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General Election - 2010ContentsSkip straight to the candidates replies
IntroductionAs most people will have noticed there is going to be a general election soon and that provides us with several opportunities. It really does make politicians pay attention when their future depends on it!
One vote can make the difference in a constituency and one constituency can make the difference in Parliament. Unless you live in a very safe seat then your vote really does matter to them and that provides opportunity to raise awareness with both politicians and the general public.
The main reasons for British Naturism and Naturists to take an interest in the general election are:
We will be finding out about their attitudes and policies and publishing the results so that you can make an informed choice. To make the comparison fair we will ask the parties the same questions. You can do your bit as well. Please ask the candidates and party workers in your area and let us know what you find out so that we can let everyone know. Why bother?In some respects Naturism has become much more accepted in recent years. In others ways there are growing and serious problems. If we don't push back then those problems will grow. How long before councils ban children from attending naturist events? Scaremongering? Some councils have already done that for all premises with an entertainments licence. We are usually fighting at least one swimming pool over it. How long before all naturist events require an adult entertainment licence which does of course ban families? Scaremongering? At least one council has done that for a naturist disco. These problems, and others like them, will get worse unless we do something about it.
Unfortunately things will not stay as they are and there is a strong trend towards a more controlled and regulated society and that is dangerous for any minority group or for anyone who dares to be different. There are large numbers of people who dare not take part in Naturism for fear of the possible effect on their career. It doesn't matter if the fear is theoretically unjustified, that is the effect, and the protection at present available is inadequate. Most is not because Parliament wanted it to happen. It is because they didn't think through how the legislation they passed could be misused. Indeed politicians can be incredibly naive and trusting that their legislation will only be used as intended.
In a safe seat your vote doesn't matter much but the opposing candidates are often serving their apprenticeship and next time round are likely to be fighting a more winnable seat. Then your vote really will matter to them. Your questions can inform and educate both a near certainty future MP and many prospective MPs.
Marginal constituencies are critical to the parties and that is where the effort will be. One vote can decide a constituency. One constituency can determine the next government. What to doBritish Naturism will write to the national political parties with the questions and we will publish the answers on this website.
We can't possibly write to all the candidates, there will be many thousands of them, so please ask them for us and send us the answers. Please write to them and send us a copy of both your letter and the reply. Comparing the two can be very instructive!
If a candidate or a party worker knocks on your door please ask the questions (see below), especially the first one, and let us know how it goes. Please tell us who it was, which party they represented and their status (candidate, party worker etc). Send the answers to me at rlo@british-naturism.org.uk or by post to the office. Help us to build up the picture and pass it on to everyone.
The questions are available as a pdf file for download which you can print out and include with a covering letter. So, just write a very brief letter to say:
Even if you are absolutely certain that you are going to vote for one particular candidate please still ask the questions. If we don't tell them that Naturism is important they will assume that it doesn't matter, or even that it does not exist. CreditsThe set of questions for candidates was devised by the users of the British Naturism Member's Forum in a discussion lead by myself, Malcolm Boura.
It was hoped that we could keep the number of questions down to about 3. We failed, but we have put the most important questions first. The QuestionsThese questions are also available as a pdf file for download.
According to an NOP poll, about one and half million people describe themselves as being a naturist. About 15 million have partaken in mixed nude sunbathing or skinny dipping and so are naturists to at least some extent. There is widespread discrimination against naturists and there is little effective protection. When a naturist gets dressed the disguise is perfect so few people realise how many there are of us.
1. What will you do to protect naturists from prejudice so that they can "come out" without fear of discrimination?
Almost all censorship is hidden and few people realise how widespread it is and how irrational it can be. The lack of transparency is a serious problem. There is an enormous number of censors, many without any statutory authority, but there are no official bodies, not one, with responsibility to prevent harmful censorship.
2. What will you do to prevent harmful censorship?
East Anglia, Scotland and Wales have only one designated naturist beach each. The nearest designated beaches to the north of England are in East Anglia, the far side of Wales and on a Scottish island. None are less than four hours drive each way.
3. It has been stated in Parliament that reasonable Naturism must be allowed to continue. What will you do to ensure that that is put into practice?
A Statement of Naturist Beliefs is available from the British Naturism web site. We have numerous examples of threatened or actual disciplinary action by employers. We also have numerous examples of police officers exceeding their powers and of prosecutions which are a travesty. The protection against wrongful or malicious prosecution is inadequate.
4. For many people Naturism is an important part of their beliefs. How will you ensure that they are able to advocate and practice Naturism without detriment to their career and without fear of harassment or prosecution?
That a few people find a choice of clothing offensive is not, in a free society, sufficient reason to make it illegal. Some football fans find an opposing team's colours offensive, many people find the burka offensive, many people find bikinis offensive, or shorts, or men without a shirt.
5. Do you think it is right for the State to dictate an individual's choice of clothing?
Many of the problems faced by Naturists arise from the unintended consequences of legislation. We have found it extremely difficult to get officials and MPs to take these problems seriously. A favourite excuse is "It is not our intention that ...." but intentions count for nothing. It is the words in the Act and how they can be twisted or applied in unforeseen ways which causes the problems, and which frequently bring both the law and Parliament into disrepute.
6. Are you prepared to argue the case for Naturists and Naturism in Parliament?
In some European countries nudity is a right nearly everywhere. Indeed in Spain a police officer was prosecuted for overstepping his authority by telling a nude naturist to get dressed. It is not just the better weather that causes Naturists to holiday abroad.
7. How will you ensure that the UK can benefit from the buff pound instead of exporting it to countries where Naturists are made welcome?
A naturist was given a penalty notice for disorder which he contested. Fortunately he was able to claim most of the £10,000 it cost to defend himself from the public purse but even so he was about £1,000 out of pocket. That is not justice. Another naturist had to mortgage his house to pay for his defence despite the trial being stopped and the case thrown out with the judge delivering some unkind words to both police and CPS. That is not justice.
8. Will you support a constituent who is harassed or prosecuted due to their belief in or practice of Naturism?
Councillors for and against naturismI intend to collect information about the party affiliation of the various councillors that we have to deal with. This is just a start so it will grow. Please check back shortly before the election. If you have information to add please email me.
Most councillors act perfectly correctly and treat naturist fairly. The ones listed as "For" have done that bit more. The numbers are only fairly small at present so don't place too much reliance on them please.
Footnote: * But is he really an Independent? Carmarthanshire Council is made up from: Independent - 31, Plaid Cymru - 29, Labour - 11 People First (Carmarthenshire) - 2, Unaffiliated - 1. The Council is administered by a coalition of the Independent and Labour Groups. Notice who is missing?
Election parties and candidatesOthers will be added as the information comes in.
Other informationEnglish Democrats. Kent Chairman is a naturist and very supportive.
Colour codingThe names and parties have been coloured according to attitude.
Aberdeen North
Ashford
Burton and Uttoxeter
North Devon
I was unsure how to vote, but this has settled the question for me! Portsmouth South
St Albans
Suffolk West
Quote: "UKIP and BNP only provided an anonymous central contact point. If they are not prepared to provide contact to their candidate then I am not prepared to provide them any publicity."
Tamworth
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