UK overwhelmingly rejects changing MP’s first-past-the-post electoral system

Saturday, May 7th 2011 - 04:49 UTC

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UK has voted overwhelmingly to reject changing the way MPs are elected - dealing a bitter blow to Nick Clegg on top of heavy Lib Dem poll losses. Officials say 19.1m people voted in the second UK-wide referendum in history - a higher than expected turnout of 41%. Read full article

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Think
Congratulations Scotland.........................

http://world.caledonianmercury.com/2011/05/07/encouraging-echoes-of-the-argentina-of-1983-in-the-scotland-of-2011/001572
May 07th, 2011 - 03:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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stick up your junta
Yes, well done Scotland in helping in the downfall of the Junta

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mount_Tumbledown
May 07th, 2011 - 06:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Frase
Shame about AV, I felt it was at least a small step in the right direction; the NO campaign was just unbelievable, how it got people to believe the dubious 250 million pounds sum, as well as convincing them that they are too thick for AV and that it would end up with 'President Clegg' and his BNP coalition mates killing babies and soldiers....incredible

That coupled with the gains of the SNP (I personally don't think that a majority would vote for independence, but they should certainly get a referendum) could sentence England to live under Tory government after Tory government...... :(
May 08th, 2011 - 02:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Think
TWIMC

The SNP’s victory in Caledonia opens some very interesting perspectives for Argentina…..

If the Scots become independent……. Do they automatically inherit their due share of the defunct United Kingdom’s claim over the Antarctic, the South Atlantic Islands and all other (extinct)British Overseas Territories?
May 08th, 2011 - 07:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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J.A. Roberts
Why don't you just think for once Think? It's pretty straightforward really. If Scotland left the Union then it would be up to the Falkland Islanders what to do next. You never know, considering how many of the Falkland Islanders have Scots ancestry, they might want a free association with hypothetically newly independent Scotland.
May 08th, 2011 - 11:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Think
Who mentioned the “F” word...........???

Not me, certainly..............!!!

I repeat:
If (and when:-) the Scots become independent……. Do they automatically inherit their due share of the defunct United Kingdom’s claim over the Antarctic, the unhabited South Atlantic Islands and all other (extinct) British Overseas Territories?
May 08th, 2011 - 01:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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GeoffWard
No.
May 08th, 2011 - 02:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Think
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXh4b_jikqU
May 08th, 2011 - 03:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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ElaineB
I think people are reading a little too much into the SNP victory in Scotland. Overwhelmingly, the voters exlained the result as an anti-Labour vote. The former Labour voters were hardly likely to vote Tory, so they voted for the remaining option, SNP. This is born out by the resignation of the Scottish Labour leader.

Independence? I doubt it. The canny Scots have too much to lose financially but I would support a referendum.
May 08th, 2011 - 04:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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stick up your junta
@8
Very romantic Think,now down to earth:-))

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k7VoFiagfs
May 08th, 2011 - 05:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Marcos Alejandro
Scotland wants to get rid of this fake empire, congratulations to them.

“THE UK Government last night gave the green light to a referendum on Scottish independence, conceding Alex Salmond has “the majority and the authority” to ask whether to break up Britain”

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/westminster-vows-not-to-block-snp-independence-vote-1.1100205
May 08th, 2011 - 05:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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ElaineB
Hmmm. I think that is because the overwhelming evidence is that Scottish folks do not want to leave the UK. If you look at the bigger picture Scotland benefits far more financially from being part of the UK than it would standing alone.

It is already a separate country with a separate parliament. When push comes to shove the Scots are sensible about fiscal matters. JMO

I predict it will be like the AV vote; a lot of noise made by a few and no change.
May 08th, 2011 - 06:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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GeoffWard
”If (and when:-) the Scots become independent……. Do they automatically inherit their due share of the defunct United Kingdom’s claim over the Antarctic . . . (etc)?” (Think, #6)

You beg so many questions, Think:

If'
When
Independent
Automatically
Due
Share
Inherit
Defunct
Claim, and finally . . .
United

Putting all these loaded words *in the same sentence* (!) is worthy of only one other person on Mercopress Postings.

Northern Hemisphere football teams are on their final game of the season for going up & down leagues. . . . Is this #6 your bid for the Mercopress Posting Premier League?
May 08th, 2011 - 09:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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briton
I see some of you argies believe in fairies then,
Scotland will never vote for independence unless they have been totally brain washed,
There are many things the scots a famous for, and being stupid is not one of them, alas being greedy and corrupt [is one of them] the only thing Scotland would get in return for independence is, [independent Scottish people temporarily] , I think Mr salmon wants to go into the history books as the man who gave Scotland its freedom, [brave heart rubbish again]
He will in fact probably retire before the shit hit the fan,, because if he stays, he will go down as the man who humiliated the scots into submission,
We don’t have enough time to explain here, but you can bet a shifty load of corruption behind the scenes will be at work here, that’s why he refuses to go for a referendum now,, but will wait and wait until the time is right to jump,
But if he jumps to quickly he will miss the path, and end up in the water, Scotland has invested to much time sweat blood and tears to just break up the most successful partnership in history,
For only a blind brain washed fool would ever contemplate otherwise,
In all logic the scots will if given a referendum will remain part of this kingdom for ever,
The alternative is to stupid and suicidal to think otherwise,
Just my opinion.
..
May 08th, 2011 - 09:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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GeoffWard
For the few here who have no first-hand picture of England/Scotland,

try to imagine if Patagonia had a referendum to declare independence from Argentina.

Would it be sensible to do so?
May 08th, 2011 - 10:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Marcos Alejandro
15 Is hard to digest, isn't? United Kingdom not so “united” after all.
May 09th, 2011 - 05:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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stick up your junta
@16

not so hard for the Argies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_War
May 09th, 2011 - 05:57 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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ElaineB
The countries that make up the United Kingdom have always had distinct and separate identities. It is true that there is resentment towards England from the other countries and towards Londoners from just about everyone that doesn't live there. This is because capitals cities tend to have more of the wealth and attention.

I experienced this exact same resentment towards anyone from Buenos Aires when visiting other parts of Argentina. The people from the provinces were breathtakingly candid about their “hatred” of the porteños, citing arrogance and rudeness as the primary irritants, as well as the usual complaints about the lack of investment outside of the capital.

I have experienced the same aggressive distain towards Parisians from rural dwelling French. I think it is the same the world over. Humans are tribal and love to unite against a perceived common enemy. Sadly, too many people in power exploit this human weakness.
May 09th, 2011 - 08:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Marcos Alejandro
18 ElaineB Part of it is true but remember porteños did not invaded countries all over the planet nor starved or killed millions around the world.
May 09th, 2011 - 04:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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stick up your junta
@19
And you argies didnt have to travel far to do the same

http://www.michaeljournal.org/argentina.htm

http://www.michaeljournal.org/argentina.htm
May 09th, 2011 - 04:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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ElaineB
@19 With respect, I don't think that argument is relevant. We were discussing the Scottish attitude towards the English (incidentally the Scots were verocious colonists too) and comparing the resentment by Argentines living outside of the captial towards the porteños.

I remember receiving a long lecture from an interesting chap in Cordoba about the war between Buenos Aires and the other provinces. I believe that in the end the provinces united, though, clearly, ill-feelings remain.

I don't make any excuses for the colonial past of the UK, anymore than I would make excuses for the actions of the Spanish Empire or the Roman Empire, or the genocide of the indigenous people by so many settlers in foreign lands; Argentina included. There is a lot to regret and learn from history.
May 12th, 2011 - 12:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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