Off Topic Electiony Votey Stuff

Well I've been and done my sacred duty. Was a bit intimidated by the size of the ballot paper, you could have worn it as a scarf.

Daft story of the day goes to UKIP who are aparently convinced that there's a conspiracy to put them at the bottom of the ballot paper and then hand them out WITH THEIR BIT FOLDED OVER so voters don't see them. Here's a tip - change your name to the 'Aardvaark Army'. Twats*.

Bloggerheads have invited bloggers to join in with their fisking of the BNP's manifesto so here's my contribution on their welfare and housing policy. I'm afraid I don't link to the BNP so do a search yourself or go to Bloggerheads who have a stronger stomach than me if you want a read of the origial policy I'm quoting from.

"Ultimately there must be only one category of welfare recipient: those who genuinely deserve or have earned it. The scrounger entitlement mentality must be discarded. Those who can work but refuse to do so, must face the consequences of their actions on their own."

This fails to consider the needs of sick and disabled people. Although didn't one BNP twat say there wasn't any point in keeping such people alive?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/may/31/bnp-european-elections-facebook-expose

Or for that matter the needs of children of the people the BNP would regard as 'scroungers', after all they haven't done anything wrong yet would presumably starve if their parents didn't receive financial support.

Wouldn't the fact that an army of unemployed people being put to work for free mean that the people previously doing the work for a wage would find themselves unemployed?

"Immigrants come here and are immediately given council homes while Britons are pushed further and further back in the queue."

Well, thats just bollocks isn't it? Homelessess assistance is subject to the habitual residence test which eve EU citizens struggle to pass. And my local council has a local connection requirement in its general council house allocation policy and I'm damn sure it won't be the only one to do so.

"A BNP government will restore the earnings link with pensions and ensure that elderly people who have paid a lifetime of taxes and reared families should not have to sell their homes to pay for care in their old age."

Lovely idea but I'll take it seriously when I see the costings. Approx half the welfare benefits budget already goes on pensions and associated older person's benefits, way more than any other group. The single biggest item of spending is Retirement Pension.

So don't vote BNP cos it means you'll get a load of racist twats in.

Sort of only semi off topic, although we in the City haven't got local elections (you'll know when we do cos there'll be a load of extra 'Proud to be...' banners up everywhere) the County has.

The Tories have pledged to halt Phase 2 of the tram if they get in which is pretty dumb of them and suggests that they only talk to their natural constituency of nimbys and country squires. I really don't think this is much of a votewinner myself.

LibDems are apparently hoping for a hung council as they are likely to hold the balance of power ("Go back to your constituencies and prepare for a minority role in a dodgy coalition that will collapse within months..."). Bless 'em, who says they lack ambition? That said I reckon its the likeliest outcome.

Update; just been having a look at the County's website and there are quite a few Green Party candidates standing. This is probably their best chance of gaining a presence on the County Council. Go Greenies!

* But not as big a bunch of twats as the BNP obv