The Guardian today reports that trials of 'e-voting' by telephone and internet had a 'significant and unnaceptable' security risk according to the Electoral Commission. I ask, what's wrong with taking democracy seriously instead of treating it as an inconvenience or an imposition?
As the Deputy Leadership contestants formally declare their candidacy, as Labour members we are now finally getting to judge who has the most to offer the new Leader in his efforts to renew the party’s appeal.
But suppose that, as the contest develops, it emerges that your preferred candidate has little chance of emerging as the victor?
Amid all the "shock" at the high number of spoilt ballots in the Scottish Elections, I can't help but ask where the Electoral Commission's concern, let alone it "full, independent review" was when precisely the same thing happened three years ago in the London Elections?
So, let's all start deciding who to blame for today's shambles in English elections (start a separate thread if you want to talk about Scotland and Wales).
I would just like to wish all comrades good luck on election night. Lets stay united and hope for some good results in areas and hope we sustain our position in Wales and Scotland and I hope we win my home town of St Helens back after losing last time for the first time in 70 years.
This is just a quick message to wish everyone the best of luck with tomorrow. I'm sure many of us on here have been campaigning tirelessly over the past weeks, and hopefully at least some of that effort will pay off.
The Tories are getting better at spin - they're trying to make people believe they've changed, but the upcoming elections are a chance to remind people what they're really like.
The sheer magnitude of the problems facing Labour if we do not change policy direction is illustrated starkly in Scotland - where UNISON is not supporting Labour.
David Rowntree, drummer with the band Blur, is standing for Labour in a council by-election in the Marylebone are of Westminster. If you would like to help out, please email alen@mathewson.org.uk.
In the meantime, here's a short interview with David.
With the latest contender in the leadership election, Michael Meacher, claiming that New Labour has had it, with Frank Field suggesting the party needs to skip a generation to remain viable, and with the commentariat stating that MPs and CLPs in marginal consitutencies are becoming increasingly concerned that Brown won't be able to prevent a Tory victory at the next election, I wondered what the grass-roots actually thought about a Brown led Labour party?
There's some interesting stuff in the Times/Populus poll today. The headline only really shows the Labour/Tory position stable if you look at the longer trend, but the questions on Brown are interesting.
Labour's progression to the Right after 2001 had the comedic, but worrying effect of seeing a Tory Party jump even further to the extremes of politics. However I think the benefits of the further triangulating push to the Right stop there.
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