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LIB-DEM BRANCH OF WESTMINSTER CLUB BEHAVED TYPICALLY IN BARNSLEY

Dear Michael - please listen carefully, I shall say this only once.

The parties are minor subdivisions (having no true existence*) functioning under the Westminster Ethos, out of self interest of the 'players' within the unregulated Palace of Westminster - a feudal entity. They are not really in competition - merely giving that impression when it suits.

* See if you can find constitution - articles of incorporation - or any defined CENTRE to a political party. Start with the Cons.

THERE ARE NO PARTIES

what's the use of asking money from a dead parrot or is it just pining for the fiords...sorry, Lords....

An old and dear friend who is now sadly no longer with us who became a Liberal councillor back in the days of the Orpington surge always used to say that the only things that matter about a by-election was did you take part and did you win. In his day often the Liberals could not even afford to participate, let alone find sufficient nominees.

The Liberal Democrats took part but did not win. They did not expect to win so why spend the time, money and energy? So their vote stayed home.

So why all the excitement? Labour were going to win Barnsley as sure as the Pope is a Catholic: not that I mean any disrespect to His Holiness

FUNNY YOU SHOULD MENTION THE POPE - HE MAY WELL BE CATHOLIC BUT (#3)

I am not the first to ask this, but I have never heard it answered.

The Pope has got a book out. We should stop blaming the Jews for his death. Um - OK Pope. But wasn't his death a) pre-ordained? b) necessary for THE WHOLE OF MANKIND to be redeemed? c) somebody HAD TO kill Christ?

I rather get the feeling that the massage is confused. Even if we ignore all the pre-Christian PAGAN ELEMENTS (seasonal death/rebirth, green man/tree death, Queen of Heaven mother etc) it does rather look a if the Pope is not thinking it through (or being disingenuous to avoid paradox).

Makes me glad I have gone to the Dark Side - very unambiguous!

"....Cowley Street bombards members and supporters with e-mails urging them to go and help..."

Supposing they had none so, but still nobody came? Speaking from personal experience, and that of friends, there are three stages for activists who reject a party. (1) Stop being active. (2) Resign, or don't renew your subs. (3) Desert at the polls. The LDs may have a lot of members at stage (1), who are are members in name only now.

@4 Are you filling in the optional religion box on the forthcoming census? Last time "Jedi" outnumbered Sikhs. I suppose these denominational schisms are inevitable. Jedi - dark? Somehow Darth Barrie doesn't sound right! ;-D

YOU MAY LAUGH (#5)

I only found out today: in 2005 'they' passed a specific amendment to an existing Bill, to prohibit anyone forming the 'NONE OF THE ABOVE' party. How odd they didn't take the opportunity to add an abstention box to the slip - that would have been HONOURABLE.

Do you think I can put 'Confused Ape' or perhaps, like VAT, 'Outside the Scope'!

@6 You can put what you like in the religion question! :-)

"In England and Wales 390,127 people (almost 0.8%) stated their religion as Jedi on their 2001 Census forms, surpassing Sikhism, Judaism, and Buddhism, and making it the fourth largest reported religion in the countries.[10] In the 2001 Census 2.6% of the population of Brighton claimed to be Jedi. ..

In Scotland in 2001, 15 people listed their religion as "The Dark Side". Even Better: "In April 2009, it emerged that eight police officers serving with Scotland's largest police force in Strathclyde listed their official religion as Jedi in voluntary diversity forms."



As for a "none of the above" party, I'm sure that you could use the acronym NOTA - or a suitable synonym. People are fairly ingenious when they get angry. I remember this story being aired on Radio 4's 'News Quiz':

barriesingleton # 1, 4 & 6

I see by your comments that you are a disciple of the fine art of trolling.

Something I always say to people who are anti-the British parliamentary system.

'Consider that our parliamentary democracy has evolved over several centuries and we have witnessed many attempts at changing it; be they unsuccessful attempts at trying to do so'.

Rather than standing on the side-lines hurling brick-bats at the system it is far better [certainly from the point of view of one's personal morale]to get involved. Positive contributions are always welcome in a democracy and may assist in the process of improvement.

If you do not like any of the political parties you can always stand as an independent!

I FEEL FOR YOUR POOR SHOT FOOT Mr LATHAM.

You should do your homework before making personal comment. I am tempted to give you a response similar to the one Mr Speaker received when he strayed into Folk-tale territory. But I won't.

barriesingleton # 9

I suggest you confine your conundrums to your local pub quiz night.

Always interested in those who engage the argument. Especially well.

Less so the person. Especially poorly.

I may not always agree with Mr. Singleton, but as he has every right to talk, he has also walked.

Google is often a good friend when in need.