- Sun Oct 27, 2013 4:14 pm
#342980
I really, really don't get this. People seem to be getting a bit excited at Russell Brand's little bout of self indulgence on Newsnight the other day, and at the prospect of him becoming a figurehead for the "None of the Above" movement.
http://www.scriptonitedaily.com/2013/10 ... -election/
The aims of this "movement" seem to be to stand candidates at the general election whose sole "policy" will be immediately to stand down if elected. In order to show that they're not happy with the way that the current electoral system works. Specifically, they want there to be a ballot paper option of "none of the above" so that people that don't like any of the candidates on offer can say so explicitly.
So why then, are spoiled papers counted and declared at every election? It definitely IS recognised as a political voice.
Even if they get candidates elected (unlikely in the extreme), who then resign straight away, all that will achieve is a by-election in which the electorate will no doubt elect somebody that will actually serve as their MP. If they get their wish and ballot papers all geta "none of the above" option, what on earth will that achieve? There will be precisely no difference in the way elections work if that happens.
It seems to me that the campaign is the very embodiment of pointlessness.
Or am I just being cynical?
More seriously, by taking votes away from serious progressive parties like Labour, there is a risk that this exercise in futility might leave us stuck with another voracious shower of Torycunts.
http://www.scriptonitedaily.com/2013/10 ... -election/
The aims of this "movement" seem to be to stand candidates at the general election whose sole "policy" will be immediately to stand down if elected. In order to show that they're not happy with the way that the current electoral system works. Specifically, they want there to be a ballot paper option of "none of the above" so that people that don't like any of the candidates on offer can say so explicitly.
....we currently have no means of registering such a vote on UK ballots. We can spoil our ballot, but this is not formally recognised as a political voice
So why then, are spoiled papers counted and declared at every election? It definitely IS recognised as a political voice.
Even if they get candidates elected (unlikely in the extreme), who then resign straight away, all that will achieve is a by-election in which the electorate will no doubt elect somebody that will actually serve as their MP. If they get their wish and ballot papers all geta "none of the above" option, what on earth will that achieve? There will be precisely no difference in the way elections work if that happens.
It seems to me that the campaign is the very embodiment of pointlessness.
Or am I just being cynical?
More seriously, by taking votes away from serious progressive parties like Labour, there is a risk that this exercise in futility might leave us stuck with another voracious shower of Torycunts.
"The opportunity to serve our country. That is all we ask." John Smith, Leader of the Labour Party, 10 May 1994.