Comments on: Blue rinse

By: harry

harry — Sun, 16 Nov 2003 19:30:55 +0000

The difference is that the British political parties are political parties, who organise themselves, and have, for example, leadership elections in which only their members are allowed to vote. American political parties are not political parties, but strange collections of persons organised by the State. Anecdote time: in my city we have a political party (called Progressive Dane, don’t ask) which is regularly tarred in the press, and by the Democrats (whom it most threatens) as Stalinist because it requires its candidates to refrain from openly supporting opponents of its other candidates. The other parties have no such requirements. Imagine a European political party of any political stripe allowing its candidates to support its opponents.

By: matthew

matthew — Sun, 16 Nov 2003 15:14:10 +0000

Yes, you actually have to stump up money (£15 p.a for the Conservatives) for a start.

By: Jeffrey Kramer

Jeffrey Kramer — Sun, 16 Nov 2003 13:47:51 +0000

I was most surprised by the news that party membership was down to 330,000. Is there any major difference between the U.K. and the U.S. regarding what’s entailed by “party membership”? That is, does it require anything more than checking “Conservatives” on a multiple-choice form?

By: Nick

Nick — Sun, 16 Nov 2003 12:10:01 +0000

I thought the slogan on their hands said ‘Join U.S.’ at first – given that it’s a Conservative party picture, one wouldn’t be at all surprised. As for the average age, I looked at the raw figures from a Guardian poll a few months ago and discovered that the median age of Conservative voters was in the 45-54 age group while the median for Labour and Lib Dem voters was in the 35-44 age group. But, that was just one poll and perhaps not a representative sample when broken down into the different parties.

By: Jon H

Jon H — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 22:35:55 +0000

I thought that picture was from the Join Me people – It’s not a cult, it’s a collective

By: Jason McCullough

Jason McCullough — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 18:47:08 +0000

An average age of 65? Jesus christ, no wonder the Tories are fucked.

By: Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 18:27:36 +0000

I can’t speak for Labour’s official publications, but once upon a time I was a Lib Dem; as far as I recall the only things advertised in LibDemNews were leaflets on campaigning techniques by Lembit Opik, and holiday home rentals in the Dordogne. The Guardian’s claim about the average age of Conservatives is unsourced; I assume it’s derived at some level from one of the Seyd and Whiteley surveys of party membership in the 90s, which found the average Conservative to be 62 and the average Labour member to be 48. That was nearly a decade ago though – I haven’t followed this debate much recently so there may be more up-to-date figures. That phrase “relaxa-stool” is sure uncomfortable-making.

By: Stentor

Stentor — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 17:45:48 +0000

I’m surprised they still make typewriters.

By: Nicholas Weininger

Nicholas Weininger — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 16:24:23 +0000

This information is, of course, meaningless without a comparison to the other parties. What’s the average age of a Labour or Lib Dem party member? What sorts of products get advertised in their official party magazines?

By: Kieran Healy

Kieran Healy — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 06:18:00 +0000

Leg ‘relaxa-stool’ supporter I take it this is some kind of foot rest, and not an incontinence aid that you strap inside your trousers.