Election Schmelection: Recent Episodes
ESpod
Demystifying electoral politics. Super short guides on registering to vote, parties, policies, and more. Hosted by award-winning author Abigail Tarttelin.
Want a fairer slice of the pie? If you’ve ever been worried about your vote never electing the person you want to elect, feeling like a wasted vote, or that sicky taste you get in your mouth tactical voting for the lesser of two evils, this is the ep for you. Abby explains the fairer voting system most of the parties (but not the Tories or Labour) have in their manifestos.
Abby synopsises Reform UK’s contract with the public, from diversity and left-wingism not being British values to promoting a pro-military police. Enjoy?
Voting in Wales? We got you. Subscribe to our feed for episodes on Labour and Tory promises this election, too.
Abby reads the easy read version of the Green Party manifesto + some highlights of the longer version.
They’ve been at it for 14 years—do they think anything needs tweaking? Let’s see. Abby reads the Tories’ manifesto summary from their website and provides some context for their headline promises.
Without taking a breath for roughly 12 minutes, Abby Tarttelin reads the summarised version of the Lib Dem’s manifesto so you don’t have to. Okay, fine, she does breathe. That was a test.
Why 7? Not entirely sure. But Abby picks some stand out political party leader chat to share with you after the BBC Debate on June 7th 2024.
Ed Davy of the Liberal Democrats, Adrian Ramsey of The Green Party, Stephen Flynn of the Scottish National Party, and Richard Tice of Reform UK, are interviewed on ITV.
Summary of Keir and Rishi’s best chat up lines to the U.K. voting public, on cost of living, NHS, defence, education, and prospects for young people in the U.K., plus who won in the polls.
Abby chats first past the post, electoral reform, populist rhetoric, and following the money, as she tries to steer us away from cynic vibes and embrace our democratic power to… prove we don’t have as much as we should?
Firstly, check back on our older episode “How do I register to vote?” and follow along to get registered. Then, sit with Abby in this ep to learn if you have photo ID (you probably do) and if you don’t, how to apply for it asap. Never fear! Abby goes through the form with you.
Nothing to do with the card game, but just as popular with the Tories. Find out the history of snap elections, how the Lib Dems tried to prevent them, and how much they’ve cost us Brits in the last decade.
Who’s running? What are their policies? What should I watch out for on election night? All covered, so you can follow from the comfort of the couch. Most of us aren’t allowed out anyway, right? Might as well make a bumprint! This special episode of Election Schmelection is aimed at people outside the US, who are interested in a quick guide to the 2020 presidential election, and is hosted by Abigail Tarttelin.
Your vote—your voices. HAPPY ELECTION DAY! And if you’re voting for the first time, CONGRATULATIONS! What a moment!!! Have a wonderful day!
Sound like an electoral guru and make your mates stare at you with their mouths open and election night popcorn falling out... Mentions: https://anchor.fm/espod/message
Online, or in front of the box. Mentions: ge2019.electoral-reform.org.uk || www.youtube.com/user/NovaraMedia || “Guardian Live” || Instagram: @abigailtarttelin_ || Twitter: @ajktarttelin
Could a mash-up be the answer? Find out what happens if neither of the two largest parties wins the election.
A bigger deal in this election than most... but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Mentions: members.parliament.uk/constituencies/
The last of our manifesto marathon. Wipe the sweat off your brow, reach for the water, we made it. Mentions: uup.org/our-vision/ulster-unionist-party-manifestos || www.sdlp.ie/issues/manifesto-2019/ || www.sinnfein.ie/contents/55481 || www.mydup.com
Yes. Thirty-eight minutes really is speeding when it comes to the chunky Lib Dem mani. Put the kettle on. Mentions: www.libdems.org.uk/plan
“Nothing is more conservative than working hard to improve your lot.” Our rundown of the Tory manifesto, the short and the long. Mentions: https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan and http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/
“How can it be right that in the fifth richest country in the world, people’s living standards are going backwards and life expectancy is stalling?” I barrel through the Labour manifesto, so you don’t have to. Mentions: labour.org.uk/manifesto/
Chatting you through The Scottish National Party’s plans for an “open, tolerant, inclusive nation”. Och aye the yes. (Though sadly no talk of compulsory Scottish accents.) Mentions: www.snp.org/general-election-2019/
“No society can legitimately call itself civilised if a person must sleep on the street.” The Welsh party Plaid Cymru’s manifesto, at a pace. Diolch am wrando! Mentions: www.partyof.wales/maniffesto_2019
The Green Party of England and Wales’ plans for a bucolic future U.K. blasted through at breakneck but still understandable pace. Mentions: campaigns.greenparty.org.uk/manifesto
We read the manifestos so you don’t have to. But when it comes to making promises, which parties are crossing their fingers behind their back? First up: The Brexit Party. Mentions: fullfact.org
Labour, the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru, the SNP, Sinn Fein, SDLP, UUP — in über-brief terms.
A wee intro to the parties, in alphabetical order. How many members do they have? Are their politics left, centre, or right? What snappy slogan are they dishing up?
Hint: it’s not a bird, it’s not a plane, it’s that old cookie, monarchy struggles, again.
We borrow the way back machine from those boys over at Stuff You Should Know and find out how the first political parties formed.
“It’s as if First Past the Post is a sports car that just won’t start for the Conservatives...” Hear about other voting systems that might turn the engine over and get the UK moving again.
It sounds a rule from a primary school sports day race, but it’s actually the UK’s voting system. Find out why the Greens don’t have more MPs, why Conservatives struggle to get a majority, and how the government that founded the NHS met its end.
Fill in boxes along with me as I register to vote (spoiler: it’s pretty easy!) at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Democracy means the people have the power. Or do they? Find out who can vote in a general election in the U.K. in 2019. Websites mentioned: www.byg.org.uk | www.votesat16.org
Covers all the basics, including: Why “general”? What do voters do on Election Day? Who is this person on my ballot? And, what does a General Election DO? || UPDATE: students can register to vote at home AND at uni — and then decide which to vote at!
Come on in new friends! Pull up a chair, crack open a beverage, and lend us your ears. We want to soothe them into calm confidence at the prospect of voting. 👍