Government need "to get a grip of illegal immigration and border security fast".

[minestrone]

I detest that 'focus group' politics mode that Labour are in. We have to 'speak to the people' 'reengage with the electorate' crap. I would rather have 'look here is what I stand for and if you don't like it don't vote for me' rather than Milliband battering on about 'the people on the doorsteps have been telling us what they want and we have listened to them'

[minestrone]

Speak of the devil...

BBC News - Miliband shifts immigration policy, saying Labour 'got it wrong'

This looks to be a concerted strategy.

[Mich the Tester]

I detest that 'focus group' politics mode that all political parties are in. We have to 'speak to the people' 'reengage with the electorate' crap. I would rather have 'look here is what I stand for and if you don't like it don't vote for me' rather than Millitwat, Call-me-Dave or Cleggy battering on about 'the people on the doorsteps have been telling us what they want and we have listened to them'

Having done a minor ftfy, whs ++

[Doggy Styles]

Speak of the devil...

BBC News - Miliband shifts immigration policy, saying Labour 'got it wrong'

This looks to be a concerted strategy.

As I have already said.

[Scoobos]

I detest that 'focus group' politics mode that Labour are in. We have to 'speak to the people' 'reengage with the electorate' crap. I would rather have 'look here is what I stand for and if you don't like it don't vote for me' rather than Milliband battering on about 'the people on the doorsteps have been telling us what they want and we have listened to them'

I must spread some rep around before repping minestrone again

WHS + 1 zillion to the power of 10

[Ignis Fatuus]

Indeed. Stopping people born outside the UK would exclude a lot of people with plenty to offer, but perhaps more pernicious; it would further restrict the choices of the electorate. Why restrict people's right to vote for the person they feel best represents them?

You beat me to that one. Only I was going to say "Who the hell do you think you are, to stop the electorate, the source of all just power, from voting for whom they want?"

[Ignis Fatuus]

ISTM that you don't vet an MP in advance, you vote for them on the basis of their campaign and their party's platform. If they don't stick to that, or they do but you don't like the result, then you don't vote for them next time.

Democracy is a process, not a requirements check-list.

Or you can't be arsed to make such a complicated decision, so you vote for them based on some criterion which you hope is a shorthand for being OK in your eyes, such as being born in the country. But that's your choice for your vote, not for mine.


I note in passing that the SNP, a party whose whole existence is based on the difference between England and Scotland, has 6 MSPs who were born in England and call themselves English. If it doesn't matter to them, what are you all fussed about?

[Doggy Styles]

I note in passing that the SNP, a party whose whole existence is based on the difference between England and Scotland, has 6 MSPs who were born in England and call themselves English. If it doesn't matter to them, what are you all fussed about?

Nothing wrong with that. I support Scottish independence and I'm English.

[oscarose]

Nothing wrong with that. I support Scottish independence and I'm English.

+1

The sooner the better.

[OwlHoot]

I detest that 'focus group' politics mode that Labour are in. We have to 'speak to the people' 'reengage with the electorate' crap. I would rather have 'look here is what I stand for and if you don't like it don't vote for me' rather than Milliband battering on about 'the people on the doorsteps have been telling us what they want and we have listened to them'

WHS. But they all do it - The Tories are just as bad.