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UK Pirates Allowed to Vote in Costumes

The UK Pirate Party is just over one year old, but already it’s participating in the General Election with candidates in nine constituencies. Pirate Party voters who go to the polling booth today can be assured that, contrary to recent rumors, it is okay to wear a pirate costume.

pirate partyThe General Election is dominating the news in Britain today.

Westminster Council’s Nigel Tonkin, who has been organizing elections for 35 years, has been commenting to the BBC on the do’s and don’t at the polling station. He confirmed that party insignia and emblems are not allowed, but that Pirate Party voters are free to show up in a pirate costume.

“There’s a candidate standing in Westminster as a pirate. And if he comes in to vote in a pirate costume as is likely, we won’t turn him away. The same goes for any supporters coming to vote as pirates.” Parrots and other pets are also welcome at the polling stations, Tonkin said.

In all seriousness, the UK Pirate Party is no joke. They stand for real issues that are dear to the hearts of voters but are often overlooked by other politicians. The passing of the Digital Economy Act is a prime example of where the public opinion differs from that of the lawmakers.

As with the Swedish party in last summer’s EU elections, not all the candidates are fresh faced youngsters. Quite a few are definitely middle-aged, including party leader Andrew Robinson (41) who’s confident that his party can make a difference if given the chance.

“Today we can strike fear into the hearts of our enemies, Andrew Robinson says. “Today we can show them that we will no longer sit idly by as they take away our rights, as they take away our privacy, as they force greater and greater burdens and costs on us while lining their own pockets.”

“Today, we show them what can be achieved by real men and women, scattered across the country, connected by technologies the other parties still struggle to understand,” Robinson added. The polling stations will close 10 PM local time, the first results are expected to come in later in the evening.

The Pirate Party candidates are:

  • Andrew Robinson – Worcester
  • Graeme Lambert – Bury North
  • Alexander van Terheyden – Bethnal Green and Bow
  • Tim Dobson – Manchester Gorton
  • Luke Leighton – South West Surrey
  • Shaun Dyer – Leicester West
  • Finlay Archibald – Glasgow Central
  • David Geraghty – Derby North
  • Jack Nunn – Cities of London and Westminster

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  • yes

    no no no yes no

  • LIB MAN

    I wouldn’t vote for them, even if they were in my area.

  • lol

    The problem with a “Pirate” party in the UK is that they address such a niche issue. There are far more qualified and liberal parties that have similiar policies whilst actually being real politicians with policies in other areas. My vote is going to the Lib Dems.

  • “STINGYASALLFUCK”

    To no 2.Well that tells us exactly nothing.There are many who will not vote for them.But perhaps if you were good enough to tell us why.We would then be less inclined to assess you as a mindless twat who only knows how to tow the “party line”.Only sheep follow the leader!

  • PPUK

    The Lib Dems, you mean the same ones that approved the DEB without saying anything against it?

    Vote PPUK and not the other parties which are all the same.

  • adam

    Vote for LibDem if you want more sensible policies on digital issues. They got people who can actually win seats, and even when they don’t stand a chance, the more votes UK-wide they get, the more glaring the issue of voting reform becomes.

    When the LibDems get more votes than the Tories, but only a 5th of their seats, they can perhaps join in government on the demand that they get election reform.

    Besides, they actually have pretty good positions on these Digital issues, so they’re not even a bad tactical vote.

  • duane

    This is our chance to show the politicians that pirate issues ARE important. The Pirate Party was created by pirates and for pirates, and therefore WE are the ones who must support it!

    Ignore the FUD from the major parties and their blind supporters. Cast your vote for the party that is here to represent YOU!

    There’s still hope, so VOTE PIRATE!

  • Bryan C

    Pictures???

  • Neo

    Brits should know better than every other european why to vote for the pirates. You lose your civil rights one after another and soon you will be past 1984, if you don’t stop your crazy government.

    Anyway on topic: Very nice idea, we should do this in Germany too.

  • UK

    It is very stupid vote any party except pirate party, because normal political parties promises much and lie. When they get in power they forget their promises. This have hapen years after years political parties never keep their promises. So when voters learn lesson?

    So only choice make difference is vote pirate party. If half UK pirates would vote pirate party it can easily get to goverment.

  • Jorge

    @3

    The point isn’t to get those people in office (just face it, it won’t happen) but to show the politicians that pirate party issues really matter to people. If they see almost nobody voting for the pirate party they will think that those issues aren’t too important.

    Vote pirate party not to get them in office, but to show that these issues are important to lots of people. Politicians will see these votes and change their stance on digital issues to appeal to pirate party voters.

  • H

    We ain’t pirates, do not sink our ship

  • Elias

    Pirate Party might be a niche party, but if it gets overwhelming support it will not be just that anymore!

    Don’t get distracted by these Lib Democrats, or Conservatives, posting here how they are a good alternative.

    These guys don’t deliver on the most basic promises that overwhelming majority of people needs! Let alone helping average Joe Vs. Music/Movie industry… It’s never going to happen!

    This is why you should show your support for PP and show them where you stand.

    Don’t get confused, PP has a stance on ALL other issues, not just copyright! Find out if their stance on those other issues is something you can agree with, and if you do, vote for them! If not, and if these issues are deal breaker, then go to Libs or Conservatives.

  • Devanite

    9 and 10 both have excellent points that are extremely true. As a Canadian I watch both in my own country and abroad politicians losing touh further and further with their citizens and constantly making daily life more difficult!

    2,3 and 5, you say vote for your Lib Dem party, granted I am a Canadian and do not have all that much experience in British Politics, however how can you say that the same party that is trying to strip you of your freedoms of speech and internet has the same policies as your pirate party? It seems more likely that perhaps you should stop listening to the RIAA/MPAA anthem and do a little research?

    Finally and in closing, it truly amazes me to see how the term of piracy has changed from theft over the last thousand years into something sooo positive and outspoken across the world!

  • johnP

    t f can u fix r ss please thanks

  • Cheya

    I would have voted PP if there was a candidate in my area :( I hope that they get enough votes and support this year to later fund more candidates :) More candidates = more exposure!

  • Capn

    According to PPUKs site the candidates are wearing suits. The candidate dressed as a pirate will most likely be an independent called Mad Cap’n Tom http://www.madcapntom.co.uk/ who has no affiliation to PPUK

  • Chris

    pics!

  • theddlera

    I would have voted but not in my area :(

  • Yarick

    The problem right now is the same in most politics. People in all these political parties are throwing around change and other words that give people hope, but we’ve seen what they are going to do.

    People are settling for what has been the status quo for many many years and not actually voting in change. I’m tired of the two party systems where there really is no room for change at all.

    Voting PPUK might be the most sensible thing that could happen to politics in the UK in a long time.

  • lolololol

    waste of a vote

  • duane

    @19 lolololol

    Not so, but that’s definitely what the big parties want you to think!

  • Anonymous

    Will vote for them.

  • Anonymous

    The problemi is there are 650 seats in the uk the pp is up for 9.

  • duane

    @24 Anon

    They aren’t looking to win the election, but to show that they have the support of the people.

  • Andrew Tindall

    the statement *WAS NOT* referring to PPUK, it was referring to Tom Scott, aka Mad Cap’n Tom, who is running as an Independent candidate, under his traditional pirate persona.

  • Justin Whitmore

    Wow, some Pirates just have all the luck. Whats up with that!

    anonymous-web-surfing.cz.tc

  • Me

    The system is wieghted in favour of the biggest parties.
    We should be voting for the party we want in government then a vote within the winning party to decide who becomes PM.

    Shame my and many other votes didnt go to the PPUK where they belong.

    Until the system changes we are stuck with the big 3 dirty rotten thieving barstewards.

  • UK Voter

    A one issue party? I wont be voting for them.

    They’ll also lose their deposit. There is no way they’ll get the required number of votes to keep the deposit, so they’ll lose their money for standing in their constituency.

    Anyway, don’t kid yourself if you think the Lib dems are against the digital economy bill.

    It was actually the lib dems that INTRODUCED THE BILL in the first place, and my own Lib Dem MP never brothered turning up to the vote or debate.

  • dave

    You’ve got the wrong end of the stick. The guy dressed as a Pirate has nothing to do with Pirate Party UK.

    On their twitter feed the Pirate Party said:

    “this talk about “it’s okay to vote in a pirate costume” isn’t about us! It’s about @tomscott, who’s standing in #clw as a normal pirate.”

    http://twitter.com/PiratePartyUK

  • Ninja

    I’d seriously go dressed as a pirate. The problem would be the pet parrot or monkey =/

    Seems the UK election will be interesting to follow. @uk_poll ??? lmao

  • h33t

    fukin clowns

    who needs the MAFIAA when we have the fukin clowns representing us

    http://www.h33t.com is disgusted

  • Dan

    Thanks TF for telling me there’s a UK Pirate party a day too late :(

  • Anonymous

    i live in south west surrey,
    im a pirate,
    the conservative mp who is anti piracy is my mp.
    but i still vote for him rather than some ass clown in a costume.

  • Doink

    Yep i aint votin for em eider.

  • neostyles

    “Today we can strike fear into the hearts of our enemies, Andrew Robinson says. “Today we can show them that we will no longer sit idly by as they take away our rights, as they take away our privacy, as they force greater and greater burdens and costs on us while lining their own pockets.”

    Translation : We don’t want them to take away our ability to get free things and we dont want to pay a cent for anything. This culture never ceases to amaze me. They still don’t understand how they are taking other people’s things which they DESERVE to profit from. This completely conflicts with the most basic part of a business : earning revenue.

    But now we have the pirate party here to redefine everything in a way that only the consumer matters.

  • Another Anonymous

    @34 and others the same: what part of “it’s not the PPUK in pirate costume, it’s another independent guy” you do not understand?

    @all those who given the option will vote for somebody else: you deserve what’s coming to you. It costs to be narrow minded.

  • the Queef

    On june the 9th the Dutch are able to vote for their new parliament.
    The Dutch Pirate Party has made the line-up and wil start their campagne in a few days.

    In our political system you can vote for the neo-cons, liberal or go full on retard with Geert Wilders or even “The Party for Animals”
    None of them are an option for me,that’s why I gave my signature and soon my vote for TPP(NL.).
    I rather go with pirate then with the retards and/or jesus freaks. If you’r Dutch and you like your interwebs the way it is you’ll do the same.

    It’s the only way to stop BREIN and others that eating away my freedom.

    A big salute to all the pirate parties in the world

    Cheers,

    -the Queef-

  • AnarchyNow

    Kill the queen!
    Voting never ever changed ANYTHING at all, creating yet another useless right-wing hypocrite party isn’t going to change anything!

  • Jiminy

    Interesting, about 1340 people voted for PPUK across the country, not many but that’s still over 1000 people in a highly contested election and mostly just a training exercise for the party and it’s members. Considering the background of the economy, most people are thinking about their jobs and taxes

    It’s all good experience for the European elections which won’t have as high a voter turnout and where PPUK really wants to get some candidates voted in

  • Pingback: UK Pirates Allowed to Vote in Costumes - pokerman's posterous

  • Doink

    Pirate Party UK sinks on maiden voyage Bad night for anti-copyright parrot boys – http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/05/07/piraty_party_general_election_results/

  • Seth

    LMAO, are those clowns not aware of how ridiculous and retarded they will look in pirate costumes?

  • Tom

    now they know we are are rediculous

  • Bender

    spot the pirate game

    http://i.imgur.com/8SVsx.jpg

  • nom

    The pirate party is kinda a self defeating name, as they are comparing themselves to pirates.

  • Wendy

    piracy … only the IFPI could have thought up such a self-defeating public image for file sharers

  • woofie and sam

    It was The Pirate Bay that started it all. English is not their natural mother tongue and they do not understand how Anglo-Saxon culture, society and politics work. They did not appreciate exactly why English is the International Language of Business.

    According to Sunde the image of piracy was taken as an image of rebellion against the big man. Later excuses became they wanted to reclaim the name like homosexuals reclaimed “gay” despite the fact file sharing was never ever considered piracy before. Piracy is criminal behaviour and always will be associated with the illegal and irresponsible and the dangerous to civilisation … just like the UK Pirate Party.

    Does anyone here seriously think any of those men for UKPP gives the impression of credibility that is required of a leader at a national level? They look like clowns and their mental health has to be questioned … if they are not the IFPI pre-empting organised politics within the filesharing community by filling the position first to sour and queer the public’s perception of filesharers are complete and utter twats! And thieves!

    It does not get more naive, more bind, more self fulfilling prophecy than the pirates :-(

  • luntopa

    Well i think this is totally about United Kingdom but guys some one is living in USA so whats for them…?
    http://yahoofreeshop.com/

  • Pingback: pligg.com

  • Anonymous

    As its ended up a hug hung parliament the new Digital economy bill will have to be debated again if it to become law

  • SporadicChant

    Where was everyone?
    I voted. Did anyone else?
    Less than 1400 votes total between all candidates…. What a community of ungrateful followers you are. Shame on you. You had your chance.

  • Windoze

    Ran out of news?

  • Devanite

    @47, oh yes, lets all vote to kill democracy and hand corporations over all controls of freedoms of speech, that sounds like a much better option (this is why people vote pirate in the first place dum dum, not always because we think PPUK or any other pirate party will come into office, but that we need to show exactly how many out there are sick of the same old rhetoric)

    In my case in Canada the PP hasnt yet obtained the status of a national party and if they do not by the time the next elections roll around I will put in a vote of non confidance!

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