Notices by Anthony Stevens 🇪🇺 🇯🇲 💙 (anthonyfstevens@mastodon.online), page 2

@CloudyMrs @Theriac @Wen @soren

Gordon Brown bring PM of the #UK?

Personally I think the quality of the representation is far more important than the representative being local. I can think of a few planks around me that I'd be horrified if they rocked up to #Westminster as my MP. 😳

If the representative is effective AND local, even better...

@Wen @alexlac51 @MaddieT @CloudyMrs @soren

I'm not shifting my arguments, you're just not listening. I'll explain them to you again.

1. I'm 100% IN FAVOUR of #ScottishIndependence

2. I can't vote #SNP in #England

3. #Labour offer the best realistic way forward for my region.

4. For No 3 to happen, #Labour would have to win #GE2024 hence them becoming the national government of the #UK.

5. #Scottish politics doesn't directly affect me.

6. I refer you to point No 1.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🙏🏾

@spytfyre @Wen @alexlac51 @MaddieT @CloudyMrs @soren

Point 5 is the whole point. Don't think everyone in #England is a Unionist. Far from it! It's just what can we do to effect #Scottish politics apart from voting to elect who rules from Westminster?

We don't have an #SNP option in England, & SNP policies for #Scotland don't affect us. That's the honest reality. I think if you gave England the option to vote for #ScottishIndependence, I think you'd be surprised by the support you'd get.

@spytfyre @Wen @alexlac51 @MaddieT @CloudyMrs @soren

I'll be frank. You come across as if you see everyone in #England as your enemy, & we're all anti #Scottish, pro Unionism & anti #ScottishIndependence... We're NOT! I can't make this any clearer than I already have.

I live in #Manchester. Tell me how #SNP policies for Holyrood, & Westminster's refusal to allow you another referendum affects me, & how I can affect it? You're not doing your cause any favours by seeing enemies everywhere.

@spytfyre @Wen @alexlac51 @MaddieT @CloudyMrs @soren

How does #Scottish politics affect my life in #Manchester? I'm being as empathetic as I can to your cause, but it seems like some of you are looking for an enemy to fight when I'm not one.

I don't need anyone to fight my corner. I'd just like a bit of respect & understanding of my views as a bystander to #Scottish politics.

If this is how you are with supporters of your cause, I dread to think what you're like with enemies. 😳

@alexlac51 @MaddieT @Wen @CloudyMrs @soren

Being #Scottish it's probably gone unnoticed North of the border, but it's been a HUGE issue for nearly 40 years by many #English regions who feel left behind, & second to #London & the #Tories #Southern Shire Counties in their rural Stockbroker belt heartlands.

This has been the quest for my region since the riots of 1981. Like I said, it's not just #Scotland who feel left behind & ignored by Westminster.

https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/insight/getting-to-grips-with-devolution/

@Theriac @CloudyMrs @Wen @soren

And that's another issue altogether. Quite evidently if someone were to represent a unfamiliar constituency, the least they could do was learn the basics about that area.

Intimating someone couldn't learn enough about an unfamiliar area to represent them is a ridiculous notion.

@alexlac51 @MaddieT @Wen @CloudyMrs @soren

Anti-Westminter much like much of #England. We've all suffered the same #London centric fate. In actual fact, I'd happily bet that #Scotland gets more from Westminster than my region.

This is why we want devolution, because we're tired of Westminster sorting out their heartlands first, & throwing the scraps to the rest. Trust me, it's not been a bed of roses for the rest of the #UK.

@alexlac51 @MaddieT @Wen @CloudyMrs @soren

I wish the very best for #Scotland & wish them no ill will. To be honest, I've never come across an English person who doesn't like #Scotland.

You need to separate politics from constitutional issues, as they're VERY different.

@Wen @alexlac51 @MaddieT @CloudyMrs @soren

Do you have any statistics to backup your claim? Personally I've never witnessed what you're saying.

As I keep repeating, few people I've happened across in #England care about #Scotland or #NI in the way you speak. They see Scotland as no different to visiting #Newcastle.

I was in #Glasgow a few months back & had a thoroughly good time & was treated well. When #Scots visit my City, we treat them as we would anyone else. We're all victims of London.

@Wen @Theriac @CloudyMrs @soren

I've lived in Manchester all my life, & the first time I & thousands of others knew the worker bee was the symbol of our great City, was after the Manchester Arena bombing. Does that make us any less Mancunian or committed to our City?

You could quite easily disbar me from running for public office because I didn't know this fact. How far dya want to drill down into local knowledge/history being a deal maker for political representatives? An exam?

@Theriac @CloudyMrs @Wen @soren

If you read the thread back, origin is definitely being made an issue...

@Wen @Theriac @CloudyMrs @soren

You've answered your own query then...

@Wen @Theriac @CloudyMrs @soren

So are you saying a #Scottish MSP shouldn't be allowed to switch to an #English constituency?

Isn't this like saying a person shouldn't be allowed to move cities for a new job they're qualified to do? What's the difference? 🤔

@Wen @Theriac @CloudyMrs @soren

Use Google & speak to the locals about their issues & what matters most to them. It's quite straightforward to do. It's why you have a national network of CLP's & Ward branches. 🤷🏾♂️

@Wen @Theriac @CloudyMrs @soren

Maybe on local history, but on local issues there are CLP's & Ward branches to fall back on for support.

MPs are there to represent local interests, not impose the interests of Chipping Norton on Dundee South. At the end of the day, it's a job, not a vocation.

@Theriac @CloudyMrs @Wen @soren

A counter counter question. Are you suggesting only local people can understand & empathise with local issues? Isn't that why you elect Local Councillors?

@Wen @Theriac @CloudyMrs @soren

Agreed. However I don't see why not being locally born should stop that MP from effectively representing his constituency. You're either a good representative or not.

@CloudyMrs @Wen @Theriac @soren

I've no idea how this has come about, & it's a bit suspect that there's no direct quotes from #Labour about this.

I suppose it'd be preferable to have a locally born candidate standing, however it's quite commonplace in England that high profile MPs are parachuted into self seats.

Question: Should all #Scottish born MPs be banned from representing #English constituencies?

@Wen @CloudyMrs @Theriac @soren

How many #English #Labour candidates have been shipped #North to #Scotland so far?