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Erudite_Eric5-Feb-14 4:13

Erudite_Eric

5-Feb-14 4:13

Those who seek power should be barred from ever achieving it.

JimmyRopes5-Feb-14 4:15

JimmyRopes

5-Feb-14 4:15

The report of my death was an exaggeration - Mark Twain

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Dalek Dave5-Feb-14 4:42

Dalek Dave

5-Feb-14 4:42

Douglas Adams was a Sage.

---------------------------------
Obscurum per obscurius.
Ad astra per alas porci.
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur.

Frank Alviani5-Feb-14 4:51

Frank Alviani

5-Feb-14 4:51

You have our sympathy.

Gregory Gadow5-Feb-14 5:06

5-Feb-14 5:06

I have to say, British elections confuse me. In the US, you cannot represent a district unless you live in it, and elections are for individuals, not for parties who then appoint someone into a seat the party has won. Our system is flawed, sure, but the British system seems far more prone to corruption and malfeasance.

hairy_hats5-Feb-14 5:27

hairy_hats

5-Feb-14 5:27

Gregory.Gadow wrote:
not for parties who then appoint someone into a seat the party has won

That's not how it works...

Gregory Gadow5-Feb-14 5:41

5-Feb-14 5:41

That is the impression I've gotten from reading news over the years about British elections, that the person who stands for election is basically a place-holder for the party, and not necessarily the person who ends up holding the office. It is also my impression that independent candidates are effectively barred, as a person cannot run without a party's backing.

If you can point me to an online resource with correct information, I would be appreciative: I'm something of a political geek and I actually find this stuff interesting.

chriselst5-Feb-14 5:44

5-Feb-14 5:44

Gregory.Gadow wrote:
That is the impression I've gotten from reading news over the years about British elections, that the person who stands for election is basically a place-holder for the party, and not necessarily the person who ends up holding the office. It is also my impression that independent candidates are effectively barred, as a person cannot run without a party's backing.

All of that is very not true.

There have been a number of independent MPs over the years, and even more independent Councillors.

chriselst5-Feb-14 5:50

5-Feb-14 5:50

Information for Candidates for the European elections this year[^]

Who can and cannot stand, how to stand as an independent, how to stand as a member of a party.

Gregory Gadow5-Feb-14 5:53

5-Feb-14 5:53

It seemed that Dave was being asked to stand for a local office. Are the election rules the same as for election to the EU Parliament?

chriselst5-Feb-14 5:57

5-Feb-14 5:57

Kind of, because the European Elections are coming up this year across the country the website is running guidance on them. Dave is standing in a by-election (an election held out of the normal time because of the death or standing down of the incumbent).

I believe to stand for a council as Dave is doing you have to live or work in the area covered by the seat. Who can and cannot stand in local elections[^]

If you want to stand you have to pay a deposit (or get someone to pay it for you) and if 2.5% or more vote for you then you get the deposit back.

Gregory Gadow5-Feb-14 6:02

5-Feb-14 6:02

Thanks for the link, this is just the kind of info I wanted.

chriselst5-Feb-14 5:40

5-Feb-14 5:40

There is to be an election, Dave is hoping that his party* will elect him to stand in the election. He is telling us that his party has just him to choose from, but he must still win an election before he can take up the seat.

The electorate will then vote for him or someone else, they will not be voting (directly) for a party. And should whoever wins step down or die before the next election then no-one can be appointed to that seat by the party who previously won, there will have to be another election.

*(whichever party it is, he was Tory but after they refused to select him as a potential parliamentary candidate he was threatening to defect to UKIP to get a shot)