Fixed Term

[Borchester]

Almost every survey since shows a majority of the British public favour the death penalty for certain crimes...

For terrorists, child killers and the Yorkshire Ripper. Otherwise no one is that bothered.

[Nick]

How is "the will of the people" best judged — by referendum, by who the people vote for, by opinion poll? Or do the people allow their representatives to make decisions on their behalf?

I'll bite.

You vote in the government based on their manifesto promises. If they don't deliver you get to choose again at the next GE.
I accept this could lead to a decade of failed promises but answer me this. Have you ever been served a Big Mac that looks like the one on the overhead board? NO is the answer, did you ever take it back?

[Nick]

You think the current shower in power are any kind of government?

If you'd bothered to read my response to a similar question you posed some days ago you'd know the answer.

The current government ticks every box for me both personally and for my business.
Corporation tax has gone down and tax avoidance couldn't be easier.

All the things you love in a government hey Paps?

😉

[T00ts]

It's pointless bringing capital punishment legislation to Parliament whilst we are subject to the ECHR.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2019/635516/EPRS_ATA(2019)635516_EN.pdf
When we have left the EU we could consider it, but although the majority on the ground are said to be in favour, I can't think of any government actually bringing back the gallows.
A referendum might bring it back.

Doesn't government have a moral duty too?

[Barry]

Interesting observation.
How is "the will of the people" best judged — by referendum, by who the people vote for, by opinion poll? Or do the people allow their representatives to make decisions on their behalf?

For example, since 1965 parliament has always decided against capital punishment whenever it's been proposed. There have been petitions for the reinstatement of the death penalty — a new bill covering England and Wales was introduced in 2013, but withdrawn. Almost every survey since shows a majority of the British public favour the death penalty for certain crimes...

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/legal/articles-reports/2019/10/01/brits-want-harsher-punishments-criminals
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32061822

It's pointless bringing capital punishment legislation to Parliament whilst we are subject to the ECHR.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2019/635516/EPRS_ATA(2019)635516_EN.pdf
When we have left the EU we could consider it, but although the majority on the ground are said to be in favour, I can't think of any government actually bringing back the gallows.
A referendum might bring it back.

[patman post]

The opposition should also not obstruct the government from enacting the will of the people.

Interesting observation.
How is "the will of the people" best judged — by referendum, by who the people vote for, by opinion poll? Or do the people allow their representatives to make decisions on their behalf?

For example, since 1965 parliament has always decided against capital punishment whenever it's been proposed. There have been petitions for the reinstatement of the death penalty — a new bill covering England and Wales was introduced in 2013, but withdrawn. Almost every survey since shows a majority of the British public favour the death penalty for certain crimes...

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/legal/articles-reports/2019/10/01/brits-want-harsher-punishments-criminals
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32061822

[papasmurf]

The opposition should also not obstruct the government from enacting the will of the people.

Do you think at any point in...... let's say the five years that Labour has been any kind of opposition?

You think the current shower in power are any kind of government?

[Nick]

Oppositions are supposed to be wilful and Parliament should be under no obligation to make the government's job easier by allowing it to chose the date of an election.

The opposition should also not obstruct the government from enacting the will of the people.

Do you think at any point in...... let's say the five years that Labour has been any kind of opposition? Let alone a successful opposition?

They have neither had the best interests of the people or the country in mind. As an opposition I'm struggling to remember a worse one.

[Borchester]

https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/12/the-government-publishes-its-plan-to-repeal-the-fixed-term-parliaments-act-today.html
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/940027/Draft-Fixed-term-Parliaments-Act-Repeal-Bill.pdf
Repeal WAS a manifesto commitment, and not an instant too soon.

Never again should we see the spectre of a zombie parliament held hostage by a wilful opposition. They paid for their treachery, and must never be allowed to try it on again

Oppositions are supposed to be wilful and Parliament should be under no obligation to make the government's job easier by allowing it to chose the date of an election.

[johnofgwent]

https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/12/the-government-publishes-its-plan-to-repeal-the-fixed-term-parliaments-act-today.html
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/940027/Draft-Fixed-term-Parliaments-Act-Repeal-Bill.pdf
Repeal WAS a manifesto commitment, and not an instant too soon.

Never again should we see the spectre of a zombie parliament held hostage by a wilful opposition. They paid for their treachery, and must never be allowed to try it on again

[Nick]

What has Poland got to do with the FTPA? 

It was a Cameron/Clegg thing to keep them in power for the full five years. It is best consigned to history.

That's what happens when you post using a phone. 😂

[Barry]

What has Poland got to do with the FTPA? 

It was a Cameron/Clegg thing to keep them in power for the full five years. It is best consigned to history.

[Nick]

Looks like the five year fixed term parliament's days are number, and so it should be.
The incumbent government should be able to choose when it goes to the polls: Keeps the opposition ha ha on their toes.