VOTES FOR SOLDIERS?

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Most would agree that those who risk their lives to defend democracy should be the first in line to participate in it. However, the Labour government takes the opposite view. There was wide-scale electoral disenfranchisement of the Armed Forces in the 2005 general election and only a high-profile campaign forced the government into limited action.


Once more, there is a real danger that soldiers on operations will be denied the vote once more….and it is difficult not to conclude that this is a deliberate omission on the part of Labour ministers who realise their appalling treatment of the Armed Forces over the past five years – despite their sacrifices – will win them few votes.

This debacle stretches back to the last election, as reported in Total Politics in 2006.

The armed forces have a unique role in the British electorate. Given the same right to vote as the public, they are kept largely out of elections because of the risk of playing party politics yet they should be among the most motivated of our electorate. After all, how many other people would leave the comfort of normal daily and family life to give the ultimate sacrifice for their country?

There have been four Acts of Parliament in the 20th century that have changed the status of service voters and the methods they may use to cast their ballot. It was the furore over the late or non-arrival of registration information and postal ballots plus falling registration numbers for armed forces voters in the 2005 general election that put the media’s spotlight on the issue. This led to provisions in the 2006 Electoral Administration Act which extended the registration period from twelve months to three years. Since then, it has again slipped from the media’s radar but many of the issues remain.

The controversy around the armed forces voting in the 2005 general election began when Andrew Tyrie, Conservative MP for Chichester, who noticed low numbers of service registrations in 2003: “In most places it is very difficult to spot changes in registration numbers”, he says, “but it was a distinct constituency where I could see a dramatic fall in registration. The number of registered voters had halved”.

As the countdown to the 2005 general election began, it became clear that there were problems emerging for armed forces voting. On the 15 April 2005, less than a month before polling day, the Daily Telegraph reported: “up to 80% of military personnel would be unable to vote” because leaflets on how to register were sent too late for service personnel stationed overseas to vote and army websites were displaying out-of-date information.

Douglas Young, of the British Armed Forces Federation (BAFF) says: “The run-up to the 2005 general election was an utter farce. There’s still anger about it”. His report ‘Silence in the Ranks’ detailed the problems faced by members of the armed forces including legislative changes in 2000, website information and postal voting problems.

Andrew Robathan MP for Blaby criticised the government for being dismissive: “I firmly believe the government didn’t want people in the armed forces voting because of the large numbers who wouldn’t vote Labour. The government dragged its heels deliberately”, he says.

That was 2006, this is 2009.

Some progress has been made - the appointment of electoral registration officers and the change in annual registration to three-year registration. This was only the result of a determined campaign by the Army Rumour Service and the then-embryonic British Armed Forces Federation, who brought this to the attention of Andrew Robatham and other MPs. Incidentally, Harriet Harman won some praise for focusing on the 2006 Electoral Registration Act, which modified the system.

However, it is likely that - even if registered - personnel overseas will be unable to vote. The current voting system allows only 11 days, inclusive of weekends, from the point at which candidates’ names are confirmed, to printing in the UK, delivery of papers and posting to the overseas destination and back to the chosen constituency. It simply does not work for those serving overseas.

The alternative proxy vote is exceptionally unpopular and unacceptable. While the system is under review by the Ministry of Justice it will not be in time for 20 per cent of army personnel serving overseas (even excluding those on operations) to vote in the next general election.

There is increasing evidence that few - if any - serving voters and their families were able to vote in the last series of local and European elections. Papers are simply not arriving in time for service personnel to vote and return them.

This is unacceptable in a democracy that owes so much to those who defend it.
No other modern democracy is so lax in ensuring its soldiers can vote....including our former Cold War opponent Russia.

The opposition parties must seize upon this issue and force the government to act. If politicians can be flown out to Camp Bastion for photocalls, then it should be possible to fly out ballot boxes from every constituency to allow the collection of postal votes, and fly them back in good time for inclusion in the postal vote count. Candidates are happy to bend over backwards to get out their core voters at election time – providing minibuses, gathering postal votes (and even filling them in for voters on some occasions) – so why are the Armed Forces serving overseas ignored.

This government has thrown insult after insult in the faces of Armed Forces. Removal of their right to vote is an insult beneath contempt and amounts to gerrymandering. The Conservative Party has shown imagination in embracing a primary-style selection process for local candidates. They must show the same initiative in putting maximum pressure on the government to ensure that Service voters matter after all. Perhaps they chould even charter an aircraft to fly into the various theatres and gather postal votes….in the same way as in a UK constituency. This would generate enormous publicity in support of Armed Forces voters.

Action is needed now to ensure the Armed Forces do not lose the right to vote. 

Nicked in its entirety from here:

http://jess-the-dog.blogspot.com/2009/08/armed-forces-prevented-from-voting.html

I wonder why the Labour party would not want soldiers voting? Anyone got any ideas?

Morg
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TURN OFF THE TV

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Anyone who knows me knows I could have said this.

By thinking for yourself enough to be a BNPer, you're already half way there.

Quite proud to say I got my five-year badge today. But I've been without TV for fifteen years - and even before that I only had one because the wife wanted it ... and even then she used to give me a hard time because my "nose is always in a book".

Think for yourself! Don't think  what ANYONE else tells you, not even me or Mr Griffin, (but ESPECIALLY the TV) - decide for yourself - THINK for yourself. You have a brain - USE it. BNP members are already half way there.

Morg
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NOTHING TO ADD

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Morg
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OPERATION BLACK VOTE

OPERATION BLACK VOTE (Operation ANTI-WHITE?)
http://www.obv.org.uk/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1


What voice do WE have ?
Who stands up for US ?
Who promotes OUR wellbeing ?
What RACE SPECIFIC organisations exist for US ?
Why is it RACIST to promote OUR ETHNIC IDENTITY and CULTURE ?
Where is the Black/Minority/Ethnic organisations standing up for OUR RIGHTS ?
What LAWS have been passed to PROTECT US from DISCRIMINATION (RACIAL, CULTURAL OR POSITIVE) ?
EHRC exists like, Operation Black Vote to benefit those not WHITE or INDIGENOUS in OUR HOMELAND.
But the EHRC sees OBV as a POSITIVE organisation.
It works positively for B/M/E but not for Whitey.
Discrimination is "POSITIVE" when it's DIRECTED AT WHITEY.

So should we have a look at the OVERTLY RACIST "Operation Black Vote" (OBV) ?

Now when I say OVERT RACISM I will give you some examples from the OBV site.

Such as...'OBV Exclusive: How white is our media industry?'
"When OBV did its commendable research into the all-pervasive WHITENESS of BBC Radio presenters last summer, it could have just as easily focused on the lack of racial minorities on national newspapers: and, in particular, on Fleet Street’s columnists."

Is that a RACIST STATEMENT or what ?

"The London Schools and the Black Child Annual Academic Achievement Awards "
"Do you know a Black student who has done exceptionally well in their exams this year?
As in previous years they will be held at the House of Commons in early October. In attendance will be Education Ministers, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson and a host of black celebrities.

But it's an ok type of Racism because it's aimed at WHITEY. This article also has more than one type of Racism against WHITEY.

You know whats wrong with the BRITISH ?
THEY'RE ALWAYS TOO BLOODY WHITE.

"In an effort to break this cycle, the Guardian has launched a writers workshop for minority voices (NON-WHITE)it will teach participants how to come up with ideas, how to structure stories, and how to pitch them to editors. ...

At the same time, we are also taking applications for our annual programmes, the positive action (Anti-White) work-placement scheme, in which 12 minority writers (NON-WHITE) spend up to three weeks at the Guardian across a range of editorial departments, and the the Scott Trust bursary scheme, which funds students through a post-graduate journalism diploma."

British Jobs for anyone but the Indigenous British.
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Councillor
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Parole Board
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Magistrate (Recruiting)
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Welsh AM
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Commissioner
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MP (Recruiting now)
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Understanding Power"

"Since we began our first shadowing scheme back in 1999 over 500 (NON-WHITE) individuals from all backgrounds and from all parts of the UK have taken part in projects that at their core empower individuals to understand and become civic decision makers. " (Common Purpose ?)

Now they want not just ALL WOMEN SHORTLISTS but also B/M/E SHORTLISTS (Non White shortlists)
"His comments come after a cross-party Speakers Conference of MPs recommended that the Government introduce “enabling legislation” to allow parties to use all-BME shortlists if they want to."

Again they are not content with promoting B/M/E, but are now actively seeking to place B/M/E in the decision making and running of our country, at local and national level.
All at the expense of the White Indigenous Population.

Is there a hue and cry about this ?
Of course there bloody isn't.

Operation Black Vote is RACIST and ANTI-WHITE.
Have a look at the OBVs Profile Page
http://www.obv.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=538&Itemid=122

A political mix. But with two things in common.
1) They are all Non-Ethnic British.
2)They all have the same aim.
The PROMOTION of B/M/E over US.

"OBV Profile: Ziauddin Sardar "

Ziauddin Sardar has established himself as one of the leading scholarly writers in Britain having penned over 40 books. OBV profiles the political writer who now stands as a commissioner for Britain’s equality (Anti-White) commission.

"OBV Profile: Kulveer Ranger"
"Kulveer Ranger is no ordinary politician. OBV profiles the former DJ looking at what he hopes to achieve in his political career as a Conservative Party member."
"REFT Meeting"
"The political campaigning for a general election is gathering pace, and we will have plenty of work to do over the next few weeks and months if we are to prevent the gains the far right are anticipating in them and in the local elections.

'Hope not hate' have set up an office in Dagenham to use as a base for campaigning in London, particularly the east and out to Thurrock. A great deal of the campaigning in Barking and Dagenham will be based on telephone canvassing, building up relationships with key groups of voters who can influence the outcome ward by ward and street by street. "

I can smell the HYPOCRISY.
The BNP are having to change it's rules on Membership.
We can't be an ALL WHITE PARTY.
How many groups exist to cater for the needs, wants and aspirations of Black, Minority or Ethnic ?
Hundreds.

How many groups exist to cater for the needs, wants and aspirations of the WHITE INDIGENOUS POPULATION ?
ONE.


But we do have hope.
Our voice is being heard.
Our needs, wants and aspirations will be catered for.
But you need to play your part for Change to happen.

YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND VOTE BNP AT THE GENERAL ELECTION.

EHRC..GET STARTED ON DISMANTLING THESE RACIST B/M/E GROUPS.