In the news

Other than funerals!
I don’t know anyone who is still a regular catholic church goer any more, even amongst those really steeped in it. A few relatives fell in with some charismatics up in the NW and bother god via them, but other than that it’s all gone very meh.

The Irish people I know would agree with that post.

Victim surcharge of less than £100? Ridiculous imo

Not sure SF said it's not the time.

I just want then to sign off the NHS budget! Stupid DUP tantrum meant we still have no healthcare strategy and budget.

Fishy AF: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-61358043

Strategy? I’m not sure that’s a word that the local politicians know 😁

^^
Mr Rahman suggested that one of his first acts would be to scrap low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), which limit traffic in residential areas and have proved controversial with some voters.
"We're going to look at our roads, we're going to consult and reopen our roads," he said.

Yeh he’s a class act, eh? Sorry, but I’m just not having it.

Wow

Once corrupt, always corrupt. And the shit he got up to 5years ago was the worst kind.

I honestly don’t think democracy can be shown to be genuinely upheld, given the history.

There’s a ‘Tower Hamlets: hold my beer’ gag in this somewhere.

Pedantry corner. If the quote is correct, he will consult and reopen. Seems like the decision has been made already so why consult?

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More opportunities to distribute money.

In regards to yesterday;

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Meanwhile Croydon have elected a fucking tory mayor. Given the Labour Council have bankrupted the place its not completely surprising. Only by 550 votes on second preference.
Neither got my vote and mrs-ru went rogue and spoiled her ballot with a sentence for each candidate on why she wouldn't vote for them.
Enema candidate amazingly managed 1300 votes.
Council results still to come later which will also be interesting.

^^ Sounds like every thread on here.

poiled her ballot with a sentence for each candidate on why she wouldn't vote for them.

I completely respect somebody's right to do this, but I have never understood it.

Its not as if anybody pays attention to the manner in which the paper is spoiled. Invalid? Straight into the pile...

Are spoiled ballots counted in any meaningful way? Or is it more for people to feel that they are not being apathetic, and at least making the trip to the polling station?

Edit: This answers a lot of my questions. Spoiled ballots basicaly end up in the same pile as accidentally spoiled ballots.

https://votingcounts.org.uk/spoilt-ballot

You've got to be careful how you spoil it too.

BBC News - Election 2015: MP thanks voter for penis ballot paper mark
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-32658907

To avoid the inevitable legal case if they do it without a sham consultation.

Might be hard to fight the legal battle is the quote is evidence

Well it is a protest vote, showing that you are not apathetic about the election but do not consider any candidate worthy of your vote. AFAIUI the spoilt ballots go in a pile which the candidates can look through to agree they are spoilt and mrs-ru's hope is that therefore there was a small chance of her feelings being registered.

I get it. I suppose im just cynical that anybody pays attention. If spoiled ballots are considered thats one thing, but if nobody reads them I'm not sure it is even as impactful as just not voting. I've never heard spoiled ballots mentioned in an election cycle, only turnout.

NI results gives spoilt votes.

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The count is read out in England too, but they aren't differentiated from accidental spoilage like people voting for too many candidates.

Isn't that the lifelong libdem demographic?