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Jeremy Paxman says 'no votes for pensioners'

(648 Posts)
LucyGransnet (GNHQ) Fri 09-Feb-18 10:34:30

Good morning!

In the Daily Mail yesterday, a story quoted Jeremy Paxman saying that pensioners had 'betrayed young people' and that, as a result, over 65s shouldn't be allowed to vote.

He also said: ‘I think that my generation have behaved like spoilt children. And, like spoilt children, our response is “it’s not my fault”. It’s never our bloody fault.

‘Actually, it is, because we have failed to recognise the consequences of our behaviour.’

Here's the full story: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5370159/Ban-spoilt-elderly-voting-says-Jeremy-Paxman.html

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

Fennel Sun 11-Feb-18 18:30:44

"Do Britons living and working in other EU countries vote in elections held in those countries?"
In France we can vote in the communal ie village elections but not the regional or national elections.

Elegran Sun 11-Feb-18 18:30:53

As you say, it is difficult to find out, but I get the impression that it is not usual for people living and working in another EU country to be able to vote unless they have a passport as a citizen of that country. I don't see that the admin of would be easy or even that it would be desirable without reciprocity.
There is an interesting organisation which pairs individuals living in one another's countries and agreeing to use their ex-pat votes as the other would do if they could. citizensforeurope.org/projects-activities/project-archive/vote-exchange/

Elegran Sun 11-Feb-18 18:31:57

Thank you, Fennel That is what I took out of the stuff I found - local but not national.

Chewbacca Sun 11-Feb-18 18:40:38

So that means that the UK affords resident EU nationals the same voting rights as other EU countries affords to other resident EU nationals. What is the argument for changing this in the UK?

MawBroon Sun 11-Feb-18 19:23:31

So that rules him out (at 68 this year)
One thing I really hate is people disparaging their own generation no doubt to appear “cool” and “down with da yoof “
Who is he kidding.

Overthehills Sun 11-Feb-18 19:26:14

Just to put the record straight - paddyann does not speak for all of Scotland.
I voted Remain as did everyone in my family. I voted No Thanks, as did everyone in my family, as did 55% of the Scottish population. That is a fact and, as a result of that fact, Scotland is part of the UK which, disastrously in my opinion, voted for Brexit.
We do not all think of the English as “little Englanders” and resent them for “dragging” us out of Europe.
paddyann I hope you don’t come to regret the words “hell mend them” if you live to see an independent Scotland.

mcem Sun 11-Feb-18 19:48:44

A very experienced teacher gave us newcomers good advice which I've never forgotten. Clearly it applies here to those with very entrenched opinions.
'Some people have many years of experience but others have the same experience repeated over many years.'
Being older does not necessarily make you wiser.

POGS Sun 11-Feb-18 20:24:20

I am quite surprised how many posters agree with Paxman and would therefore be content to forfeit their right to vote at 65.

I would fight to keep my democratic vote.

POGS Sun 11-Feb-18 20:34:36

paddyann

What do you call the voters in Wales who voted Leave?

nigglynellie Sun 11-Feb-18 20:40:19

I know Paddyann does not speak for a every one in Scotland, and I know that I am being disingenuous in rising to her comments. Apologies to any I may have offended.

lemongrove Sun 11-Feb-18 20:55:57

Paddyann can only speak for herself, she does not have the backing of all of Scotland, in fact a lot of Scots have said no to the SNP and their dream of a break from the Union.
Considering how foul her comments are about England it’s amazing how little anyone says to her , which no doubt shows a high level of tolerance from all us ‘Little Englanders’ both on this thread and many others.

Chewbacca Sun 11-Feb-18 21:05:10

Well said lemongrove.

Overthehills Sun 11-Feb-18 21:20:41

Nigglynellie you didn’t offend me. But I hope you didn’t mean what you said about a second “indyref” - heaven (or whoever you believe in) forbid!

nigglynellie Sun 11-Feb-18 21:43:45

No I didn't! I just felt so angry at England ALWAYS being portrayed as the big bad wolf! I know we're not perfect, but surely, not a dictatorship!!! Actually I think the breakup of the union would be a tragedy for all of us particularly Scotland and personally I'd be very sad to see you go.

durhamjen Sun 11-Feb-18 22:13:06

It was the English parties who told the Scots that the only way they had of remaining in the EU was to vote to remain part of the UK, was it not?
They lied.

lemongrove Sun 11-Feb-18 22:23:05

No, they didn’t lie at all. That was the true situation at that time, if Scotland had broken away from the Union then the EU wouldn’t have wanted them.Just as the situation in Spain could have worked out.

nigglynellie Sun 11-Feb-18 22:23:06

No they didn't, this was before the referendum and was said in good faith at that time by all three parties, not just the conservatives. The unexpected referendum result of course changed all that. Politicians, for once didn't lie, they were over ruled by events! But of course you know that dj!

durhamjen Sun 11-Feb-18 22:59:07

Of course they lied. They had no idea what would happen at a UK referendum and they knew that was likely to happen soon. I did say that English parties lied, not just the Tories. Perhaps you ought to read more carefully.

Jalima1108 Sun 11-Feb-18 23:02:58

Who is he kidding.
Himself MawBroon, and perhaps he's trying to please his young girlfriend and pretend he's one of 'da yoof'.

durhamjen Sun 11-Feb-18 23:08:39

"In January 2013, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, committed the Conservative Party to a referendum before the end of 2017 on UK membership of the EU if they won the 2015 general election. Legislation for an in/out EU referendum was approved by the House of Commons in November 2013. Studies showed some divergence in attitudes to the EU in Scotland and the rest of the UK. Although a Scottish government review based on survey data between 1999 and 2005 found that people in Scotland reported "broadly similar Eurosceptic views as people in Britain as a whole", Ipsos MORI noted in February 2013 that voters in Scotland said they would choose to remain in the EU in a referendum, while there was a majority for withdrawal in England."

This was before the Scottish vote.

Rocknroll5me Mon 12-Feb-18 10:55:06

The less educated voted leave.
Paxman wouldn’t dare say ‘the less educated should not have the vote’ though that is what he means. Only about 5% of Over 65’s were educated to degree level. 45% of the youngest demographic are. Then that brings in the whole class debate because education is not relatable to natural intelligence. But in something as important as this referendum education did matter.

sunseeker Mon 12-Feb-18 10:59:32

Sorry Rocknroll have to disagree with you. The most educated person I know (scientist who has worked with NASA) shouldn't be allowed out on his own! The least educated man I know (left school at 15) has much more experience of life and I would trust his opinion above many people. As someone once said common sense doesn't come with a degree

grannygranby Mon 12-Feb-18 11:31:56

I did say that education was not relatable to intelligence and that was a class issue. However education is a highly valuable resource which equips many people with the ability to source research and confidently understand complex issues which go above the instinctive responses (which can be true and real in some respects) of immigrants out.
Really I'm just saying that Paxman wouldn't have dared use many other categories (class, gender, race etc) to exclude from the democratic process. It was provacative and silly.
As a democratic society we have decided to have a parliamentary democracy and vote for the most able contestants who put themselves up in our locality. It was extreme folly to put such an important complex decision into the hands of the vox populi.
The answer is not to use referendums and never exclude any sector from voting in elections!

Elegran Mon 12-Feb-18 12:09:39

The hoi polloi with the voice of the people are mostly well supplied with common sense, and can make sensible decisions IF they have not previously been fed for years with a diet of blaming the EU for any unpopular decision made by the government of the day (any day, any government) , coupled with the instincts of the press to make capital out of any possible unrest and use "Johnny Foreigner" as a scapegoat.

POGS Mon 12-Feb-18 16:52:00

Am I missing something?

Why are some posters sticking with the EU Referendum result as the sole reason Paxman believes the over 65 's should not be allowed to vote. He is making a generalised comment about all of us . If you agree with him then don't be a hypocrite , simply don't vote.

He is basically saying we are either pig s--t thick , have no future because we are nearing the knackers yard so should butt out of the decision process altogether as to how the government is both elected or run. We are a greedy self centred bunch of spoilt children sitting on our arses while our houses make us money.

Well he doesn't speak for me as unlike Paxman I may be pig s--t thick because I never went to University . I think his whole diatribe is actually that of a middle / upper class , self proclaimed educational elite prat who has probably never had to do a menial job or understands what others have had to do to makes end meet.

TWAS EVER THUS.