Thursday, 26 April, 2007
- 26 Apr 07, 06:27 PM
Who will be the winners and losers at next week's polls for the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and English local elections? Political Editor Michael Crick has the stark results of some Newsnight commissioned research and considers what it would mean at a general election.
Plus: Economics Editor Stephanie Flanders on what the implications would be to the Scottish economy of going independent; and the emotive issue of rubbish collections.
Join Kirsty for , and vent your spleen on the issues below.
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Let's hope that Scotland goes for independence, then we can be rid of Scottish MPs in our parliament making laws and decisions for the English, voting larger sums of money from the central exchequer for better benefits than we enjoy in England, and perhaps reducing the number of Scots in influential ministerial posts etc. They also claimed the highest levels of expenses according to the recent disclosures that MPs are now trying to exempt from Freedom of Information Act. Best of all will be that England, standing alone as a sovereign nation may then be forced to be proud and patriotic once again and celebrate our national day like the Scots, Welsh and Irish.
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Just finished watching the programme and James Whales' comments about people "resting on their laurels" - we get involved in it to help make a difference - there is so much that can be done if people are committed. I am standing for the first time - there are so many people who don't feel represented - it isn't an easy option. Has he offered to stand? If not, why not - be counted!!
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what an idiot james whale is, perhaps they should put a landfill site on his doorstep,see if he still wants his bins emptying twice a week then!!
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There is a lot of glib talk about what "they do over in Europe", both by those who appreciate, and those who hate the EU. The EU should not be lumped together.
Where I live, in the Netherlands, the (wheeley-style) rubbish bins have been collected on alternate weeks for the past 20 years or so: grey bins for normal rubbish, alternating with green bins for garden clippings. In some boroughs there are also blue bins for paper. I saw a woman on your programme simply throwing loads of old newspapers in the normal bin. Not a very environmentally aware way of behaving. Paper should be collected separately.
The estate where I live has many households with mum, dad and a couple of kids. If they can manage, given all that excess packaging we throw away, with a collection once a fortnight, why can't Brits? Or are Brits more profligate with what they throw away?
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The point about scottish mps is relevant since at least john smith and now gordon the pm in waiting to state the obvious, but several of my friends have expressed dismay with this position in our parliament.The irony is that those calling for a dismissal of labour in scotland are equally critical of gordon brown and claim scotland will be better off without new labour.Watever the truth might be is for all voters to decide but what is more important is the fact that govt under blair remains too centralised and controled from westminster which cannot be healthy for democracy in my view.And all the signs point to this govt being on the back foot having upset many of their voters across the country.Wether that is enough for them to change camp i very much doubt which could lead to a low turn out of voters
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When Kirsty Wark presents why do you invite guests? It would be better if she answered her own questions as she constantly interrupts and sounds off with that annoying scotch accent
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Sorry that neither national 成人论坛 Radio nor TV reported 74 people (Ethiopian & Chinese) killed in Ogaden - but it was reported on 成人论坛 World Service. Why the ommission?
War is almost always over resources - agriculture, grazing, water, oil, rutile etc etc. Ogaden & Somalia is no different. 15 years of turmoil in Somalia. US, UN and now Ethiopia (US proxy) intervention in Somalia. Oil & gas prospecting in the region. It's well passed high time for an in-depth study into the links between oil company interests in Horn of Africa, on-going conflict and the appalling so-called 'war on terror'.
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F. Jones - I happen to think that Ms Wark's Scottish accent is lovely.
I didn't see the programme so can't comment on the interruptions, but I usually find that some interviewees will not say anything of 'use or ornament' if not kept on the right track by the judicious use of timely interventions.
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Campaign gaffes
Make Crick smile - send him amusing local election leaflets..
Look the Krankies up here has Crick's card well and truly marked.
According to Chatham House he has never smiled.
We still never got our wristbands up here, but agree Jeremy has good ties ! Maybe that's where the money went for the wristbands......
J an J Krankie x x
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Dear Robin le Mare,
I am in an agreement with you that many conflicts are fought over resources. The Ogadeni question, to the contrary, is exceptional by half.
On the Ethiopian-Ogadeni crisis, like any other, there are two sides to it. Ethiopia, for sure, is after the 369 000 square km territory of Ogaden, which it occupies yet never controls in full. It wants the land and all of its resources including oil and gas without its rightful inhabitants and owners.
Ogaden, on the other hand, bleeds and yearns for freedom, justice, independence, peace and security for a hard long time. As to the resources, one who owns the land owns its incentives.
This conflict, from the Ogadeni perspective, is for right to life with dignity and destiny of self. So long as we are subject to occupation, oppression and exploitation, our plight of right will continue!
Magan Shekeye
Edmonton, AB, Canada
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