Edinburgh Napier University students will work through the night to cover the unfolding story of the General Election on the radio airwaves and online.
A team of journalism, TV and photography students will capture the latest developments from counts across the UK. Continue reading Students will broadcast election night news as it happens
For all the divisions on display in this election campaign, there’s one point nearly all voters agree on: the desperate need for reform in Westminster.
Yet despite many parties commenting on the need for change in their manifestos, the issue of political reform has been dangerously absent from the campaign trail.
This radio silence is indefensible when polling for the Electoral Reform Society shows 85% of people feel that politics isn’t working, and 80% feel they have little or no influence on decision-making today. With public faith this low our politicians cannot afford to stay silent.
The signs of democratic decay are all around us – from an electoral system that wastes votes on an industrial scale, to the private members’ club that is the unelected House of Lords. This year we’ve seen our parliament lunge from crisis to crisis.
This election is a watershed moment for our democracy – inaction is not an option. Today we are calling for leaders to make the issue of updating and transforming Westminster front and centre, as part of #DemocracyDay.
We are asking them all to commit to a constitutional convention involving citizens, to set out how to reform Westminster after the election.
There is a high degree of cross-party unity around issues like updating Britain’s analogue-age campaign rules, spreading power outside of London and reining in our crumbling constitution.
With trust in politics at record lows, voters want to see parties open up about how to overhaul Westminster. Today is an opportunity to do just that. It is time for all parties to present their proposals with pride and passion.
Let’s start to build a better politics.
Willie Sullivan Electoral Reform Society
Ruth Lister Compass
Klina Jordan and Joe Sousek Make Votes Matter
Frances Foley Citizens Convention UK
Alexandra Runswick Unlock Democracy
Neal Lawson Up To Us
Anthony Barnett OpenDemocracy
Jennifer Nadel Compassion In Politics
Matteo Bergamini Shout Out UK
Tabitha Morton More United
Richard Murphy Professor of International Political Economy, City, University of London
Heidi Allen and Peter Dunphy Unite to Remain
Ed Dowker Represent.me
Mark Cridge mySociety
Richard Tunnicliffe and Sue Ellar Represent Us
Dimitri Scarlato the 3million
Paul Thistlethwaite XR Future Democracy Hub
Indra Adnan The Alternative
Andrew Pendleton New Economics Foundation
John Doolan and Paul Blomfield Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform
Keith Sharp Liberal Democrats for Electoral Reform
Frances Scott 50:50 Parliament
Jon Christensen Tax Justice Network
As a fun way to track how the party leaders are doing in the battle to reach 10 Downing Street and form the new UK government at Westminster,
NetVoucherCodes.co.uk are hosting a digital donkey derby by using their Twitter listening tool to measure the number of mentions of the main political parties in election tweets.
The 2019 UK General Election is set to be the most digitised ever, with the major political parties pouring more time, effort and money into online campaigning than any previous national vote.
Social media such as Twitter is at the forefront of politicians’ efforts to get noticed and generate engagement, in a bid to improve their polling numbers before the 12th of December.
The 2019 tweet race features all of the UK’s leading donkeys (thoroughbreds, surely? – Ed) – the SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon, the Conservatives’ Boris Johnson, the Liberal Democrats’ Jo Swinson, the Brexit Party’s Nigel Farage, Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn, the Green Party’s Siân Berry, Plaid Cymru’s Adam Price and the DUP’s Arlene Foster.
To view the #ElectionDerby, please visit: https://www.netvouchercodes.
Scottish Conservatives claim that they are the only party who can stop the SNP in Edinburgh and the Lothians. The Tory appeal to anti-independence voters follows the release of the latest YouGov opinion poll which predicts the SNP will win no less than 43 of Scotland’s 59 constituencies, an increase of eight MPs. Continue reading Scottish Conservatives are the only alternative to the SNP in Edinburgh … says, ehm, … a Scottish Conservative!
The SNP launched their manifesto for next month’s General Election yesterday. Introducing the manifesto, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Welcome to the launch of the SNP manifesto for the 2019 general election. Continue reading Building A Better Scotland? SNP launch general election manifesto
Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday launched the Conservative manifesto in Telford, setting out how he will ‘get Brexit done’ and unleash Britain’s potential. Continue reading Tories launch election manifesto
Business leaders are scathing. Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director General, said: “Labour’s default instinct for state control will drag our economy down, rather than lift people up.
“Policies ranging from major renationalisation and a four-day week to the ill-conceived plan to remove 10% of shares from public companies will hurt employers, employees, savings and pensions. It’s the most vulnerable in society who will pay the price for this economic experiment.
“Significant hikes in corporation tax, threats to important investment incentives and windfall taxes on oil and gas will set alarm bells ringing for globally mobile businesses.
“Business shares Labour’s goals for a close trade relationship with Europe and a fairer, greener and more inclusive economy at home.
“We support Labour’s ambition to build more affordable homes, upskill the economy with more apprenticeships and reform business rates. However, without business investment, insight and expertise, it won’t be possible to drive the economy forward or improve vital public services.
“The door is open for Labour to work with business. We urge them not to close it.”
Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party’s ‘radical Marxist manifesto’ will bring far-reaching economic chaos for Brexit-battered Britain, affirms the boss of one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory organisations.
The founder and CEO of deVere Group, Nigel Green, spoke out as the Labour leader unveiled his party’s manifesto yesterday ahead of next month’s general election.
Mr Green said: “Labour’s Marxist manifesto is the most radical and dangerous in decades. It would bring far-reaching economic chaos for a Brexit-battered Britain already on the brink.
“Corbyn and McDonnell’s agenda would create a nightmarish scenario that would hit those very people the most that it is proclaiming to try and support and protect.”
He continues: “There are three fundamental reasons why the Corbyn-led Labour manifesto would damage the UK economy.
“First, it would drive down already stagnate business investment in the UK. The mammoth nationalisation programme will leave companies thinking ‘who’s next?’
“Plus, the snatching of 10 per cent of the shares in every big company and a significant increase in trade union power, including a return to collective bargaining, will leave UK and international investors justifiably concerned that their investments will not be safe under Labour.
“This will seriously erode any attempts to generate long-term, sustainable economic growth.”
Mr Green went on: “Second, it would trigger an exodus of some of the most successful and wealthiest individuals.
“This would likely be due to concerns regarding Labour’s stance on inheritance tax, income tax, stamp duty and capital gains tax, potentially even capital controls, and the slashing of pensions tax relief.
“Typically, these people have the resources to move to safe lower tax jurisdictions if the tax burden in Britain becomes too great.
“Should these largely job and wealth-creating, tax-paying individuals quit Britain, the government’s finances will suffer significantly because they contribute a disproportionately large amount to the state’s coffers. Indeed, they prop-up the system.
“And third, a renegotiation of the Brexit deal, which would be put to a second referendum, would create many more months of uncertainty for businesses.
“Labour’s economic agenda is a risky gamble. Its potential for serious adverse consequences is massive. And whilst the radical plans are already far-reaching, this might be just the beginning, with more misguided policies to come.”
A risky gamble? Not so – it’s a fantastic offer, says the leader of Britain’s biggest trade union:
Unite is the UK’s largest trade union with over 1.25 million members. Reacting to the launch of the Labour party’s manifesto yesterday, Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “This is a fantastic offer from Labour to the electorate.
“I urge all Unite members and the general public to listen to what Labour is saying.
“When Labour wins nurses win, teachers win, manufacturing workers win, car workers win, young people win and pensioners win.
“When Labour wins, we all win. Come home to Labour.”
This is the most important election in a generation for working families. No matter who we are or where we come from, all of us should have a chance to get on in life.
“We’re assessing each of the party manifestos on their plan to put working families first. Here we set out why we think the Labour manifesto delivers.
Test 1: Get wages rising faster for everyone – not just top earners
The Labour manifesto sets out a comprehensive plan to end the longest pay squeeze for generations.
This manifesto offers real change for working families and a return to decent secure jobs.
Test 3: Rebuild our NHS and the public services we all rely on – don’t cut taxes for the rich
Labour are promising the investment are schools and hospitals are crying out for. And they’re funding it by ensuring the rich and big corporations pay their fair share.
“Working families desperately need change at this election. This manifesto has the ingredients we need to deliver it.”
Make up your own mind: see Labour’s manifesto below:
Real-Change-Labour-Manifesto-2019
Poverty campaigners have published their demands for the next UK Government, with calls for a range of policy commitments to help stem the rising tide of poverty.
In Righting the wrongs: A manifesto to tackle poverty, the Poverty Alliance urge the next UK Government to put solving poverty at the heart of all that it does, including by creating a more compassionate social security system, building a labour market that works for everyone, and protecting people on low incomes from the effects of Brexit. Continue reading Righting the Wrongs: Poverty Alliance launches general election manifesto
A children’s ward at a key central Scotland hospital could be FIVE YEARS away from reopening – despite SNP pledges that it would return to full service back in October. Continue reading Kids ward at St John’s could take FIVE YEARS to fully reopen, say Tories
The number of children growing up in poverty in working households has risen by 800,000 since 2010, according to new TUC analysis published today.
The analysis reveals that child poverty in working families rose to 2.9 million in 2018 – an increase of 38% since the start of the decade.
In 2010, 1 in 5 (19%) children in working households were growing up in poverty. In 2018 this had increased to 1 in 4 (24%).
The analysis shows that Westminster government policies account for the majority of the increase in-work poverty. More than 485,000 children (in working households) have been pushed below the breadline as a direct result of the government’s in-work benefit cuts.
The TUC says that other key factors behind the rise in child poverty are:
London has suffered the biggest increase in child poverty (+68%) among working families followed by the West Midlands (+56%) and East England (+56%).
In 2016 the Conservatives abolished the Child Poverty Act and scrapped targets to reduce poverty.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “No child in Britain should be growing up in poverty. But millions of parents are struggling to feed and clothe their kids. That is not right.
“The Conservatives’ cuts to in-work benefits have come at a terrible human cost. As too has their failure to tackle insecure work and get wages rising across the economy.
“We need a government that puts working families first, not wealthy donors and hedge funds.”
The TUC is calling on all political parties to:
Increase in number of children living in poverty in working households since 2010 (nation/region)
| Region | Number of children in poverty in 2010 | Number of children in poverty in 2018 | Extra children in poverty (000s) | Extra children in poverty (%) |
| North East | 71,362 | 108,775 | 37,413 | 52 |
| North West | 241,300 | 335,190 | 93,890 | 39 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | 206,827 | 217,571 | 10,744 | 5 |
| East Midlands | 124,690 | 184,085 | 59,395 | 48 |
| West Midlands | 191,504 | 299,510 | 108,006 | 56 |
| Eastern England | 171,637 | 268,516 | 96,879 | 56 |
| London | 362,448 | 609,002 | 246,554 | 68 |
| South East | 248,435 | 340,996 | 92,561 | 37 |
| South West | 179,550 | 215,403 | 35,853 | 20 |
| Wales | 124,102 | 119,693 | -4,409 | -4 |
| Scotland | 112,075 | 121,925 | 9,850 | 9 |
| Northern Ireland | 53,404 | 59,690 | 6,286 | 12 |
| UK total | 2,087,334 | 2,880,356 | 793,022 | 38 |
Source: Landman Economics Analysis and modelling for the TUC
Proportion of children in poverty in working households
| Region | 2010 (%) | 2018 (%) |
| North East | 17.3 | 25.5 |
| North West | 20.2 | 25.3 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | 22.7 | 22.0 |
| East Midlands | 15.5 | 21.1 |
| West Midlands | 19.9 | 27.9 |
| Eastern England | 15.8 | 22.7 |
| London | 25.9 | 33.9 |
| South East | 15.5 | 20.0 |
| South West | 19.7 | 21.4 |
| Wales | 24.6 | 22.0 |
| Scotland | 13.3 | 15.1 |
| Northern Ireland | 15.2 | 15.7 |
| UK total | 19.0 | 23.8 |
Source: TUC analysis of HBAI data
