Should The Respect For Anyone, Be A Reason To Interfere With The Running Of Democracy?

[anotheoldgit]

Regardless of this person's politics, and at the same time not wishing to be in anyway disrespectful towards the sad death of this MP, I ask this question.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/681255/Outrage-BNP-Liberty-candidate-Jack-Buckby-contest-Batley-Spen-seat-Jo-Cox-shot

[Zacs-Master]

To not allow him to contest the seat would be undemocratic as your OP suggests. I'm sure Jo's parents don't have an issue with it.

[Jackdaw33]

You are right in one respect, but given the circumstances this guy's on a hiding to nothing.

[THECORBYLOON]

No-one is being prevented from standing and he is, of course, within his rights to do so. Whether he will lose his deposit or no is another matter

[Zacs-Master]

Ah, I hadn't realised that the Cons, UKIP, Green Party and Lib Dems have all agreed not to contest as a mark of respect. This changes my views considerably. The man's an aar5e.

[aelmpvw]

i have this overwhelming feeling that he's desperate for some attention

[Postdog]

Wasn't he one anyway?

[Gromit]

If the BNP's candidate wants to humiliate himself, he should be allowed to do so.
The BNP did not bother to field a candidate in the recent General Election. A cynic might think they are just after cheap publicity.

Not contesting the seat is purely voluntary. Good to see UKIP deciding not to be seen as benefitting from this murder

[anotheoldgit]

Zacs-Master

/// Ah, I hadn't realised that the Cons, UKIP, Green Party and Lib Dems have all agreed not to contest as a mark of respect. ///

This fact was the main reason for my post, it was just that this person brought it to the surface.

None of these parties have a right to interfere with the democratic running of this country, no matter for what reason.

Nothing should deprive their constituents of a vote, on who should be elected to represent them.

[Zacs-Master]

I agree fully AOG but when all the other parties who could contest the seat, including UKIP, have opted not to then this leaves the BNP bloke looking like a bit of a plonker. He has no chance of winning anyway (take a look at the demographic make up of Batley and Spen).
What the other parties are saying is that there should never have been a by-election so let's just suspend the democratic process as a mark of respect. And well done them, I say.

[Mamyalynne]

I suppose one should congratulate him for being open about how crass he is.

[Islay]

Perhaps the other political party have realised how futile it would be to fight for Ms Cox's seat and the replacement candidate is likely to the sympathy vote!

The BNP are too stupid to realise this!

[Gromit]

The seat of the Speaker of the House has always been uncontested by the major opposition parties.

The people of Bately and Spen had a democratic vote a year ago and elected a Labour MP for 5 years. The democratic process has been interupted by a gun and a knife and a madman.

The main parties are taking a stand that there should be no political gain to be made by the murder. In 1990, the Liberal Democrats won a by-election as a result of the Conservative MP being murdered. That was democracy, but it was also a disgrace.

[dannyk13]

Ex BNP says it all, a complete pr-t

[sp1814]

Yes, dannyk13 is right. To be fair, this has nothing to do with the BNP. Jack Buckby left the BNP as he felt the party had become a racist organisation.

He has every right to stand, but I suspect his chances of winning are fairly poor.

[Baldric]

I'm sure I read somewhere that he was 'a FORMER BNP member' who quit citing concerns its views had become “racist.”
I agree he has the right to contest the seat, as to whether he should or not, I don't think he should, it could possibly cause the type of reaction where he ends up with more than just egg on his face.

[ichkeria]

If he left because he felt the BNP had become a racist organisation, he's either very naive or er well stupid.
I am in two minds about the election: plainly none of the other parties stands the remotest chance of winning, so it's an easy decision for them. I am never comfortable about the idea of uncontested elections no matter the circumstances.

[mikey4444]

I said yesterday that although the main Parties won't contest the seat, a minor Party might, and I am now proved correct.

This man has zero chance of being elected and he knows that, so he must therefore have another agenda in standing, and its not difficult to see what that agenda is.....mischief making and stirring, with knobs on.

I am a democrat at heart, so let him stand, and receive the ridicule that he deserves.

[mikey4444]

Can I remind everybody, that the tradition of not standing against the Speaker is hardly true.

In 2010, and 2015, plenty of people stood against the Speaker, Nigel Farage amongst others ::::

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckingham_(UK_Parliament_constituency)#Elections_in_the_2010s

[naomi24]

Don't know what the fuss is about. He can stand - and he can lose his deposit. End of story.

[Gromit]

Mikey,

// Can I remind everybody, that the tradition of not standing against the Speaker is hardly true. //

That is not what is said...

// The seat of the Speaker of the House has always been uncontested by the MAJOR opposition parties. //

The Speaker is a respected position in the House of Commons, elected by all members of all parties. So parties represented in parliament traditionally do not oppose him or her. But UKIP and the Greens have recently broken that unwritten rule.