Manifesto

[flip_flop]

Should a manifesto be a legally enforceable contract with the electorate resulting in a loss of their mandate for a breach?

[naomi24]

What a delicious idea!! :o)

[R1Geezer]

No, that would be incredibly silly. Are you saying that a governement must fulfil everything in a manifesto regardless of circumstances over a parliament? Have you ever gone shopping and had ro deviate from the list as curcumstances dictate?

[flip_flop]

Geezer - I've just thrown it out there for discussion.

Perhaps not a breach for trivialities, but if promises that go to the root of the manifesto, promises which may have induced people to vote for the party making the promise, are not honoured, should there be a loss of their mandate?

[madmaggot]

That's a daft idea.
For instance, Obama was voted in on the promise of free health care for all but when he got in found it was not so easy and had to draw back considerably on that promise. Not his fault though!

[R1Geezer]

"perhaps not for trivialities"how/who decides what is to be law and what is a triviality in any of the manifestos? Not workable and I think it would be s strait jacket. Frankly any party making specific promises and that is all of them are making themselves look silly. That's why I think a manifesto should be a simple statement of general intent and areas of intended focus with broad outlines.

[madmaggot]

I thought that was what the manifesto was flip-flop.

[IggyB]

no - the electorate can always choose to vote them out if they feel strongly let down

[askyourgran]

I received a letter from "the office of Gordon Brown" today including a copy of the Labour Party manifesto, which I thought was a bit of a cheek because I have never nor will ever vote for them. However I am keeping the copy of the manifesto. If there really are some numpties out there who still vote for them and they get in again. I would like to check out their promises of a brighter Britain, and then remind them of their continuing failure.

[LeMarchand]

I'm forming a party and my manifesto is that I will give £100/week to everyone in the country, restore the NHS to its heyday, get the trains running on time, provide care for OAPs and the disabled, cut crime to zero and stop pollution (and more!).

Apparently most of the folk here think it's OK that all the above is a blatant lie...