tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post2783317066978019800..comments2024-03-28T20:36:02.070+00:00Comments on SCOT goes POP!: Another opportunity to do something constructive - demand the SNP's inclusion in the main TV leaders' debates by responding to the BBC Trust consultationJames Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-63981978230025401732014-11-12T15:53:35.387+00:002014-11-12T15:53:35.387+00:00UK-wide:
32% Con
29% Lab
14% UKIP
9% Lib
8% SNP
7%...UK-wide:<br />32% Con<br />29% Lab<br />14% UKIP<br />9% Lib<br />8% SNP<br />7% Green<br /> <br />Scotland subsample:<br />59% SNP<br />14% Lab<br />12% Con<br />8% Green<br />4% Lib<br />2% UKIP<br /> Scottish_Skiernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-72950464021049922542014-11-12T14:57:31.039+00:002014-11-12T14:57:31.039+00:00I'm not sure how meaningful it would be to hav...I'm not sure how meaningful it would be to have a Poll of Polls that is five-sevenths pre-referendum and only two-sevenths post-referendum. But maybe once we have another one or two, it would be possible to do a PoP solely composed of post-referendum polls.James Kellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-23398389035743760182014-11-12T14:19:25.043+00:002014-11-12T14:19:25.043+00:00It's getting a bit silly now. The latest Ipsos...It's getting a bit silly now. The latest Ipsos MORI gives Ed lower approval ratings than IDS at his nadir.keatonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-83385257329228587562014-11-12T11:06:05.772+00:002014-11-12T11:06:05.772+00:00James, are you going to keep your iref Y/N PoP goi...James, are you going to keep your iref Y/N PoP going?<br /><br />I don't see any reason why not given the last two polls for this suggested Yes gains. A wee update would be good here, featuring all last minute pre-ref polls and those done subsequently.<br /><br />Iref polls will continue; they've been a feature of Scottish politics for decades and given support for indy has hit an all time historical (confirmed) high, then we can imagine they may feature <i>more</i> frequently that in the past.Scottish_Skiernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-86405607514749366552014-11-12T03:19:19.930+00:002014-11-12T03:19:19.930+00:00Ah, OK, I didn't know that. They weren't ...Ah, OK, I didn't know that. They weren't "wee debates", though - they were question and answer programmes featuring the leaders of SNP and Plaid, which exactly replicated what had been done for the three London party leaders. That's the clear precedent that was ripped up by the BBC and other broadcasters in 2010.James Kellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-91653788373805799352014-11-12T03:13:36.586+00:002014-11-12T03:13:36.586+00:00The Tories do still stand in Northern Ireland - th...The Tories do still stand in Northern Ireland - they got 0.7% of the vote in the European elections this year. That means they were beaten even by NI21, which is quite an achievement in the circumstances!James Kellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-74932052378673998252014-11-12T01:29:27.303+00:002014-11-12T01:29:27.303+00:00Yes, I received my reply:
"Thank you for you...Yes, I received my reply:<br /><br />"Thank you for your submission to the BBC Trust's Election Guidelines consultation. The Trust will take the consultation responses into account and publish the results of this consultation on its website, together with the final guidelines and appendices with guidance, once approved by the Trust. We anticipate that this will be in March 2015."<br /><br /><br />March 2015 - too late already for a lot of unbalanced coverage, and too late to dictate the format of many grossly unbalanced and unrepresentative programs. Another whitewash job from the pathetic BBC (Lack of ) Trust).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-11918745104521864842014-11-12T01:13:29.858+00:002014-11-12T01:13:29.858+00:00The key to the Guidelines is 3.1.2: "Determin...The key to the Guidelines is 3.1.2: "Determining appropriate levels of coverage should take into account levels of past and current electoral support (see Appendices)."<br /><br />It's arguably the most important part of the Guidelines, yet that's all we get, a pathetic one-liner, and even when relegated to the Appendix it just repeats it. It needs to be changed to include a reference to polling data, and their possible results in number of seats in the House of Commons - e.g. 54 seats for the SNP, holding the balance of power. England Local elections should also be considered differently to the General Election.<br /><br />I've made my submission accordingly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-50147743503364322422014-11-11T22:19:00.132+00:002014-11-11T22:19:00.132+00:00the tories no longer stand in NI after the 2010 de...the tories no longer stand in NI after the 2010 debacle.<br /> Labour is affiliated with a sister party SDLP, on the skids like labour UK and labour in the Republic of Ireland. <br />UKIP has, I believe, one representative in the Ulster Assembly (Not westminster as far as I remember). <br />Lib Dems are affiliated with the Alliance party with Naomi Long representing East Belfast at Westminster. No others as far as I am aware. <br />The other NI representatives in Westminster are the DUP ( 12 seats? religious fundamentalists, creationists, no gay blood for transfusions, no abortion etc etc) and Sinn Fein (8 seats? republicans, left of centre, who are abstentionists). <br />Figures may not be exact as I am going from memory but do give overall picture. <br />In other words, NI has very little to do with mainline westminster parties. It's sort of semi-detached from the UK (republicans have one foot out the door and are waiting the opportunity to get both out!!).<br />NI hasn't really belonged to the "family" since the 1920 govt of ireland Act (now repealed since Peace treaties were signed)<br />best to all<br />benAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-6332185984736206222014-11-11T20:24:31.551+00:002014-11-11T20:24:31.551+00:00Ooops! Somehow the 's' was knocked off you... Ooops! Somehow the 's' was knocked off your name. I meant ' Thanks again, JAMES'! My apologies. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-14484601434000527432014-11-11T20:20:06.386+00:002014-11-11T20:20:06.386+00:00That's marvellous, thank you!! I did try to wo...That's marvellous, thank you!! I did try to work my way into those pages again, but it sure didn't want to let me in! 'Page Error', 'Cannot Find this page' was the message to me every time I clicked for the 'BBC Trust' page! After using a fourth browser and registering TWICE, it let me have my say! What a palaver! Perhaps that is the whole point of the 'run-around'. Tire us out to the point we give up. But I've never been anything but persistent. Lol! <br /><br />Thanks to your email addie, I have now had my say and have made it clear that I won't be satisfied with anything but debating privileges for all Parties involved in the Election (particularly the SNP in view of their great number of members and high Poll ratings) to have their say. Anything else is totally unfair and the 'British' notion of democracy just a tired old cliche. <br /><br />By the way, on looking through the guidelines of the Consultation, I couldn't help noticing and laughing a little at their opening statement; "The BBC is required by its 2006 Charter and Agreement to ensure that matters of political controversy and matters of public policy are covered with due impartiality." Soooo... why is a Consultation actually necessary??? Surely that word 'impartiality' would imply the other parties would all automatically be allowed their say at fair debate without any need for a 'consultation'?? Perhaps I'm not that au fait with the word 'impartiality' and its various meanings... <br /><br />Anyway - I note the closing date is January 12, 2015. Still plenty of time to get as many submissions in as possible to encourage the BBC to do the right thing! Having said that, at this time of year, time really flies! So perhaps this should be at the top of the 'to do' list? Anyway - thanks again, Jame. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-69885422248433906642014-11-11T20:09:15.430+00:002014-11-11T20:09:15.430+00:00"The three programmes featuring the leaders o..."The three programmes featuring the leaders of major parties that were standing throughout Scotland, England and Wales were broadcast on a UK-wide basis, while the two programmes featuring the leaders of major parties that were standing only in Scotland or Wales were broadcast only in the relevant nation."<br /><br />They showed the wee debates in England, albeit at a time when few people would have been watching.<br /><br />http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/2001-05-15#at-23.40G. Campbellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-57801849139249459772014-11-11T19:28:07.801+00:002014-11-11T19:28:07.801+00:00There's Ashcroft too. Labour on a dizzying 12%...There's Ashcroft too. Labour on a dizzying 12% compared to the SNP on 43%.<br /><br />I think the Tory vote of 27% is maybe a little optimistic though.<br /><br />Could be that people are now confusing Labour and Tory?<br /><br />;-)Scottish_Skiernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-38650121792740549302014-11-11T18:19:11.191+00:002014-11-11T18:19:11.191+00:00No, the broadcasters haven't budged at all yet...No, the broadcasters haven't budged at all yet.James Kellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-52546203040905878822014-11-11T18:04:04.166+00:002014-11-11T18:04:04.166+00:00James, you don't mention the Greens. Have they...James, you don't mention the Greens. Have they now been included in the proposed line up for the debates?Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15054543082104209150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-22896081984701417502014-11-11T16:46:15.499+00:002014-11-11T16:46:15.499+00:00"most of them want to put it all behind them ...<i>"most of them want to put it all behind them and move on"</i><br /><br />Poor dears. The democratic process was such a trauma for them, wasn't it? The way things are going, I'm not sure they're going to be in luck...James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-54140714338322169172014-11-11T16:42:54.128+00:002014-11-11T16:42:54.128+00:00Don't give Stoat such a hard time - he has yea...Don't give Stoat such a hard time - he has years yet, hinging roon the necks of Alasdair Darling and Gordon Brown. What a hideous fate for all ermine. He has as much entitlement.to promote his weird views as any of us.Humerous Vegetablehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06749447163866759111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-23042436958870490092014-11-11T16:36:38.246+00:002014-11-11T16:36:38.246+00:001) Yes indeedy! and 2) Who knows?
But it needs to...1) Yes indeedy! and 2) Who knows?<br /><br />But it needs to be said that Better Together was a broad church, many of us having completely different motivations to one other. I didn't care about what their motivations were, I was purely concerned with campaign tactics. Maybe you'd have better luck with other Better Together campaigners, though most of them want to put it all behind them and move on.Stoatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-60811466848353168512014-11-11T16:34:58.178+00:002014-11-11T16:34:58.178+00:00I believe it is vital that all people of the Unit...I believe it is vital that all people of the United Kingdom should be able to see represntatives of all the political parties at present operating in the UK beng able to debate openly on television in order that the electorate make the most informed choice. It is undemocratic to say the least not to allow the leading Scottish , Welsh and Northern Irish parties to have their say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-44652019269499939822014-11-11T16:22:21.782+00:002014-11-11T16:22:21.782+00:00Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm deducing ...Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm deducing two things from what you've said -<br /><br />1) You think independence would have been so calamitous that it was in the rational self-interest of every single person in Scotland to vote against it.<br /><br />2) That wasn't the main reason you campaigned against independence, and you instead had a over-riding private reason that you're keeping secret.<br /><br />Well, I've heard of the "silent majority", but this is ridiculous. Even the campaigners won't tell us why they voted No.James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-6506822357063380582014-11-11T16:17:17.455+00:002014-11-11T16:17:17.455+00:00It all depends on what you believe to be in the pe...It all depends on what you believe to be in the people's best interests. Most of the Yes campaigners campaigned for independence because they believed that independence was more in the interests of the people than remaining in the UK. That's why they were campaigning for Yes, rather than running a more neutral public information campaign. I've also heard many Yes campaigners bemoan the decision that No voters took, saying that independence was really in their interests, they just didn't realise it yet (See Salmond's patronising drivel about "Deferred Yesses). So we all put forward what we believe to be in the people's interests, whether Yes or No campaigners. Even if we feel that those who vote the other way are misguided. You give them information, we give them information. Then they decide for themselves what's the most plausible.<br /><br />It's just that my campaigning methods were always more focused on bringing relevant information to the people, tailored to their day to day concerns, rather than regaling them with tales of my own thrilling journey of self-discovery.Stoatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-58904112320450603572014-11-11T15:54:58.725+00:002014-11-11T15:54:58.725+00:00If it wasn't about you, why were you interveni...If it wasn't about you, why were you intervening? Presumably you were doing it on the basis of beliefs that you kept secret from the people you were trying to influence. That means it was about you. <br /><br />If you were just trying to "help" people and draw out their own beliefs and best interests, it would have been perfectly possible to do that in a neutral way.James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-52819843994814936542014-11-11T15:48:31.820+00:002014-11-11T15:48:31.820+00:00When campaigning and talking to voters, I always f...When campaigning and talking to voters, I always focused on why <b>they</b> should vote No and why it was in their interests to. My own personals views and beliefs along with my reasons for voting No were utterly irrelevant to the campaign. It was never about me. I didn't campaign for Better Together because I wanted to shout from the rooftops about how passionate I was. It was a matter of getting information to as many people as I could as quickly as I could.Stoatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-76174788686900021162014-11-11T15:43:26.358+00:002014-11-11T15:43:26.358+00:00Thankyou! Actually, if the link doesn't work,...Thankyou! Actually, if the link doesn't work, the simplest thing to do is give you the email address for submissions -<br /><br />electionguidelines.consultation@bbc.co.ukJames Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-52956439625314447302014-11-11T15:39:41.160+00:002014-11-11T15:39:41.160+00:00I didn't think they were closing so quickly, s...I didn't think they were closing so quickly, so thank you for that info. I'll keep trying. I WILL have my say! One way and another... lol Gosh... haven't been on the BBC news site for ages and from the content I saw when trying to find their submission page, I won't be a regular there either, any time soon! *shaking head at their 'top stories'... dearie me.* PS: I so enjoy reading your blog. You're so very good at putting MY exasperation with the current political system, into words. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com