Global Political News and Elections Thread

[wannable]

The French boats pulled out.  The Royal Navy will remain in a just in case mode.

[PrincessOfPeace]

In gun boat diplomacy, 2 large Royal Navy ships trump a small French patrol boat.

[wannable]

Post-Brexit rules that kicked in on Friday last week means French fishing vessels now need a licence to fish the waters around Jersey, which are issued by the island's government

[Macrobug67]

In gun boat diplomacy, 2 large Royal Navy ships trump a small French patrol boat.

:nod:

Personally, I would be outta there.

This is a rather fascinating development.  Those islands have been a point of contention for the last 1000 years.

Reminds me of the Canada -US- France issues on the Grand Banks

[Curryong]

It?s to do with fishing rights and Brexit not territorial aggression. I don?t imagine any war is about to break out! Per fishing and Brexit there have been a couple of incidents off the coast of Norway involving fishing vessels of the two nations in the past year.

[Macrobug67]

Nor do I.  But there are going to be some very busy lawyers and policy makers

[Curryong]

Australia is facing a Federal election in another couple of months, so I thought I?d keep a bit of a record about the run up to it and the issues involved.

Morrison?s approval dives over vaccine rollout, grants and Brittany Higgins fallout, poll suggests | Essential poll | The Guardian

Labor leads Coalition 56-44% and Morrison slumps dramatically in first 2022 Newspoll

Newspoll is the most important and accurate survey in Aus on voter concerns, and the Morrison Govt is in trouble over Covid issues and the environment. Supermarket shortages due to staff and delivery chain issues loom large. The Govt is ahead on its stance with China and on economic management.

[Curryong]

More bad news for the Morrison Govt in Australia. Labor is on track to romp it home.

Labor leads Coalition 55-45 in latest Newspoll as Greens slump

Support for the Coalition and ALP has not changed in the latest Newspoll despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison experiencing a week to forget in Parliament.

Surveying 1526 voters nationally between February 9 and 12, the exclusive poll for The Australian newspaper released on Sunday night found the Coalition?s primary vote remains on a record low of 34 per cent as Labor continues to peak on 41 per cent.

But a three-point slump for the Greens (11 per cent to 8 per cent) and a corresponding rise in support for independents and minor parties to a record 14 per cent left the two-party-preferred result at 55-45.

Pauline Hanson?s One Nation remained steady at 3 per cent.

Overall, the two-party-preferred result represents a 6.5 per cent swing against the Coalition government on the 2019 election, which translates to a loss of 22 seats for the Coalition if replicated at the election that is due by the end of May.

[wannable]

Covid decisions affects politics. Twitter went crazy last week. Morrison stating on video that all covid decisions weren't federal but state.

ETA: In the video the media asked him about Canberra protest (similar to Canadian truck protestors) and Djokovic, his reply was what mentioned in the ^Above sentence, basically all the blame is state decisions rather than federal, he avoided replying about the special powers of Hawke.

[Curryong]

Covid decisions affects politics. Twitter went crazy last week. Morrison stating on video that all covid decisions weren't federal but state.

ETA: In the video the media asked him about Canberra protest (similar to Canadian truck protestors) and Djokovic, his reply was what mentioned in the ^Above sentence, basically all the blame is state decisions rather than federal, he avoided replying about the special powers of Hawke.

The Morrison Govt received criticism and resentment from large sectors of the Aus population about the slow rollout of other vaccines than AZ, such as Pfizer, but there have been other decisions such as a slow response to sexual attacks on young female staffers in Parliament House itself that haven?t cast his govt ministers in a very good light.

The Australian Federal Govt is/was responsible under its aegis for buying Covid vaccines from overseas from the beginning. They are responsible for the importation of these vaccines, which they then distribute to the various States and Territories. That sort of responsibility for Health (ie vaccines) has been there since at least WW2. The States and Territories then implement the vaccine jabs for their own populations via Health Centres and pharmacies. That vaccine administration has also been so for at least 70 years.

Why would Morrison mention Hawke, the Minister for Immigration when speaking about the spread of Covid? Hawke isn?t the Fed Health Minister.

And you are completely barking up the wrong tree if you believe that the Djokovic decision has had any impact whatsoever on the forthcoming election. Economic issues dealing with coming out of this pandemic are at the forefront. Djokovic isn?t ever mentioned on any political TV or radio programme I?ve listened to in the past weeks. The Religious Discrimination bill led to Liberal MPs crossing the House to vote against it. It all leads to the image of a Govt tired and not really leading.


iview


The Canberra so-called Freedom protesters haven?t caused any serious disruption to the country and their noisy protests have been a side show.

[wannable]

Novak was discussed yesterday, senate grilling home office. It will be continued, as the day closed.

[wannable]

Before the senate grilling (day) closed, they asked the Home Office Committee to show the document where Novak Djokovic has been entered in the International List of Incitement to Civil Unrest. 

Apparently Home office has taken the day off (today) because Novak was NOT entered in the International List which then enters the police data base of all countries worldwide.  This is the only little rock and hard place that Minister Hawke has to do after his God powers of kicking out whoever he wants, 7 working days after decision to enter the dangerous person in the International List. This will be interesting, because the news today seems that some laws will be changed in Australia.

He didn't, so perhaps the Aussie government is looking for a loophole to slip Novak in the list. The senate hasn't advised when the discussions will resume. The tax payers did pay 100% of all the expenses of Novak during the controversy in January 2022.

[Curryong]

Australia doesn?t have a Home Office or a Home Office Committee. Only England has a Home Office. There is a Dept of Home Affairs. It was that Minister?s representative who was appearing before the Senate Estimates Committee, yesterday.

iview

From the article

?The Commonwealth was ordered to pay Djokovic's costs when his deportation case was brought before the Federal Circuit Court, but Djokovic was subsequently ordered to pay the Commonwealth's costs for the case that was brought before the full Federal Court.

"Generally [the costs] offset themselves when they come in ? but we'll need to get the invoices then make the determination in consultation with Mr Djokovic's lawyers as to how those two cost orders are sorted out," Ms de Veau said.?

There is a Senate Estimates Committee, which deals with expenses of the past months. It doesn?t impact the election.

Australia politics live: Jenny Morrison criticises Grace Tame, first Senate estimates of 2022 | news.com.au ? Australia?s leading news site

And the voters of Australia are supremely uninterested in Djokovic. He doesn?t feature in the forthcoming Federal election in any way, shape or form. As I stated in a previous post the issues facing Australia in this forthcoming election are as far away from the Djokovic controversy at the AO as it is possible to be. The voters are more (mildly) interested in PM Morrison?s banjo playing ability, featured on a 60;Minutes TV interview. And that?s only mildly. Nor is there any indication whatsoever that the powers available to the Minister for Immigration are about to be changed in the near future.

[wannable]

I'm only interested to see if the Home Affairs WILL or NOT add him in the international list.   I highly doubt it or at least due to the news today of changes in several laws related will be changed swiftly so a Novak case never happens again.  And the Fed government will most likely meet a financial settlement with the tennis star.

[Curryong]

This attempt to disenfranchise thousands of Australians and permanent residents was just a proposal by the Morrison Govt. It was not introduced into Parliament or importantly, voted on.

Morrison Government abandons its attempt to introduce American-style anti-voter laws ? Australian Unions

?The Morrison Government has abandoned its proposal to introduce legislative changes that would establish right-wing American-style laws and make voting harder for hundreds of thousands of Australians.

There?s no way to pretend that this proposal was anything other than an attempt from Scott Morrison to manipulate Australia?s electoral system to benefit himself, by trying to disenfranchise people who he thinks will not vote for him.

This outcome was only achievable thanks to the thousands of people who sent a message to Scott Morrison he couldn?t ignore.

This is a huge win for millions of Australians and a great example of what is possible when we stick together and stand up for what we believe in.?

[Curryong]

Facebook has been drafted in to assist Aussie politicians in the run up to the Federal election in May. It?s not only Covid misinformation that has been spread online in previous months both by renegade Senators and backbenchers, targeting Govt ministers etc, but there has been great anxiety expressed by ASIO and our PM and others that China has been making a determined attempt to influence Australia?s politicians and electorate. This has included hackings, possible pressure leading to corrupt activities of MPs of Chinese descent who still have links to the land of their birth, but also community leaders.

Facebook owner to help train Australian politicians, influencers in run-up to election

[Curryong]

Bad night in Britain for Boris and the Conservatives, as Labour wins key London seats in local elections while Greens and Lib Dems advance.

Local elections 2022: Labour win key London seats but Lib Dems and Greens also benefit from bad night for Conservatives - live updates | Local

[wannable]

Very much so, the UK has officially entered into a recession (and financial analysts say it will get worse), enter Labour party to try and salvage what they can. 

ETA: Lately because of the Russian war, Boris has given out moneys via help with military equipment (it has a cost) for free to Ukraine.  Political analysts have said that not only him but both parties should read the room (their constituents).  When UK polls don't reach 50% (in ALL age groups) in help, support, whatever to a nation that is in trouble...you know what I mean. This item alone busted his chances in this election.

[TLLK]

@Curryong-Do you forsee a leadership challenge from another Tory member in the near future?

[Curryong]

Sinn Fein, the party which supports a United Ireland, has won power in the Northern Ireland Assembly for the first time, a historic moment, in the recent elections. A referendum on the subject could be held in the next five years.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/explainer-ireland-sinn-fein-wins-84565164

At the moment, TLLK, Boris seems to have the support of his colleagues, though there are no doubt angry mutterings on the back benches about these dispiriting election results which Boris?s party gate actions didn?t help. From here it doesn?t appear that there is one clear challenger. However, there?s bound to be a reshuffle of Cabinet in the next couple of months bringing in new blood.
However, I?ve been really concentrating on elections coming up here and have taken my eye off the ball in Britain a bit.

Local elections: the wheels come off the Boris bus ? cartoon | Opinion | The Guardian

[TLLK]

@Curryong -Thank you for your thoughts as I do appreciate your knowledge of the parliamentary system.

As to the news of Sinn Fein winning a majority of seats in the Northern Ireland's Assembly and the possibility of a united Ireland. WOW!!!

IS IRISH REUNIFICATION LIKELY?

Irish unity did not play a big role in this year's Northern Ireland election campaign, which was dominated by more immediate worries, especially a cost-of-living crisis driven by the soaring costs of food and fuel.

But it remains Sinn Fein?s goal, and party leader Mary Lou McDonald says a referendum in Northern Ireland could be held within a ?five-year framework.?

The 1998 Good Friday peace deal stated that Irish reunification can occur if referendums support it in both Northern Ireland and the republic.

In Northern Ireland, such a vote would have to be called by the British government, ?if at any time it appears likely to him that a majority of those voting would express a wish that Northern Ireland should cease to be part of the United Kingdom and form part of a united Ireland.?

There are no set rules for deciding when that threshold has been met.

[Curryong]

Scotland?s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, sends congratulations to NI?s Sinn Fein Party over Stormont win. Wants another Independence for Scotland Referendum.

Sturgeon praises Sinn Fein as separatists declare UK finished | Politics | News | Express.co.uk

[PrincessOfPeace]

Not much has changed though. Sinn Fein had 27 seats before the election, and has 27 seats after the election. When the Good Friday agreement was signed 25 years ago, Sinn Fein had 39 percent of the vote, today they have 39 percent of the vote. All that's changed is the unionist vote has split. 

If anyone is hoping for a united Ireland, there's a bit of a wait yet.

[Curryong]

Not much has changed though. Sinn Fein had 27 seats before the election, and has 27 seats after the election. When the Good Friday agreement was signed 25 years ago, Sinn Fein had 39 percent of the vote, today they have 39 percent of the vote. All that's changed is the unionist vote has split. 

If anyone is hoping for a united Ireland, there's a bit of a wait yet.

Sectarianism has been dying in Northern Ireland for at least twenty years. Younger people especially aren?t into voting Protestant (Unionist). And the demographic has been changing there. Roman Catholics make up a greater portion of the population in Northern Ireland nowadays.

[Curryong]

Sectarianism has been dying in Northern Ireland for at least twenty years. Younger people especially aren?t into voting Protestant (Unionist). And the demographic has been changing there. Roman Catholics make up a greater portion of the population in Northern Ireland nowadays.