| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... 21:49 - May 23 with 7537 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
...with the announcement of army on the streets ? |  |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 21:52 - May 23 with 3107 views | WD19 |
I doubt any squaddie is going to follow me into the voting booth to be honest. |  | | |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 21:56 - May 23 with 3091 views | GlasgowBlue |
It's a hard call. Do we let terrorists dictate when we elect our government?
I say we carry on as normal. Otherwise the terrorists have already won.
edit. France deployed thousands of armed military officers on the streets during their election last month. [Post edited 23 May 2017 22:03]
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:06 - May 23 with 3070 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 21:52 - May 23 by WD19 |
I doubt any squaddie is going to follow me into the voting booth to be honest. |
OK I'm going to give my opinion, and that is all it is. But in an extraordinary situation in which the whole electorate will rightly be focusing on this event and the government rightly has to govern and be seen to do so, is it a level playing field. In essence you have a situation where a terrorist act can help determine the outcome of our democracy. This is only made more likely because of the whole "strong and stable " thing where Theresa May now has the opportunity to be seen as such when just 24 hrs ago things were very different.
I do not want this to turn into a row based on party politics and the question in the op is all I am interested in. At the moment my answer would be "no" , I don't know if there are constitutional concerns. | |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:09 - May 23 with 3050 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 21:56 - May 23 by GlasgowBlue |
It's a hard call. Do we let terrorists dictate when we elect our government?
I say we carry on as normal. Otherwise the terrorists have already won.
edit. France deployed thousands of armed military officers on the streets during their election last month. [Post edited 23 May 2017 22:03]
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Interesting that we both refer to the terrorists winning but from completely different directions.....as much as I agree with the notion of carrying on as normal....these are not normal circumstances for an election. | |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:09 - May 23 with 3048 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:06 - May 23 by BanksterDebtSlave |
OK I'm going to give my opinion, and that is all it is. But in an extraordinary situation in which the whole electorate will rightly be focusing on this event and the government rightly has to govern and be seen to do so, is it a level playing field. In essence you have a situation where a terrorist act can help determine the outcome of our democracy. This is only made more likely because of the whole "strong and stable " thing where Theresa May now has the opportunity to be seen as such when just 24 hrs ago things were very different.
I do not want this to turn into a row based on party politics and the question in the op is all I am interested in. At the moment my answer would be "no" , I don't know if there are constitutional concerns. |
I completely accept where you are coming from and I understand this isn't party political point scoring.
However, if we were to postpone now then what is to stop the terrorists doing the same thing next time we go into an election.
We could end up with a permanent government. | |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:13 - May 23 with 3022 views | homer_123 |
The Brexit referendum didn't stop. |  |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:15 - May 23 with 3012 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:09 - May 23 by GlasgowBlue |
I completely accept where you are coming from and I understand this isn't party political point scoring.
However, if we were to postpone now then what is to stop the terrorists doing the same thing next time we go into an election.
We could end up with a permanent government. |
It's a mess isn't it and I dare say that the election was a factor in the timing !
Pleased you realise that the last thing I want is for this to descend into the usual pit of party political name calling. | |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:18 - May 23 with 2988 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:13 - May 23 by homer_123 |
The Brexit referendum didn't stop. |
As tragic as that was it did not affect the national psyche in the same way as this. | |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:21 - May 23 with 2971 views | Guthrum |
Yes. All the major parties take a broadly similar line on national security. Fighting terrorism is a non-partisan issue.
Plus the British armed forces are traditionally politically neutral. Their presence is more likely to make people feel it is safe to turn out and vote than that they will be intimidated into casting their ballot a particular way. |  |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:21 - May 23 with 2960 views | homer_123 |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:18 - May 23 by BanksterDebtSlave |
As tragic as that was it did not affect the national psyche in the same way as this. |
Do you feel this tragic event has then? | |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:24 - May 23 with 2935 views | ElderGrizzly |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:15 - May 23 by BanksterDebtSlave |
It's a mess isn't it and I dare say that the election was a factor in the timing !
Pleased you realise that the last thing I want is for this to descend into the usual pit of party political name calling. |
Although the decision isn't Theresa May's to make.
I'm not defending her, but it's unfair to go down that road and undermine the work of the 'organisation' that makes it. |  | | |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:25 - May 23 with 2931 views | BOjK |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:09 - May 23 by GlasgowBlue |
I completely accept where you are coming from and I understand this isn't party political point scoring.
However, if we were to postpone now then what is to stop the terrorists doing the same thing next time we go into an election.
We could end up with a permanent government. |
You can't stop the election. I agree with you there.
I'm not very comfortable with May giving (very effective) Prime Ministerial statements from Downing Street while no parties are campaigning. We need to get back to a normal election campaign as soon as possible. I understand there will be no campaigning tomorrow. I hope it restarts on Sunday. |  |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:26 - May 23 with 2911 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:25 - May 23 by BOjK |
You can't stop the election. I agree with you there.
I'm not very comfortable with May giving (very effective) Prime Ministerial statements from Downing Street while no parties are campaigning. We need to get back to a normal election campaign as soon as possible. I understand there will be no campaigning tomorrow. I hope it restarts on Sunday. |
I agree with your last point. | |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:27 - May 23 with 2901 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:24 - May 23 by ElderGrizzly |
Although the decision isn't Theresa May's to make.
I'm not defending her, but it's unfair to go down that road and undermine the work of the 'organisation' that makes it. |
I don't believe that was his intention. It was a fair question to ask and his concerns were genuine. | |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:28 - May 23 with 2890 views | ElderGrizzly |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:27 - May 23 by GlasgowBlue |
I don't believe that was his intention. It was a fair question to ask and his concerns were genuine. |
Not saying it was, but I thought it was a point worth making. Others aren't so intelligent as him :) | | | |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:28 - May 23 with 2892 views | bluelagos |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:21 - May 23 by homer_123 |
Do you feel this tragic event has then? |
With the number of dead, we are going to have weeks of updates, news, funerals etc. I think it is a fair question whether say campaigning is suspending for a couple of weeks, and the election pushed back accordingly.
Not sure there is an easy / obvious answer tbh |  |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:30 - May 23 with 2879 views | Coastalblue |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:06 - May 23 by BanksterDebtSlave |
OK I'm going to give my opinion, and that is all it is. But in an extraordinary situation in which the whole electorate will rightly be focusing on this event and the government rightly has to govern and be seen to do so, is it a level playing field. In essence you have a situation where a terrorist act can help determine the outcome of our democracy. This is only made more likely because of the whole "strong and stable " thing where Theresa May now has the opportunity to be seen as such when just 24 hrs ago things were very different.
I do not want this to turn into a row based on party politics and the question in the op is all I am interested in. At the moment my answer would be "no" , I don't know if there are constitutional concerns. |
I do actually agree with you, which I wouldn't normally in these political type debates.
I do think that it could well play into the Tories hands, although I also agree with GB that we can't let them dictate how we run our country.
Truth be told, I don't know what I think the right thing to do is, my biggest fear is the media on both sides using it in some way to try and push their agenda. |  |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:33 - May 23 with 2868 views | HARRY10 |
Depends on what you term 'free and fair'. The referendum certainly wasn't fair in the sense that there was an awful lots of lies peddled that since are trying to be dropped.
Perhaps when political statements have to abide by the same level of 'honesty ' that the media does things might improve. By honesty I mean accountability. That doesn't hold sway at the moment.
Some may know of The Zinoviev letter. The forged letter was printed in the Daily Mail which carried headlines
"On October 25, 1924, four days before the election, the Mail splashed headlines across its front page claiming: Civil War Plot by Socialists' Masters: Moscow Orders To Our Reds; Great Plot Disclosed. Labour lost by a landslide."
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/1999/feb/04/uk.politicalnews6
Unfortunately we live in a very maudlin' and self obsessed society where so many feel that an outpouring of grief is required for any death. If these deaths and injuries had been through a rail accident would there be talk of stopping the election ? So is it the method of the death toll that decides ?
Perhaps the phrase 'Keep calm and carry on' is well suited here. |  | | |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:34 - May 23 with 2855 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:21 - May 23 by Guthrum |
Yes. All the major parties take a broadly similar line on national security. Fighting terrorism is a non-partisan issue.
Plus the British armed forces are traditionally politically neutral. Their presence is more likely to make people feel it is safe to turn out and vote than that they will be intimidated into casting their ballot a particular way. |
However if the media were to pick up where they left off....calling Corbyn a terrorist sympathiser....their claims, right or wrong, would certainly have an even greater impact.
Unfortunately the 'strong and stable' narrative alongside the above is greatly affected by events and is why I highlighted "free and fair". | |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:34 - May 23 with 2848 views | homer_123 |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:28 - May 23 by bluelagos |
With the number of dead, we are going to have weeks of updates, news, funerals etc. I think it is a fair question whether say campaigning is suspending for a couple of weeks, and the election pushed back accordingly.
Not sure there is an easy / obvious answer tbh |
Think we have to continue as normal, as far as the election is concerned.
However, as you say, no easy or right decision here. | |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:35 - May 23 with 2834 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:21 - May 23 by homer_123 |
Do you feel this tragic event has then? |
I believe so. | |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:36 - May 23 with 2833 views | ElderGrizzly |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:34 - May 23 by homer_123 |
Think we have to continue as normal, as far as the election is concerned.
However, as you say, no easy or right decision here. |
Obviously the attack in France just before the election there wasn't on this scale, but they continued with an enhanced police presence.
I'd expect that will be the outcome, unless we see any other attacks between now and then | | | |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:37 - May 23 with 2820 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:24 - May 23 by ElderGrizzly |
Although the decision isn't Theresa May's to make.
I'm not defending her, but it's unfair to go down that road and undermine the work of the 'organisation' that makes it. |
For clarity I was referring to the timing of the terrorist act ! | |
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:40 - May 23 with 2807 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:25 - May 23 by BOjK |
You can't stop the election. I agree with you there.
I'm not very comfortable with May giving (very effective) Prime Ministerial statements from Downing Street while no parties are campaigning. We need to get back to a normal election campaign as soon as possible. I understand there will be no campaigning tomorrow. I hope it restarts on Sunday. |
It was seeing her at the lecturn with the trappings of State that prompted my question.
Edit....in light of Grizzly pointing out the security level is decided by an independent panel maybe they should be responsible for announcing it to the public. [Post edited 23 May 2017 22:42]
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| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:42 - May 23 with 2786 views | homer_123 |
| Can you have a free and fair general election in this atmosphere..... on 22:35 - May 23 by BanksterDebtSlave |
I believe so. |
I'm not so sure to be honest, time, I suspect, will tell. | |
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