The party that can vet prospective MPs and ministers for talent ought to get more votes in elections.
I don't think any of the big political parties quite gets this point and I don't know how voters or even party members or donors can make it true or important to the selection process.
That's all this post says, with evidence below, so I will change the subject to something topical - some online voting systems that might suit committees and societies, searched-out a decade ago and maybe no longer working
Free online vote systems come-&-go over time. Some of the sites that come-up on a Google search are government funded papers that never get to the point and list dozens of dud links. There are also free commercial sites, sometimes ugly with adverts or short-lived. Sites that offer surveys with roughly one vote per computer tend to come-up on the same google searches as these rarer voting sites that offer roughly one vote per code from the vote-holder's list, such as a reference on the electoral roll, a membership number, or a code that has been posted or emailed.
- http://www1.sztaki.hu/servlets/voting : also via voting.sztaki.hu Both temporally offline since June 2018 although still mentioned on https://dsd.sztaki.hu/products/voting so maybe they can say where to download the somewhere and whether it works on something like Windows or needs a free webserver or similar stack of programs around it to run.
- Ballotbin.com was the next link found. Free so no excuse not to use.
A web link about socks is run by the same group of companies as
- Votefair.org third (fullranking.com for committee decision votes used to be attached). Free so no excuse not to use except looks. The site posts a link to the github site where you can download votefair ranking software free, and to http://www.negotiationtool.com/ with useful points about negotiation on the same site and claims that it can help with selection of ministers by MPs or with employment disputes. I have not tested either claim
Delib.co.uk/products_and_services/opinion-suite - an open source collection of deliberative software, whatever that is. There may be free versions but they must think that full time politicians have got more money than sense because one of the packaged products - My Election - has a price guide of £5,000.
A web link about socks is run by the same group of companies as
Delib.co.uk/products_and_services/opinion-suite - an open source collection of deliberative software, whatever that is. There may be free versions. Their ready set-up version - My Election - has a price guide of £5,000.
I don't ask you to read the rest of this post unless you believe that ministers are competent. It is a story like something out of That's Life with Estha Rantzen but it's here as evidence of the state of UK ministries and ministers for anyone in doubt, who has missed recent TV documentaries and has not tried to do business with the worst tax-funded agencies.
Independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/companies-house-fraud-whistleblower-prosecuting-kevin-brewer-vince-cable-a8307246.html is a story of extraordinary nastyness and incompetence reported in an official statement by Andrew Griffeths. MP ("a strong voice for Burton and Uttoxeter"), sponsored by JCB Escavators and Business Fore. You can read how he votes for Burton Uttoxeter and JCB Escavators on Theyworkforyou.com .
Last year my bad memory - damaged by an NHS mistake - landed me in trouble when I tried to rely on Companies House reminders to file my zero-turnover accounts. The reminder email told me that if I had four days to file accounts with an authentication code, that would take at least five days to provide.
I emailed Zac Goldsmith MP to ask him if he could please ask the minister for Companies House to write a thoughtful reply - not just a brush-off by a civil servant - about whether the system could be changed. The request was certainly passed-on; Zac Goldsmith is a helpful and well organised MP., and he confirmed passing-on the request. No reply came from the ministry. Luckily my appeal against a fine was granted at some cost to me and the civil service in time and hassle. It was an odd system by which you lodge an appeal, hear nothing for ages, and then get a letter saying "OK".
Today I received the same email again, with the same 4 day deadline and 5 day response time for providing authentication codes. Last year I think it took nine days for the code to reach the registered office. There's no reason to think it will be quicker this time.
You might experience issues with our online services on these dates.
6am to 8pm Monday 25 March.
10am Tuesday 26 March to 7am Wednesday 27 March.
10am Tuesday 26 March to 7am Wednesday 27 March.
We’re sorry for any inconvenience.
After a morning's search, I have found the code, which is lucky. The email says that the fine will be double if I do not submit my accounts in time, because I was late last year.
I imagine that the civil servants responsible for the story in The Independent are still in the same jobs and on the same high pay scales. The ministers for Companies House now seem to be Kelly Tollhurst working for Greg Clark, and they don't seem better than the dozens who have gone before.
On the same subject of government breaking-down, last night's Panorama was about some schools where trusts simply take the money for senior staff and bills can't be paid. The minister responsible gave a brief interview with a prepared brush-off statement.
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Your accounts are dueNONLEATHER DISTRIBUTION LTD | 10285177
Your accounts for 1 August 2017 to 31 July 2018 are due
To avoid a penalty, we must receive acceptable accounts by
30 April 2019 | |
 |
Last year this company failed to deliver its accounts by the deadline.
If accounts are filed late this year, the late filing penalty will be doubled.
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You must file accounts even if your company is dormant. You only need to send us one copy of your accounts.
| |
Most companies save time and money by filing online
Choose an option that suits your business.
1. Directly on our website
https://www.gov.uk/file-your-company-annual-accounts
You'll need your company number and authentication code:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/company-authentication-codes-for-online-filing
2. If you use an agent or accountant to file your accounts
Contact your agent or accountant and encourage them to file online.
3. Use software filing
Choose a software provider that allows easy online filing: https://www.gov.uk/company-filing-software | |
8 out of 10 companies file online
| |
How to file accounts and avoid a penalty:
https://www.gov.uk/prepare-file-annual-accounts-for-limited-company
Check your company details using the Companies House service:
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/10285177
If your company's not trading and you want to remove it from the register, close your company:
https://www.gov.uk/closing-a-limited-company
To contact us, email enquiries@companieshouse.gov.uk
Yours faithfully,
John-Mark Frost Head of Service Delivery | |
Guidance
Company authentication codes for online filing
How to request and manage the authentication code you'll need to file company information online.
The authentication code is a 6 digit alphanumeric code issued by us to each company. The code is used to authorise information filed online and is the equivalent of a company officer’s signature.
You’ll need a code to file your information on our online services or using third-party software.
Do not wait until you’re due to file to request your code and risk it being too late. Because of the high volumes of post, delivery could take longer than usual during busy periods.
How to get your code
Request your code now. It’s sent by post to your company’s registered office and can take up to 5 days to arrive.
