Well well well!

[wolfsong]

So, here in France the Greenies have done smashingly, despite having a mad anti-GMO campaigner as one of there representatives!
Also noteworthy is the Eastern countries' total lack of green members... (except Latvia)
Meanwhile over the ditch, the BNP have gained seats (much as i love the North...).

So, what do we all think?

Actually looking at it, there is very little real change in Europe as a whole...

[shell]

a hole with water in it?
a hole with water in it?
a hole with water in it?

[The Riff-Raff Element]

As you say, French Greenies have done pretty well. From my point of view the failure of the French FORWINC parties to do well - MPF and FN both failed to gain ground in a right-wing backlash - is a good thing.

What is a bad thing is that so few people could be arsed to vote. We get the politicians we deserve after all and politics is a bit like a garden - put no effort in and it is hardly surprising when you get nothing but weeds and rubbish out.

I'll go and put me soapbox away now.

[wolfsong]

yes the 'abstention' was horrific... I was talking with friends (18 year olds), many WOULD have voted, but the bureaucratic machinations meant that they didn't get their papers, despite having cards!
Well, we'll see, looks like Britain is going towards a general election, might be able to vote in that one...

[Annpan]

Sign the petition to show the BNP don't represent the people of Britain - http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/page/s/notinmyname

I hope we DON'T have a general election too soon. In my opinion most votes would be reactionary, which could be worse than disastrous.

Also, as a pro-devolution, pro-independent Scot - I would (and no-doubt will) be incensed when a Tory government is back in power. Scotland and Wales have spent too many years being governed by a party that we did not vote for..... and before people get up in arms about Gordon Brown, In this country we DO NOT and HAVE NEVER voted for a PM, we vote for our local candidates who in turn and as our representatives vote in a Prime Minister.


I have quite strong political views, but what incenses me more than all is the lack of respect, that people simply will not go into a polling booth, and see that as something to be proud of. Last Thursday was the 20th Anniversary of Tianamen Square, people are dying in parts of world right now for the right to vote, and for a right to have a say in how their country is run. And what do we do? sit on our fat arses whinging about duck islands but consider that going into a polling booth is either to much bother or try to convince ourselves that it is a protest... no it is being lazy.

I had the joy on Thursday of taking my 2.5 year old into the booth with me and explaining that we get to choose who the boss is.

[eccentric_emma]

I completely agree with Annpan regarding not having a general election. The results would definitely be reactionary and I dread to think what may happen.

[Annpan]

Of course you did

Sadley only, what was it, 34% of us did.... in my council are only 25% of us did and in Glasgow only 23%

[ellie12022]

In fact I think more people in Britain voted than in some other countries. I too think it's important, having learnt at school how people fought & struggled to gain the vote. I missed a general election when I was in Romania (and came back to a different government than when I left, and also the Teletubbies had appeared - not suggesting any connection between Tony Blair & the TTs )

The problem is the lack of information on all the parties that you have a chance to vote for..I got to the polling booth and hadn't heard of half of them! It would be much fairer to have a list of all parties before the election.

What surprised me was that one district seemed to have all postal voting? how many votes get lost in the post?

Still, at least we haven't got computer voting, that is very open to abuse.

[Annpan]

Update on BNP http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8091605.stm

[lazyspice]

A friend was moaning about the state of the country the other day and I told her she had no right to do so as she hadn't bothered to vote for the last few years

[ellie12022]

Whatever we may think of them, they have been lawfully elected, and this is supposedly a free country...

Instead of condemning the BNP, perhaps the leaders of the other parties should be questioning why people are voting for them, and address those concerns.

And who knows? Maybe being elected will backfire on them in times to come, as there will be even more scrutiny on them.

[eccentric_emma]

Yes they have been lawfully elected, however I do feel that a lot of the people that voted for them have not researched their vote. My husband was just told that the BNP are no more racist than the MOBO awards. ?!?!?!!! *bangs head against brick wall*

We have emailed the person in particular the link to www.hopenothate.org in the hope of enlightening them...

[Annpan]

Oh, I am all for freedom of speech and lawfully elected politicians...

However, holding a press conference and photo opportunity in front of the houses of parliament (for which he was NOT elected) So that your party can use it as advertising in this country and (more worryingly) abroad is not on.

I do think it is reasonable to protest against fascists and those who spread hatred of specific groups of people in our society.

I would be incensed (there I go, I am very incenced aren't I... perhaps I should find a thesaurus ) If people around the world thought that this was what Britain stood for, but now the story is of the anti-BNP group chanting and throwing eggs and not of a racist scum-bag standing in front of a British landmark preaching hatred of people because of the colour of their skin.


I personally would prefer if anti-BNP groups would not resort to egg throwing and chanting as I believe it looks like bullying, but I haven't thought of a better way to treat people like him.

[Anne A]

but now the story is of the anti-BNP group chanting and throwing eggs and not of a racist scum-bag standing in front of a British landmark preaching hatred of people because of the colour of their skin.

I do hope they were free range eggs? That T**T thinks he represents me, I have signed the "not in my name petition" and intend to get close up and personal every time he tries to speak in Liverpool. I am sooooooo pigged off with this result, i want to move as its making me physically sick thinking hes spreading his bile in the name of the North West.

[Millymollymandy]

Can anyone give me a link to the results for the different areas of the UK because I can't find by googling the results for Merton where I had a postal vote.

Edit: don't worry, found it. Greens came 4th.