[TopHat]

(Original post by JoeLatics)
Good draft 250 really isn't enough I feel, but it's good given the limits.

yeah, I have to admit, 250 words just doesn't seem enough, really.

[Abiraleft]

(Original post by TopHat)
yeah, I have to admit, 250 words just doesn't seem enough, really.

This, it really should have been set higher. Considering that, however, I think it's a well-balanced manifesto.

[obi_adorno_kenobi]

You lot may find this interesting:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...e-2088179.html

[Abiraleft]

(Original post by obi_adorno_kenobi)
You lot may find this interesting:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...e-2088179.html

That is intriguing

[SciFiRory]

(Original post by obi_adorno_kenobi)
You lot may find this interesting:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...e-2088179.html

the nerve of that woman is staggering...

[PoGo HoPz]

(Original post by obi_adorno_kenobi)
You lot may find this interesting:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...e-2088179.html

What a harpy!

Maybe we should put this in the OP, along with any other articles we find?

[DaveSmith99]

(Original post by PoGo HoPz)
What a harpy!

Maybe we should put this in the OP, along with any other articles we find?

Another article that you all may find interesting, it may already have been posted though

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/ma...litics.jubilee

[JPKC]

Just before the poll opens, I'm going to just add that I think the manifesto could be better. The graphic is a bit pixelated, and overall it focuses too much on the cost (a weak argument in relation to the others). I also think the main argument is made to sound incredibly cheesy, I don't think people will get what's being put across because it is very melodramatic (the l-o-l phrase). This should be about the constitution, just look at Republic's website for how they frame their criticisms - they use questions to highlight the key objection (the one that no monarchist can answer) "why should they have more rights than everyone else?" etc. The campaign would have been coordinated better had communication via PMs been available, likewise, it was a bit flawed that the manifesto was only shared yesterday. Shame.

[Rhadamanthus]

(Original post by JPKC)
Just before the poll opens, I'm going to just add that I think the manifesto could be better. The graphic is a bit pixelated, and overall it focuses too much on the cost (a weak argument in relation to the others). I also think the main argument is made to sound incredibly cheesy, I don't think people will get what's being put across because it is very melodramatic (the l-o-l phrase). This should be about the constitution, just look at Republic's website for how they frame their criticisms - they use questions to highlight the key objection (the one that no monarchist can answer) "why should they have more rights than everyone else?" etc. The campaign would have been coordinated better had communication via PMs been available, likewise, it was a bit flawed that the manifesto was only shared yesterday. Shame.

What time does the poll open at?

[toronto353]

(Original post by Rhadamanthus)
What time does the poll open at?

Around 9pm I've been told in the PM I got from Nick with the rules.

[JPKC]

(Original post by Metrobeans)
QFA

I might have missed something while I was "on vacation", but this process is looking incredibly murky. For starters, how were the campaign coordinators chosen? Also, what is the actual role of the coordinator? Are they supposed to do everything themselves or is there an expectation that others are involved? Thirdly, what are the rules around the referendum - why not share with everyone? I'd also be interested to know how the restrictions on the manifestos were arrived at, it seems silly to make them even smaller than GE ones are supposed to be.

[Metrobeans]

(Original post by JPKC)
I might have missed something while I was "on vacation", but this process is looking incredibly murky. For starters, how were the campaign coordinators chosen? Also, what is the actual role of the coordinator? Are they supposed to do everything themselves or is there an expectation that others are involved? Thirdly, what are the rules around the referendum - why not share with everyone? I'd also be interested to know how the restrictions on the manifestos were arrived at, it seems silly to make them even smaller than GE ones are supposed to be.

The campiagn co-ordinators were chosen by me. We couldn't really run voting as it would not make sense for someone who supports the monarchy to be able to vote for the co-ordinator for the no campaign (and vice-versa) and there was no feasible way to restrict voting, so in an impartial role, I chose two people who I felt would do a good job and could fufill their responsibility. The co-ordinators are responsible for producing the manifesto, and are responsible for reaching out to members for their input. The specifics of how they do it is rather up to them.

The one thing I would note is that if we were able to have sub-forums, the manifesto process could have been more collaborative and perhaps the responsibility for producing the manifesto could have been with the team rather than just the campaign co-ordinator but unfortunately that was not possible.

The manifesto restrictions are the same as in general elections and the rules on the referendum are in the Guidance Document.

[Birchington]

(Original post by JPKC)
The key objection (the one that no monarchist can answer) "why should they have more rights than everyone else?".

It would be good if something along these lines had been included in the manifesto.

[JPKC]

(Original post by Birchington)
It would be good if something along these lines had been included in the manifesto.

If the rules are the same for general election manifestos then we have 20 words spare, as we've not got a tagline. It might be possible to include it still.

[Birchington]

We need a short, snappy but effective tagline that will resonate with floating voters. Your suggestion could used to form one - something about equality so the farce of birthright is exposed.

[TopHat]

I would have talked more about constitutional equality but I think it is extremely important this does not become a leftwing issue. Many on the right may have a "meh, so what" attitude to equality. They will motivated, much like Rakas and internetguru, by cutting the costs. After all, the monarch is just part of the state. I feel maintaining that part is important. I can attempt to cut down the melodrama now, and I'll work on the tagline. As for the graphics, I'm not the world's best artist, I'll freely admit, but unless someone else is going to submit one, that's what we've got.

[TopHat]

Also, we have our 23rd MP, TheCrackInTime.

[Birchington]

Maybe not an explicit emphasis on 'equality' but certainly a mention of why every British citizen is less important than one individual simply by who they are born to. I'm sure you'll rustle something up.

[JPKC]

(Original post by Birchington)
We need a short, snappy but effective tagline that will resonate with floating voters. Your suggestion could used to form one - something about equality so the farce of birthright is exposed.

(Original post by TopHat)
QFA

I've sent a proposal to you, Birchington, and TopHat.

I personally don't think equal rights is a left-right issue (which is why I think it's important to be included), you can't argue against the principle without looking like a complete extremist/fool. The line I've written tries to avoid any polarising connotation there might've been, though.

[PoGo HoPz]

I agree with Birchington and JP, we should definitely use something along the lines of inequality at least somewhere in our manifesto. To be honest, I was surprised that it hadn't been included already when I first read it.