The 2015 Popularity Contest (aka UK General Election )

[Coach]

It’s farcical that the Tories plan to abolish the Human Rights Act. Every other major democracy has a Bill of Rights. We are apparently going to be offered a British Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. This ridiculous title suggests firstly that rights are not universal, that we alone in Britain can somehow have our own human rights that belong only to us and do not apply to nasty foreigners. Secondly, it implies that rights are not unalienable, that they are instead reciprocal, only earned by acting responsibly.

The biggest joke of all is that government is responsible for upholding human rights, not just for its own citizens, but for everyone who falls under its jurisdiction wherever it operates.

This is the bottom line for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ratified by the UN in 1948 and basis for the European Convention on Human Rights that the Tories hope to tame. Article Two states that every individual is entitled to the rights and freedoms set out in the UDHR, without distinction of any kind.

By seeking to introduce responsibilities into our Bill of Rights, the Tories make our freedoms conditional. This is a slippery slope, as, once unmoored from unalienable right, the conditions will be set by those in power. This undermines the whole premise of human rights – that they protect the individual from arbitrary use of power. It would be terribly ironic if, after winning the 2015 election, the Tories try to deprive us of our rights as we celebrate the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta.

If the Tories want to promote responsibility, then they shouldn’t be attempting to wriggle out of their obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. It sends out the message that you can choose which laws you respect. Furthermore, it undermines Britain’s standing in the world, robbing us of any pretence of moral leadership in international affairs.

And it shows how worried the Tories are about the next election – they are willing to trash Britain’s reputation and reinvigorate the case for Scottish independence – all in the vain hope of outflanking UKIP on the right.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

So which party is the working class to vote for?

Conservatives - No
Liberal Democrats -No
UKIP - an even bigger NO

If you can't afford private health care or private education, if you don't have decent private pension provision, if you can't afford private care provision, if you care about the elderly, the sick and the needy then there is no option but to vote Labour.

If you are dependent upon state provision òf services or benefits, if you're in employment but adversely effected by the cost of living crisis then you have no choice but to vote Labour.

There's £37 billion of cuts coming to pay for tax cuts at the end of the next parliament.

The choice and consequences are that clear!

I reckon Lee Kuan Yew would say none of them have the right answer to be honest. Western governments are a busted flush. None of them are capable of spending within their means, and few amongst the electorate seem willing to accept what it would take to do so.

 

[McBain]

 

[EFCNIK]

Tell them Pat. TELL THEM.

Heroic. Its like hes talking directly to @Clint Planet

 

[Del]

Tell them Pat. TELL THEM.

Heroic. Its like hes talking directly to @Clint Planet

Didn't know you was that old Nik

 

[EFCNIK]

Didn't know you was that old Nik

Time has not been kind to me Del.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

He reminds me of this bloke for some reason

 

[EFCNIK]

Another absolute classic. Look how angry and perplexed Ben Afleck gets. He cant even process the very good argument made at the start and gets all flustered and starts bleating accusations unrelated to what the guys are talking about. Reminds me of a few of you on here, liberals who aren't liberal and are blatently intolerant of difference of opinion.

 

[Wat Tyler]

Bill Maher lol.

 

[EFCNIK]

Bill Maher lol.

Not him. Pay attention to the guy to his left. Also afleck is the laughing stock here.

 

[Kiwi]

Just saw this today. Thought it was pretty funny

 

[Coach]

Reminds me of a few of you on here, liberals who aren't liberal and are blatently intolerant of difference of opinion.

As opposed to foreigners.

 

[EFCNIK]

As opposed to foreigners.

This makes sense....

 

[Blue 1]

Ben Affleck really wasn't listening there.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Ben Affleck really wasn't listening there.

I'm surprised none of the other panelists asked him if he liked them apples as they delivered their line.