Knackered politicians

[StephenO]

Er....seats in the legislature reflecting the votes cast?

Like the Conservatives ending up with an overall majority despite getting only 37% of the total vote, for example. Or the SNP winning 95% of Scottish seats even though 50% of the votes cast in Scotland were for other parties. Funny thing, democracy.

[LeMartinPecheur]

But they do exist, and to their masters they still don't matter.

Not quite fair ff to say that they don't matter to owners. A few weeks ago I attended training on the Modern Slavery Act that has just become UK law. We were told that one recent price for a 'horse' (so called, so watch out for the word in unusual contexts) was £3000. At this price owners 'care' very much about them and go to extreme lengths to ensure they're powerless to escape, or make contact with those who might be able to help them

The contexts we were hearing about included farm labourers (see 'gangmasters'), fishing boat crews, car-washers, driveway layers.

[Sir Velo]

Having enjoyed (a) morning tea in bed (b) BAL and (c) a leisurely breakfast, I fall to wondering about the nightmarish stress and fatigue to which politicians have been subjected to over the past 48 hours.

Why feel sorry for a bunch of crooks on the make?

[StephenO]

Why feel sorry for a bunch of crooks on the make?

A little harsh perhaps?

And how about sparing a thought for the thousands of unpaid party workers who've lived and breathed this election for the last few months? There are people in all political parties who've spent weeks doing little else apart from ringing doorbells, putting up posters, stuffing envelopes, trudging round in the pouring rain to deliver leaflets, etc, etc. I bet none us got much sleep on election night either. More fool us, I suppose.

[french frank]

A little harsh perhaps?

And how about sparing a thought for the thousands of unpaid party workers who've lived and breathed this election for the last few months? There are people in all political parties who've spent weeks doing little else apart from ringing doorbells, putting up posters, stuffing envelopes, trudging round in the pouring rain to deliver leaflets, etc, etc. I bet none us got much sleep on election night either. More fool us, I suppose.

Ideas become very entrenched. Most people don't want their convictions disturbed if they have to start the thought process again. Surely why political discourse is now so polarised and extreme?

[P. G. Tipps]

The French press can't quite believe - but is much impressed by - the fact that our 'losers' immediately resign. Unimaginable in France (Jospin - a good protestant - being the one famous exception.)

Yes, but some good French Protestants may well be inclined to reapply for their jobs once all the fuss has died down and after they've had a nice wee summer's break ...

[ardcarp]

Talking of party workers, does the 'Shuttleworth System' still operate? My mother was an ardent Liberal (councillor, Mayor and all the rest of it) and in my yoof, election days and evenings were very exciting. Every house in a ward had been 'canvassed' in the weeks leading up to polling day, and lists were drawn up of definite Liberal supporters. On election day, party workers seated outside the polling station asked emerging voters for their names, which were then ticked off the electoral register. By about 5pm (I can't recall the time exactly) those who WERE Liberal supporters but who HADN'T voted were chased up. People (like me) ran up drives, knocked on doors and asked hapless residents if they'd like a lift to the polling station. Then we went to the nearest phone box (yes, phone box) and reeled off to party HQ the addresses where transport was needed. Cars buzzed back and forth. There was quite an adrenalin buzz, especially as zero hour approached (was it 8pm or 9pm?) It was very effective, and in a borough such as ours where Lib and Con were neck and neck, it was generally recognised that working this system efficiently made a big difference.

Hard to imagine it nowadays! Wot, lifts from perfect strangers, elf'n safety?

[french frank]

Talking of party workers, does the 'Shuttleworth System' still operate?

Haven't been in a Committee Room on polling day for some years, but there was an updated version (still called Shuttleworths) - computerised - last time I knew anything. I do remember the time when they were all written out by hand and there were 'Shuttleworth parties' to copy them all out, and pin them in alphabetical order on to a large board serving as a tabletop …

[Serial_Apologist]

Talking of party workers, does the 'Shuttleworth System' still operate? My mother was an ardent Liberal (councillor, Mayor and all the rest of it) and in my yoof, election days and evenings were very exciting. Every house in a ward had been 'canvassed' in the weeks leading up to polling day, and lists were drawn up of definite Liberal supporters. On election day, party workers seated outside the polling station asked emerging voters for their names, which were then ticked off the electoral register. By about 5pm (I can't recall the time exactly) those who WERE Liberal supporters but who HADN'T voted were chased up. People (like me) ran up drives, knocked on doors and asked hapless residents if they'd like a lift to the polling station. Then we went to the nearest phone box (yes, phone box) and reeled off to party HQ the addresses where transport was needed. Cars buzzed back and forth. There was quite an adrenalin buzz, especially as zero hour approached (was it 8pm or 9pm?) It was very effective, and in a borough such as ours where Lib and Con were neck and neck, it was generally recognised that working this system efficiently made a big difference.

Hard to imagine it nowadays! Wot, lifts from perfect strangers, elf'n safety?

Then you must be younger than I'd assumed, ardy!

This was still regular practice in the early 1980s - as well I remember from having given a disabled elderly lady living in the top flat of a council tower block a lift to the polling station, to be told as we dropped her off back home, "Thank you young man - I voted Conservative this time, not Labour".

[french frank]

This was still regular practice in the early 1980s - as well I remember from having given a disabled elderly lady living in the top flat of a council tower block a lift to the polling station, to be told as we dropped her off back home, "Thank you young man - I voted Conservative this time, not Labour".

Absolutely - anyone who lived some way from the polling station and needed a lift was marked for a helper's car to call round. Especially if they seemed otherwise not very likely to bother.

One story was of a helper turning up with a car and the woman not very keen to turn out. Excuse: "I've got me slippers on."

[jean]

...On election day, party workers seated outside the polling station asked emerging voters for their names, which were then ticked off the electoral register. By about 5pm (I can't recall the time exactly) those who WERE Liberal supporters but who HADN'T voted were chased up...

We did this until very recently, though I always found it a bit intrusive asking people to identify themselves to me! Some people are happy to tell you of course, and even to indicate how they've voted by putting their poll card in your box. (I knew a party worker who used to add bundles of poll cards obtained from elsewhere to the Green Party box, to make it look as if our support was even greater than it actually was.)

[french frank]

We did this until very recently, though I always found it a bit intrusive asking people to identify themselves to me!

If you sit alongside the tellers for other parties, the voters tend to think of you as at least semi-official. And the officer in charge of the polling station will sometimes be happy to find chairs. This was all very friendly and if someone showed their card to one party worker but wouldn't show it to the others, it wouldn't matter because they wouldn't be down as one of your supporters.

Also if there was a sudden rush of voters it was etiquette to share the numbers with the other tellers.

[ardcarp]

This was all very friendly and if someone showed their card to one party worker but wouldn't show it to the others, it wouldn't matter because they wouldn't be down as one of your supporters.

Also if there was a sudden rush of voters it was etiquette to share the numbers with the other tellers.

Oh indeed there was cameraderie.

But

Then you must be younger than I'd assumed, ardy!

er, sadly not. This must have been late 50s early 60s. Jo Grimond was leader of the Liberals. I heard him speak in person several times. Impressive, patrician.

[DracoM]

It still happens, ardcarp, in my area, almost exactly as you describe.

[french frank]

It still happens, ardcarp, in my area, almost exactly as you describe.

Just that down 'ere we don't ask for names but polling numbers (on the polling card). If people don't have their card with them they are politely asked if they would mind checking up with the polling agent inside. Most are happy to do so, especially if it's explained that it saves them being disturbed later on.

Good result, DracoM