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E-petitions and the death penalty
I still haven’t worked out in my own mind whether e-petitioning is on balance a useful tool or not. On the positive side, giving people greater say on issues that concern them, and reducing the barriers to their having their … Continue reading
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Rallying the troops – or deluding themselves?
I’m really not sure what to make of this surprising article by Katie Ghose at LeftFootForward. Ms Ghose led the AV referendum‘s “Yes” campaign, and insists that – but for the small matter of being roundly trounced at the polls … Continue reading
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Big Society needs Big Democracy
What’s wrong with the following sentence?
“The Government held a Big Society reception at 10 Downing Street last week, with a list of invited dignitaries.”
Of course, you spotted it. The Big Society is meant to be a flourishing of something beyond the traditional forms of government, a system which empowers the unempowered, and yet an early event is a meeting of the already-empowered over canapes in the nation’s symbol of executive authority. Continue reading
Your Freedom: Government asks well, but can it answer well?
The Government today launched Your Freedom, a discussion site where people can make suggestions on civil liberties issues and legislation they want to see repealed. good site, but can Government live up to its rhetoric and answer as well as it asks? Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Consultations, Current affairs, Local Government, Politics, Web/Tech
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Old media vs New media – who has provided the best election build-up coverage?
By Lauren Ivory and Arun Marsh Election 2010 has been hailed by many as “the first digital election”, manifestos are available through iphone apps and the all new leaders debates are dissected live on Twitter before the pundits can get … Continue reading
Sex, teen pregnancy and other uncomfortable moral issues
Issues around sex are often highlighted in politics and the media as creating problems in society. In a recent report Labour’s flagship strategy to cut teenage pregnancy rates were criticised as failing. Groups such as the Family Education Trust called … Continue reading
It's a very different election in Scotland
David Cameron didn’t win last night’s final TV debate for Scottish viewers. In fact if Nick Clegg had announced a new compulsory programme of bestiality in primary schools and Gordon Brown had broken down in tears and lay in the … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Around the country, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Liberal Democrat, London, Media, Nick Clegg, Scotland, Thatcherism, Uncategorized
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First Time Voters: Shaping Election 2.0?
“To tackle the challenges of tomorrow, young people need political capital today” Demos :: An Anatomy of Youth According to the Electoral Commission, 2005 saw a national turnout at 61%, compared with 37% amongst 18- to- 24 year olds. However, … Continue reading
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Tagged apathy, election, electoral reform, Manifesto, politics, Uncategorized, young people
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Final debate round-up
Image by bixentro via Flickr So there we are, that was the Live TV Leaders Debates. Over the three weeks we have seen a lot of hype and hot air, especially from ‘spin alley’ but the real legacy will be … Continue reading
The final 2010 Leaders' Debate
Well here we are with one week to go until the big day. As Harold wilson said ‘a week is a long time in politics’, and it will seem longer for some, but tonight fortunes can change. We may not … Continue reading
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Tagged BBC One, Cameron, debates, Drinking game, Harold Wilson, politics, Prime minister, Television, Uncategorized
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