# UK Snap Election: 8 June 2017 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 18, 2017, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690 "2017-04-18T10:08:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/183 "2017-04-30T07:23:25Z")
I’m an activist! A lot of it I don’t engage with too much but I generally attend constituency (Parliament) and ward meetings (Council) and I do think there is huge value in door-knocking/reaching out to voters. Without wishing to compete with the above, we are fairly central in London and get weekly emails to attend whatever the leadership is doing at that point - this week it was Corbyn’s big speech (seemed about 150 activists formed that audience). You feel a little like camera/media fodder but some like it: > **[Jeremy Corbyn gets personal in one-off campaign speech](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/29/jeremy-corbyn-gets-personal-in-one-off-campaign-speech)** > > Labour leader departs from usual focus on issues and policies by talking about his personal history and motivations ---
**Author:** ![phaemon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/977dab/32.png) [@phaemon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phaemon)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/184 "2017-04-30T12:05:45Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Actually, BBC Scotland seems to be ridiculously biased in favour of independence, but what do I know? Their offices are only up the road. Calling the BBC “biased in favour of independence” is like calling UKIP pro-EU. It’s so ridiculously opposed to reality it’s difficult to see where you’re coming from. You know where Ruth Davidson used to work? > [@](#): > > For example, there was next to no coverage of the [Quisling](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/apr/11/police-swastika-graffiti-conservative-aberdeen-labour-scottish) event here, no follow-up, no asking the SNP to condemn racism. Yeah: [Scottish And UK Media Reporting Policies – Double Standards – Two glaring examples of News Distortion In Favour Of The Red & Blue Unionist Parties – caltonjock](https://caltonjock.com/2015/04/14/scottish-and-uk-media-reporting-policies-double-standards-two-glaring-examples-of-news-distortion-in-favour-of-the-red-blue-unionist-parties/) Did you ask the Conservatives to condemn the anthrax threats at your meeting the other day? EDIT: Hang on, racism?! What? ---
**Author:** ![phaemon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/977dab/32.png) [@phaemon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phaemon)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/185 "2017-04-30T12:09:41Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > That is pretty much the dictionary definition of “selection bias” No it isn’t. Selection bias applies to sampling, not to looking at individual events. This isn’t a poll. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/186 "2017-04-30T13:59:09Z")
Are “BBC” and “BBC Scotland” the same entity and do they have the same editorial alignment? Clearly they’re related. But how closely? Genuine question here, not setting a trap. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/187 "2017-04-30T14:22:45Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Are “BBC” and “BBC Scotland” the same entity and do they have the same editorial alignment? Clearly they’re related. But how closely? BBC Scotland has its own identity, albeit within the BBC framework, and gets regional funding. Some of that goes on _local_ news and, like other regions, it runs alongside UK-centric reporting. It’s obv. subject to the overarching BBC Charter and so the usual rules regarding matters like accuracy of reporting and impartiality apply and are reasonably keenly overseen: > **[BBC Scotland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Scotland)** > > BBC Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: BBC Alba) is a division of the BBC and the main public broadcaster in Scotland. > It is one of the four BBC national regions, together with the BBC English Regions, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Northern Ireland. Its headquarters are in Glasgow. It employs approximately 1,250 staff as of 2017, to produce 15,000 hours of television and radio programming per year. Some £320 million of licence fee revenue is raised in Scotland, with expenditure on purely local content se... [https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-codes/legacy/text\_srvcs/part\_a/89248](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-codes/legacy/text_srvcs/part_a/89248) \<\< accuracy of reporting and impartiality ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/188 "2017-04-30T15:42:26Z")
> [@phaemon](#): > > No it isn’t. Selection bias applies to sampling, not to looking at individual events. This isn’t a poll. “sampling” does not just apply to polling. It is relevant whenever a choice is to be made as to analyse or not. In this case the events you wish to scrutinise have already had your bias applied. In your own words… > [@](#): > > We can wait till the next BBC report that’s **negative** towards Independence supporters Bolding mine. An unbiased view would be to to take a random sample of independence articles from the BBC without considering up front whether they are negative or not. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/189 "2017-04-30T16:37:34Z")
> [@phaemon](#): > > EDIT: Hang on, racism?! What? Anti-English racism. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/190 "2017-04-30T16:40:18Z")
> [@phaemon](#): > > Calling the BBC “biased in favour of independence” is like calling UKIP pro-EU. It’s so ridiculously opposed to reality it’s difficult to see where you’re coming from. Except, of course, I am here in Scotland and see it. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/191 "2017-05-01T00:59:03Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Except, of course, I am here in Scotland and see it. Just curious: were there metal detectors and the like that you needed to pass through in order to get into the hall? In the US, they would have blocked the roads along the entire route the President took. It’s amazing to me that you were able to drive that closely to an event the PM spoke. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/192 "2017-05-01T01:05:06Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Anti-English racism. I didn’t even know that “English” is a race. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/193 "2017-05-01T07:31:57Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I didn’t even know that “English” is a race. If enough people treat as “other”, particularly with hostility, people they define as English, then it is. Hasn’t anyone explained the social construction of “race” to you? ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/194 "2017-05-01T07:44:47Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Just curious: were there metal detectors and the like that you needed to pass through in order to get into the hall? In the US, they would have blocked the roads along the entire route the President took. It’s amazing to me that you were able to drive that closely to an event the PM spoke. The security theatre that attends the President of the United States everywhere he goes is part of the pomp of the office. The UK Prime Minister does have a fairly attentive security detail, but it’s much more low-key. It certainly wouldn’t extent to metal detectors at an election meeting in a village hall. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/195 "2017-05-01T08:38:59Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Just curious: were there metal detectors and the like that you needed to pass through in order to get into the hall? In the US, they would have blocked the roads along the entire route the President took. It’s amazing to me that you were able to drive that closely to an event the PM spoke. Worth a look; a day with previous PM Cameron: [A day in Witney for Prime Minister David Cameron - BBC News](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-oxfordshire-22127504/a-day-in-the-life-of-david-cameron) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/196 "2017-05-01T10:49:14Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Just curious: were there metal detectors and the like that you needed to pass through in order to get into the hall? Not that I could see. Bags were inspected but otherwise security was discreet. There wasn’t even much of a visible police presence until afterwards. But make no mistake: just because the security was discreet doesn’t mean it wasn’t there. I clocked a couple of people looking uncomfortable in civvies, and I expect there were a few of the boys from Arbroath lurking nearby. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/197 "2017-05-01T11:14:31Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I didn’t even know that “English” is a race. > [@PatrickLondon](#): > > If enough people treat as “other”, particularly with hostility, people they define as English, then it is. Hasn’t anyone explained the social construction of “race” to you? I think we should get away from the 19th century mindset of only a few races, since historically the term was used for much more than this and the term isn’t even accurate anyway. In discussions where the primary purpose is to discuss the term “race”, then perhaps. But to use this as a nitpick to attempt to invalidate an accusation of anti-ethnicism does not bring anything to the discussion IMO, not only because it involves giving too much credence to classical racists, but it also implies that racism is somehow worse than anti-ethnicism. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/198 "2017-05-01T21:24:31Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > When Quartz shook the Prime Minister’s hand. Heh. I’ve was told tonight that I was on TV at one point during the news coverage of the event, clearly visible at the back. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/199 "2017-05-01T21:45:54Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Anti-English racism. > [@Ludovic](#): > > I think we should get away from the 19th century mindset of only a few races, since historically the term was used for much more than this and the term isn’t even accurate anyway. > > In discussions where the primary purpose is to discuss the term “race”, then perhaps. But to use this as a nitpick to attempt to invalidate an accusation of anti-ethnicism does not bring anything to the discussion IMO, not only because it involves giving too much credence to classical racists, but it also implies that racism is somehow worse than anti-ethnicism. Or put another way; “Anti-English” was enough. The “racism” was superfluous. Imo. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/200 "2017-05-01T22:51:43Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Or put another way; “Anti-English” was enough. The “racism” was superfluous. Imo. I’m sorry but it’s racism pure and simple. Or do you not think that white people can be victims of racism? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2017, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/201 "2017-05-02T00:39:25Z")
I’d label that closer to Them-ism. Scots & English are certainly able to nurture a group grudge against the other because they’re a Them. I have a hard time buying that as “racism” as the term is commonly used at least on this side of the pond. The recent unpleasantness in Northern Ireland also isn’t racism (as we use the word). Even though it certainly was socioeconomic group-ism. And was sorta, just barely if you squint right, ethnic group-ism. And straight up no-kidding no-doubt-about-it raw sectarianism in all its ghastly glory. YMMV. English is funny that way even within a single country. Much less two or three. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2017, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690/202 "2017-05-02T05:31:24Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The recent unpleasantness in Northern Ireland also isn’t racism (as we use the word). Even though it certainly was socioeconomic group-ism. And was sorta, just barely if you squint right, ethnic group-ism. And straight up no-kidding no-doubt-about-it raw sectarianism in all its ghastly glory. > > YMMV. English is funny that way even within a single country. Much less two or three. Northern Ireland: people generally settled on ‘sectarianism’; I guess that dated from the 60s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-snap-election-8-june-2017/784690.md?page=11)