7 Illegal Things To Do In A British Election

tomscott.com - / tomscott - Don't worry: unlike last time I did a video like this, I'm not actually going to attempt to do any of these. I swore off politics a long time ago!
Purdah also applies to civil servants, who basically can't do anything public for weeks. All the government departments' Twitter and Facebook accounts will be going very quiet...
Thanks to Chris Reynolds for camerawork!

[@alansmithee419]

"The BBC actually gets an equal amount of complaints from all sides... And then they reckon they've done their job about right." This is simultaneously hilarious and genius.

[@alansmithee419]

@@EightThreeEight yes, that's why it's hilarious and genius. What did you think I meant? Sorry, but I'm genuinely confused.

[@EightThreeEight]

@@kaistzar2831 Well clearly, while you're complaining about them being too anti-brexit, there will be someone else out there complaining that they're too pro-brexit. That's how it works.

[@alansmithee419]

@@kaistzar2831 on top of what EightThreeEight said, the statistics in London specifically (where the BBC headquarters are, and where most of the company is based) were 70/30. That's well over a 2:1 ratio of remain to leave voters, so the apparent bias makes sense if they didn't branch out much from the London area in their interviewing. And depending on the region of London, it could go over 3:1. After that point it depends on how people were found to interview - was it by popular public request that they interviewed specific people, did they interview more well-known people, or just completely random people? Not to mention it's illegal for them to be biased, so if the government which is *against that view* found out, there would likely be consequences. if not a fine or other punishment, they'd at least have voiced their complaints, and made sure they were well-known. But this hasn't happened.

[@GryphLane]

@@kaistzar2831 That my friend is confirmation bias. You just didn't notice the pro-leave morons. But they were absolutely there.

[@kalashnikov96]

its hilarious but actually incredibly stupid. Think about it, what real bearing does complaints have on indicating bias. Here's a hint....none.

[@DavidJuckes]

I love that you can be fined for spending too much money

[@urciaga]

OMG HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@GelidGanef]

I love that the fines don't matter. People who spend that much have their reputations and careers ruined even if they can pay the fine.

[@adventure_F0x]

Geli *cough* The Leave Campaign*cough*

[@adventure_F0x]

Red Pilled Fox I didn’t get one... I did get lots of pro leave stuff though .... Anyway ... want to talk about the face they didn’t let 16 year olds vote for Brexit (their future) but did let 15 year olds vote for the new PM

[@MatrixExpress]

/me gets popcorn ;-)

[@E3kHatena]

I trust him. After all, this guy did run for parliament. As a pirate.

[@dead.dummy678]

In Somalia?

[@ya3371]

@@dead.dummy678 nope. Look up Mad Captain Tom

[@2507ashes]

I now understand this reference

[@LonaMicrosoftGates]

Nice pfp

[@maxwellwynne-shepherd7852]

HEHA

[@natalbridge5936]

Next video “how I broke every law in a British election”

[@speleokeir]

And only got fined £20k (the wholly inadequate maximum punishment).

[@speleokeir]

@Silent Knight Yep. Peanuts to someone like Boris Johnson who earnt £1.6M last year. Or Aaron Banks who gave £7M to the Brexit campaign. To people like that it's a minor operating cost.

[@ab-bq9ub]

TOM SCOTT FOR PM

[@joeldarnbrough2422]

Look up Mad Captian Tom, you won't regret it

[@Jaydee-wd7wr]

@@speleokeir, I feel the punishment is less the fine and more the public scandal breaking the laws of an election would create, I can’t think of any media outlet that wouldn’t run away with something like that.

[@yt.personal.identification]

"...an honest assessment" England: Damn, they got me with that catch all point. America: That is a poorly defined point, that can be manipulated as a loop hole.

[@alansmithee419]

Yes, but presumably all loop holes that have been found are now covered in the previous terms. That's just something that the court will use to hopefully stop future loopholes, but if they fail, it will just be added as another term above that final one.

[@clockworkkirlia7475]

My exact thinking. This (The UK, not England specifically) is the country that almost accidentally destroyed itself when Scotland got its devolved powers, but that technicality wouldn't really have actually broken anything other than a few clerks' pens. When there's something vague, we've learned that it's best to muddle on and apply some degree of common sense, while the US adheres strictly to its writings in a way that only a young country can and massive things break around technicalities. I don't mean to insult America here, but there's a reason that the UK (sort of) does(n't) have a living(/any kind of) constitution. Times change and amendments are inevitably required more often than is practical to account for case-by-case.

[@stoutyyyy]

Clockwork Kirlia part of the reason American law is so explicitly defined is specifically because the vagueness of English law was exploited in the colonies. That’s the thing about laws, no matter how you write them, people will always try and find a way around them.

[@clockworkkirlia7475]

@@stoutyyyy Oh, fascinating! Thanks for the info. Certainly I don't think it's right to apply a single country's laws over that great a distance and that great a cultural disparity... And I wouldn't want to imply that our way is perfect either. In any case, thank you, and I hope I didn't come off too pompous.

[@stoutyyyy]

Clockwork Kirlia no it’s fine, it’s just interesting to look at different countries’ legal systems and the reasons they’re different. I will say there are a lot of things I think Britain does better

[@CuleChick11]

I feel like America needs most, if not all, of these laws.

[@thedrain9328]

Yes please, "democracy" in America is a sickening, money-fueled shoutfest which, for whatever reason, most citizens are just complacent with taking up the ass. Will we here in the States ever reform? Probably not. It's far too entrenched by now to get rid of in one lifetime.

[@Hans-gb4mv]

+zh1147 No one said to take free speech out of the constitution. But the way politicians can get almost unlimited spending in the US doesn't really look fair. It's not about who has the best arguments, it has become about who has the best (and most expensive) marketing campaign. The biggest problem with all that is that the money has to come from somewhere. Companies donate millions of dollars but they don't do that for free. They see it as an invesmtent and expect something in return. So at the end of the day, who has more to say? Big money or the people?

[@demonsbanenathan]

Which of *these* laws are an affront to personal property or free speech rights?

[@demonsbanenathan]

1. And you think that's a right that shouldn't be curbed? Why? You already gave a qualifier for this right, so you admit that limiting what can and can't be erected on your own property is acceptable. 2. I don't know what you mean by "take out an ad". You mean erect a billboard? Nothing about *these* laws are "ridiculous", and it's fairly close-minded, and frankly a little ethnocentric, to talk about them in such fashion. In much the same way as the US values certain laws as guardians of their democracy, so we value ours.

[@Hans-gb4mv]

***** The basic question becomes: what is harm to others? If I put up a giant billboard in my front yard advertising something (doesn't even matter what) you can be certain that it will bother other people and complaints will follow. Furthermore it would be a construction that is placed without the proper permissions which means that any complaint would result in me having to take it down anyway. If I don't do it, the government will do it for me and send me the bill anyway.

[@mr.100rupees3]

Are politicians allowed shake a door mat after 8 pm

[@Praharshkstudios]

Statiscube 10 months ago Are politicians allowed to suspiciously handle salmon? you stole your joke from the above comment and altered it.

[@mr.100rupees3]

@@Praharshkstudios it's not stealing, I said door mat as an additional joke to salmon

[@EightThreeEight]

*8am

[@ktwashere5637]

no. it would be front page of the newspapers if any of them dared to do that.

[@pogmonke5217]

@@EightThreeEight *20:00

[@berttroubleyn3475]

"Even after two weeks, a new government is maybe not yet installed". As a Belgian, I find this phrase hilarious. Our elected people have made it a recent habit of taking almost a year and a half to form a new government. World record stuff!

[@GoldenKingStudio]

I flew a kite in a public place, I flew a kite in a puuuublic place! Wait, wrong video; pardon me.

[@potatoonastick2239]

Hahaha I saw that video before this one, nice timing :P

[@nikopack7571]

Hey, me too.

[@manzalofficial2127]

Potato on a stick same

[@TS_Mind_Swept]

Have not actually seen that video, but I’m guessing it’s a parity of a song by Ariana small (I know of one called "we found kids in the garbage can")

[@obeymaster6409]

The queen arrested meh

[@joshuagrahm3607]

"TV news must be- well, actually fair and balanced. By law." holy sh*t- do that in america and almost instantly every major station would be taken out immediately.

[@goatbot9733]

Joshua Grahm looking at you Fox...and CNN...and-well actually we would have no news whatsoever

[@lo0katmyn4me]

Mainstream media would be out, yeah. There are smaller news outlets though. Usually unbiased. Mostly.

[@imrustyokay]

Exept PBS.

[@charlieshemwell7789]

What about NBC

[@bdk336]

We'd have to actually go out and read the papers they take all their news from instead.

[@jamesknightvo]

We've had 3 general elections since this video was made less than 5 years ago.

[@miaoex]

In Israel, we've had 3 general elections in the last year. And we might have another by August.

[@ala0284]

At least labour didnt win any of them

[@burntbacn]

@@TheRen0gade Yes, do tell more about how someone like Corbyn could have prevented that. We're still not doing the worst btw. The number of deaths may be high in total, but per every million or so it's not the worst.

[@wanderingrandomer]

@@burntbacn Well as for right now, we do have the highest death toll in Europe, so...

[@bvbinsane1vanity]

Nobody can tell who has the highest death toll because every country counts deaths differently. In the UK we count those that died WITH covid, not just those that died OF covid . For example, we include those that have terminal cancer, have a heart attack.

[@MissesWitch]

this video is 8 years old, but having clicked from his latest video to this one, I couldn't tell this wasn't a new video. Tom Scott hasn't aged 1 day!

[@troyadams19]

The US is badly in need of most of these laws.

[@discipleoferis549]

Troy Adams I was thinking exactly the same thing. I HATE how bad elections are here in the states. We need all of these laws and more... right now!

[@ehhorvath13]

I agree. It bugs me that they spend so much money to bash each other on TV. Tell me why you rock, not that you just look slighter better compared to the other guy.

[@Tuberuser187]

Sadly though even with the laws we have most of the same problems, in some ways its worse. At least the big corporations over there have to pay out of their arses to buy a politician, small comfort but its something. Here they get pretty much the same results for a fraction of the outlay.

[@BroadcastDr]

No thanks. I'll stick with the 1st Amendment.

[@Omni315]

Well there's something new, an American saying they need more laws!

[@IceMetalPunk]

Not seeing the political ads on TV would be a nice change here in the States. They're all just ad hominems and "I'm your choice by default because even though I can't back up anything I'm saying, I'll sure as hell tell you everything I think is wrong with everyone else". Ugh. Also, did "granny farming" actually happen often enough to be made a law? It sounds like the most conniving, evil, bastardly thing to do--oh, right, politics, never mind.

[@krim7]

I always love how different the candidates' positions are between the primaries and the general election.

[@IceMetalPunk]

***** Ideally, a politician's job is to govern. Realistically, a politician's job is to get votes. So of course they say whatever they need to make people check their name on a ballot. It's why I hate democracy and would much prefer a technocracy.

[@krim7]

IceMetalPunk Every form of government has its upsides and downsides. Technocracy can be just as corrupt and weak willed as democracies and plutocracies, especially when it comes to radical changes in technology that may obsolesce certain industries/technocrats.

[@krim7]

IceMetalPunk The problem is that in a Technocracy you have to deal with the Peter Principle. It is easy to say that someone who isn't good at his job is fired but that isn't always the case, nor is such a process streamlined or efficient. Look at what CEOs do all the time - they run a company into the ground, then jump ship with a golden parachute. Beyond that, nepotism is rampant in the corporate world. Stan Lee, one of the most influential cartoonists in the world, originally got his job not because he was particularly good but because he was the nephew of one of the higher ups at Timley. You aren't really applying all the elements of Technocracy. What you seem to be describing is a meritocracy. Meritocracies are great until the system needs to be re-alligned and the dogmatic approach to the system of merit cannot be shed in order to make society better. The Soviet Union was, in many ways a real Technocracy and the technocrats could not stop their country from crumbling.

[@TheJimmyJazz1994]

IceMetalPunk Did you mean dastardly? Or actually bastardly?

[@quillmaurer6563]

As an American, this sounds so amazing! You Brits do it right!

[@tylerl4320]

No, they don’t.

[@xed_i2070]

@@tylerl4320 He's talking about the laws, not the actual election.

[@brotherhoodofsteelsoldier1356]

@Johan Liebert how is this anti free speech?

[@hivemind8817]

We have most if not all of these laws.

[@bartholomewdan]

@Johan Liebert Probably because then people would actually have to listen to the "other side", and we can't have that now can we?

[@xebrax124]

America: We have all of these rules, except in reverse.

[@jellyfishes800]

Too real 😭😭😭

[@Anonymous-df8it]

America: Did you just spend less than the equivalent of £15,000? You're going to hell!

[@adambrown1837]

We used to have something similar to #4 in the US called the Fairness Doctrine. Basically it forced television stations to make equal time for rebuttal by opposing groups. For example if the NRA was allowed 30 minutes to talk about gun rights, the station would have to allow a gun control advocacy group 30 minutes as well if they asked for it. They got rid of the Fairness doctrine in the 80s under Reagan and since then news bias has been skyrocketing.

[@scariaez2]

actually the fairness doctrine only applied to the radio

[@Roxor128]

Adam Brown Maybe you should push for the adoption of an Objectiveness doctrine? Under it, the news media would only be allowed to broadcast what they can show to be actually true, and in the event they get something wrong, they must spend as much time and space on the correction as they did on the original mistake.

[@Roxor128]

Badger0fDeath Read my post again. I never mentioned opinions. The requirement was "show it to be true". Opinions are irrelevant under that criteria.

[@Roxor128]

Badger0fDeath Truth is not an opinion. The truth is what the facts are. If X really does/did happen, you can show it does/did happen. The media's job is to spread knowledge. Knowledge is demonstrable. If you can't show it, you don't know it.

[@ingenparks]

***** True, the truth is an objective reality. But what we think is the truth is not. We used to believe the Sun went around the Earth.

[@tuxedo_productions]

"But... But... Freedom of speech!" -Every major corporation/special interest group in the US, ever, always.

[@georgekosko5124]

Good

[@tuxedo_productions]

@b But corporations do?

[@tuxedo_productions]

​@b It's their money that allows for overwhelming and slanderous political campaigns on virtually all forms of media, traditional or modern. Please see the Citizens United v. FEC case.

[@curtmacquarrie]

@b Hows that going for you?

[@oliverpotts8664]

@b It's not a democracy when the voter's view has been shaped by lies and biased news.

[@aidenlucas8226]

"Dissolved" means "go on holidays". Me, about to literally dissolve parliment: o:

[@_pitako]

Well where am I meant to put this definitely legally obtained, highly corrosive acid now?

[@jacobdobbins5443]

@@_pitako on your pizza of course, where else?

[@AlliumLake]

Just make sure you have a bedrock table and floor

[@pearkore6821]

No political ads on tv sounds like bliss. We need that one in Australia.

[@giorgospapoutsakis5271]

We need this on Greece too

[@landonkryger]

I wish we had some of those rules here in America.

[@CeoLogJM]

But MUH FREEDOM.

[@LivingChords]

Rose Noire You assume that banning guns for normal citicens would have no impact on gun availablity for criminals?

[@Eric14492]

Rose Noire "Statistics don't say much." So you prefer to ignore facts and evidence, and cling to your fantasies founded in fear of phantoms. Guns kill. They are designed to kill. They are very good at it. Strict gun laws save lives. Yes, there are a few cases where guns successfully prevented crime. They are statistically insignificant. Far more people die because guns are so readily accessible, even to kids in high school.

[@Eric14492]

Rose Noire The link ***** gave included references from: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Centers for Disease Control Police Foundation Pew Research Center Journal of Trauma, injury, Infection and Critical Care American Journal of Preventative Medicine Do you really think these are all "unreliable references?"

[@Eric14492]

Rose Noire For every time a gun is used in self-defense, a gun is used *22* times to commit a crime, or an unintentional shooting. How is that open to interpretation?

[@kalebbruwer]

in South Africa the party that hands out the most free t-shirts wins. sad isn't it?

[@sagiksp4979]

Plan 1) Invest in south African tshirt companies 2) ... 3) Profit

[@menzindebele1842]

In Zimbabwe it's even worse. Free t-shirts, free zambia cloths, free hats, free food (often in difficult times), free scapegoats (whites and the West), a reminder of pre-1980 and a promise of prosperity. These actually appear to be very effective tactics, they have worked for seven terms so far.

[@rossoliver5046]

Not that Zimbabwe has had a democratic election since the fall of Rhodesia.

[@vixen3671]

This caught my eye since I am South African, it’s not sad because most people here don’t even have shirts or pants

[@shawnpitman876]

@@vixen3671 that doesn't make it any less sad that your political leaders are chosen by bribing people. any attempt to say otherwise just shows that you're naive and completely clueless.

[@jacobhayes9992]

And immediately after watching this i get an Australian political ad...

[@dziltener]

I like the spending limit very much. We should have that in Switzerland too, and not only for elections, but referendums and initiatives as well. Advertising on telly is already not allowed, which I also think is a good idea - and maybe should be expanded to video advertising, too...

[@dff1286]

Everyone wants to move to Canada around election time. I have my eye on England. There was so much logic in this video that my brain hurts.

[@caughtexception611]

DHF F I've always wanted to move to Canada, even outside of election times...

[@theywalkinguptoyouand4060]

DHF F 1 year later. Still wanna go to England?

[@videogamebomer]

proudblackjynx Yes

[@theblueberrysquad4522]

Already done

[@catriziacat1756]

@@theblueberrysquad4522 are you regretting it now

[@israellai]

wow you can actually prohibit granny farming? We need to do this RIGHT NOW.

[@rolan638]

Farmville?

[@liuwaiching9109]

Well, here the grannies volunteered to be farmed

[@aa-dj3jt]

IN SOVIET RUSSIA GRANNYS FARM YOU

[@chicktapus463]

I think someone here is confusing voter turnout with voter fraud

[@SuperSmashDolls]

Old people consistently vote Republican. If Democrats depended on granny farming, they're clearly *terrible* at it.

[@aayushkarn6198]

"Purdah" is an Urdu word which roughly translates to "Cover/Hide/Hidden". This might make remembering the meaning of the term easier.

[@namenamename390]

2:02 "Generally, the BBC gets an equal amount of complaints from all sides, and then they reckon they've done their job about right" I love this so much

[@Wifi_Cable]

I'll just forward this video to Congress. We'll get to implementing these in say 60 years?

[@s.tar.lin.g]

Ha, that's a big assumption you're making that the entire united states won't be completely destroyed by climate change and/or nuclear war by then

[@placeholder1308]

"We thought about limiting our own election campaigns and have decided that we shouldn't"

[@xCorvus7x]

@@placeholder1308 Therefore, the political system of the United States of America is not a democracy. q.e.d.

[@FlatlandsSurvivor]

Life expectancy for a Congressperson: 73 years. Median age of Congressperson: 57.8 Say "This law takes effect in 2035" and a majority of the current Congress doesn't need to be worried about it affecting their chances of re-election

[@NekoMouser]

As an American, I'd love some versions of most of these to be the law here.

[@NoriMori1992]

As a Canadian, so would I.

[@MarcosCruz-xe7vv]

Me too!

[@wiet111]

+zh11147 For most of these laws you can still say whatever you want, you just can't say it any way you want. That's perfectly reasonable. I mean, if I for instance start shouting my opinions on the street in the middle of the night, I can be arrested for noise pollution or something like that. Free speech won't protect me there.

[@nolansykinsley3734]

+zh11147 I know of many many places that you must maintain your yard in a presentable manner. In fact EVERYWHERE I have lived has had that law. No tarps in the front yard, no excess vehicles, no trash, no yard waste, your lawn must be mowed and watered if it is grass, if it is not grass that is fine, as long as it is presentable(no waist tall weeds). Hell, I even had the fire department come by and mandate I clean up a side yard not visible from any street because it was a "fire hazard". There are many different reasons for this but the main reasoning is ONE bad house in a neighborhood can plummet the value of all the houses around it, so it actually causes people to lose real money. I am positive if you even took the slightest bit of effort to look into it you would find most metropolitan or non-rural areas of America have laws to the same effect.

[@nolansykinsley3734]

***** I repeat, NO. I have lived in only ONE homeowners association. The laws I speak of are city and county bylaws. Seriously, just look them up. Conserving property value and keeping a presentable appearance ARE laws. You cannot drag down other people's property value without repercussions. These ARE city and county laws, and HAVE been EVERYWHERE I have EVER lived. Hell, even Palmdale, a city right next to me MANDATES a certain number of trees in each yard, and mandates the upkeep of the side and front facing yards. It even mandates an irrigation system for said yard. You are seriously just talking out your ass and have not taken the 30 seconds to google the bylaws. For reference, Palmdale, ca Ordinance #1176, read it, and I am sure you will find similar ordinances in ALL metropolitan or non-rural areas in America.

[@Albert-wk8ts]

I love the rule about the budget for campaigning. That makes it much more fair for politicians without rich supporters.

[@prva9347]

Tom Scott would do a great job if he decided to do a video about the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, including those policies in their Manicfesto [sic.] that have actually made it into law.

[@johnthemannn]

i like the beeping sounds (the boop boop pop)

[@noahlinnebach9588]

Boop boop pop

[@johnthemannn]

@@noahlinnebach9588 pop booop beeeeeeeeeeeeeep

[@cherry.bakewell8973]

I wish they would place a restriction on bias in the tabloids. Too many people have been swayed on fabricated or embellished facts. They should just state what each political party is running for and allow people to come up with their own decisions.

[@jackgammon4084]

The press must be allowed to say anything they like.The 'wisdom of the crowd' actually voting is what matters.

[@s.tar.lin.g]

This is an old comment and my response is mostly unrelated, but anyways - a few weeks ago when I was walking through a grocery store, and a magazine said right on the front in large letters that the queen of England was dead I completely believed it because obviously the magazine wouldn't be allowed to publish such a ludicrous lie, right? wrong (btw I live in Canada. and of course I figured out it was wrong because I cross-checked the information)

[@s.tar.lin.g]

@@jackgammon4084 but the newspapers just 100% lie and make up stuff, and people who don't check their facts with other sources just believe that

[@Kanbei11]

I'd rather see press plurality made into law and Leveson's findings to do the same. What we see now is a press that knows it owns the government and has no accountability and is in the hands of few oligarchs

[@lohphat]

Isn't there something about flying a kite made out of salmon after 8am?

[@intellectualsinternet7184]

We flew a kite in a public place.

[@gangu7841]

It is illegal to fly a kite of salmon into a cannon made of planks of wood, which then shoots 300 feet into a door, which would make you play knock-down-ginger, and when whoever opens the door, have them sing a profane song but then accidentally slip and slide down ice or snow into a bunch of alcohol, making them drunk, and then at the end of it have a paint bucket and money so when they get to the bottom they deface it, all after 8 AM.

[@dooplon5083]

+lohphat I bet you two would be thick as thieves!

[@illiteratethug3305]

Only in Norfolk on St Swithens day

[@anonanon561]

Election has just been called today, this video is about to show up on everyone's recommended again.

[@ari638]

tadaa! And here we are

[@NealKlein]

Tom, you have a gift for intellectual presentation that is too rare. Thank you for all you do.

[@tommurray9441]

You could be disqualified if you spend too much. But recent events have shown us that you won't.

[@catandfishfc]

Holding an advisory referendum which officially doesn't count and therefore exempt from many rules but promising to uphold the result as if it were legally valid was a masterstroke

[@grahamlive]

The two week limit on election posters is rarely observed. They can linger on for months afterwards. Near me, there are still some posters up from the independence referendum. That was more than 6 months ago!

[@DisturbedNeo]

Alternative title: “7 things most politicians do during an election”

[@Anton_B_08]

No in the UK they don't do it

[@dwayne_dibley]

@@Anton_B_08 except they do but get away with it

[@Anton_B_08]

@@dwayne_dibley true but way less then else where

[@alanbrown397]

Much the same in new Zealand, but campaigning is prohibited on voting day, and all posters have to be down before the polling stations open.

[@manudude02]

I wish these rules applied to the Brexit vote, I know of at least 1 Leave banner in my town that is still up from 3 months ago.

[@tomspencer7307]

Most the ones in my town have been vandalized already

[@gorgolyt]

rekt

[@aganlaroux6801]

The pavements in my area have been vandalised too, by salt. By the way in Britain, vandalised is spelt with a s not a z.

[@Grort]

I'm still seeing SNP signs from the last Holyrood election... *sigh* stop tormenting me.

[@LucasVanderBartlett]

My guess... autocorrect.

[@mizzraika]

..that last one is apparently not universal, as there are political posters hanging out in my town from at least 3 elections ago. But then again, we DID spend a few years without an official government.. #JustBelgianThings

[@Friemelkubus]

Marjan Van Esbroeck At least we have no election ads running. Would drive me insane to be honest.

[@Melthornal]

Marjan Van Esbroeck I want to say upfront I live in a tiny, middle class town. About 2000 people total. A guy down the road from me was elected US congressman, and I have known him as 'that guy down the road' my entire life, and the relationship has never changed. I give him shit all the time about how he still has posters up from two elections ago. He always says 'yeah, I need to get around to that, but unfortunately I've been too preoccupied with voter rights." His time in congress has been about 90% fighting for voter rights (making sure minorities and impoverished have the right to vote, which in too many cases they don't) and 10% building better roads. He does see the humor in keeping up signs that represent issues with voting because he is too busy fixing voting.

[@mizzraika]

Melthornal Hahaha ok, that's pretty awesome! He's a cool dude and I hope he wins a lot of elections! Over here it's just neglect, nobody here cares enough to bother removing them. People just assume other people will come along and cover up their posters with yet new posters (of dance parties and whatnot)

[@Melthornal]

Marjan Van Esbroeck I think that is what these are for! printjunk.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/free-chicken-strips.jpg

[@mizzraika]

Melthornal Ha, I never see those outside the internet, I'd love to have them hanging around town! ..I'd probably rip them all off myself, though.

[@phlarrdboi]

I love that the title is not things that it is illegal to do, but illegal things to do. A handy checklist. Thanks Tom

[@johnmaclagan2263]

Purdah was broken in 2014 when the Britnats offered different policies using the Daily Record and the BBC as the mouthpiece for it, a week before the referendum took place

[@pjfair12547]

8. Vote for a Tory in Scotland

[@DomenBremecXCVI]

It's not like he was joking.

[@DomenBremecXCVI]

mjmw99 I think UK is still part of the EU... They haven't started leaving yet... But you are sort of right.

[@DomenBremecXCVI]

Probably... And then they'll be asked to do some work, if they are in a hurry... after that tey will bugger off... and do that again and again and again

[@cuttheskit7905]

Current PM says we won't start leaving until 2017 and assuming everything else goes as fast as possible that means we'll be out by sometime in 2019. If there are any more delays it will likely be 2020 at the earliest. I hate UKIP, but I can't imagine they're about to disappear while the UK still has so many years to independence.

[@ciaradoyle7400]

paul fairweather yes👌👌

[@TiagoSeiler]

So in the UK we have common sense laws that are built around trying to have a fair election without outside influence, whereas in the US we have the Koch Brothers.

[@rorrt]

***** It depends, both major parties the Labour and Conservatives tend to sling as much mud as the other.. Only recently the defense minister brought up, agaaain that Labour's leader, 5 years or so ago beat his brother to lead the party. And the constant "he stabbed him in the back" line... No no... He stabbed him in the front!!!

[@austinweary9971]

***** did you forget about the liberal george soros? funny how you just call out the conservatives

[@ingenparks]

***** The Koch brothers primarily fund think-tanks and policy wonks, not attack ads. Get your facts straight.

[@danunpronounceable8559]

***** put a sock in it.

[@Gamefightvid]

***** liberal detected!

[@DeadBore]

Ah dreary skies and traffic. Even without That Massive Clock or the topic at hand, we’d’ve known that that was good ol England

[@ThreeSixNine_12_15]

Britain elections: Spending money too much is illegal Mr. Beast: *nervous sweating*

[@makleto84]

Excellent as usual! While on the one hand I'm embarrassed that UK and other non-US KZbinrs often have to modify their speech on behalf of US Americans, as one of those Americans I'm thankful that you take the time to explain things like this, that might not be obvious to people like me.

[@ShawnRavenfire]

Technically, American media has to give equal time to candidates and parties, but they have so many workarounds (like have an editorial criticize a candidate, and then report the criticism in a separate news report), that it's almost like we have no anti-bias laws at all.

[@jwenting]

+Shawn Ravenfire and it's the same in practice in the UK and all over Europe. The BBC (like most US news outlets) has an extreme left wing bias, simply because all their staff are members of left wing parties and/or unions, and it seeps through in every bit of reporting. Nothing blatantly obvious of course, but cutting short a statement by a Tory representative after 30 seconds while letting his Labour opponent blabber on for several minutes is just one example. Or reporting favourably about things Labour likes, and either not reporting at all or being skeptical/negative about things the Conservatives like is another way they can influence public opinion in favour of Labour without actually plastering election posters for them behind their newscasters.

[@ljj842]

+CaptainDuckman left wing ?! I'd say right wing.

[@TheMegalusDoomslayer]

+L JJ SHH! You're ruining the almighty victimhood narrative. Bow before your immoral overlords.

[@twist9997]

+CaptainDuckman You do realize that media companies, mainly newspaper companies all are right wing.

[@flootzavut]

+CaptainDuckman Bwahahahahahahaha claiming the BBC has an extreme left wing bias is hilarious, but claiming the same of "most US news outlets" is freaking HYSTERICAL.

[@Chalkie1983]

Just saw the google ad's thing, I live in Hastings, but was born and raised in TN31... funny to see that on a Tom Scott video.

[@frislander4299]

Sounds like the ringers of Westminster Abbey were going for a peal attempt while you were filming, made for an excellent addition to the background noise.

[@adammullarkey4996]

But is it legal to run for London and Westminster as a pirate? ;)

[@doggosuki]

yarr

[@scheckss4815]

narr

[@matthewmcgowan5774]

Yes, there is genuinely a pirate party.

[@itskdog]

Matthew Mcgowan go look up the videos on the Matt & Tom channel on “Mad Cap’n Tom”. You’ll find they’re being more literal than meaning the pirate party.

[@JukeboxTheGhoul]

See entry "Monster Raving Looney Party" You're welcome

[@RichardB1983]

There are other illegal things. It's illegal to publish any exit poll before the polling stations have closed. This is in contrast to some other countries. Many other things are illegal specifically regarding the conduct around a polling station. You're not allowed to engage in political discussion inside the polling station - there are limits on where your can campaign - you can't leaflet people on the way in to a polling station - you can't wear a rosette if you are not the candidate or their agent. You're not allowed to reveal the unique number on a ballot paper (this will usually prevent you from being able to take a photo and share it).

[@seanuzar583]

"Parliament has just been dissolved, so they can't muck with stuff before the election." Well that's a neat clause, wish we had that before elections in the U.S.

[@mayanandrobertschraders587]

Point of difference: In New Zealand, all election signage has to be removed before dusk on the night before election day.

[@kingpopaul]

It's not because old people drop good loot that you should farm them.

[@jahbama6202]

I know this video is old, but I wish the laws about taking down campaign posters applied to ALL votes. There are still plenty of people with big things that say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ ever since the independence referendum

[@Rebecca-vg2ef]

IN Germany public TV and radio stations have to show the election-ads from the parties (including the small parties). So, they do get shown but your money doesn't help you there. I don't know how the spots are allocated though

[@Chelisbanda]

Most of those things also apply here in Mexico, especially the ones referring to advertising during the 2 weeks before the elections

[@Jazmillenium]

Wow, I love England so much. Such a great example of human rights and democracy. Sadly, the US is in desperate need of this stuff, but a Brit friend of mine raised the point that they've been at it a few hundred years longer than us. Still, it's depressing on both ends. Modern day US politics and government took a great concept our founding fathers had, and botched it all up. Sorta.

[@kalmahcarl]

Shoulda just stayed in the empire, eh? :P

[@JoneseyBanana]

Tsukihi Araragi Hey there. :) You probably meant "I love the UK so much." England is just one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom and this video is about the nation as a whole, not just England. (I know it can be confusing to foreigners, but the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish tend to get offended by the whole England=UK idea)

[@dkmeyers]

JoneseyBanana There is nothing wrong with loving England. You say that England does not equal UK, but I want to point out that UK does not equal England. People can say England and love England and mean England.

[@kalmahcarl]

England is the only country in the UK that actually matters, anyway :^)

[@blkgardner]

The main "problems" with the American system are due to federalism and the balance of powers, despite what your high school civics teacher taught you. Essentially, each Congressman and Senator sits as a de facto independent member. The primary system, which was created to stop the "evil party bosses" from controlling nominations, gives the electorate in each district or state control over the nomination of candidates. That means the national parties have no effective way to punish members who vote against the party. Because each member of Congress is only accountable to the electorate in his district/state, Congress itself becomes focused on competing local interests, rather than governing the nation. Additionally, the UK only has 1 "efficient" house of parliament, while the US has two houses, the upper house being slightly more powerful, and an independent executive with a veto power. Since the 1968 election, we have only had 8 out of 44 congresses in which one party controlled both houses of congress and the president. Additionally, the rules of the Senate allow a minority to stop legislation.

[@BakerbrothertvOfficial]

This reminds me of the *"Illegal Things To Do In The UK".* I think that was the first video of yours I watched.

[@CanthusOfCandE]

The last election we had graffiti all over the local high street for each party made using a pressure hose to remove the grime from walls and pavements. it was still removed by someone else with a pressure hose, although just the graffiti'd area so you had squares of clean all over the place.

[@britamericaball2505]

Philippines needed that no. 7 rule. I remember in my old house that a campaign poster from a councilor on my city district (that lives in the same village as mine) was still at the 2018 Village Election even though it was posted on the 2016 General Election.

[@caitlinbc4327]

US needs to adopt some of these laws. Would make elections less painful and annoying.

[@FIVELIST]

+caitlin cagey Sadly it's not really like this in the UK, we are currently voting to leave the EU and since it's not an election but a referendum our government is paying for adverts against leaving and putting flyers in our doors to say stay in the EU.

[@nickc2011]

The EU referendum is actually pissing me off so much, no one has any idea what's happening it's just devolving into fear mongering and Cameron vs. Boris

[@KemaTheAtheist]

#AmericaNeedsTheseLaws

[@ralien3066]

#STOPTHEGRANNYFARMING

[@ammytersau]

***** except for the super low amount to spend on campaigns, america is a big place y'know

[@KemaTheAtheist]

Ammy We would still spend way, way less if we just did a proportional amount to what the UK does and limit campaigning to only a few months instead of a year or more.

[@Gamefightvid]

***** no! No more laws! we have enough prisoners!

[@KemaTheAtheist]

Gamefightvid GTFO. That would not significantly increase the prison population like the 3-strike rules for simple things like possession of marijuana.

[@rorychivers8769]

Thanks for the tips, I will definitely try at least one or two of them when the next general election happens!

[@kilroywashere9343]

That one about picking up signs would be great here in the US. There’s a sign that’s been up since 2016 that pass by a lot.

[@gecc7774]

The title sounds like Tom is encouraging us to commit these 7 crimes during an election in britain.

[@JimFortune]

Some things ARE better in Britain.

[@Friek555]

What isn't?

[@jowo7295]

***** The weather.

[@sIightIybored]

jowo when was our last dangerous weather, I'm quite happy with the meh kind here :D

[@Litany_of_Fury]

Flood are gonna be more common in the south and london is set to be under the sea level in 70years

[@RichardStrong86]

Primarch Alpharius I'd rather deal with that than have all sources of natural fresh water dry up (like in California).

[@lucky.267]

0:47 the bus is ‘not in service’ As a daily bus user, this hurts on an extreme level

[@topilinkala1594]

In Finland Counties must erect poster sites that have as many places as there are parties in that area and parties may put one poster in each set of poster sites.

[@emilyjanet455]

Interesting video! My only thought was as an accessibility point, you never said any of the laws out loud, only showed them as graphics (realized this when I was wandering around while listening this video and had to keep rewinding to see what the heck you were talking about!) No idea if you'll see this, or if it's something you've fixed for later videos, but just a thought.

[@MagnusSkiptonLLC]

#2: So what if you're trying to run a legit campaign, then some rogue person officially unaffiliated with anyone decides to create a massive ad campaign supporting your bid that goes over the limit. Would that disqualify you?

[@joanagomes1898]

I assume this is one of the loop holes that has been thought of and patched. But it would be nice to know.

[@iansteelmatheson]

there should be a follow-video of this on the brexit referendum -_____-

[@georgecatton]

It was none binding so there was no consequences for breaking the rules because parliamentary doesn't have to follow the result. Which was a stupid decision

[@78Mathius]

As an American, I can only dream.

[@ThatGirlWithTheCoffee]

Is the only reason you know these because of Mad Cap'n Tom Runs For Parliament? :)

[@adammullarkey4996]

I don't know, I can imagine Tom actually going and looking up all of the laws related to elections just to make a 3-minute video on KZbin. Seems like the kind of thing he'd do.

[@AnnaMaria-bb6ze]

@@adammullarkey4996 thanks very much

[@IoEstasCedonta]

#7 - ...wait, why? I can understand housing associations coming down on that, but a nationwide law?

[@maxwellwynne-shepherd7852]

1:44 I cant say anything... That’s my home town, Hastings

[@vortexosumania5404]

Because of the scenery it reminds me of the: Reporter gets angry and tells us the real news video

[@AreashiNewChannel]

Jonathan Pie?

[@mantistoboggan5171]

jonathan pie

[@nk6197]

The KZbin algorithm has brought me here right before our us election.

[@CasperQvortrup]

I love that there are subtitles available for this in Esperanto! Now we just need subtitles transliterated into Ogham!

[@brontewcat]

I live in Albo’s electorate in Australia (Albo aka Anthony Albanese aka current PM of Australia). I will check, but as of just after Christmas some of his posters were still up on poles just around the corner from where I live. Our election was in May last year. Is it fair use for me to send Tom’s video to Albo’s office with that last one time stamped, and a note saying ‘Hint. Hint’. I think it would be a great idea to introduce some of these laws in Australia. I am actually okay with TV ads, and they are allowed here, but we have a TV blackout about 48 hours before the election, by which time everyone is thoroughly sick of politicians spruiking themselves.

[@YourMissingEyeBrow]

Thank you. This is very helpful- now more than ever.

[@PottersVideos2]

1:50 Funnily enough I got to see a Lib Dem ad before this vid!

[@moondust2365]

In some ways I love these laws, but because nostalgia and modern culture, I wouldn't want some of them to be implemented here in the Philippines in the exact same way as in the UK. I can't imagine elections without almost every single party getting at least _some_ air time on TV, posters being taken down right away, or election budgets being that small relative to the country (since the same amount of pounds here in the Philippines would buy you 6x more election material; economic disparity at its best).

[@Jan.szczeaniak]

It's 2021 and in my hometown in Poland I can still see posters from 2018 local elections.

[@rubylazer995]

thx for the suggestions on what to do on the next election

[@NorthernChev]

You should do a piece about the many sneaky techniques (beyond the Internet) that (most) all the British politicians use to get around the $15,000 campaigning limit.

[@nemodaremo9524]

New Spiffing Brit title: TV News is fair and balanced, with no -exploits- bias

[@Eric-qe6xz]

We really need the 7th one, I still see 2012 election posters where I live

[@anzahanifathallah]

i wish we had some of these rules here in Indonesia especially the ones banning political ads on TV and requiring campaigners to take down their posters two weeks after election ends where i live the election is still 3 years away and politicians have already started putting up billboards, during a pandemic where that money could've been used for anything else

[@pigeonite]

the "to do" in the title almost seems to imply you should do these things when you are bored or something

[@j__ck7562]

0:03 *self destruct mode

[@aussiewanderer6304]

In Australia, postal votes aren't even opened until the night of election after polling booths have closed.

[@kenj0418]

This just re-appeared on my feed. I wonder if it's to do with my recent searches regarding 'buying' 10 DUP votes for £1bn.

[@thefenixfamily]

YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE CONSTANT ELECTION ADS DURING ELECTIONS? That must be so nice...

[@mylittledashie7419]

So long as you stay away from youtube yeah. I've been getting bombarded with Conservative ads.

[@user-sn8yg8xk7o]

Dr. Bees We don't have an election season ;) we usually only have about six weeks from announcing the election to voting

[@lemonpringlesdoodles]

"7 Illegal Things To Do In a British Election" Me, an American: *Interesting*

[@jshepard5840]

One of the many things about the UK that I wish was the same here in the States. We have to suffer through a year and a half of non-stop campaigning before every Presidential election. It's insane.

[@814912]

Are the rules different in Scotland? Because I remember when the independance referendum was going on, there were literally campaigns all over the TV. And even when I left Scotland in 2016 (before all the Brexit stuff started), there were STILL old Yes stickers and flags on cars and in windows!

[@gwishart]

The rules for a general election are identical throughout the UK. The rules are different for a referendum compared with an election.