Lets kill another Bear

[oldbluefox]

Thanks for your answer to my question OL. It was a loaded question, part cynical, part tongue in cheek. Clearly there were names you would never choose but there were also names there who could have qualified. I notice you didn't choose any of those and suspect you found it difficult to come up with a viable candidate yourself, hence your Starmer suggestion . I trust you weren't being serious.
The fact is you would have very little choice in the selection of a President and could find yourself, due to circumstances, landed with the last person you would vote for eg a Starmer or God forbid, Rayner!!!
Bearing in mind your political leanings towards proportional representation you may have noticed that in those countries which have a President it is essentially a two horse race. I'm not sure how that would fit in with your political aspirations.
As for pomp and ceremony there would be little change. There would still be the same level of ceremony as we have now with a monarch although I expect motor cavalcades would be much longer. Presidents do love to be swept along in a long line of very large motors.
I remain unconvinced how committed you are to a Republic only that you just don't like a monarchy.
I certainly know where my allegiances lie. Be careful what you wish for.

[Onelife]

Hi Foxy, thank you also for your analysis of Onelife’s thought processes, it is without doubt a complicated picture for which I give you some credit in your attempts to know me better than I know myself.

Knowing me as you do you won’t be surprised that I have no option but to address your assertions.

My reference to Keir was one of many possibilities that in time could be considered as a replacement for Willie, others, if she sticks around long enough could be Shirley Williams, Brian Cox, Robert Winston, Frank field, and of course Theresa May but to name a few.

Any form of governance that replaces our present out-dated system would require considerable debate and be independent of those who presently preside over our merry go round political system that we continually have to endure…that being said our present PM appears to have more about him than the previous incompetent PM’s that have gone before him.

As for the pomp and ceremony a new constitution could deliver as much or as little horse sh*t and carriages as thought financially acceptable, indeed, with the right choice of head of state these costly non-events could disappear altogether.

With regard to my commitment of replacing the Monarchy with a Republic I would, as you say, be willing to reconsider my views somewhat if the Royal machine was decommissioned to a point where the participants could only be seen at Madame Tussauds.

As you already know, I’m always willing to compromise

[Onelife]

Oops! It looks like I’ll have to replace Shirley Williams with her Daughter Rebecca Williams…and I didn’t know Frank Field had died recently….two of the best British MP’s this country has ever known.

[Onelife]

Hi Foxy, I’ve had to have a quick re-think so I’ve come up with…

Sir Lindsay – Hoyle

Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Emily Maitlis

Racheal Riley...love her her figure-s

… as suitable replacements

[Portsmouth]

….two of the best British MP’s this country has ever known.

Didn't always agree with his views but had great respect for Tony Benn who I think was an skilled orator.

[oldbluefox]

Emily Maitlis????? Good grief Keefy, that's worrying. At least you didn't put forward the revolting Bercow fellow so I'll let you off
Maybe Rachael Riley for Chancellor eh?

[oldbluefox]

I did like Frank Field, the one who was asked by Blair to think the unthinkable so he did and came up with a very creditable plan. Blair didn't like it so it was ditched and so was Frank. A shame and a disgrace.

[towny44]

I did like Frank Field, the one who was asked by Blair to think the unthinkable so he did and came up with a very creditable plan. Blair didn't like it so it was ditched and so was Frank. A shame and a disgrace.

It really wasn't very creditable,it required far more funding than any govt could ever afford, since it was far too lenient on who should not be required to pay into the fund,leaving the treasury with a huge bill.

[oldbluefox]

Maybe so but you don't ask somebody to think the unthinkable and then banish them when they do. Truth is if the problem of social care is to be resolved it will need extensive funding.

[towny44]

It is like a lot of things that opposition parties pledge before an election, but then realise would scupper their re-election chances once they achieve power.

[Onelife]

It is like a lot of things that opposition parties pledge before an election, but then realise would scupper their re-election chances once they achieve power.

The voting public just suck it up at every election. We know we will get the same old, same old, Blah! Blah! Blah! Then spend the next five years wondering why it’s happened. We have to find a way of breaking this vicious circle of merry-go-round politics. Our political system has lost its way completely...the opposition parties aren’t there to hold the Government to account they are there to break them.

[oldbluefox]

Although you may not like either your chances of changing or seeing a change in the political system stands as much chance as doing away with the monarchy.

[Stephen]

I had a snifter with King Charlie last night and Onelife’s name came up in conversation. I think Charlie must be taking cooking lessons as the chopping block was mentioned.

[david63]

The voting public just suck it up at every election. We know we will get the same old, same old, Blah! Blah! Blah! Then spend the next five years wondering why it’s happened. We have to find a way of breaking this vicious circle of merry-go-round politics. Our political system has lost its way completely...the opposition parties aren’t there to hold the Government to account they are there to break them.

That is no different than any other country in the world that is not a dictatorship and surely if there was a better system someone would have come up with it by now?

[towny44]

It is like a lot of things that opposition parties pledge before an election, but then realise would scupper their re-election chances once they achieve power.

The voting public just suck it up at every election. We know we will get the same old, same old, Blah! Blah! Blah! Then spend the next five years wondering why it’s happened. We have to find a way of breaking this vicious circle of merry-go-round politics. Our political system has lost its way completely...the opposition parties aren’t there to hold the Government to account they are there to break them.

This vicious circle of yours would still happen under any new system that you conjure up. There is just not enough revenue available from acceptable taxation levels to provide the lifestyle that the electorate crave. So unless you can find a way to increase productivity with the same, or preferably a reduced number of workers, then there will still be the same unrest from the electorate.
It's not the system that is failing, its the way it is managed that is the problem, and replacing the Monarchy and juggling with the way we elect politicians is hardly likely to improve things.

[Onelife]

Although you may not like either your chances of changing or seeing a change in the political system stands as much chance as doing away with the monarchy.

Talking about the Monarchy, I was rather hoping you would have followed the other Royals example by wishing Prince Harry a very Happy Birthday

[david63]

Talking about the Monarchy, I was rather hoping you would have followed the other Royals example by wishing Prince Harry a very Happy Birthday

The only thing that I wish Prince Harry is that he stays the other side of the pond, keeps his mouth shut and never steps foot back in the land of his birth.

[Onelife]

Talking about the Monarchy, I was rather hoping you would have followed the other Royals example by wishing Prince Harry a very Happy Birthday

The only thing that I wish Prince Harry is that he stays the other side of the pond, keeps his mouth shut and never steps foot back in the land of his birth.

I like him

[towny44]

Talking about the Monarchy, I was rather hoping you would have followed the other Royals example by wishing Prince Harry a very Happy Birthday

The only thing that I wish Prince Harry is that he stays the other side of the pond, keeps his mouth shut and never steps foot back in the land of his birth.

I like him

There's no accounting for taste.