The many questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread XIX

[Arakhor]

The Prime Minister certainly votes in the UK, whereas the Royal Family aren't allowed to, so I believe.

 

[Catharsis]

I think the royal family (or the Queen, at least, not sure about the rest of them) do have the right to vote, but do not exercise it in practice.

 

[W|M]

Peers aren't allowed to vote.

 

[Flying Pig]

I think the royal family (or the Queen, at least, not sure about the rest of them) do have the right to vote, but do not exercise it in practice.

The Queen doesn't - there's that exchange in The Queen where she remarks that it would be nice to vote, and the man painting her portrait replies 'well ma'am, you can take some satisfaction from the fact that it is your government'.

 

[ZeletDude]

Does anyone know where I can watch the Opening Ceremonies Live? In the US NBC doesn't broadcast it until later tonight (7:30 here), and I'll be gone.. :\

 

[Catharsis]

Peers aren't allowed to vote.

Following further Googling it looks like hereditary peers do have the right to vote, but members of the House of Lords (i.e. non-hereditary peers, regular Lord Thomases, Lord Richards and Lord Henries) do not.

Since the Duke of Edinburgh, say, is a hereditary peer, he can vote (but doesn't).

Flying Pig: the Googles are proving inconclusive on the matter of whether the Queen would technically be allowed to vote - I got my original answer from the royal.gov.uk website which states:

Although the law relating to elections does not specifically prohibit the Sovereign from voting in a general election or local election, it is considered unconstitutional for the Sovereign and his or her heir to do so.

EDIT: actually come to think of it, I'm not sure if it's correct or not to describe the Duke of Edinburgh as a hereditary peer. ???

 

[Arakhor]

In the UK, Zelet? I'll be avoiding it like the plague.

 

[ZeletDude]

Well that doesn't help me, I'm thousands of miles away ..

But I think I found a website, - http://www.nbcolympics.com/ not sure if it will stream live, but it's worth a try!

 

[Flying Pig]

It's 'unseemly' for an aristocrat to associate himself with the rough-and-tumble of popular elections in any way, I suppose. As for the Duke of Edinburgh, he didn't inherit any of his titles (as far as I know), but his son will inherit his... tricky one. Suppose he probably counts.

 

[Ajidica]

As long as we are on the subject of the UK, how come in the Parade of Nations in the Olympics the UK was listed as 'Great Britain' as opposed to the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)?

 

[Arwon]

Presumably that's the name of the olympic committee. I think it gets complicated because the Ireland Olympic Committee probably claims to represent the island rather than the republic (like most Irish sporting bodies). They would also have Northern Irish people competing for them, or at least consider them eligible.

Edit: Yep, I was right. It's a bit of a delicate issue. Key quotes:

Around 20 percent of the Irish Olympic team tends to be made up from athletes from Northern Ireland.

According to the International Olympic Committee's existing charter, the Olympic Council of Ireland represents the whole island of Ireland.

However, Northern Ireland athletes have always been able to compete for GB.

 

[Flying Pig]

As long as we are on the subject of the UK, how come in the Parade of Nations in the Olympics the UK was listed as 'Great Britain' as opposed to the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)?

Because the Irish team is all-Ireland, although athletes from NI are also allowed to compete for GB. The same is true of most sports, most visibly in Rugby.

 

[Arwon]

Soccer would be the only exception, wouldn't it?

 

[GinandTonic]

Commonwealth Games is a whole different kettle of fish too.

 

[Arwon]

Well yes, but how pointless are they

 

[GinandTonic]

Well insofar as all athletics meets other than the Olympics are pointless, sure.

 

[shadowplay]

As long as we are on the subject of the UK, how come in the Parade of Nations in the Olympics the UK was listed as 'Great Britain' as opposed to the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)?

In addition to the answers others provided, the Manx athletes compete for team GB (the Isle of Man is not a part of the United Kingdom).

 

[Dachs]

In addition to the answers others provided, the Manx athletes compete for team GB (the Isle of Man is not a part of the United Kingdom).

Same with the Channel Islands, right?

 

[madviking]

Same with the Channel Islands, right?

Yea, Man and the Channel Islands have the same legal/regal status ("crown dependencies") whereas everything else outside of the UK is an "overseas territory", such as Gibraltar.

This is confusing because I've been to Gibraltar but not anywhere in the "UK" outside of Heathrow. So it seems I've been to Great Britain but not the United Kingdom, or something like that.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Will someone from Scotland tell me how like they are to vote for independence?

I'm really interested in that but my BBC app only brings up sporadically seeing how far off the vote is.