This is why people are turning away from mainstream politics.

Pay £10 to vote for Labour's mayoral candidate? I don't think it's possible for me to express just how appallingly terrible an idea this on a family forum.

http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2014/10/23/labour-accused-of-trying-to-stitch-up-london-mayoral-race

The Labour party has been accused of trying to "stitch up" the selection of their London mayoral candidate, after plans emerged to charge supporters up to £10 to take place in a primary.

 

Fears over entryism have caused the party to backtrack over plans to hold a relatively "open primary" to select their candidate, Politics.co.uk understands. Registered supporters will now have to pay a fee to become part of the party's electoral college.

 

One senior figure involved in the process described claims of a stitch-up as "boll***s" and insisted that the real cause of concern was that the primary would become infiltrated by campaign groups and "spoilers".

 

"What would we do if London cyclists suddenly decided to join up en masse, or No to Heathrow campaigners?" they told Politics.co.uk

They obviously don't want to run for mayor, nothing wrong with that. Maybe they think boris will give himself enough rope

They obviously don't want to run for mayor, nothing wrong with that.

It's only the biggest electoral mandate of any elected position in then UK, running one of the world's top cities. Obviously not something that matters very much to the Labour party.

Maybe they think boris will give himself enough rope

Boris Johnson is scheduled to return to Parliament as the prospective MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip. Do keep up.

One senior figure involved in the process described claims of a stitch-up as "boll***s" and insisted that the real cause of concern was that the primary would become infiltrated by campaign groups and "spoilers".

 

"What would we do if London cyclists suddenly decided to join up en masse, or No to Heathrow campaigners?" they told Politics.co.uk

But then again this is the post-Blair Labour party so it's probably true.

John Smith will be in his grave spinning like a top.

Do keep up.

You're asking the impossible there.

It's a disgusting idea. Charging people to vote is elitist and anti-democratic. Who in their right mind would want to infiltrate the Labour Party anyway?

If cyclists wanted a major, surely an independent rather than a labour one would be the way forwards...

---------- Post added 24-10-2014 at 08:19 ----------

That has to be a wind up? What they are doing there is objecting to democracy.

 

But then again this is the post-Blair Labour party so it's probably true.

 

John Smith will be in his grave spinning like a top.

Not really, this is an election to SELECT the labour candidate. Not an actual vote for who gets to be mayor.

That has to be a wind up? What they are doing there is objecting to democracy.

 

But then again this is the post-Blair Labour party so it's probably true.

 

John Smith will be in his grave spinning like a top.

It does beg the questions of why on earth anyone would want to join the Labour party doesn't it?

Unless of course you are insanely rich and have a spare million pounds to chuck about.

You're asking the impossible there.

 

It's a disgusting idea. Charging people to vote is elitist and anti-democratic. Who in their right mind would want to infiltrate the Labour Party anyway?

But they're not trying to bribe people for votes with tax cuts and referendums

If cyclists wanted a major, surely an independent rather than a labour one would be the way forwards...

 

---------- Post added 24-10-2014 at 08:19 ----------

 

 

Not really, this is an election to SELECT the labour candidate. Not an actual vote for who gets to be mayor.

Again, what is the point of coughing up membership fees to join Labour if you keep having to cough up if you want to take any part in the business of the Labour party?

---------- Post added 24-10-2014 at 08:24 ----------

But they're not trying to bribe people for votes with tax cuts and referendums

Is this the best possible defense that Labour apologists can come up with? Pathetic.

And they're not doing it anyway, "Fears over entryism have caused the party to backtrack over plans to hold a relatively "open primary" to select their candidate, Politics.co.uk understands."

---------- Post added 24-10-2014 at 08:24 ----------

Again, what is the point of coughing up membership fees to join Labour if you keep having to cough up if you want to take any part in the business of the Labour party?

 

---------- Post added 24-10-2014 at 08:24 ----------

 

 

Is this the best possible defense that Labour apologists can come up with? Pathetic.

Why is it pathetic?

And they're not doing it anyway, "Fears over entryism have caused the party to backtrack over plans to hold a relatively "open primary" to select their candidate, Politics.co.uk understands."

 

---------- Post added 24-10-2014 at 08:24 ----------

 

 

Why is it pathetic?

If they aren't doing it can you explain this rather lame campaign by David Lammy?

http://www.threetodecide.org.uk/

At a time when Londoners are struggling with rocketing rents, soaring energy costs and stagnant wages, we cannot ask people to cough up £10 to vote and seriously expect many to do so. Such a high fee would be counter to the very aims of a primary and will do more to turn people off the process entirely than draw them in.

 

Sign the petition to keep the fee for involvement as low as possible: a maximum of £3

Again, what is the point of coughing up membership fees to join Labour if you keep having to cough up if you want to take any part in the business of the Labour party?

Oh, I agree, it sounds bizarre.

But the explanation for it is even more outrageous than actually doing it.