Latest news with #Foulkes
Daily Record
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Voting would be compulsory under plans to be lodged at Westminster
EXCLUSIVE: Lord Foulkes will table an amendment to the upcoming elections bill. A Labour peer has urged the UK Government to introduce compulsory voting to boost turnout. Lord Foulkes said the prospect of a £20 fine would act as an 'encouragement' for people to take part in the democratic process. The Labour Government plans to lower the voting age to 16 in its upcoming elections bill. Foulkes, a former Labour MSP and MP, backs votes at 16 but wants Ministers to go further. He said the low turnout at the last general election - less than 60% - showed the system is 'broken'. He told the Record: 'As an increasing swathe of the population tunes out of politics, politicians increasingly position themselves in alignment with the voters who do vote, and will continue to turn out. 'So those who feel left out are increasingly left out and alienated, and those who vote gain more and more sway over policy direction." 'As a result our politics is at risk of becoming divided, alienating the poor and favouring the privileged, so it will no longer truly represent the many, catering instead to a diminishing number of politically engaged, privileged elites.' Foulkes' solution is for voting to be made compulsory - as it is in Australia - and he will lodge an amendment to the elections bill: 'We know it works – Australia introduced compulsory voting back in the 1920s, and their turnout has consistently exceeded 90% ever since. 'Even more impressively, at their latest election in 2025, youth enrollment was in the 80% plus range, as was indigenous enrolment. 'By comparison, youth and ethnic minority groups are significantly underrepresented in our electoral register, with only around 60% of British 20-24 year olds correctly registered, as of 2022. 'So it seems like a blindingly obvious solution to our looming democratic crisis." He said of possible sanctions: 'The reality is that a compulsory system, such as the one that operates in Australia, would not actually compel you to vote. "Instead a small (£20) fine would act as an encouragement to vote and, even then, you would still have the option to cast a spoiled ballot and not be penalised.' He added: 'There is really no down-side, which is why I am strongly in favour of introducing compulsory voting to the UK. 'Reform is in the air, in more ways than one, and I believe Labour must seize this opportunity to turn the tide on diminishing political engagement. The long-term health of our democracy is at stake.' Dr David Klemperer, Director of the Campaign for Compulsory Voting and Constitution Society Research Fellow, said: "While reforms like Votes at 16 and Automatic Voter Registration may have some positive impact on turnout, international evidence suggests that they are highly unlikely to be enough on their own to address the widening gaps in participation between different demographic groups. 'This is why we at the Campaign for Compulsory Voting will be pushing for the government to embrace the one reform that has been demonstrated internationally to be reliably capable of boosting turnout – the introduction of Australian-style compulsory voting." A spokesperson for the MHCLG department in the UK Government said: "We are delivering the most ambitious changes to our democracy for a generation, so we can boost engagement and restore trust in politics through our Plan for Change. 'Our focus is to improve voter registration by expanding the list of accepted voter IDs and creating an increasingly automated voter registration system so that everyone eligible has the opportunity to vote, and we have no plans to make it compulsory.'
Chicago Tribune
10-07-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Waukegan Proud Award given to 108-year-old woman; ‘It's unbelievable what (she) was able to do in her life'
Willabelle Jackson, a Waukegan resident since 2018, broke a lot of barriers as a single Black woman on the South Side of Chicago in the 1940s, becoming an entrepreneur and a landlord in her mid-20s. Now 108, Jackson takes life easier than she did when she was operating a laundry business, living in one unit of her South Side six-flat and renting out the other five units, as well as playing in national Bridge tournaments. Born during World War I, she survived the time of the Spanish Flu, started building a small business empire during World War II and came through the coronavirus pandemic unscathed. She also found time to travel, which her granddaughter, Debra Foulkes, credits with her longevity. 'It was family, her everyday life and Arkansas water,' Foulkes said. 'Grandmother would go (to Hot Springs) every year for a month taking sitz baths, drinking the water, taking steam baths, massages (and) manicures. She had the water shipped home.' Jackson was honored with the Waukegan Proud Award by Mayor Sam Cunningham on Thursday at her home, the Terrace Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Waukegan, for her life of achievement and longevity. She turned 108 on March 2. 'It's unbelievable what Mrs. Jackson was able to do in her life,' Cunningham said of the oldest person he has ever met. 'She accomplished all of this at a time when it was almost impossible, being both a woman and being Black.' Cunningham was not the only person fetting Jackson. Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg gave her a proclamation from the county, and U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, brought an official letter from Washington, D.C. 'All these barriers she broke were done at a time when it was nearly impossible,' Schneider said. 'She didn't just break those barriers, she charged through them for the rest of us.' Born March 2, 1917, in Montgomery, Alabama, Foulkes said Jackson moved to Chicago with her family when she was 3 as part of the Great Migration, bringing many Black people from the southern U.S. to the northern states. She graduated from Hyde Park High School. Foulkes said Jackson helped family members and others move from the South to Chicago. Johnny Ramsey, Jackson's brother-in-law and a resident of Chicago's South Shore neighborhood, said moving north was a necessity then. 'Birmingham was racist,' Ramsey said. 'You couldn't accomplish anything there. Chicago was a good place to be.' Graduating high school in the midst of the Depression, Foulkes said many Black people did not put their money in banks either because they were unwelcome or they were afraid. It turned out to be a good thing. 'We didn't lose our money,' Foulkes said of her family. 'It wasn't in the bank. We kept it somewhere else.' Starting her laundry business, Foulkes said her grandmother invested her profits in real estate, buying a six-unit apartment in the 6600 block of Cottage Grove Avenue. 'Willabelle (Jackson) valued family unity, helping many siblings migrate north and offering them support,' Foulkes said. At a time when women could not own property or operate a business on their own, Foulkes said her grandmother signed her name using her initials, W.F., before her last name. She was single during her early entrepreneurial years before marrying Charles Jackson in 1957.
The National
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Labour peer George Foulkes calls for second Holyrood chamber
George Foulkes, who has previously served as an MP and MSP, said that an assessment of how the Scottish Parliament works is 'long overdue'. Writing in the Scotsman, Lord Foulkes of Cumnock said that Holyrood is 'not living up to the hopes and expectations' of Donald Dewar, Scotland's inaugural first minister, and John Smith, the former labour leader, who he described as its 'architects'. He claimed that Holyrood committees have 'largely failed' as a check on the Scottish Government. READ MORE: UK jets being sent to the Middle East as Keir Starmer refuses to rule out defending Israel 'This situation is compounded by the absence of a second chamber in Scotland, which could revise, improve and very occasionally throw out defective legislation,' Foulkes wrote. He reiterated his long-standing opposition to Scottish politicians 'pontificating on global crises, which Scotland has no chance of resolving', and claimed the SNP is unwilling to 'seriously engage with the current devolution framework'. After calling for tunnels to be built between Scotland's islands, Foulkes, who was made a Labour peer in 2005, criticised the SNP's 'centralisation' of services such as police and fire services. 'We need to look at greater devolution across Scotland - possibly creating new democratic institutions, such as mayors - to bring power closer to the people,' Foulkes said. 'And finally, we come to Holyrood itself. A major review is long overdue and should be prioritised by whichever government comes next. (Image: PA) 'Some key questions which need answered, include - would another electoral system be better? Is there a case for a second chamber? Should there be a limit on the size of the executive? And do MSPs privileges and the role of the Presiding Officer need to be reviewed? 'I am sure that there are many more issues that others would want to look at, but I doubt if there are many now who disagree with the need for change. 'Indeed, sadly, an Abolish Holyrood movement is growing, with the threat to stand candidates for list seats next year. 'To rescue Holyrood, people need to see that their money is being spent wisely and effectively, especially since we have decided to impose higher tax rates than in other parts of the country.' SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson responded to Foulkes' comments, telling The National: "Lord Foulkes wanting a second chamber in Holyrood is bold from someone who sits in an unelected, unaccountable retirement home for Westminster politicians." READ MORE: Ian Murray 'does not understand how devolution works', minister says Last year, Foulkes attacked Scottish Government spending and said there should be 'consequences' for the SNP if it is deemed there is spending in reserved areas. He has long called for the Scottish Government to be prevented from spending in areas such as independence and foreign engagement. Labour have repeatedly said they would abolish the House of Lords, but after coming to power in Westminster following the General Election, instead abolished the 92 seats reserved for peers who are there by right of birth, known as hereditary peers. In a National investigation in 2021, we revealed that Scottish peers had claimed a 'grotesque' £1 million in expenses during the pandemic. Foulkes topped the list for the biggest claim of combined allowance and expenses with £64,643, and for the highest daily allowance alone at £55,936, between April 2020 and July 2021.
Boston Globe
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
New poll shows R.I. Governor Dan McKee's approval rating at 19 percent
The bigger picture: McKee announced plans to Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up So what now? Advertisement If you're Foulkes, you do you. You keep raising money, and you cross your fingers that McKee stays in the race and any other top tier contenders take a pass. If you're Shekarchi, this is when you ramp up behind-the-scenes talks with union leaders to suggest that it's time to nudge McKee into retirement with the old 'for the good of the Democratic Party' argument. Translation: Your point is, 'If you don't want Foulkes, you need me.' Advertisement If you're Neronha, you capitalize on your moment. Your But campaigns don't magically come together, so you have to start raising money and building a team. If you're McKee, you brace yourself and buckle in. You and your team have always known this campaign was going to be a slog. Yes, but: The poll asks relatively generic questions that offer voters the ability to vent their frustrations, but it doesn't demonstrate the decision they'll have to make between the candidates, which McKee has consistently won during three successful campaigns for statewide office in the past. Still, McKee is in desperate need of a UNH poll shows President Trump's job approval at 37 percent – nearly twice McKee's. He might get a boost in the next week or so because This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, Dan McGowan can be reached at
Los Angeles Times
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Los Angeles Times
Buena Park takes aim at air pollution from idling delivery trucks
Prompted by resident complaints, the Buena Park City Council considered drafting an anti-idling law to curb commercial trucks from leaving their engines on while parked for a set period of time. Councilmember Susan Sonne requested the study session at Tuesday's council meeting. 'Pollution is certainly a big concern here, because in my district, there's a number of commercial areas that back up against homes,' she said. 'There's also a noise consideration, and I've had residents who've reported large commercial trucks that have idled, not just for a few minutes, but for hours in the middle of the night.' According to a city staff report, vehicle idling is a major source of local air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In California, an estimated 2.7 million tons of carbon dioxide is spewed into the atmosphere from idling every year while chugging 270 million gallons of fuel, the report stated. A handful of cities across the state have passed anti-idling laws. Palo Alto defines 'idling' as leaving a vehicle running for three minutes while parked. The Bay Area city has emphasized education over enforcement of its law, but includes penalties for egregious offenders. Santa Cruz limits vehicles to just 90 seconds before they are considered idling. In Cupertino, anti-idling efforts are folded into the city's climate action plan. Cupertino partners with schools and its local chamber of commerce to spread awareness about the environmental impacts of idling to encourage compliance, from parents picking up their children at school to delivery trucks parked outside of businesses or parks where people congregate. With Buena Park developing its own Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, Sonne saw an anti-idling law as compatible with it, but didn't want to fully emulate Cupertino's model. 'I really don't want to go after parents who are sitting and waiting to pick their kids up from school,' she said. 'I don't have any interest in that, at all.' Matt Foulkes, Buena Park's community and economic development director, told the council members that if they wanted to craft their own law, they would have to define 'idling' while also determining exemptions for issues like emergency vehicles or drivers keeping the air conditioning on to prevent a health hazard on a blistering hot day. Foulkes also said that state law already prohibits commercial vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds from idling after five minutes. 'Any delivery truck is going to exceed that [weight],' he said. Sonne backtracked on pursuing an anti-idling law after learning about existing state law, as she felt more awareness of it could directly address the complaints of her constituents. Councilmember Connor Traut also highlighted complaints about commercial trucks aired at a recent council meeting and asked what the city would inform residents to do. 'Obviously, it's not [call] 911, but [should they call] non-emergency line to report excessive idling by large trucks?' he asked. Foulkes responded that residents can call the police department's non-emergency line or code enforcement during working hours. 'If there are specific businesses or specific residents that you guys have in mind, we would do a very directed enforcement,' he said to Sonne and Traut. 'And then we can kind of spot check around the city where we have similar situations, where those residents might be having those same frustrations, but just might not have brought it to an elected official's attention.' Buena Park Mayor Joyce Ahn asked that information about the state law prohibiting idling and what numbers to call be placed on the city's website. 'That sounds more targeted and effective,' she said.
