Is this what the European Parliament call democracy

Well, don't forget there are two of them. And they do say that two Eds are better than one....

(Sorry! )

Labour dont seem able to deal with finance in a way you might like your own finances to run.
Cant see Ed being any better than other labour politicians in that regard.

If he marketed himself in that way, he might stand a chance?

papaoscar.

Now we part company again.

Well said, * Pogs *, I listened to the new SNP leader yesterday and could not believe her bile, bitterness and stupidity. I hoped that there would be an improvement but she's worse. Full of bigotry, she seems to have forgotten that over half of Scotland voted against her, and now she seems hell-bent on disrupting Westminter just to give vent to her vindictiveness. Heaven help the poor people of Scotland with her and her cronies calling the shots up there. Anyway, back to more important matters, the future of the UK, with or without Scotland. Its time to get behind Ed M with all his faults, he is the only hope for ordinary people, so support him against the terrible trio of a Cameron, Osborne and May who are now showing distinct signs of panic - they've even wheeled out poor old John Major, their least successful leader, to try and curry favour with the masses. Come on England. Especially Tuesday evening against Scotland at the football!

I kind of agree with you paposcar.

It can't be misunderstood that the SNP are out to disrupt Westminster and I say that having heard it from the horses mouth.

The SNP have declared they will never work with the Tories, no surprise there. However I feel their hatred of the Tories leads me to query how mature their politics can be. A scenario:- The government is Tory, they need to put in place emergency measures to protect the UK and the SNP follow their rule and vote against the Tories come what may, because they can. That would be juvenile. It gives the impression power and hatred are the driving forces not governance for all the people of the UK.

The SNP have declared they will work with and support Labour but the Labour Party has to change it's view on nuclear weapons. Either way if that happens both parties will prove themselves disengenuous. The SNP have mocked, attacked Labour for standing alongside the Liberals and Tories, called them an enemy of Scotland. Now they are doing the exact same and making offers to Labour to have power. Hypocrites, the lot of them.

The West Lothian question has been about for years and it is set to be the case after May the English will be totally unable to make their decisions because of the devolved countries having the upper hand and vote on our decisions whilst we can't vote on theirs. Maybe I could be wrong and the SNP continue to have a sense of what's fair and not vote on matters concerning England but the rhetoric coming from the SNP is not looking too promising.

I don't however feel happy about what happens after next May. I think if the voter is 'supposedly' disenfranchised with politics now. I think the voter could be ashamed of how our politics has been allowed to drag the bottom of the barrel next May because of 'deals to be done' by parties OF ALL COLOURS.

Can you have a UK without non-English involvement at Westminster?
I seem to recall you did not want Scotland to leave the UK.

I think,* Dj*, that the UK political scene has been ripe for change for some time, and the accelerant for that has been the creation of, and increasing devolution to, the Celtic parliaments and Brussels. Westminster is more and more symbolised by the old Queen, doggedly trying to maintain the status-quo against the spreading ripples of change. So has the time has come to reassess UK politics in its totality? I think it has. As an Englishman I am becoming increasingly dissatisfied with all the non-English involvement at Westminster, and I am sure that the reverse applies in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Perhaps the time has indeed come to consider a more federal future for the UK.

Interestingly, papaoscar, the only ex PM. who has not taken his pension in this country is another well-known Scot, Gordon Brown, so maybe Alex Salmond will take his cue from him.

I enjoy watching the politics programme to see who is being grilled by the public accounts committee.

I quite expect to see AS at Westminster,*Dj*, picking up yet another salary and pension, no doubt, but get him away from his cosy northern comfort zone and he'll find that life is very different. Strange that his reaction to personal failure could be to inflict himself on those he wishes to get away from.

Yes, the prospect of a hung Westminster parliament being increasingly fiddled about with by minority members clutching big provincial and nationalist agendas will be a novelty and change the nature of debate, I suspect. More confrontation on the benches, perhaps, no longer separated by the usual two-swords width of space between them. The Sergeant-at-Arms may have to recruit some new bouncers. Perhaps the new English Assembly would be more cosy in the round, located in the Lords after they've been given their marching orders. Wishfull thinking?

Yes but at least you are hearing first hand what is going on Durhamjen and not relying on a politically biased press or politically biased link to a politically biased group.

If you read x or y in the press/media/or link to a politically biased group you only have their twisted view of what was said and/or their conclusion.

If some point was made in the media or political group tomorrow you 'will know' if they are speaking the truth or spinning, something I have witnessed time and time again.

Although Alex Salmond might put your blood pressure up, papaoscar.

Watching it now. It's about Scotland, from Holyrood.
The Scottish Conservative Party Leader is on, looking a bit lonely.

Papaoscar

Good,

Whilst we have different opinions about politics I give you credit for enjoying politics and it is always good to debate.

I am sure you would find it interesting, it's not always as the media portrays it!

I'll give it a go, Pogs.

Not disagreeing papaoscar but there is some decent coverage on BBC Parliament channel.

Far better to see and hear first hand what is being said as opposed to reading links, newspapers or t.v progs. that are usually partisan and can be skewed.

We don't do too bad really.

I didn't see the EU parliamentary debate, I get dispirited enough watching the Westminster follies without adding to my irritation. Democracy does seem to be a flawed diamond, but I'd rather have it than not. Anyway, I think that the most important action in any parliament takes place round back in the the committee rooms, out of sight and sound.

Thanks, pogs, I'll have a wee search

Actually I did find something just by putting into 'search' EuropeanParliamentdebateontaxevasion12/11/14.

I know you have refined skills to mine I'm sure you will find it.

Thatbags

I'm unsure to be honest all I can tell you is I was watching BBC Parliament from 12.30 pm to 0200 am today and the European Parliament was talking about Tax Evasion in general but Junkers role as PM of Luxembourg kept cropping up, hence I was interested to watch.
Junker was on the platform.

The vote for another vice president was after the 'debate'. As per the European Union I can't call it a debate because it appears to me it is just the various factions spouting off their partisan politics and making statements rather than debating. Perhaps the process of how the European Parliament works (or doesn't) is lost on me.

All I can assume it must be available to watch but I don't know how to find it, sorry.

Where can I find more information about this, pogs?