Why would the Tories want an October election? | LBC analysis

Jeremy Hunt has dropped a heavy hint that Brits will head to the polls in October amid speculation the government could be forced to 'go early'.
Grilled about the government’s spending review, the Chancellor said: “This particular spending review has to be completed before next April.
“If the general election is in October that will mean it's very, very tight.”
Matthew Wright explores the implications of this with polling expert Sir John Curtice and what that means for young people in particular.
Listen to the full show on Global Player: app.af.globalplayer.com/Br0x/...
#MatthewWright #Conservatives #GeneralElection #UK #Labour #News #RishiSunak #LBC
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[@chrisperkins7331]

I am an expat (and OAP) who left the UK nearly 50 years ago. I am told I can now vote as the Tories think there is a chance I will vote for them. Sorry to disapoint, but they are the reason I left in the first place.

[@ArtyFactual_Intelligence]

Funny how the Tories are happy to secure the votes for people who have left the country decades ago but prevent new immigrants that are paying taxes, from having a say in how those taxes are spent. NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.

[@JupiterThunder]

So you left in 1974. Not happy with Heath going soft on the miners?

[@TW19567]

So you are a British immigrant. Expat/immigrant are the same thing.

[@wcfields547]

@@JupiterThunder😂 you don’t know why they left you have no right to know ….yet here you are insinuating your own opinions as questions …….why do you think your an expert of expats cause to leave 😂

[@chatham43]

@chris We'll believe your little story.😊

[@ThomasKing19933]

Why would anyone still vote Tory after the damage they've done?

[@TheUnluckyGama]

Because they've been brainwashed by media for decades, too thick to understand their problems are political or have benefited from Tory rule..

[@lestrem11]

What damage, exactly?

[@ShaunieDale]

“Only two things are infinite, the Universe and human stupidity and I’m not sure about the Universe”, Albert Einstein said it all for us really.

[@geoffmorris1769]

​@@lestrem11Open your eyes, you might just see.

[@hydraflyer]

​@@lestrem11have you been living under a rock for 14 years

[@linseyyoung1772]

There's no "as if" about it. They don't want young people to vote.

[@chatham43]

@linsy They probably wouldn't have voted anyway. Look what's on offer. Bit of a non -story really.

[@Gary-le7dz]

Look at what they ve suffered last 14 years no wonder only 10% of under 35s support the Tory’s , Ps 58% support labour !!

[@charliebryce3783]

Mogg has admitted that the ID requirement legislation was really an attempt to disenfranchise the young because he said: 'our attempt to stymy the young vote has backfired because it has also affected OAPs'.

[@lestrem11]

Blimey, where did he say that, child?😂

[@ruthguthrie1099]

​@@lestrem11 He did say it. Try searching KZbin

[@andrewguthrie2]

​@@lestrem11 On GB"notnews", where he probably felt safe that hardly anybody worthwhile was watching. You child.

[@JulianMichaelWalker]

@@lestrem11it was at the conservative party conference I think last year

[@lestrem11]

@@JulianMichaelWalker Got it….he never mentioned the ‘young vote’ just that the change had not helped older people to vote. Young people don’t vote , they literally can’t be arsed. The change was brought in after Labour councillors were found to be getting their supporters to vote more than once. Keep up.

[@GoingMenthol]

Who would have thought that a political party that caters to the elderly at the detriment of the young would push for an election date to prevent the young from voting?

[@sfactory8253]

You'll be old one day.

[@satyasyasatyasya5746]

@@sfactory8253 this reply is literally "i'm not poor i'm just a temporaily embarassed millionaire so i'm gonna vote along with the rich!"

[@zeroxox777]

More to the point, the Tory party have very obviously turned into an evil cabal determined to dominate the British state at all costs. And we have Kier Starmer as our only defence. Oh how we laughed.

[@lindabennett6597]

As a pensioner, do they really think that increasing my tax every year endear them to me they can think again

[@annphillips1086]

A lot of us who are retired or will retire shortly have adult children who we're actually quite fond of, who are suffering. So we won't all be voting in blind self-interest. Not that the present lot have been doing much for us either, to be fair, if you look past the triple lock (which I confess I like) to the crumbling infrastructure and barely-existent services we rely on.

[@slightlyconfused876]

Why should the Tories do the right thing by democracy. They have never done it at any point in their history.

[@chatham43]

@slightly Name a party that has?

[@Willsham]

Tories are trators as are labour. We need something different.

[@31Blaize]

This is why the ability to call an election should not sit solely with the sitting PM.

[@lenduckworth99]

Absolutely

[@TalesOfWar]

From 2011 to 2022, that was the case. Parliament could call for one with a majority, then Boris changed the law when it was clear he was on his way out so only the sitting PM could call one early. How the PM even has this power to overrule a law enacted by Parliament I don't know. Just like Sunak decided not to bother with HS2 when it had been voted for by Parliament. I thought Parliament was supposed to be Sovereign? So much for taking back control.

[@mp71001]

@31Blaize Bingo 🎯

[@lestrem11]

It doesn’t. Keep up, child.

[@31Blaize]

@@lestrem11Ah, another unimaginative ad hominem attack from you. You need to come up with some better material.

[@truebluehube]

The longer they leave it the more of their core support die off from old age accelerated by the destroyed health service.

[@saffaboy2007]

Exciting!

[@silondon9010]

Labour are really not trusted with immigration control

[@ArtyFactual_Intelligence]

Tories have FAILED at Immigration Control. And the country needs immigration for the tax base and people to care for the elderly because their kids are too busy working.@@silondon9010

[@fricozoid1]

Here’s hoping 🤞

[@chatham43]

@true So leave it as long as possible. We're relying on these deaths!

[@suecharman2887]

Suprised the Tories don't just say, you have to be retired to vote.

[@gearoftones8585]

Or a homeowner. That's how they decimated the catholic vote in the north of Ireland. Some people even had more than one vote to guarantee a unionist majority. It's gerrymandering and that's what this is.

[@craphead9842]

Yes ago only men over 21 etc could vote in the UK.. LOL... Tony cuenca

[@uniquerebeljaney3639]

​@gearoftones8585 I'm a home owner, and I won't be voting for these scumbags. I never have, and I never will.

[@anthonyrybicki1000]

Or give the over 60's two votes to use.That would play well in the shires.

[@standalby6949]

Or just say “ we’re in-for life & there’s nothing any of us tax cattle can do about it “ we know their nazis by their actions they use nowadays , evil has taken over this once great land of ours

[@user-sd3ik9rt6d]

Even JRM said it was gerrymandering

[@patriciawhite619]

I’m an ‘elderly expat’ and I can vote, and guess what, the majority of those I know out here will NOT be voting Tory….

[@chatham43]

@patricia You do know voting reform is a wasted vote?

[@babelman1]

Same here not voting Tory, but never have

[@patriciawhite619]

@@chatham43 oh shut up… you have no idea how I’ll vote..

[@chatham43]

@pat If you vote at all and I wouldn't blame you!

[@patriciawhite619]

@@chatham43 I’m on the electoral list for voting…

[@JonotJoe66]

Might have something to do with students paying extortionate fees since 2010.

[@31Blaize]

More to do with the polling suggesting only single figure percentages of young people who would vote Tory.

[@1953mr]

Are you suggesting that THE most right wing Government this side of WW2 don't believe in democracy? A government supported by the MAIL... the Paper still owned by the same family who supported Oswald Moseley and the Nazis Party and their intolerance of Jews in the 1930s... Really? You're suggesting that such a Party wouldn't be doing all they could to encourage the population to vote.

[@rb1062]

We've had record migration, a breakdown in law and order and an increase in "positive" discrimination. Explain clearly to me how this government is the most "right wing" since WW2. Were you around in the 1960s to experience life under Macmillan? Heath in the 70s? I bet you weren't even born when Thatcher was in power. So, I'm afraid your comment displays little sense and experience.

[@karlowens5632]

​@@rb1062I was and this is the most right wing tory government since ww11. And the mail did support mosley. The headline was hurrah for the blackshirts.

[@iana6713]

​@@karlowens5632I'm a lot younger and I know about the Daily Heil's backing of the BUF in the 1930s. I have watched the Tories move ever rightwards during my adult life, and it is worrying.

[@b62boom1]

​@@rb1062As I'm someone who survived Thatcher and witnessed first hand how utterly abhorrent those Tories were, you're full of it. This lot is much more Right than Thatcher ever was, and she was utterly hateful.

[@rb1062]

@@b62boom1 Well, from the sound of it, maybe you weren't an adult during those years. If you really think this government is more right wing than Mrs Thstcher's then you really are misinformed! What scares me most about the upcoming election is the quality of the people voting.

[@satyasyasatyasya5746]

*2 Reasons, both true at the same time:* 1) Its just about as late as possible so as to have as much time to do as much damage as possible, before they're kicked-out. 2) Sounds like "soter vupression."

[@segue2ant395]

3) Rishi thinks waiting til October means he has time to get his India trade deal pushed through for his daddy-in-law. If he hasn't got this by January, I half-expect him to push the Tories into 'January 6th' mode and just deny us an election.

[@satyasyasatyasya5746]

@@segue2ant395 i refer the honourable gentleman to point 1 and the word "damage..." lol

[@lestrem11]

Everything is improving, keep up.

[@andrewguthrie2]

​@@lestrem11 Name one thing.

[@pauln6803]

​@@andrewguthrie2 Trolling? It's still too blatant to gain any respect from me, but it's better than the bottom of the barrel I usually see.

[@DannyMercer1993]

As a millennial, honestly, I can’t remember the last time I’ve thought “gosh this policy will help me”. Over and over it’s been a focus on another demographic, always age or wealth linked.

[@Batters56]

And £10,000 for people at 30? Which was dressed up as being for Millenials will actually go to Gen Z. Most millennials are way past 30 already.

[@Tedmason897]

​@@Batters56 yeah, I swear we are the forgotten generation... Just shat on by everything continually

[@davidrose213]

To manipulate the rules with the intention of stopping anyone voting is shameful. Are they just getting us used to losing our human rights. Sunak needs to get on with an Election, for all, before he gets overtaken by Reform.

[@alfsmith4936]

I think that Bibby Stockholm sailed a while ago.

[@sparking2016]

The thing that would most encourage young people to vote, would be the belief they are having their vote stolen from them. This could really be used against the Tories, especially with the delayed election. If the festivals & concerts over the next months were used to inform younger voters on how to get the required ID & motivate them to do so, you could find more vote than previously.

[@craphead9842]

Spark....most over 18s have a smartphone so no excuses, just develop an app to vote in GEs etc.. A no brainer really... Tony cuenca

[@sparking2016]

@@craphead9842 An app to vote? Sorry. Who develops it & who persuades this govt to accept it as a legit way to vote? -Did you say something about no brain?

[@bearwynn]

​@@craphead9842computer based voting introduces SO much more that can go wrong it's actually hilarious. It is substantially easier to manipulate digital data.

[@hg82met]

Sunak still has six months to accidentally on purpose give taxpayers' money and pass laws to enrich his wife's various companies.

[@chatham43]

@hg Maybe in another life perhaps?😊

[@johncraggs3658]

gives them a bit longer to run this country further into the ground whilst rewarding donors and cronies.

[@chatham43]

@johncraggs So what's your problem. Great for Labour's chances come the election. No?

[@johncraggs3658]

Who mentioned labour?

[@patrickburns574]

Democracy. Lol.

[@sarangistudent8614]

British democracy lol

[@patrickburns574]

@@sarangistudent8614 at its best haha

[@antonycharnock2993]

@@sarangistudent8614 Nearly as efficient as American democracy now

[@nigelhuc]

UK citizens overseas have to pay tax on UK income. I paid tax in the UK for 10 years while I was disenfranchised. Democratic? I have my vote back. I still pay my tax bill (in full and on time) and I can assure you I shall not be voting Tory.

[@IMBlakeley]

Exactly. It is a cheap dig that being overseas gets you out of tax, yeah it is easier for UK citizens than for my US friends IRS never lets go.

[@Serpsss]

That professor is about as convincing as a used car salesman. The way he desperately tried to play it down with the argument that students have more chance than in a historical election doesn't negate how corrupt it is; all it does is show that it's not the first time.

[@edwardbrady5843]

They only want the Gammons to vote, again 😂😂😂😂

[@paulstimpson830]

I've said for years that the only time the Tories believe in democracy is when it gives them the result they want. They seem to view it as an inconvenience, something to be manipulated so they can continue doing what they want to do anyway. There doesn't seem to be any sense that they should be serving the electorate rather than government according to their own ideologies and goals. Don't get me wrong, Labour don't seem to have the motivation to strengthen democracy when they're in power either because, at those times, the status quo is working for them. I fear there is a tipping point, beyond which, if more people feel disenfranchised, we will see unrest in the country. I think we need a proper proportional representation system so that everyone's vote matters equally, not just the votes of people living in marginal constituencies. I live in a constituency with a solid record of electing a Tory MP and a large military base that keeps it that way. It's a safe seat and my vote will never matter. I strongly believe this needs to change if we are to have a healthy democracy where the people believe they are listened to

[@Silver-st2zq]

Well said.

[@terencerowberry2444]

Like you Paul, I to have disenfranchised for many years, mainly because of the areas I have been resident in. Like you I think PR is the only way we can avoid the catastrophe that we have witnessed in the last 14 years. Never again, should be the buzz word for this election.

[@chatham43]

@paul Labour's just the same. It's party first. Get real.

[@beatpeace879]

There should be a set date for an general election government in power should not of the right to choose when we can have a general elections then they are no different then the ones they call dictators

[@ShaunieDale]

There was, Johnson repealed it.

[@jackharrison5695]

@@ShaunieDale To be fair, it was a manifesto commitment of Labour's as well in 2019, and they didn't oppose the legislation. After the farce of the May years where the government was functionally unable to legislate but the opposition had no incentive to vote for an election, it was very obvious that Fixed Term Parliaments were a bad idea.

[@bernieburrows3731]

A written constitution is needed with a set date so that everyone knows when it takes place.. Instead of it being left to a pm who was voted in by a tiny fraction of the population 😒 Where is the democracy in Sunak hanging on to enrich himself?

[@TalesOfWar]

@@chrisj9700 No, they didn't. Johnson did. And Johnson only ever existed as PM under a majority. Somehow.

[@jackharrison5695]

@@TalesOfWar Not true, he lost his majority in early September 2019 before the 2019 election (indeed that is one of the reasons he called it). In any event, Labour also ran on a manifesto commitment in 2019 to repeal the FTPA so it doesn't really matter that it passed during the time he had a majority (as you rightly say), they didn't oppose the legislation and abstained at 2nd/3rd reading.

[@iana6713]

Why would any young person even contemplate voting Tory?

[@chatham43]

@ana Why would any contemplate voting at all?

[@iana6713]

@@chatham43 As the old saying has it, if you don't vote, you can't complain.

[@kratchet559]

@@chatham43Because by not voting you hand the election to these clowns through the dinosaur vote. Nhs police schooling and other services cannot handle another 4 years of these self serving corrupt frauds.

[@Gary-le7dz]

Chatham keep trying your free entertainment pathetic Tory trolling what a 🤡hunt (c)

[@jimmeltonbradley1497]

If you were to put this to a Tory spokesperson, I guarantee he or she would say that's not how they see the matter, and then go on about some other un-related issue.

[@kratchet559]

You forgot the bit where they blame labour

[@gadfageyar]

I would encourage all students to abandon their studies for the day to vote at home. That would send a clear message about how hated the tories are.

[@chatham43]

@gad A clarion call from North London would you believe!

[@randyschwaggins]

How many students do you think are 'studying' in the first few weeks of the new academic year? 😂😂😂

[@hilaryporter7841]

So this is yet another version of gerrymandering. Tories have so many versions of it, I'm surprised our justice system has not been alerted, that supposing it has not itself been bought off.

[@Contextualiser16-tn8nd]

It's because people have been brainwashed into thinking that the ballot box is the only path to justice

[@CRINOTH]

I was one of those young people who voted Conservative at the 1997 GE when I was 22. But that was then and this is now so, before anyone asks, I stopped voting for them years ago and joined the Lib Dems in 2017.

[@jeffsimon9594]

Sorry to hear that

[@marktrotter8971]

Ditto

[@Idomealways..]

😯🤐

[@alfsmith4936]

Too posh to be in Labour, not proud enough to be a Tory. 😘

[@jeffsimon9594]

@@alfsmith4936 I believe in some dictionaries 'wishy-washy' is illustrated with the Lib Dem logo.

[@ftr841]

Its outrageous, but young people do have a responsbility to register to vote and think about these things

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

When you rarely see a young person without a phone in their hand there is no excuse for them not to register, it's simply laziness.

[@ArtyFactual_Intelligence]

@@jjefferyworboys8138 I rarely see anyone under fifty without a phone in their hand!

[@ianworley8169]

After re-drawing electoral boundaries to suit themselves and introducing photo-ID voting, who could possibly imagine the Tories would try to stop anti-Tories from voting? We already know they're terrified of facing the public in a General Election.

[@serraangel7465]

Dude that's what the Republicans did in America.

[@Tedmason897]

How is voter ID going to improve the tories odds? I never understand this point each time someone makes it.. you are essentially suggesting that undocumented votes influence an election illegally by opposing ID proof of your right to vote

[@TimThat]

The voter ID debacle affects disabled people too. There are many, many disabled people who don’t drive or go abroad and therefore don’t have ID. Applying for the government voting ID necessitates going online to fill in forms and even upload pictures. These pictures need to fit in to specific guidelines and many people with either a physical disability or a mental impairment are just going to get it wrong and find they are therefore barred from voting.

[@Tedmason897]

I don't understand, how could someone even cast a vote if they can't fill in a simple online form and get a voting certificate for free? Your argument makes no sense at all.. the type of person who is physically and psychologically incapable to even understand the most basics of voting must depend on someone, who in that case would essentially be voting for them on their behalf anyway

[@user-pf2vg2mp8r]

It's gerrymandering plain and simple.

[@RJAH355]

I’m more surprised they haven’t planned it for 31st December

[@valx7586]

Why do we let the sitting government decide when we have elections!?

[@alundavies1016]

a) Something might turn up, it would have to be an enormous something though. b) it’s another 6 months of paycheque, and though Hunt seems to think it is buttons, a lot of inept Tory MPs are going to be out of work. I think that the later they leave it, the worse it is going to get. They seem to have a scandal every week. Reform’s vote seems to be on the rise. Summer boat crossings will likely be an issue again…

[@orchidhouse297]

Most of the elderly in my circle want Tories out and will vote for an alternative party, mainly Labour. This government is trying to disenfranchise the young by stealth.

[@timothymcgregor311]

I think you have hit the nail on the head.

[@ArtyFactual_Intelligence]

A lot of young people are not driving nowadays (no Driving Licence) and a lot do not have passports because the Tories have taken away our free movement around Europe. Those are the two main photo ids, automatically available to just about all Tory voters. Under thirties need full support in obtaining the remaining forms of acceptable photographic ID. When Labour gets in this year they must LEGISLATE for free universal IDs for all over 16 - renewable at subsidised cost at 21, then every ten years thereafter. The NI Card format can be modified. Citizenship and eligibility to vote can be incorporated by a chip built in to the card.

[@TalesOfWar]

The price of Passports is going up in April too. I'm sure that's entirely coincidental. Also they should just go back to how it used to be before the ID was required. Because it's worked for decades. The problem with our voting system is the way the votes are weighted, not the physical act of voting. That side of things is pretty much fool proof, or as close to fool proof as it's reasonably possible to get.

[@SlinkShady]

Tories do something for democracy? Are you joking? We have an unelected head of state. We have an unelected second chamber. We have an unelected PM. We have a government in power that got in on 43.6% of the vote when only 67% of the public voted, which means just 29.2% of the electorate voted Tory, and more than 2/3 didn't, thanks to the First Past the Post system which disenfranchises people in "safe" seats. We have a government deliberately disenfranchising people with the voter ID con which solves a problem that didn't exist. Elderly bus passes are sufficient ID, but student ID cards aren't. The incumbent government can choose when they go to the polls. Democracy in the UK is a joke. We're not even a democracy in law. We're a constitutional monarchy.

[@PORRRIDGE_GUN]

You forgot the 818 lords (at last count) who, whilst they cannot make legislation, can delay and amend it too. Some of those Lords have never been elected to anything in their entire lives. Also none of our civil service dept heads are elected, none of our police chiefs are elected and our media distorts democracy to suit the whims of it's billionaire owners

[@gearoftones8585]

How can it ever be right that people who haven't lived here for years, can vote on things that don't affect them? Ridiculous.

[@reddes2773]

Like the EU

[@johncobourne361]

Who? Young people?

[@sarahbarrett1247]

We used to be able to send democratically elected representatives to the EU. Now due to the stupidity of the Tory Brexit we have to follow the rules.

[@gearoftones8585]

@@johncobourne361 no, ex pats. Ex pats are being allowed to vote even if they've not lived here for 10 years. That's what the video says anyway.

[@TotesRandom]

Young people? Try old people, too. My mum said that if its freezing cold and raining in october then she wont bother... and she usually votes tory!

[@famnd460]

Same scenario as for Brexit, a date where young people are to busy socially to go and vote.

[@christinavuyk2026]

Advertising postal voting is the perfect job for the student union I would have thought, isn’t that the sort of thing it’s supposed to be for? 🤔

[@dodonnell-ze9yc]

Better to blame the government for anything then do something yourself.

[@sarangistudent8614]

Ah I was thinking why they’d choose an October election. Now it makes sense, it’s not easy for a young person who is moving to another city to then move into a new residence and then register themselves to vote. Most just won’t bother. I did when I was 18 and voted for Kaufman.

[@jackharrison5695]

The turnout among that demographic is low anyway, but if you are a student you can vote either at university or at home, so this shouldn't be a problem - just get a postal vote for home constituency, that's what I did.

[@David.-zr5ph]

I have always liked you Mathew, from Chan 5 love your radio 📻 show brother. Have a nice Sunday 😊. Scotland UK 👁️🙏👁️🇵🇸

[@matthewarnold5531]

Exactly what I've been saying when they said an October election was possible - deny students the vote they deserve to enact change.

[@michaelcalder8431]

US residents see the same tactics being used. Tory policies follow Republican shenanigans like puppies. Brits don't see US politics in the same way Americans don't see UK politics. That's my opinion following 10 years as a US resident 2011 to 2021.

[@KidarWolf]

I noticed the same thing, having lived in the US between 2005 and 2016. Seeing Trump's sudden rise in popularity as a political candidate was the last straw for me, I bailed on the US before I was forced to live under that kind of authoritarianism... just in time to move back to the UK and for the very next UK election to put the Tories in power. I was absolutely beside myself when the results were announced, because I knew we were headed toward disaster. And then the turkeys voted for Christmas again in 2019. To say I'm disappointed in humanity after the US election of Trump, and then those two UK elections, is an understatement.

[@michaelcalder8431]

I first visited the US in 2009 to meet the family my future wife had asked me to join to see how they would react to me. One of the first things I learned was about Trump. Uncle Walter had worked for a company devastated by the losses from his non-payment for their fitting out of the Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City. I was shocked by his level of support. Seeing the election of Boris confirmed that the world has gone completely insane. I'm afraid for the future for my grandchildren. My hope lies with the ones known as Gen X and their successors. @@KidarWolf

[@KidarWolf]

@@michaelcalder8431 I'm an Xennial (that weird micro generation between X and Millennial) and I'm at the point where I'm hoping the Zoomers join the fight for democracy before it's too late, and we all lose what little we have left.

[@Thedarkknight2244]

When I was a student. I don’t think I ever voted. I voted during brexit as it was set in the summer. So yes it’s possible this is exactly what’s happening. It just seemed like a lot of hoops to jump though at the time to do the postal vote. Short sighted of me. But I just wasn’t informed enough.

[@badabingbadaboomboom]

The Tories should all go to prison for an endless laundry list of corruption, lies and incompetence

[@GregOrCreg]

If I were a Tory (clearly I'm not) of course I'd have the election in October or November, when 18-year-olds are distracted with Freshers Week, and navigating their new university courses. The Tories are defined by cynicism, and so, thinking like a Tory, that would be the smart thing to do. TBF, cynicism runs across the political system, and there will be many Labour officials who would love to suppress the Tory vote if they could, but few parties are anywhere near as cynical as the UK Conservative Party, because their entire political philosophy is about preserving privilege for a small minority.

[@MrIlleism]

How complicated can I make everything? UK: Yes!

[@for111]

The Fixed Terms Parliament Act was a failure. For something like that to work, you'd need a written constitution and that as a constitutional mandate within it.

[@rachel.mcgowan]

Yes, it was a fine idea in principle but so easy to override that it became a farce in practice. We have fixed terms for every election in the UK apart from the election of the highest importance.

[@slightlyconfused876]

So students can't type into Google, how do I register to vote? We are really in a mess if our future intellectual elite can't manage that for heaven sake.

[@slightlyconfused876]

If people are intelligent enough to get to University, they should be intelligent enough to get registered for the vote.

[@robparker1742]

Its more an issue of councils being unable to process thousands of new regirtions to the electoral roll in such a short space of time.

[@PORRRIDGE_GUN]

Intelligent enough to go to university was 30-40 years ago. Now almost anybody can get there.

[@darv65]

Anyone voting by post should do it as soon as possible, my last two First class cards posted took more than one week to arrive

[@TheWolfe83]

This just confirms that our government no matter which party are only in it for their own gain and not the benefit of the country.

[@CaersethVarax]

Lots of 18-21 year old move for University during October and forget registering to vote in their new city. Wonder if that could have anything to do with it

[@Alex-cw3rz]

Great vid

[@mpcg102]

How do people overseas vote in a UK election? What electorates are they put into? I'm confused on how it works

[@widebleek8138]

Matthew. You are completely correct!

[@user-wi3gm7ll5z]

I love Matthew Wright..🤠🤠🤠

[@Alex-cw3rz]

You cannot have a party that is anti-democrary in a democracy

[@jeffsimon9594]

Anti voter fraud, not "anti-democrary" whatever that is

[@31Blaize]

@@jeffsimon9594Except there was (just like in America) vanishingly tiny amounts of "voter fraud" and JRM already admitted that Tory attempts to rig elections by disproportionately allowing pensioners ID without allowing the same/similar young person ID actually backfired on them.

[@31Blaize]

@@jeffsimon9594Except there's little to no voter fraud in the UK. Hmmm....

[@richyjay330]

Democracy is a lie.

[@ammaopoku5397]

I am definitely voting. I don’t care whether it’s October November August July June I am voting the Tories have ruined this country 100%. I look at the NHS in particular and the fact that it’s gone downhill in the way that it’s gone is disgraceful we need new eyes new leadership and for me I’m voting labour that’s it

[@RJAH355]

Cause they can’t push it to December

[@DrMJT]

As a person who has stood in Local, MP, MEP in a ward/constituency in a University Town in England... I can say for a Fact - Uni Students do NOT vote at their Student Address. If they do actually vote, they vote at their Home Address. My Ward/Constituency is by and large... 70% Uni Students but there are less than 5% of all votes cast... by Uni Students. I surmise they are the students who are Local Students at the Major University. Over the years, elections, Have a GO Chancers... have put appeared with Name on Ballot - fully expecting to Tap into the Student Vote just to discover, they only received less than 100 votes.

[@JRBendixen]

Hearing this whole registration part is insane. Bc. What is the registration for? I presume its for tjekking people are eligible to vote. Thus just put everybody eligible on the list in the area they have their adress and get rid of the rigistration insanity.

[@user-rs1iq3kt6l]

Clear them out

[@kevinjohnson3782]

Why would they. Lots of young people can see right through the tories.

[@fergusmoloney5259]

The tories do not believe in a future, they think they can perpetuate the present!

[@PORRRIDGE_GUN]

That is correct. Listen to them invoking the magic money tree argument whenever anybody says 'we need to spend more money on things we have neglected' for the the past 14 years.

[@bernieburrows3731]

A GE in June could also cause havoc with student graduations taking place.

[@nopants3560]

Voting should be over 4 days Thursday to Sunday night!!!! A weekday makes it a breeze for retired homeowners to vote !! Hmmmmm???

[@noeve6795]

im going ot uni this year . and im naming my parents as able to vote on my behalf ( with my choice of vote ofc ), this is especially if you live in a marin seat and you are moving to a safe seat, as it means yur vote has much more impact !!!!!

[@GregOrCreg]

I'd much rather young people register in their home towns rather than at the location of their university. University-based constituencies already tend to lean left and will thus have Labour, Lib Dem and even in one case, Green, MPs, rather than Tory ones, so it's vitally important that young people apply for postal votes at their home address and send it off before they depart for university (most unis tend to start in late September or in October).

[@oliver556]

It's not going to work. They are so done

[@ronstriebig2749]

Tories???mustn't mock the afflicted

[@mauricetucker8754]

Summer holidays to forget and time to campaign and not much time after to stop the last minute laws and deals?

[@leightonolsson4846]

My thoughts exactly

[@beltingtokra]

If you are a youngster or know a young person, I implore you, get them to register for a postal vote. No Id needed, vote in advance, sort it out as part of prep for university. Go and do it now. If you don't vote you can't complain. I have a postal vote as a 31 year old who works 50 hours a week. Once it's send off, it's done and I've had my say 😊

[@anthonydebski5814]

YES!!...the FIXED-TERM Parliament!!! what HAPPENED!!!...oh, right...JOHNSON pulled the plug on THAT bit of DEMOCRACY!

[@MiPointIs]

October will give MPs pay over the summer recess PM chasing India trade deal but India now involved in their own elections so unwilling to discuss. US elections begin on 5 November and I think process ends in May 2025 so it’s said that reason for Obama visit was to highlight security risk of UK & US going through the election process simultaneously. There are important meetings of world leaders on 17 & 24 October , this would tie in with the date of 10 October GE rumours (the last feasible GE date?) Halloween is possible but there may be superstition re pushing their luck with this date!

[@Zolipants]

If they win , we riot?

[@FreeFragUK]

I think the idea of "doing the right thing" is lost when it comes to politicians.

[@Taecoconut]

I thought it was compulsory like Australia - huh… I was wrong

[@twogsds]

The Tories would prefer if we all stayed home and didn't vote!

[@peterfox2538]

It's as if they don't want anyone to live more like it.

[@TheKillaBunny77]

Wow, why are they not teaching children how to vote at school any more? I’m 46, gen-xer, and we would hold mock-school elections alongside the general election, with a student standing in for every party, with debates and manifestos and this was back in the ‘90s. We voted in the Lib Dems in our school, because they were obviously popular with the kids back then. My point is, we were taught that our vote was important and to be electorally active and savvy before we left secondary school. Why are they not engaging pupils in this way in our school system anymore? You have to ask yourself that too. It seems the problem goes way deeper than just not encouraging uni students - the privileged few who do go to uni - to vote. :/

[@benjones3466]

I went through state school in the 90's & early 2000's and until I chose to take politics as a subject at A-level there was next to nothing in terms of education in the most basic aspects of political participation. I'm sure other schools may have been better than mine, I had some chats where people talked of there being at least some provision for this, but still generally sounded very minimal. It leaves most people reliant on news and social media with chaotic results in people's levels of understanding, a huge risk of entrenching a particular bias and vulnerability to manipulation by savvy influencers or politicians, mostly - but not limited to - people with far-right views. Whether this was always the intent or has simply become a status quo to be taken advantage of I couldn't say, but it's hard to think any government will focus on improving political education when relying on people's ignorance has been the norm for so long.

[@Human_Herbivore]

Perhaps Labour and others should go into schools, 6th form colleges and universities to tell them about how to enrol wherever they are or are expecting to be.

[@jakeethanthomas03]

Young people have passports, the group you're talking about (uni joiners) anyway. And they're all able to get a postal vote. And they are registered at their "home" address. Barely a blocker. Did we not find many OAPs do not have any such ID, so tories hobbling themselves? Duuuuh

[@Stepbystep74]

Not just the id but for young people the forms of ids that are listed have a cost associated (£34 for a drivers licence £84 for a passport) and the online form they need to fill out for the voter authority is a very long process and at the end of it the id is worthless for anything else. So we are probably paying £30 per person to permit them to vote and disenfranchise someone who didn’t go through the 24+ page online form

[@davidlegrice4207]

The May and elections we've had in the past are also bad for students because they clash with the exam period, when many students especially those in their final year will be far too busy revising to follow the election or remember to vote.

[@zeroxox777]

Our problem is that each of us vote according to our own personal self interest, but our personal interests are at the mercy of society as a whole, and society is one interconnected system within which our lives are inseperably enmeshed. You can't seperate personal self-interest from the interests of society as a whole, and really, if we were sane, and a little less selfish, we'd all be concerned not at all with personal self-interest but the problems of society as a whole. No-one is happy because everything in British life is falling apart and dysfunctional. You getting the tripple lock or not getting the tripple lock will have no effect on the total dysfunctionality of society. Only being concerned with the whole can our lives improve, and there is almost zero chance we are ever going to understand this in time. It is truly an apocolyptic period. I'm not sure what is more scary - the collapse of human civilization or it's survival. If we survive we destroy the ground of our existence, Mother Earth. We destroy the perfect for our imperfect, within which none of us are happy and all are suffering.

[@dprocter7430]

Expats don't pay tax on UK income? I must be due a refund then...

[@velocitydrift1214]

You tell students that they will get more money from student loans then you’ve automatically got their vote

[@andreer-k6136]

I’m over 70 - NOTHING would induce me to vote Tory Ever! However Starmer is not much different is he? So hopefully vote Green or Independent if possible? LibDem? Hmmmm…

[@darrylsimpson4744]

Interesting to hear your views on Starmer and Labour. Can I ask. Did you vote Tory? Did you vote for Brexit? 🥴🇬🇧

[@claudetteearle3052]

We have 7 months to form working parties to combat the student dificulties. Situdent unions should be working at this matter.

[@colinbrown7305]

You are 100% correct.

[@thomassaxon8254]

The NUS VP was spot on and well spoken.

[@JohnWilliams-tc6fc]

They will leave it to the last day or the last second

[@tomjones1506]

You'd think that after some years of government pushing British values to be taught on schools, that how voting works and what it's effects are would be taught seeing as they bang on about democracy and individual liberty.. A local school genuinely has "individual liberty" in a graffiti style on one of the walls in the playground. Only want to teach what suits them the tories

[@abitottman]

4:49 Got an overseas vote I have voted tory and will not vote for them now I am not alone I don't know anyone who will vote for them We may not live in the UK but we still have family and friends who do