Thanks everyone for confirming my suspicions. Yes I will be taking a good book, War and Peace should do plus I believe I am entitled to The Complete Works of Shakespeare and my choice of God Book (I'll plump for Dawkins).
That's what I thought and until I looked at who's standing I wasn't going to vote. But, here in Essex we have some cookie extremists standing, so I voted in the end just to act a a blocker.
Although I've described this whole exercise as a farce, I think reasonable people should vote because the racists and Fascists will certainly be looking to these elections as their chance of gaining power through a small turnout.
Complete and utter Americanised bollocks, brought in as a populist sop to the right-wing nutters in the press and to make it look like something is "being done" by the government.
I thought the country was supposed to be skint? So, they're shutting down Lewisham A&E but finding 85K per year to fund this crap? Labour should be up in arms about this but I have the feeling that this is the sort of shite that Blair probably helped to create.
The cost of these elections has been estimated at £75m, according to this police authority site - and nobody in their right mind holds an all-out election in this country in November by choice.
The cost of these elections has been estimated at £75m, according to this police authority site - and nobody in their right mind holds an all-out election in this country in November by choice.
Could probably keep Queen Mary's open for that money.
Wow, Thanks for the BBC link. I don't actually want to see any of the Kent candidates get in place now. Awesome.
I'd read about Uncles before and that was a no-no.
Dai Liyanage MBE - Wants to shift more responsibilty to civilians; I can't see the existing officers liking this - and nor do I. Also, does he even have this power? Craig MacKinlay - Actually doesn't look too bad, but compared to Liyange and Barnes he seems to have zero experience. (An accountant and tax adviser...) Steve Uncles - Doubt he'll have the power to make the police adjust their priorities with regards to homeowners defence of property; which is yet another reason to say no to him. (I've read a fair bit about him previously which was enough for a no) Piers Wauchope - Good idea about stopping youth re-offending, but is this not what money is poured into Youth Offending Teams already for? Define 'dealing with 12 different police forces' too. That said he's a Criminal Barrister so knows the law. Harriet Yeo - No. No relevent experience and promises to visit her patch twice a year.. Wow, At least I'm not setting myself up for disappointment if I elect her!
That leaves Ann Barnes.. Who actually looks quite sensible. I'll have to read into what they want in full.
Here in Kent none of the candidates looks up to the job, so far as I can tell from the pitiful amount of information available. How are we supposed to vote under these circumstances? It's a farce, and will end with some very peculiar people, with very damaging agendas in positions of power over those who police us.
Frightening really.
Same here in East Sussex, nothing through the door at all....can't see myself bothering with this.
I voted for Ann Barnes as she is the only one who sent me any literature and she is standing as an independent. I don't think it should be a political post so that was another reason to vote for her.
I voted for Ann Barnes as she is the only one who sent me any literature and she is standing as an independent. I don't think it should be a political post so that was another reason to vote for her.
I think the turnout will be low.
They told me at my polling station that they've never seen it so low.
Gilbert not loons from the left then ? it of course wouldnt actually be a well known (for DECADES)a tool of the extreme left to target low voting areas--such as Union reps etc etc or it of course wouldnt be a tool of left wing TOOLS to scream racists at he top of their collect voices !
Its wrong to have these positions voted for END of. As far as is possible these positions should (and NEED) to be above politics.
I have voted in every election of all types since I was able to but I'm seriously considering spoiling my ballot in order to register my objection to this waste of time and money.
I won't in the end I'm sure and we have at least one candidate who seems viable tbf, but they have zero chance here in Dorset anyway.
The Liberal Democrats have no candidate. It is only right to point out though that one of the independent candidates was (may still be) a long time member of and local councillor for the Liberal Democrats.
It might be that he/she has become disillusioned with the Party and left it. On the other hand it could be a disingenuous ploy to try and mitigate the toxic brand that the Liberal Democrats have become amongst many voters.
Just as long as people go in with their eyes open.
Just voted. Didn't realise you could have a second choice.
just thinking about the American election. Though I’m not sure quite what information was on their 9 page voting magazine, pictures maybe? but why couldn’t they just do a nice simple piece of paper with a box where you put a cross in it. they were queuing up for 3 or 4 hours to get that brochure, then use the computer to cast their vote. mad.
Just voted. Didn't realise you could have a second choice.
just thinking about the American election. Though I’m not sure quite what information was on their 9 page voting magazine, pictures maybe? but why couldn’t they just do a nice simple piece of paper with a box where you put a cross in it. they were queuing up for 3 or 4 hours to get that brochure, then use the computer to cast their vote. mad.
perhaps this indicates that Americans value their hard won democratic rights much more than we British.
for the first time in my adult life I haven't voted. This is my protest at a waste of our money for another layer of bureaucracy and candidates I know nothing about. By abstaining I hope I help to ensure that there is a low turnout which will show what a farce it all is.
The trouble with voter lethargy, inertia and low turnouts is that the politically committed get out and vote and often get the man they want. In extremis, that is how Fascists and Communists came to power, especially in central Europe, leading to chaos ruin and war. I hope this never happens in Grimsby !!
Here in Hinckley......not one election piece on any candidate.....no idea who is standing or what for....so not voting!!
This was my dilemma...so I spent some time a couple of days ago reading a lot of badly drafted websites and self-serving bs, eventually I went for the independent.
Like Kent, I thought the prospective commissioners were a poor bunch here in Essex. I noted a few had connections to the police either as a retired officer or, in one case, the son of a senior officer. It seems to me that the last thing you need in this role is someone who would be biased because they have a previous close connection to the body to be overseen. I declined to have a second choice because there was only one candidiate I thought worthy.
... I declined to have a second choice because there was only one candidiate I thought worthy.
Interesting, the difference in thought processes. I used my second vote because there were several candidates that I thought more unworthy than others.
Comments
Although I've described this whole exercise as a farce, I think reasonable people should vote because the racists and Fascists will certainly be looking to these elections as their chance of gaining power through a small turnout.
Put a peg on your nose, @Airman, and vote.
http://www.choosemypcc.org.uk/candidates/steve-uncles/
And in a taxi...
I thought the country was supposed to be skint? So, they're shutting down Lewisham A&E but finding 85K per year to fund this crap? Labour should be up in arms about this but I have the feeling that this is the sort of shite that Blair probably helped to create.
I'd read about Uncles before and that was a no-no.
Dai Liyanage MBE - Wants to shift more responsibilty to civilians; I can't see the existing officers liking this - and nor do I. Also, does he even have this power?
Craig MacKinlay - Actually doesn't look too bad, but compared to Liyange and Barnes he seems to have zero experience. (An accountant and tax adviser...)
Steve Uncles - Doubt he'll have the power to make the police adjust their priorities with regards to homeowners defence of property; which is yet another reason to say no to him. (I've read a fair bit about him previously which was enough for a no)
Piers Wauchope - Good idea about stopping youth re-offending, but is this not what money is poured into Youth Offending Teams already for? Define 'dealing with 12 different police forces' too. That said he's a Criminal Barrister so knows the law.
Harriet Yeo - No. No relevent experience and promises to visit her patch twice a year.. Wow, At least I'm not setting myself up for disappointment if I elect her!
That leaves Ann Barnes.. Who actually looks quite sensible. I'll have to read into what they want in full.
I agree with you. Anne Barnes is the only candidate who is even vaguely electable.
It's still frightening!
They told me at my polling station that they've never seen it so low.
Its wrong to have these positions voted for END of. As far as is possible these positions should (and NEED) to be above politics.
I won't in the end I'm sure and we have at least one candidate who seems viable tbf, but they have zero chance here in Dorset anyway.
Oh what's the point in it all...
Although in this case, the so-called 'independent' candidate actually nominated the local Lib Dem councillor at the last election!
Interestingly though, the Lib Dems in another part of the same county are supporting the other independent candidate!
All seems very underhand to me...
just thinking about the American election. Though I’m not sure quite what information was on their 9 page voting magazine, pictures maybe? but why couldn’t they just do a nice simple piece of paper with a box where you put a cross in it. they were queuing up for 3 or 4 hours to get that brochure, then use the computer to cast their vote. mad.
One of the villages near us have had a turnout of 7 (seven) so far today....
As it's a PR vote, I voted for the Nazi and the Commie just to balance things out.
I assume most polling stations have an electoral register of about 1500ish if my memory serves right.
So 12 and a half hours after the poll opened, I was the 39th person to vote.
Poll Clerk and PO have a fiver on whether they'll get 50 in through the doors by 10pm.