MP's expenses... is this the beginning of the end?

[bobleponge]

I'm learning so much, thanks Bob.



From what I've read on Wikipedia, King George V refused to dissolve parliament in 1923 when requested by Stanley Baldwin, but instead invited Ramsay MacDonald to become PM.



I understood that if there were more spoiled ballots than all the parties got collectively, they couldn't create a coalition government because they wouldn't be able to collate enough votes.
Perhaps we need a Guy Fawkes figure to 'dissolve' parliament for us, V for Vendetta style!

Wiki is right and I bow to its omnipotence. I had forgotten about MacDonalds ascension to power.

The question of more spoiled ballots than not, is purely a hypothetical scenario. There are enough fringe parties in the UK who would get voted in, thus, at worst, a coalition government would be formed.
The further to the edges of politics one moves, the more passionate the supporters are, thus in times of major ballot spoiling by the masses, the only winners are the extremist parties.

However, as I did say earlier, I am certainly no expert on the constitution, despite recently explaining our system to some French types after a few bottles of 51.

[bobleponge]

Emigration?

Politically at least, the grass is rarely greener.

[zazen999]

Emigration?

Revolution?

[FionaH]

Revolution?

Count me in!

[piskieinboots]

And if Dear Liz was Head Honcho, who would her advisers be?

And if we had no Dear Liz - the alternative would be.... President Bliar (no typo!) or Brown

[OllieMartin]

And if we had no Dear Liz - the alternative would be.... President Bliar (no typo!) or Brown

King Ollie of the United Kingdom of Ollietopia.

I'm going to assume I can count on the grapes to support me in my coup d'état. Of course, if we fail, high treason is one of the crimes still punishable by death!

Totally worth it though!

[bobleponge]

Now, you see, there is another of the problems with the laws of our country.

There are I believe one or two crimes still able to receive the death penalty, and yet the death penalty is no longer on the statute.

Far too busy sorting out their ornamental duck houses to worry about anomolies in the law.

[TEB]

I cannot see that anything will change because of this, a few out of hundreds will be made a scapegoat and it will all settle down, if they can give a Baronetcy to the ex speaker who was forced out of office over it, I cannot see them doing much about anything, except for using it as an excuse to rid the parties of their own troublemakers.

[piskieinboots]

would 'you' do their job?

[Glutton4...]

Emigration?

Politically at least, the grass is rarely greener.

Revolution?

Count me in!

Sire, the Peasants are revolting!

Count me in too. At least your average French DO something when they're peed off at their lot - what do us Brits do?

Put up with it.

[Glutton4...]

would 'you' do their job?

Can I have a HUGE expenses budget?

[piskieinboots]

Can I have a HUGE expenses budget?

No, but you can have a duck house

[Glutton4...]

No, but you can have a duck house

Don't need one, I've got a Chicken Coop!

[OllieMartin]

Now, you see, there is another of the problems with the laws of our country.

There are I believe one or two crimes still able to receive the death penalty, and yet the death penalty is no longer on the statute.

Far too busy sorting out their ornamental duck houses to worry about anomolies in the law.

Well I've done some research (also known as searching Wikipedia) and apparently the death sentence for treason and piracy were abolished with the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and section 21(5) of the Human Rights Act 1998 abolished the provision for the death penalty under military jurisdiction (including wartime).
The only way the death penalty can now be invoked is if the UK withdraws from the Council of Europe.

You can, however, receive the death penalty in some of the West Indies after they severed links with the British court system in 2001 as Judicial Comittee of the Privy Council would deny or delay executions.