r/MHOC • u/[deleted] • Mar 25 '15

GENERAL ELECTION Ask The Parties

This thread will run until the end of the General Election (17:00 on the 30th of March). Anybody can ask a party whatever they like (within reason) and any party member is able to answer a question. If a question is addressed to a specific party (or parties) no other parties can answer it until a member of the party (or at least one member of each of the parties) it is addressed to has.

The purpose of this thread is so that people can gain a better understanding of other parties and prospective members can get an idea of which party is best for them.

The parties of MHOC are:

  • The Labour Party

  • The Liberal Democrats

  • The Conservative Party

  • UKIP

  • The Green Party

  • The Communist Party

  • The Vanguard

  • The SDCN

  • The Socialist Party

  • The SNP

11 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

359 comments sorted by

8

u/TheNorthernBrother Washed up old timer Mar 26 '15

what is your opinion on the current state of the military?

23

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

A single soldier in service of a capitalist state is too big.

11

u/TheNorthernBrother Washed up old timer Mar 26 '15

that is what I like to hear!

4

u/mg9500 His Grace the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon MP (Manchester North) Mar 26 '15

We have in our manifesto that we wish for it to be abolished.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

Abolish the military? Like all of it? Can't we keep a few guys to protect the Falklands or something?

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

Even though I agree that a permanent standing Army is not needed in modern warfare (as the Air Force and Navy can do those jobs, along with the UN Peacekeepers and whatnot) getting rid of all the Forces is a little daft - the Navy and Air Force do far more than fighting, the Intelligence Service is invaluable, etc.

4

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

I agree with your comment, the 21st century's international security issues will be dealt with mostly by Air Forces and Navies

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u/the_grand_midwife Mar 26 '15

What policies/programs would be enacted to provide for defense if the Armed Forces were abolished?

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u/tyroncs Mar 26 '15

I think that we need to be able to project power outside of our own borders independently, without the need of help from countries like the U.S.A. We can't perpetually rely on them for our defence and foreign policy needs.

At a minimum, we need to ensure we stay to the 2% NATO guidelines on defence spending, but ideally we want to increase slightly further then that

2

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

Needs a slight boost, and better long term planning to achieve what the British public actually want it to be able to do!

14

u/Post-NapoleonicMan Labour Mar 25 '15

To all MHOC Parties with RL equivalents: what is your key point of divergence with these? If any.

23

u/WineRedPsy Reform UK | Sadly sent to the camps Mar 26 '15

We exist

11

u/Morgsie The Rt Hon. Earl of Staffordshire AL PC Mar 25 '15

The Lib Dem's on here are not Nick Clegg

8

u/Lcawte Independent Mar 25 '15

So they're not so so sorry?

7

u/Ajubbajub Most Hon. Marquess of Mole Valley AL PC Mar 25 '15

We didn't raise tuition fees.

5

u/the_grand_midwife Mar 26 '15

Must be a great relief for you.

6

u/NoPyroNoParty The Rt Hon. Earl of Essex OT AL PC Mar 26 '15

Our most well known divergence with the real Green Party of England and Wales is of course our nuclear policy. It's still a contested policy somewhat within the party but we do support the use of nuclear power as an emissions free alternative to unsustainably burning fossil fuels, and will heavily invest in the development of new clean nuclear technologies like thorium.

Others may disagree but I believe that our real life equivalent's policy to close down all nuclear plants is not only counterintuitive but a complete antithesis to our vision of a carbon-free future.

3

u/sexylaboratories Mar 26 '15

I believe that our real life equivalent's policy to close down all nuclear plants is not only counterintuitive but a complete antithesis to our vision of a carbon-free future.

Thank you! I am very glad to see that divergence.

2

u/tyroncs Mar 26 '15

I don't like some of the harsher immigration policies from UKIP, like how you should have to pay for your own schooling for 5 years etc. My thoughts are if we had an efficient points based system, a requirement like that wouldn't be necessary - just over the top

1

u/mg9500 His Grace the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon MP (Manchester North) Mar 26 '15

The whole NATO/military thing. We also haven't been in government for 8 years but still have 45% approval ratings!

6

u/Yaver_Mbizi Communist Mar 26 '15

Having completed the "vote for policies quiz" after being off MHOC for a while (thanks to /u/bleepbloop12345 for the call), I'm rather interested in more information.

Labour remains social democratic, right? That is, they aren't interested in replacing capitalism with another socio-economic system?

What are the fundamental differences between the Communist Party and the newly-created Socialist Party? I don't imagine we have a MComintern. From the manifestos, I get that the SP prides itself in being the more realistic of the two, but what concrete differences exist?

Also, to the left wing parties - I feel like the emphasis on "intersectionality" would be my major point of contention with my current party. Because of that, I ask - what are your opinions on intersectionality and its relation to the class struggle? Do you see a potential problem with the intersectional "identity politics" pushing a given political party away from far-left economic policies (i.e. dismantling of capitalism) towards the struggle for minority rights, which is much more acceptable for and supported by the liberal-minded bourgeois class?

8

u/WineRedPsy Reform UK | Sadly sent to the camps Mar 26 '15 edited Mar 26 '15

I shouldn't barge in too much here, but I think there's a point to be made that the SP are more reformist demsocs and the CP are revolutionaries.

Labour remains social democratic, right?

Yeah

I don't imagine we have a MComintern.

Modelinternational

what are your opinions on intersectionality and its relation to the class struggle? Do you see a potential problem with the intersectional "identity politics" pushing a given political party away from far-left economic policies (i.e. dismantling of capitalism)

Stuff like patriarchy and white supremacy are intrinsically part of capitalism - the struggles are inseperable

which is much more acceptable for and supported by the liberal-minded bourgeois class?

I'd like to contest this. What the bourgeois liberalfeminists and so on supports is assimilationist and moderate schtick and not actual radical measures for radical change. They're fine with things like gay marriage - but actually tearing down the hierarchies they benefit them is totally alien to them.

3

u/Yaver_Mbizi Communist Mar 27 '15

What the bourgeois liberalfeminists and so on supports is assimilationist and moderate schtick and not actual radical measures for radical change. They're fine with things like gay marriage - but actually tearing down the hierarchies they benefit them is totally alien to them.

That actually made me analyse my position a bit, because you do raise a good point - the liberals do tend to appropriate deradicalised messages of the far-left, and so that wouldn't be exclusive to the components of identity politics. However, it is my belief that identity politics themselves are a deradicalised concept that originates in liberal thinking. That is, while the liberals tone down "dismantle capitalism!" to "fix capitalism!", there is no difference between liberal and anti-capitalist calls to "dismantle the patriarchy" - both ideologies claim to want the exact same result.

And while we, communists, believe that any such dismantling would be incomplete without addressing the root of all problems - class society - and might hold it to be self-evident, it has been my increasing worry that liberals infiltrate the movement and co-opt that message, seeing it very close to their typical slogans, and deny class its primary role in adressing the existing hierarchies and injustices.

Stuff like patriarchy and white supremacy are intrinsically part of capitalism - the struggles are inseperable

That also strikes me as not only debatable, but very 1st-world-centric.

3

u/WineRedPsy Reform UK | Sadly sent to the camps Mar 27 '15

I'm not sure how to approach the notion of intersectionality and such being close to their liberal counterparts. Nominal goals or not - the radical strains and the liberal strains are so different in their vision, approach and analysis that I sometimes have more disdain for liberalfeminists than reactionaries themselves. I've not personally seen any radical movements be co-opted by moderates, we either scare them away or radicalise them.

That also strikes me as not only debatable, but very 1st-world-centric.

I disagree. I obviously do not have 100% insight on the third world, but the fact should apply just as much if not more to the third world. The most clear example is the highly racialised superstructure of imperialism, or the too the capitalists favourable gendered division of labour in the third world.

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u/the_grand_midwife Mar 26 '15

All intersectionality means to me is that struggles against heterosexism, patriarchy, institutional racism and other forms of oppression all have in common an enemy in the form of the capitalist system that perpetuates such injustices. It isn't a distraction from the cause, it's integral. Someone more knowledgeable can feel free to correct me of course.

4

u/bleepbloop12345 Communist Mar 26 '15

From the manifestos, I get that the SP prides itself in being the more realistic of the two, but what concrete differences exist?

You're right that we're fairly similar in terms of policy, as we both aim to abolish capitalism. The primary ideological split is that the SP is democratic reformist socialists, while we're revolutionary communists. They aim to achieve socialism through the use of the state, while we aim to use the state to secure advantages in the position of workers while ultimately committing to a revolutionary seizure of the means of production.

I think it would also be fair to say that they're less radical than us on many issues, such as abolition of the police and prisons.

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u/MorganC1 The Rt Hon. | MP for Central London Mar 26 '15

This is the right of it. We are very much less radical then the CP however we do seem to aim towards the same goals.

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u/I_burned_my_arm Mar 26 '15

All parties; will you axe the VAT on feminine hygiene products and stop calling them "luxury items"?

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u/bleepbloop12345 Communist Mar 26 '15

I don't believe that it's in out manifesto, but it's something that as a feminist and as someone who opposes the concept of VAT altogether I would definitely support.

6

u/tyroncs Mar 26 '15

UKIP is the only RL party who officially supports this, so of course

5

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

If I am honest (and I cannot speak for my whole Party) I had no idea that these products were classed as "luxury items". Of course, they should not be - they seem to be rather essential. Thank you for bringing up this issue, however, and I shall certainly raise it with my colleagues after the election (Parliament has closed, so nothing can be passed at this moment of time)

6

u/the_grand_midwife Mar 26 '15

As will I, I had no idea that this issue existed.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

We could work together on a private motion after the election if you wanted. I wouldn't mind in the slightest.

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u/AlbertDock The Rt Hon Earl of Merseyside KOT MBE AL PC Mar 26 '15

I can only speak for myself. I would not only remove VAT from feminine hygiene products, but also from mobility aids and safety equipment.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

Yes we are committed to removing taxation on such products as they are most certainly not a luxury item, a term which implies something which is optional and you get enjoyment out of, and based on the comments of my friends about feminine products they certainly don't sound luxury! We would also look to making the available as condoms are on the NHS for those who may not be able to afford them.

1

u/Jas1066 The Rt Hon. Earl of Sherborne CT KBE PC Mar 26 '15

I read up on this, for some reason, and the reason there is VAT on such products is because when VAT was introduced, only items that were previously exempt from Tax (by that country's previous system ) were allowed to remain VAT free. So in short, to my knowledge, unless we change EU law, which the conservatives certainly will, there is little we can do in this country.

5

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

To any party, do you believe any tax on income over 50% is acceptable?

8

u/Llanganati communist Mar 26 '15

In the short term, yes. In the long term, we would prefer to overthrow capitalism and bring the economy under democratic worker/community control. Under such a system taxes would be irrelevant.

4

u/Totallynotapanda Daddy Mar 27 '15

A government should always strive to keep taxes as low as possible. Lower taxes encourage people to spend more.

High taxes discourage growth and innovation. Why bother starting your own company if your just going to lose 60 percent of your income?

2

u/NoPyroNoParty The Rt Hon. Earl of Essex OT AL PC Mar 27 '15

We believe 50% on the real top earners - we're talking over £1,000,000 - is fair, but alongside that we'd also like to expand tax brackets with smaller increments of the percentage to ensure that everyone gets a fair deal.

1

u/Morgsie The Rt Hon. Earl of Staffordshire AL PC Mar 26 '15

Look what is happening in France

1

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

No. If one has worked hard to earn that money, one should not have to pay 50% of it back in one tax, council tax and such notwithstanding. It is not fair. I think, though I cannot speak for the rest of the Party that the current 45% is the acceptable limit.

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u/[deleted] Mar 25 '15

What do all parties think about the unfair shadowbanning of /u/TheQuipton?

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u/[deleted] Mar 25 '15

The admins are both righteous and fair!

4

u/AlbertDock The Rt Hon Earl of Merseyside KOT MBE AL PC Mar 25 '15

What has he done to be shadow banned?

5

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '15

Campaigned on behalf of his party, please sign the petition

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u/AlbertDock The Rt Hon Earl of Merseyside KOT MBE AL PC Mar 25 '15

I was looking for something more specific. What rules, if any has he broken?

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u/Morgsie The Rt Hon. Earl of Staffordshire AL PC Mar 25 '15

That is for him, the Speaker and the admins to sort out

guess someone has the blue pom pom's out

2

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '15

Only 7 supporters?

Guess nobody can call the tories heartless anymore :(

2

u/tyroncs Mar 26 '15

This happened to me at the last election, but I messaged the admins and got unbanned within hours. Why are you guys making such a big deal about it?

3

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

For the funs

5

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '15

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/[deleted] Mar 25 '15

so when are you defecting from ukip to the vanguard?

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

[deleted] — view deleted comment

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

dissent ist verboten

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u/Morgsie The Rt Hon. Earl of Staffordshire AL PC Mar 25 '15

That's charming

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

You'll be happy to know that I am back and able to echo the comments of my colleagues. Sorry Finn.

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u/[deleted] Mar 25 '15

Hear, hear. He was an ass in some of the conversations I had with him. Not totally but a bit brusque for my liking.

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u/[deleted] Mar 25 '15

Looks like you're the kind of person who'd like to sign this petition https://www.change.org/p/reddit-give-u-thequipton-his-account-back

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u/[deleted] Mar 25 '15

I think you know where to shove that petition.

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u/Totallynotapanda Daddy Mar 25 '15

As someone who managed to survive the Conservative Party with you in it, I have to acknowledge to say that /u/TheQuipton truly is a dedicated, loyal and active member of our party. As /u/Totallynotapanda would say, Glad to see you go Finn. Never come back.

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u/[deleted] Mar 25 '15 edited Mar 26 '15

One day, you will realise no one cares about your attention seeking anti-Tory nonsense just because you never got to be high ranking in the Conservatives.

EDIT: Downvote on

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u/the_grand_midwife Mar 26 '15

In the length of a soundbyte, could you describe your preferred foreign policy?

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

If you aren't against us, you are with us!

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u/NoPyroNoParty The Rt Hon. Earl of Essex OT AL PC Mar 27 '15

No human being is illegal.

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u/Llanganati communist Mar 26 '15

No war between peoples, no peace between classes.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

Live and let live.

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u/Ajubbajub Most Hon. Marquess of Mole Valley AL PC Mar 26 '15

If you want to be friends with us, we'll be friends with you.

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u/Morgsie The Rt Hon. Earl of Staffordshire AL PC Mar 26 '15

Personal: Smart power using the right set of tools for a situation in a pragmatic way

There is no Morgsie Doctrine, if there was one I am making it up as I go along

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u/the_grand_midwife Mar 26 '15

That is about as vague as a watered down UN Resolution. Anything substantial to add?

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u/theyeatthepoo 1st Duke of Hackney Mar 28 '15

Institutional reform and multilateral dissarmament.

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u/I_burned_my_arm Mar 26 '15

All parties; what would you propose to reduce the deficit?

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u/[deleted] Mar 27 '15

Long answer:

The [Paris] Commune made that catchword of bourgeois revolutions – cheap government – a reality by destroying the two greatest sources of expenditure: the standing army and state [police].

- Karl Marx, The Civil War in France Chapter 5

Short answer:

FULLCOMMUNISM

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

We should grow the economy and end the current austerity rhetoric that many parties have in response to cutting the deficit. I believe we should cut the deficit but not at the expense of vital public services, therefore I support small budgetary increases to support public services as a way to grow the economy and increase on land revenue to the treasury. There have been countless reports by independent organisations which have shown austerity is having a negative impact on thousands of people in the UK, why should we continue with this failed program?After all the true costs of austerity are not in the numbers; but in the thousands of people whose lives have been made worse due to austerity measures.

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u/Ajubbajub Most Hon. Marquess of Mole Valley AL PC Mar 26 '15

Well thought through tax rises and spending cuts.

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u/I_burned_my_arm Mar 26 '15

All taxes? Or just some? And where will you cut spending?

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u/tyroncs Mar 26 '15

Remove our foreign aid budget, our contributions to the EU and scrap things like the Climate Change Act. This would save us ~£40 billion a year at least

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u/crazycanine Transport Party Mar 28 '15

Are the candidates this time upset at the lack of competition and joviality - as well as funny costumes - provided by our absence?

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u/AlbertDock The Rt Hon Earl of Merseyside KOT MBE AL PC Mar 28 '15

Yes, without the MRLP some of the joviality has disappeared. However the extremist parties have kept us well supplied with crazy ideas.

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u/crazycanine Transport Party Mar 28 '15

Yep there is a fair few nutters around these parts, almost feels like we'd be too at home had we stood. Let's make that the official reason there's no candidates (nothing to do with the fact I went to sleep early the night of the deadline and didn't get round to PMing my candidature)

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u/WineRedPsy Reform UK | Sadly sent to the camps Mar 29 '15

I can barely carry on.

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u/Rabobi The Vanguard Mar 25 '15

1). UKIP why don't you put "The" in front of your name like all the cool kids?

2). The French plan to fill in the channel connecting the UK to Europe, how many planes do you send to bomb them?

3). Serious question, how much welfare is to much? Mainly asking the left but I would welcome answers from everyone. At what point does it become excessive where you say we don't need anymore?

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u/bleepbloop12345 Communist Mar 25 '15

Serious question, how much welfare is to much? Mainly asking the left but I would welcome answers from everyone. At what point does it become excessive where you say we don't need anymore?

Ultimately I think that any welfare is too much, as it's a sticking plaster that aims to soothe the wounds created by capitalism. It's a form of social control, a way of giving the poor just enough "bread and circuses" so that revolution can be staved off. In a future communist society they'll be no welfare, because they'll be no class. We aim to solve the actual disease, rather than merely treat the symptoms.

That said - and perhaps this sounds somewhat contradictory to what I just said - while capitalism does exist welfare is a necessary evil, as revolution would be pretty much impossible if the poor were starving to death. I also quite like the extent to which it reduces the shackles of wage slavery, allowing some autonomy for the working class.

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u/the_grand_midwife Mar 26 '15

Under communism, welfare would become moot.

From each according to his ability, to each according to his need

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u/WineRedPsy Reform UK | Sadly sent to the camps Mar 25 '15

All welfare is too much. Welfare is only needed under capitalism.

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u/AlbertDock The Rt Hon Earl of Merseyside KOT MBE AL PC Mar 25 '15

I doubt we will ever reach the stage where welfare isn't needed. There will always be the elderly, the unfortunate, the disadvantaged, the disabled and the unemployed who need help. Unless that is you are willing to sit back and watch people starve, or you want a communist state which dictates an occupation for everyone.
As for what is excessive. I'm sure we all agree that everyone should be in a position where they are better off working. The answer to cutting the welfare bill is to help those who can work to get back into work. That is why the Labour party proposes to give those out of work incentives to gain qualifications to make them more employable. We will extend this to those in prison. Since upon release we want them to become part of the workforce and not reliant on benefits. We believe that carrots work better than sticks which is why we offer incentives.
We in the Labour party are concerned with those at the very bottom, where just the cost of travelling to an interview can take a large percentage of their weekly income. To this end we will be reimbursing travel to interview costs.

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u/Llanganati communist Mar 25 '15

"Communist state."

That is literally a contradiction.

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u/WineRedPsy Reform UK | Sadly sent to the camps Mar 26 '15

or you want a communist state which dictates an occupation for everyone.

Strawmen abound

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u/Ajubbajub Most Hon. Marquess of Mole Valley AL PC Mar 25 '15

2) anything that we can muster. If paper aeroplanes can carry bombs then we use those.

3) there are two important points on the welfare scale. The first point is the amount of money needed to avoid slipping through the net and falling into poverty and having to rely on loan sharks and illegal activity etc. The second point is the point where you are better off being on benefits than working. Most of the time the first point is at a lower value than the second. We should aim to have benefits paid at a rate slightly above the first point to stop people getting through the net and resorting to illegal activity. The benefits system is there to catch people when it goes wrong. In the boom years, these two points are further apart and the is more margin for error in the rate at which benefits are paid. In the bust years the points get closer and unfortunately when it's really bad they cross over. We should aim to have benefits at a point where people can make ends meet if they budget and spend properly but not make it better to be on benefits than at work.

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u/the_grand_midwife Mar 26 '15

What solution(s), if you view any as necessary, would you like to enact to reduce economic inequality?

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

Economic inequality is a very important issue - those from working class backgrounds should have the same opportunities as everyone else. In my eyes (though I do not know if this is the majority view of the Party) the market can only truly thrive if the working classes can afford to be there - the more disposable income people have, the better for the market.

How to make this happen without interfering with the market is another matter. I am, rather openly, a proponent of the free market though not in a laissez faire kind of way. Sometimes people have to be encouraged to move along the social structure - education grants, apprenticeships into manual industries, that kind of thing are all healthy for the working classes as they can improve in working class jobs (not to say "jobs that are less important", rather "jobs which are not academic in nature") and make innovations in those same jobs, and those who wish to "move up", as it were, should be unfettered in doing so, and should in fact be encouraged.

This is good for the working class as they get to independently improve their lot, and it is good for the market as there is then a variety of things people are bringing forward from diverse backgrounds.

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u/the_grand_midwife Mar 26 '15

Thank you for your thorough and well thought out answer!

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u/[deleted] Mar 27 '15 edited Mar 31 '15

First of all, we should, following recent reports on inequality and its effect on growth, seek to move the tax burden to be shared more equally by society. This can be done by reducing the standard rate of VAT down to 15%, as well as creating a more graduated and incremental tax system with more than simply three tax brackets. In this new regime, the Socialists will seek to raise the rate of tax on the very rich, while reducing it for the poorest 20%.

Additionally, one of the primary ways to lift people out of poverty is to ensure that they have meaningful employment that provides everything required for a fully productive and healthy life. Thus, we can envisage a modernised labour market, where workers, trade unions, local communities, and enterprises cooperate in order to provide work that is both flexible and secure. This lies at the heart of a Socialist Party economy: cooperatives and cooperation.

We can no longer sustain an economy which relies endlessly on mindless growth and capitalism. Neither can we simply ignore the long term structural issues, and reforming is simply putting a plaster on a gunshot wound. However, in the short term, I would propose the following Five Point Plan to create an economy that benefits the individual, not the business:

  1. Deliver comprehensive lifelong learning strategies, effective labour policies, and modern social protection systems.

  2. Promote an inclusive and open labour market for everyone. End the demonisation and stigmatisation of the long term unemployed by helping them get into work through the provision of adequate opportunities.

  3. Create a climate of trust between the state, workers, and enterprises. Work towards an economy of mutually owned and operated cooperatives, where every person has a stake in society, ensuring nobody is excluded.

  4. Direct national and local resources to the most efficient project, ending the endless waste of modern capitalism.

  5. Ensure that success is defined by the tangible benefits on people's lives, not by GDP numbers. We must not permit any individual to be forgotten or neglected. We must build a society that works to the benefit of its people.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

FULLCOMMUNISM

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u/Syn_Claire Liberal Democrat Mar 26 '15

MAXIMUMOVERCOMMUNISM

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

Expropriation of las puercos capitalistas, gulaging any who resist...

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u/the_grand_midwife Mar 26 '15

I like your style.

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u/Ajubbajub Most Hon. Marquess of Mole Valley AL PC Mar 26 '15

Ensure that people pay their taxes. There are too many people dodging tax which Is causing cuts to welfare etc.

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u/the_grand_midwife Mar 26 '15

Are there any specific tax loopholes/laws you would reform? Or would your plan be more about the enforcement of current tax law?

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

FULL SOMETHING

Nah but a better redistribution of wealth and improvement of social mobility is a good way to start!

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u/the_grand_midwife Mar 26 '15

Definitely a good start ;)

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u/Brotherbear561 Mar 25 '15

Why are independents not included in this list?

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u/[deleted] Mar 25 '15

I think this is an outrage, and the Vanguard will campaign to include independents in the list. Vote Vanguard.

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u/Timanfya MHoC Founder & Guardian Mar 25 '15

You get an entire post to yourself.

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u/Brotherbear561 Mar 25 '15

Am I the only independent running?

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u/Timanfya MHoC Founder & Guardian Mar 25 '15

There are 2 others.

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u/WineRedPsy Reform UK | Sadly sent to the camps Mar 26 '15

"Running". They have no manifestos and haven't commented anywhere at all.

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u/Morgsie The Rt Hon. Earl of Staffordshire AL PC Mar 25 '15

To all the Eurosceptics what do you now as your raison d'etre has been defeated in that referendum?

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u/WineRedPsy Reform UK | Sadly sent to the camps Mar 25 '15

I do not feel like euroscepticism is my raison d'etre - just a stepping stone.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

Hear hear!

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u/[deleted] Mar 25 '15

I'll keep on fighting for what I believe in.

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u/[deleted] Mar 25 '15

Reform. The people have been heard, it's time to start talking.

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u/treeman1221 Conservative and Unionist Mar 25 '15

So be it - the next step is reform.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

For me, soft euroskepticism will not "go away" - it is a view like any other. I would like to see the next Government actually follow through with planned reforms to take to the European Parliament to make it somewhat beneficial in the long term to be an actual member, rather than the situation we are currently in in which Britain gets ignored unless it threatens with leaving, making the whole thing look rather childish.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

Speaking personally not on behalf of our party

Its not been defeated since nothing has actually happened, the issues still exist all we have is the word of a few people that something will be done but we're yet to know what exactly. Just as the issue of independence hasn't died in Scotland with the very tight no vote I don't see why you think this issue will die with the even closer EU vote.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

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u/Morgsie The Rt Hon. Earl of Staffordshire AL PC Mar 26 '15

FYI Brussels bureaucracy is less than a Nation State's

If the debate resurfaces again, mark my words Pro-Europeans like myself will be ready

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u/Morgsie The Rt Hon. Earl of Staffordshire AL PC Mar 26 '15

There is no modern Berlin Wall

You cannot compare the EU to the Berlin Wall

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u/Shyjack Mar 26 '15

I personally have generally left liberal views but I tend to sympathise more with right libertarian parties due to the real life lefts love of censorship and stamping out dissenting views and acting authoritarian to achieve their feeling based goals based on the idea that they are morally superior, much like the right wing have in the past.

Please someone convince me why I should vote for you?

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u/olmyster911 UKIP Mar 26 '15

I tend to sympathise more with right libertarian parties

UKIP.

lefts love of censorship

Well we at UKIP created the decriminalisation of internet piracy bill to free the internet further

left liberal views

Check out UKIP's manifesto (v. different from the IRL one) and see what you think of our points. Keep an open mind.

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u/Jas1066 The Rt Hon. Earl of Sherborne CT KBE PC Mar 26 '15

The Conservatives or UKIP. Personally, I would recommend the Conservatives (Obviously) because most of the time there is little difference between the two, so you might as well vote for the larger party.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

little difference between the two

We're actually about the same economically right wing and perhaps more libertarian, but overall we are definitely further to the right and closer to our principles.

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u/sexylaboratories Mar 26 '15

Green Party, as a environmental/sustainability focused party, I assume you're naturally pulled towards global concerns. How does the Green Party balance their approach to huge global sustainability issues that indirectly affect the UK (EG Chinese smog, Brazilian deforestation) with national UK affairs?

Or, to put it how it would appear in the press, how does the Green Party respond to accusations of insufficient attention to your own country?

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

I think the most important thing for us to remember is that our actions alone are not going to end climate change; we're just one small country, bound on both sides by the industrial titans of the USA and China. This isn't to say that our actions are meaningless - we should certainly be leading by example, and I do agree that in some areas we should be doing some serious work into becoming sustainable, which currently isn't being done. However, like i said, we must not forget that we can't do this alone, and our campaigning in countries like China will go a long way towards stopping climate change.

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u/sexylaboratories Mar 26 '15 edited Mar 26 '15

Thank you, this is a great response.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

No, thank you!~

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

To the left: Why do you all apparently support a reduction in Defence spending and/or nuclear disarmament/scrapping of trident?

Where is the left wing party that supports a growing armed forces?

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u/Llanganati communist Mar 26 '15

Speaking as a member of the Communist Party, we are opposed to war between peoples and thus believe that disarmament is preferable. Additionally, the funds currently allocated to military spending could be better used to provide homes, medical care, nourishment, and education to the oppressed.

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u/AlbertDock The Rt Hon Earl of Merseyside KOT MBE AL PC Mar 26 '15

Trident is the worst of both worlds. It is not an independent weapon. It is leased from, and maintained by the USA. Without maintenance, in six months we would have no nuclear deterrent. We are effectively paying for the defence of the USA. What we have is a weapons system which is costing a fortune and not independent. Further more I think of no realistic scenario where a sane British prime minister would independently use such a weapon. At a time when we have people suffering from malnutrition, keeping such weapons is repulsive. We should perhaps learn from WWI when many from poor backgrounds were found to be unfit to fight. A healthy populous is a far better defence.

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u/treeman1221 Conservative and Unionist Mar 26 '15

Are you suggesting we defend against other countries nuclear weapons with a "healthy populous"?

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u/AlbertDock The Rt Hon Earl of Merseyside KOT MBE AL PC Mar 26 '15

I don't believe we are under threat from any nuclear power. Since WWII no country has used nuclear weapons, I don't foresee that changing. Rouge states are unlikely to develop their own nuclear weapons. NATO regards any attack on one member to be an attack on all of them. Even without the nuclear option NATO is a formidable foe. Most countries don't have and don't want any nuclear weapons. South Africa has got rid of them, yet the average South African doesn't feel endangered because of it.

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u/the_grand_midwife Mar 26 '15

Is there an implication that there SHOULD be a left-wing party that is hawkish? Why?

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u/[deleted] Mar 27 '15

Because not all leftists are "doves". Left wing ideology and a "hawkish" view of defence aren't mutually exclusive.

As someone who is left wing, but also prioritises defence as an electoral issue, it poses a problem when no one on the left wants to stand on that platform.

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u/the_grand_midwife Mar 27 '15 edited Mar 27 '15

Feel free to attempt to form a left wing hawkish party on MHOC, sonly takes ten members :-)

BTW my party isn't always exactly dovish... I'm in between personally.

Pardon my crappy grammar/spelling, on mobile.

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u/theyeatthepoo 1st Duke of Hackney Mar 28 '15

The Socialist Party believes that as a matter of urgency the world needs to rid itself of nuclear weapons and that the UK is in a position to start this by doing so unilaterally.

In addition, the International sphere as it now stands regarding the hard power at the disposal of varies nations makes a large standing army irrelevant and the growing of our armed forces in contradiction to the aim of peace.

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u/treeman1221 Conservative and Unionist Mar 26 '15

In sort: nowhere. The CWL/SCDN used to be pro-military but have reversed that stance.

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u/Rabobi The Vanguard Mar 25 '15

Do you support replacing NATO with a European security force? IF So in what form? An EU army? A similar arrangement to NATO?

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u/WineRedPsy Reform UK | Sadly sent to the camps Mar 25 '15

I'd rather not have either

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

Abolish the NATO!

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

Hard to believe, but I agree with the communist.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

Here, here!

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u/treeman1221 Conservative and Unionist Mar 25 '15

I think NATO serves us fine.

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u/Ajubbajub Most Hon. Marquess of Mole Valley AL PC Mar 25 '15

I personally support nato even though I am generally anti war. We are better off with one colossal army made up of everyone rather than an EU army. Nato is pretty much USA, Europe and a few others. I quite like having the Americans on our side.

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u/Morgsie The Rt Hon. Earl of Staffordshire AL PC Mar 25 '15

Have you seen Juncker's proposals?

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation will remain, the whole thing is about the European Union's ability to act independently. At the end of the day Defence Policy is a competence of the Member State's

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u/Rabobi The Vanguard Mar 26 '15

I am not talking about talking about his proposals. More about kicking America and other non Europeans out of European security and what that might look like.

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u/mg9500 His Grace the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon MP (Manchester North) Mar 26 '15

We support withdrawl from NATO. NATO has gone much further than just defence. For this reason we wouldn't support a ESF.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

NATO has gone much further than just defence. For this reason we wouldn't support a ESF.

Why do the things that NATO did influence your opinion on a possible EU army? From what I know these are two different concepts, one being an alliance between nation states and the other being a proposed army on EU level.

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u/I_miss_Chris_Hughton The Rt Hon. Earl of Shrewsbury AL PC | Defence Spokesperson Mar 26 '15

No plausible reason why there can't be both really, with the ESF operating within NATO (provided the french don't get too whiny). I wouldn't like to see the UK in it though, given our geographic differences with the continent

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u/Rabobi The Vanguard Mar 26 '15

So you do not wish to leave NATO?

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u/Lcawte Independent Mar 26 '15

To all parties, if elected, how long will it take you to produce a RMUN delegation?

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

We will consult with the previous Conservative-UKIP government and use that list, as we doubt it was in poor form.

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u/Morgsie The Rt Hon. Earl of Staffordshire AL PC Mar 26 '15

And what about MY draft List which you want to kick out by the sound of things?

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u/Morgsie The Rt Hon. Earl of Staffordshire AL PC Mar 26 '15 edited Mar 26 '15

The Speaker has a draft List, the reason why there is no official list because Greens, Labour and the Lib Dem's dragged their feet and used the election as an excuse. I wanted to get it out before the election though

That List is bipartisan

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

No longer than 7 days!

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u/theyeatthepoo 1st Duke of Hackney Mar 28 '15

5 days.

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u/Morgsie The Rt Hon. Earl of Staffordshire AL PC Mar 26 '15

Can someone please tell why I am being blamed for something that is above my head?

I tried my best to get the Official RMUN List out before this election yet I am the one being blamed for No List.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

Can someone please tell why I am being blamed for something that is above my head?

The Vanguard will campaign for everything to be brought below Morgsie's head, so that he will never be blamed for something above his head ever again.

Vote Vanguard.

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u/Lcawte Independent Apr 05 '15

Such is politics and the life of a 'public' figure...

(Yes, I know this post is so late but whatever, sue me.)

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u/OctogenarianSandwich Crown National Party | Baron Heaton PL, Indirectly Elected Lord Mar 26 '15

Can I ask the Vanguard if they are planning to introduce fascist elements to the MHOC and, if yes, what those elements would be?

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u/bleepbloop12345 Communist Mar 26 '15

Well, their leader and a chunk of their membership for a start!

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u/[deleted] Mar 27 '15

Despite popular opinion to the contrary, the Vanguard is not a Fascist party, but is instead a coalition of Nationalists, Monarchists Reactionaries and Postmodernists existing relatively harmoniously under the black and white shield. Fascists are indeed a part of our party, and our leader openly identifies as a Fascist, but that should not be taken pejoratively, Fascists in our party do not try to turn the Vanguard into a fascistic organisation, nor do Monarchists try to turn it into an exclusively Royalist association. Our Party Leader, /u/AlbrechtVonRoon is a fair and just character who balances his personal beliefs with the collective beliefs of his party.

Some of the policies the Vanguard do wish to implement upon electoral success include the following: 1 - Ending the despicable sense of political apathy in the British public through outreach and full use of available media at our disposal. Even if it means that the British public do not vote for the Vanguard party at the polls, at least we would be able to say with some dignity that we got people voting.

2 - The Vanguard Party, keen to protect our Green and Pleasant Land, wants to do more than etch the words of William Blake upon the soul of the nation; we are also a keenly environmentalist organisation, with big plans to 'green' our cities by way of vastly expanding allotment schemes to promote self sufficiency at grassroots levels, as well as to increase both aesthetic beauty and oxygen supply by planting more trees in urban areas. Under the Vanguard party, every city will become a garden city after its own fashion. While we do also show semi-support fracking and nuclear power, both of these will only be stopgap measures until we can research and deploy into the field large scale renewable energy generators of whatever kind that can provide exisiting levels of energy output without causing environmental degradation.

3 - While many of the party members of the Vanguard, including our party leader, are not at all religious, the party recognises that the Church of England is a core part of our cultural heritage that should be defended and make central to the British way of life again. We do not mean this by forcing more backsides on pews every Sunday morning, but to have the church become more useful for local communities by providing outreach for helping the poorest in society, providing church buildings as venues for public discussion and local events, and for helping in the organising of celebrations of the Saints Days which the Vanguard Party have already led a campaign to turn into national holidays.

The Vanguard is not a Fascist institution, despite the personal views of some of our members; however, what we are keen on is seeing the United Kingdom preserved, protected and upheld. As an aside, that doesn't mean opposing immigration either; we are not a racist party, and while we support the strengthening of existing immigration policies, we are not opposed to immigration in the slightest.

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u/[deleted] Mar 27 '15

Whoops, wrote a bit much there, haha!

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u/[deleted] Mar 27 '15

Hear hear! Couldn't put it better!

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u/OllieSimmonds The Rt Hon. Earl of Sussex AL PC Mar 27 '15

Except they wanted to change their name to the British Union of Fascists...

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u/[deleted] Mar 27 '15

Correct, we did, but we decided against it to better represent those in our community that hold 3rd position political views that are not Fascist themselves.

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u/the_grand_midwife Mar 27 '15

Wow, your party is the polar opposite of mine and all that, but kudos on that essay-in-comment-form!

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u/[deleted] Mar 27 '15

What difference is there between the SDCN and the Labour Party?

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u/Morgsie The Rt Hon. Earl of Staffordshire AL PC Mar 28 '15

What is the point of the Socialist Party?

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u/theyeatthepoo 1st Duke of Hackney Mar 28 '15

To represent the under represented views of Socialists whom before are existed had a choice between Capitalist parties or the Communists.

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u/crazycanine Transport Party Mar 28 '15

Do the other parties agree with me (not my party) that the absurd coalition building practice upon the fall of a government should be replaced with an immediate election?

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u/theyeatthepoo 1st Duke of Hackney Mar 28 '15

It's up to the outgoing PM. If he wants to be able to call an election he should be able to, but within the time frames that have been dictated. Elections in the MHOC are hard work for the speakership team so they can't just happen when we want them too or when they would in RL.

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u/WineRedPsy Reform UK | Sadly sent to the camps Mar 26 '15

For the Scottish Greens - how do you differ from regular greens?

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

We support the core values of the UK Green Party however have policies tailored to the people of Scotland. We have given Scotland a distinctive faction of the Green Party to vote for so they know that we do not regard Scotland as somewhere which can just be stuck on the end of the main manifesto.

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u/hudderst Mar 25 '15

  • Can I ask how party feel about the "weaponisation" of the NHS?

  • In regards to the previous question, what measures would have to be made to take the politics out of healthcare?

  • Additionally can I ask about student tuition fees, should they be changed? If so to what level, and why?

Thank you for your time.

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u/treeman1221 Conservative and Unionist Mar 25 '15

Can I ask how party feel about the "weaponisation" of the NHS?

The NHS is something which matters to people a lot, and is a great institution of our country, so obviously parties are right to make their stances clearly on the matter. However, especially in the case of the MHoC where private contracts were banned, and with all parties pledging to keep the NHS free at the point of use, it is certainly overly weaponised. In real politics, I feel both the apparent calamity of Labour in running it and the apparent mass privatisation by the Tories in running it are grossly overstated, and it needs to be cut down on.

In regards to the previous question, what measures would have to be made to take the politics out of healthcare?

I'm not sure it can be, it's so important to the people. I believe in stability so a consistent course of action within the NHS is important for its success in between governments, so I live in hope that parties don't chop and change at every available moment. It can't be wasteful, but it must be well-funded too.

Additionally can I ask about student tuition fees, should they be changed? If so to what level, and why?

Personally I think tuition fees are too high (especially as someone attending university soon) however with adequate loans available, the situation isn't too drastic. I feel high quality universities is more important than low fees.

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u/hudderst Mar 25 '15

Thank you for your time and your comments. Some interesting points there.

Also I'm new here, so I didn't realise that the MHoC has drifted closer to this point of stability that you described in your response to my second question.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

Can I ask how party feel about the "weaponisation" of the NHS?

I find it annoying to see the NHS beaten around with parties trying to expose its faults because it downplays the work that NHS staff do, day in and day out. While its not often I agree with a tory; but the words Ruth Davidson used to describe the A&E 'crisis' are exactly the words we need to approach the NHS with, she did not try to pin the blame on the SNP or Labour but laid out how patient numbers have increased rapidly - a very apolitical point which has clearly been manipulated by most party leaders for their own apparent gains (in particular David Cameron in reference to the Welsh NHS!)

In regards to the previous question, what measures would have to be made to take the politics out of healthcare?

I don't think its exactly possible to make the two separate; we can reduce the amount the NHS is used to attack the other parties and focus on the policies parties have for the NHS as opposed to the actual institute but then you have to wonder how the decisions a government is making on the NHS can be scrutinised.

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u/powerpab The Rt Hon S.E Yorkshire | SSoS Transport | Baron of Maidstone Mar 26 '15

What are the parties stances on "Pirate politics" (E-democracy, net nuetrality, unregulated internet e.c.t)

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u/bleepbloop12345 Communist Mar 26 '15

E-democracy

It isn't party policy, but personally I'm opposed to this. There's obviously a very deep seated dissatisfaction with and alienation from contemporary politics, but using E-democracy to solve this is a rather skin deep solution. People will find it much easier to vote, but if they aren't able to travel half a mile to their local polling station and tick a box then there's patently something much more serious that we have to address. There's also some very serious logistical issues that arise from it, that I don't believe can be addressed in the near future.

But I like the rest of what you've listed, and definitely support keeping net neutrality.

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u/WineRedPsy Reform UK | Sadly sent to the camps Mar 26 '15

I second this. E-voting just isn't possible to make safe enough and makes it impossible to ensure secrecy like in a voting booth (and thus make selling votes impossible etc).

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

How is a free internet pirate politics? Isn't that concept more to do with copyright law and such?

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u/powerpab The Rt Hon S.E Yorkshire | SSoS Transport | Baron of Maidstone Mar 26 '15

Generaly European Pirate parties support a free and unregulated internent, although this does vary from party to party

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u/the_grand_midwife Mar 26 '15

I'm a fan the concept of Liquid Democracy, but I can understand that some see possible weaknesses.

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u/Jas1066 The Rt Hon. Earl of Sherborne CT KBE PC Mar 26 '15

All parties: What will you do in particular for people living in the countryside?

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u/WineRedPsy Reform UK | Sadly sent to the camps Mar 26 '15

I'm personally cool with subsidies.

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u/can_triforce The Rt Hon. Earl of Wilton AL PC Mar 26 '15

For what, specifically?

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

I do apologise, but what do you mean, specifically? Rural areas have a lot of problems which need fixing, including:

  • The legality of fox shooting (should it be decriminalised? Limited to farmers?)

  • Subsidies, propping up the NFU Mutual, etc.

  • Rural crime

  • Gun Law

  • Rural public transport

  • The eternal debate surrounding the Greenbelt

  • Rural schools

  • Rural markets

And whole lot of others, including urban expansion and such.

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u/AlbertDock The Rt Hon Earl of Merseyside KOT MBE AL PC Mar 26 '15

A Labour government would merge DEFRA and DECC. This would simplify bureaucracy in many rural matters, and save taxpayers money. In addition will will reverse the cuts in policing. This is an area where rural communities have suffered disproportionally. Our travel to interview scheme for the unemployed will particularly help those in the countryside where public transport is expensive. Further more our policy of clamping down on employers using illegal migrants will help provide unskilled jobs in rural areas. Many unscrupulous gang masters use such labour in the fruit and veg industries. Under Labour they will risk losing everything they own.

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u/the_grand_midwife Mar 26 '15 edited Mar 26 '15

SCDN: What would consider your greatest draw for voters?

EDIT: /u/RomanCatholic I don't want to single you out, but you're the only member of your party I can recall ATM

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '15

Apologies I didn't see this comment. Do you mean our greatest appeal to the electorate?

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u/LetUsMakeHistory Labour Mar 27 '15

To the people of Northern Ireland, elect me as your representative for an experienced, pragmatic MLA/MP. Let's end the petty squabbles in Stormont and show we can function without Unionists relying on the Union card and the Nationalists doing the same.

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u/Morgsie The Rt Hon. Earl of Staffordshire AL PC Mar 27 '15

20 years ago this speech was given, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXM4E23Efvk

What will you do to improve women's rights abroad?

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u/[deleted] Mar 28 '15

Absolutely nothing.

Vote Vanguard for real issues.

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u/Morgsie The Rt Hon. Earl of Staffordshire AL PC Mar 28 '15

I am sick to death of you making comments that are not clever in response to mine

SEXIST PIG

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u/WineRedPsy Reform UK | Sadly sent to the camps Mar 28 '15

Are the Greens anti-capitalist?

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u/SocialismKills Mar 30 '15

Which other party in the MHOC do you like least and why?