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

April 2nd is the descision date I think.

Indeed.
I'm a little concerned that they are having the election nearly a year beforte they have to - what do they know that we don't? - but don't see that foot and mouth should be used as an excuse to delay it...it sets a very dangerous precedent when the financial wellbeing of a section of the community is put ahead of the right of the people to elect a government.

I think it affects people's ability to vote rather then it being about their financial needs. Don't be fooled by this postal vote thing either. Postal vans going from far flung farm to far flung farm delivering ballot papers? Sounds dodgy to me and how exactly are people in voluntary isolation on their farms meant to post them back?

MaW, when I was at Uni I voted in the constituency that I had most chance of affecting, i.e. where I lived with my folks was a safe 18,000+ conservative majority, but in Leeds I was able to vote tactically with a postal vote to try and oust the sitting MP with a slim majority, so you should check out what the vote was like last time

Given that the farmers in isolation are still getting groceries and (presumably) mail, I wouldn't have thought that this would pose much of a problem. After all, the number of such cases is probably quite small, a few hundred at the most. Arrangements could be made.
And of course, the census is happening at the same time. If you delay the elections due to isolation worries the census should really be delayed as well (and I guess that would need emergency legislation as well).
I still think there would need to be a fairly big escallation in the crisis to cancel the election (rabies outbreak, anyone?)

Movement in the F&M effected areas is severely limited, including movement by the Royal Mail. A delay in the general election would not interfere with peoples constitutional rights, the government has almost a 12 month window in which to hold the general election. The big problem is the local elections due on May 3rd, to cancel these would require an emergency act of parliament to change the law.

Oh dear.
Well, I'm not sure I want to vote anyway. Are there any people out there who have a chance of doing what they say they're going to do? Never seems like it to me...

I think I'll go do a Marvin.

[reply to old post]

There are different words, or at least there shouild be. The German (and English) word for a French billion is 'milliard'.

Well its definate, the local elections have been pushed back to June 7th, so this now looks like the prime candidate for the general election aswell.

As to the reasons: see 'h2g2 and the UK General Election' at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A528103

The bottom line is: anything related to {subject unspeakable, see above} will be ***** out by the [[[]]], for reasons explained at [see link above, if still ****ible].

Well it will be when the moderators decide it is, which is a shame. As parliment hasn't had an announcement that there will be a general election in the UK I can't see how it affects us yet, that and the policy needs to be announced on the site.

This policy /is/ in effect, though not yet officially announced --otherwise please correct me, that's what I gathered after reading the entry and a few of the conversations there

Guess that's just like the election race in the UK then...

Shhhh! For goodness sake don't mention the 'e' word.
If you must, please disguise it by using erection...no that won't stand up either .

That was the question of an opinion pollster in Hongkong...

'Please tell me, do you have elections?'

To which one fellow replied: 'Yes of course, evely molning!'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A528103 - well its taking the P isn't it, the US election forums here were fantastic, what a pity such a narrow minded editorial decision has been made.

Will we be able to talk about the local elections or is that banned too?

That's banned too, because they occur on the same date and so discussing one thing where loads of erm, carbon based bipedal lifeforms mark sheets of pressed wood pulp in order to decide their future leadership could be construed as daring to have an opinion about another such item.

Stinks if you ask me, I'm going to write to my MP about it...

There is a site I'm testing at the moment, you can find a link to it at the top of my h2g2 user page. You all might like to check it out if you want to talk about the UK elections.

Surely the reason they are having the election early is to get it over before the Recession really bites!!