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Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Ofcom are out of whack excluding the Green Party from the Election Debate

"The Green Party Must Get a Fair Hearing From Ofcom and Broadcasters"

"Ofcom issued a draft ruling that has the potential to have a significant impact on the coming general election campaign: it declared Ukip a "major party", while denying the Green Party the same status, basing its argument chiefly on "past electoral performance".

(Natalie Bennett.)
Posted: 08/01/15 15:39
http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/6436266

Ofcom response:
http://media.ofcom.org.uk/news/2015/major-parties-consultation/

Please respond to Ofcom's Consultation:
Ofcom are inviting your views on the draft Party Election Broadcast criteria.

Closing date is: 12 January 2015.
Please send your submission to: PEBallocationcriteria.consultation@bbc.co.uk

or by mail to:
Party Election Broadcast criteria consultation BBC Trust Unit
180 Great Portland St
London W1W 5QZ
Hard copy, large print, audio and Braille versions of the guidelines and consultation documents are available upon request by contacting the BBC Trust by email or by post as above, or by telephone on 03700 103 100 or textphone 03700 100 212.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sarah on January 9, 2015 at 22:46

I read yesterday that David Cameron has refused to take part in any debate that excludes the Green Party.  

Permalink Reply by Sarah on January 10, 2015 at 5:59
It will be a strange one, you're right. I'm not sure how much the Greens will benefit as I don't think there are many seats within their grasp - though we do love an underdog.

A couple of months ago I voted in the New Zealand general election. Every time I do it makes me wish we had proportional representation here.

Another factor to throw into the mix is individual registration. Natalie Bennett (and a colleague of mine) is claiming this hasn't been publicised well enough and may mean many young people aren't registered to vote (thus disadvantaging the Greens).

I'm not sure about this - I knew about it but is this because I work in local government? Or because I moved house recently? Perhaps many others are less well-informed than I. But when it comes to young people, surely they are told at school?

One of my friends was denied a vote in the last election because they said he wasn't registered, despite having received his confirmation letter.
Permalink Reply by matthew cuthbert on January 10, 2015 at 15:41
Register while your thinking about it now.

Contact Haringey Elections Office , Civic Centre, High Road Wood Green N22 8LE

Electoral Services: 020 8489 2976

Email elections@haringey.gov.uk

You can also visit our electoral registration office. The office is open 8.45am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

The electoral office will be able to help either over the phone or send a paper version of an application.

You may also need to register under the new system if:

You receive a letter telling you that you need to re-register, or
you have changed address since you received a confirmation that you were registered, have moved into the borough recently, or you did not receive a letter.

To find out more go to:

http://voting.haringey.gov.uk/register-to-vote/

www.gov.uk/yourvotematters

https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/registertovote#
Permalink Reply by Sarah on January 10, 2015 at 17:49
I'm registered. But my colleague is arguing people don't know about individual registration.

I registered online by the way - couldn't be easier.
Permalink Reply by matthew cuthbert on January 11, 2015 at 19:50
Yes your right, many are not aware, I leafleted individuals on Green Lanes before the last election, and 38 Degrees were proactive informing EU, Commonwealth and young British voters to register.
Permalink Reply by Gordon T on January 11, 2015 at 7:30

Perhaps.  But you'll recall that AV (alternative vote), arguably the first step towards PR, was rejected (by 2 to 1) in the 2011 referendum.

Permalink Reply by Sarah on January 11, 2015 at 18:25

I remember I voted No because I didn't think it would be a first step towards PR, but a half measure that would prove confusing to voters.

I have to admit that while I am a big fan of PR, voter turnout in NZ has actually gone down in NZ since its introduction.  There's only so much democracy people can take...

Permalink Reply by matthew cuthbert on January 11, 2015 at 19:53
Liz will tell you which areas voted for PR in London.
Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on January 11, 2015 at 8:12
Easy solution, adopt the ballot rules the Conservatives are proposing for strike action

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30747185
Permalink Reply by matthew cuthbert on January 10, 2015 at 15:53
From speaking to Ofcom, the only recourse is a Judicial Review, regarding the main televised party debate, the Ofcom and BBC Trust consultation released yesterday, relates to media coverage as well as electoral coverage, but not the main debate.

The decision by Ofcom has been made based on the last party election results, and an opinion poll. My concern is the spectrum of that poll source, and the fact that the Lib Dem backlash will equal a swing to the Greens, I don't think this swing has been taken into account, as voters turn to us as a party of Hope.
Permalink Reply by matthew cuthbert on January 10, 2015 at 16:08
Consultation in more detail:

Ofcom Consultation:
Ofcom are inviting your views on the draft Party Election Broadcast criteria.

There are three ways to respond to an Ofcom consultation.
1) Online
The quickest and simplest way is to complete an online consultation response form. This is ideal for people who have specific brief points to make and/or do not need to attach large documents to their response.
2) By email: adam.baxter@ofcom.org.uk

3) By post:
to Adam Baxter, Ofcom, Riverside House, 2A Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA. Please enclose a consultation coversheet with your response.

Ofcom consultation link:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/major-parties-15/

The list of major parties is important for Ofcom’s regulation of election coverage, in particular requiring the relevant broadcasters to allocate at least two Party Election Broadcasts to each major party ahead of an election.

Review of Ofcom list of major political parties for elections taking place on 7 May 2015, consultation closes 5th Feb.

These broadcasters are ITV, STV, UTV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Classic FM, Talksport and Absolute Radio. Broadcasters can also choose to allocate additional Party Election Broadcasts.

Party Election Broadcasts on the BBC are regulated by the BBC Trust and currently the subject of a consultation.

BBC Trust Consultation
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/have_your_say/peb_criteria

Closing date is: 12 January 2015.
Please submission by email to: PEBallocationcriteria.consultation@bbc.co.uk

by post:
Party Election Broadcast criteria consultation BBC Trust Unit,
180 Great Portland Street,
London, W1W 5QZ.

Hard copy, large print, audio and Braille versions of the guidelines and consultation documents are available upon request by contacting the BBC Trust by email or by post as above, or by telephone on 03700 103 100 or textphone 03700 100 212.
Permalink Reply by Lucy Craig on January 10, 2015 at 18:07

Thanks Matt, for reminding me to respond to the Ofcom Consultation by 12th January! 

I'll be raising several points with them including the fact that in terms of "past electoral performance", whilst the Green Party 'only' has one MP, at least she (Caroline Lucas) was elected in a proper General Election whereas the two UKIP MPs became UKIP MPs having simply resigned as Tories.  They then of course gained huge media coverage in addition to the built-in advantage of being the sitting-MPs in their by-elections. 

I'll also mention the fact that after last year's local elections, the Green Party 'trounced' the Lib-Dems in gaining 2 seats to end up with 3, whilst the Lib-Dems lost 10 and landed up with 1 seat!

Furthermore, the Green Party's national membership has been 'surging' and is not far off that of UKIP's now.

But the main point I'll make to Offcom will be thatyou can of course - as it has - play "my willy's bigger than your willy" games if you/they like.  However, I think a more important fact is that the Green Party offers the British Electorate a qualitatively different perspective to all the 'grey' parties ('grey 'cos they're so much-of-a-muchness) plus UKIP (who are just nastier-even-than-the-Tories and mad).  We Greens believe our membership is rising so dramatically for many reasons but including the fact that:

  • we are the only national party currently arguing against the politics of austerity, cuts and privatisation; 
  • we are a party uniquely led by our members who set Policy, control our Constitution and participate at all levels and whose elected representatives are not ‘whipped’;
  • we are not ‘in hock’ to large corporations, multi-millionaires nor other vested interests;
  • we are dedicated to social justice as well as preserving our planet for future generations;
  • we are a party of hope and optimism in a country where the level of cynicism and disappointment felt by many towards the traditional parties, is at record levels; and
  • we are a party committed to seeking change with integrity and honesty without resorting to over-simple, objectionable and divisive scapegoating.   

So.... that's what I'll say to Ofcom but they'll still probably only look for arguments involving pathetic willies waving.....

 

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