, but I know I had none of the common sense and
compassion I have now, even though my peers in those days said I did. Age can,
although not always, bring a depth to live than only years provide. It cannot
be acquired in any other way.

Ed P January 11, 2011 at 13:59

I disagree. Consider those flowering young: Mozart for instance. The
ability to understand an issue and promote it successfully is often evident
at university debates. Age may bring more depth, but to exclude those under
30 from an active role, regardless of talent, would diminish our
society.

Andrew P
Withers January 11, 2011 at 14:15

I think it is not age that counts, but life experiance.

There is a hell of a difference between a 40 year old chinless wonder,
school/university/MP’s bag carrier/PPC/MP progression and a thirty year year
old who has done school/university or job or army/ some PRIVATE industry
experiance with proven voluntary work topped off.

In most jobs you have to put a CV up, let alone that of being a Law
maker. Probably explains why most of the knee jerk legislation of the last
twenty years is so opaque and unintelligable.

PT Barnum January 11, 2011 at 13:04

Loathe as I am to defend the Strawman, in this instance he is not guilty of
racism, but of speaking something like an unpalatable truth (woohoo, hold the
front page). Or has ‘racism’ changed its definition from the irrational,
erroneous and persistant characterisation and treatment of one or more other
racial groups as endemically and naturally inferior, debased, criminal? Must
consult Tony Blair’s Big Book of Newspeak….

Andrew P
Withers January 11, 2011 at 14:07

He was not saying unpalatable truths when the Labour Party adopted a
policy of unrestrained immigration, he only mentions this within days of an
electtion. Cynical Moi ?

PT Barnum
January 11, 2011 at 17:02

In which case we are both cynical. His motivation is evidently that of
self-interest and the man has used more ethics to wipe his behind than for
any other purpose. In order to be a racist I think you have to have some
sincerely held beliefs. The Strawman has none.

Michael
Fowke January 11, 2011 at 13:02

Democracy is an illusion. They are all in it together.

Caedmon’s
Cat January 11, 2011 at 16:59

Frank Zappa said “The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it’s
profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes
too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will
pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way
and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater.”
Events of
recent times in the political arena show this to be startlingly accurate. It
wasn’t so many decades ago that freedom of speech and political association
were accepted as common currency values in a civilised society. Sadly, this
is no longer the case. I hold no truck with the policies of the BNP or the
EDL – but I recognise that they have a right to be heard. The state (as
exemplified in the 3 parties) however believes it has a right to discredit
and silence them. How times have changed.

Dick the Prick
January 11, 2011 at 12:24

I worked as caucus secretary and general dogsbody for a Tory party assoc
covering 1 council and a couple of marginal constituencies which were heavily
funded by Ashcroft cash for a couple of years up to and including the
election. Fuck me sideways with a pineapple, call me Martha, pop trifle down
me pants and call a taxi. The level and range of utter depravity is an art
form in itself.

Fraud is a perjorative word and has legal implications and legality is
irrelevant. The skill is getting away with it. Lawyers are merely trying to
craft a name for themselves or make it look like their office has value. The
schemes, deals, plans and alliances that were formed were pure comedy, really.

I guess little parties are at a massive disadvantage because their networks
are so much reduced than the big un’s. Old lady spies, friends of friends –
plus the ability of authority to pay off the punters does kinda make it
secure. Anywho, glad I did it, don’t particularly wanna do it again for about
5 years minimum. You can’t learn the tricks from books, I guess! Hey ho.

microdave January 11, 2011 at 12:14

“We were criticised for having such a young candidate, but the winning
conservative candidate was barely a few years older and had precious little in
the way of life experience either. ”

Having met both, I think your candidate had more…

JuliaM January 11,
2011 at 10:01

What all above said.

The political scene is going to have to change – merely shrieking
‘Rascist!! Beyond the pale! Outsider!’ is no longer working.

SadButMadLad January 11, 2011 at 09:46

Agreed about banning people who belong to a particular party from having
certain jobs. I am more bothered about socialist teachers than I am about BNP
supporting teachers. At least with a BNP supporter you know where they stand
and you can handle it or accomodate it. Someone who doesn’t belong to any
political party can be just as racist or even more but could get a job as a
teacher. This is where the TPTB’s rules about who can and can’t have certain
jobs breaks down.

I personally think that the party system has got too big for its boots. MPs
are elected but they don’t vote in parliament on behalf of their electorate.
They vote according to their party’s demands. MPs should be more individual.
Yes they can be left/right wing but not with the huge weight of the party
behind them installing party faithfull in safe seats.

This is not democracy, this is tribalism where the the main parties are the
tribes and they kick out, ignore, or dehumanize those who aren’t in their
tribe. This is not a good way to run a country. You need to include everyone
and get input from them all even if you disagree with some of them.

Surreptitious
Evil January 11, 2011 at 09:02

I think that the British political class are going to have to grow up and
accept that their cosy little world is changing – not least because of the
expenses scandal but also because of the rise of “an issue and a few of its
mates” parties.

The BNP is likely to be the catalyst.

I don’t support the BNP, I despise their racism and the rest of their
shallow “popular socialism” is simply appalling – Old Labour without the
honesty. However, they are currently a legitimate political party therefore
they should have all of the duties and privileges attached. If TPTB want to
ban them, they should
non-gender-specific-term-aimed-at-indicating-the-unusual-(for-a-career-politician)-possession-of-a-backbone
up and ban them, take the HRA case straight to the Supreme Court (ECHR has
upheld German bans on neo-nazi groups) and get it over with.

None of this salami-slicing – can’t be a teacher, policeman or ballerina –
which they can and will then apply to any other groups outside their little
club who look like gaining a toe-hold.

backwoodsman
January 11, 2011 at 09:30

“Old Labour without the honesty” – surely old labour with the honesty
!