7
Voting age to be lowered to 16 in UK by next general election (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/uk_politics@feddit.uk
locked 9 comments fedilink hide all child comments
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 1 point 1 year ago (5 children)

Political parties will be required to assess companies they are receiving donations from against a series of tests, proving their connection to the UK or Ireland. Companies used for political donations will have to prove they are generating income in these countries.

What is the thinking behind restricting all other countries apart from the UK but including Ireland? I'm not sure why I understand that. Why not France?

Surely if you're donating to a UK political party and you want to restrict where that donation comes from you'd insist on UK only?

Look at it the other way around. Should similar rules be introduced in Ireland would they be happy that UK companies are donating to Irish political parties?

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 5 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    There are political parties such as Sinn Féin in Westminster which are operationally headquartered in the Republic of Ireland. Also the SDLP is quite Ireland aligned, but is Northern Irish.

    Also, Ireland isn't a foreign country to the UK. It's independent, but it's rare that a distinction is made. You don't need a passport to get from the UK to Ireland and there's no passport checks either. There may be mild customs check if you are coming from England, Scotland or Wales, but that's only since Brexit and rare anyway.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    The rules are different for parties registered in Northern Ireland versus political parties registered in Great Britain.

    Great British parties can only accept donations from UK sources. However Northern Irish parties can also accept donations from Irish sources.

    Look at it the other way around. Should similar rules be introduced in Ireland would they be happy that UK companies are donating to Irish political parties?

    This is already the case, in that Irish political parties can accept donations from any individual or organization in Northern Ireland. The position is reciprocal to the UK situation.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

    NI and GFA shenanigans, Éire and the UK are weirdly connected in many ways to one another still.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    Not necessarily weird. Ireland and the UK aren't considered foreign countries. Irish citizens can vote in the UK and join the military, as well as have right of abode. Passports aren't even needed for border crossings either. Mobile phone roaming is generally free between the two countries.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent