h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Perhaps it would help if families received more financial help from the state?
On the whole I agree with you Mackay, but I think it is important to acknowledge that not everyone is maternal enough to be a full time parent. One might argue that they shouldn't have children, but you can't tell in advance how well you'll make the transition from working woman to mother.

Oh I agree 100% that motherhood is undervalued, both by the state and socially.

Well when I voted there were separate ballots for a national representative and local council elections, what was that about? What exactly does the local council do? Have I even got the name right?

Probably County Council. Local councillors represent a small area of 2 or 3 parishes (in rural areas anyway) & sit on the District Council (deals with licensing, planning, environmental health, housing etc). County Councillors represent a larger area & sit on the County Council dealing with education, police etc.

Does that help?

From the ICAN section of the BBC:

They [MPs] are elected to serve their constituency. Their main use to constituents is tackling the problems that arise from the work of central government, representing their concerns in Parliament and acting as a figurehead for the local area.

MPs can help with any problem that comes about from the work of central government.

+ Benefits, pensions, tax and national insurance

+ Immigration

+ Issues connected to economic regulation, consumer protection, employment law, data protection, genetics, energy, railways, transport safety or general mal-administration by government departments

+ NHS and Hospitals

+ Schools closures and grants.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ican/A1183321

Also from ICAN:

The structure of local government in the UK.

There are almost 500 local councils or ‘authorities’ in the UK, which have two main structures: single and two-tier systems. This situation is further confused because of the wide range of names that councils can have.

Single-tier authorities
Wales: 22 unitary authorities
Scotland: 32 unitary authorities
Northern Ireland: 26 unitary authorities
England: 36 metropolitan authorities in 6 areas:

West Midlands – 7
Merseyside – 5
Greater Manchester – 10
South Yorkshire – 4
West Yorkshire – 5
Tyne and Wear – 5
33 London Boroughs (some functions are under the control of the Greater London Authority, such as transport)

47 English unitary authorities

The two-tier system
The rest of England, covering mostly rural areas, has a two-tier system with responsibilities divided between county and district councils. There are:

34 county councils, such as Buckinghamshire County Council
238 district councils, such as Aylesbury Vale District Council

Parish and community councils
In addition to unitary, county and district councils, local areas are also represented by parish and community councils. Parish councils do not have much formal political clout but they can be very influential at a local level.



My Proposition:

1 National Vote for 1 candidate per party/independent candidate.

This would be based on a "first past the post" system (an overall majority) and would return one, overall political party or provison for a coalition if a hung parliament existed.

1 Local Vote for 1 candidate per party/independent candidate.

This would be based around proprtional representation.

The local candidate elected would stand as the Council Representative at Parliament in Westminster and would deal SOLELY with local issues in a national forum. The local councillors, standardised in all constituencies as the Constituency Council, would then carry out their tasks as normal.

In essence, not much upheaval at all. A much more linear style to the advancement of issues. Your "former MP" would still be unable to carry out the more individualistic affairs of the constituency but, perhaps, have a higher profile than at present with the potential for more involvement at constituency level. Your local council loses none of its powers but has (potentially) a more influential aspect to Parliament issues and directives from Parliament.

I am aware of the fact that the phrase Council Representative at Parliament has CRaP as an anachronym. Perhaps that should be a different moniker?

I was thinking more of 1 vote for a MP as per now, and 1 vote measured in a PR fashion for a second house (House of Lords representative) this being to prevent the second house just becoming a nodding donkey for the first house, as well as to allow minorities a voice in the running of the country.

Local elections, where there are often multiple candidates, I would leave alone.

Also a good idea.

Certainly the two ideas are much better than at present.

It was indeed me who made the comment about the Tory vote having nowhere to go, and i stand by it, particularly as they are clearly ging to spend the next year tearing themselves to pieces.

To return to the West Lothian question - until such time as Scotland is *fully* independant, with the ability to decide both tax and economic policy, it is entirely right and proper that it should be represented in the UK's Parliament.

And before you shout 'why haven't they got?', investigate the hole the loss of North Sea Oil would make in the UK economy.

How do you think North Sea oil would have been produced using Scotch capital ?

Morning Blues Shark,

What makes you think that if Scotland was given 'independance' it would
take possession and control over North Sea Oil?

Novo

Well, firstly, the vast majority of the rigs would be in Scottish territorial waters, not UK ones.

Secondly, the vast majority, if not all, of the actual product comes ashore in Scotland.

Diffiult to see how an English Parliament would claim to have control of it under those circumstances.

I wasn't even aware that the UK still owned North Sea Oil/Gas

Working for the best known British supplier of Gas (clue's in the comment) I am aware that there was a time that the event of the North Sea rigs meant that both oil and gas production would mean cheap (or even cost-free!) oil/gas-related products.

Obviously, this proved too easy hence the extortionate gas and oil prices we see in this country. Or rather the extortionate supply and petrol prices (to name but two) we see in this country.

I wouldn't have thought that the Scottish Parliament would leave the UK entirely, even if it were to become more independent.

The thing is that individual Parliaments would look after their country's concerns, the UK Parliament would look after the nation's concerns, I believe.

Perhaps we should devolve entirely though?

It would make a good few more entries for the Eurovision Song Contest!

Indeed not, and I don't believe it's anybodies best interests for them to do so.

BUT, as long as they do remain part of the UK, they get at voice in Westminster, hence the West Lothian Question.

Which isn't a problem for me as it keeps a sensible balance against all the stupid arses in the south-east.

Hi B S

How far exactly are the predominantly producing oil fiels in the North Sea, and are they not 'outside' territorial waters?

Even if 'inside' are they not privately owned but government licenced? and would the tax revenue based on their production be paid to the licencors.

I seem to remember that many years ago, when thse fields were opened up, the discussion about Scotland rubbing it's hands with glee was to the effect that the above points meant that the tax revenue would not fall to Scotland , but perhaps I am wrong?

Novo ,blackcat>

My memory is hazy, but I'm sure I remember this being a point raised during the debate, probably by Alex Salmond and his merry crew.

As I say, it's a moot point. I personally don't think Scotland wants (or needs) full independance.

But then, like i say, I don't have a problem with the West Lothian Question.

Hi B S

I DO...have a problem with 'The Question'. It seems patently unreasonable to me. Maybe we shouldn't go there again though, w debated hotly on the POV Boarsd before I came here!

Regards
Novo

Well, the solution is simple. You need to start pressing for Scottish independance. That would solve the problem.

But don't expect any help from the big three parties or the Scottish.

As to the matter of working mothers, well, I guess most people would like to have the economic independance to be able to choose whether one partner stays at home.

I know for a fact that if SLG and myself were to have children, we simply wouldn't have the option as to whether that was the case.

Without a fundamental shift in the economy of the country I'd guess anyone living south of the line from the Wash to Bristol is on very thin ice attempting to have only one bread winner. It would certainly be untenable for those in the public sector.