English rugby will never change if members do not bother voting
In the end, there was one shocking figure as the votes were read out regarding Bill Sweeney's future, but it was not related to the numbers either supporting or looking to oust the chief executive of the Rugby Football Union. The eyebrow-raiser was the level of turnout for one of the most important RFU votes in the past 20 years.
To give the full context, there are over 2,000 RFU member clubs who are then split into two categories – voting members (clubs or referee societies) and non-voting members (members of their constituent body, casual clubs, work teams and so on), leaving you with 1,300 eligible voters.
Out of those 1,300 there were 672 votes cast during Thursday's Special General Meeting for the motion of no confidence in Sweeney, with a further 36 abstaining. Which means a shade over half of those eligible voters participated. This was supposed to be a pivotal moment, the chance for those aggrieved by the management of English rugby at grassroots level – well, all levels – to force change at the top after years of frustration.
And only around 54 per cent participated? That's it?
Even if you park the Sweeney motion for a moment, the second motion to expedite the process of the Governance and Representation Review, leading to a greater say for clubs at a local level among other proposals from the recent RFU roadshow events, should surely have generated some enthusiasm, even if you took a cynical view and felt it was merely designed to be a distraction from Sweeney's future and to prove the RFU were willing to change. Yet even then there were fewer than 700 votes cast.
Sir Bill Beaumont, the RFU's interim chair, lauded afterwards that members had 'voted emphatically to support our CEO', which works when you look at the actual votes on the night - not that 200-plus votes against you is necessarily a good outcome – but less so when you consider how many potential voters did not participate. So, why didn't they?
One reason, and this is being generous, could have been access. Tim Cunis, part of Old Pauline Football Club in Barnes, noted while votes were being cast that it had been 'hugely difficult' if you were not an honorary secretary of a club to get permission to attend the SGM. He also described the software to vote, for those representatives who had been appointed and who were not honorary secretaries, as not being 'user friendly', boldly comparing it to Horizon from the Post Office scandal. No one else raised these concerns, so they should be taken with a pinch of salt.
There are two other explanations. One is that the members who did not vote simply felt that there was no issue whatsoever with the RFU and Sweeney and how the game is being run, be it whether their concerns were being heard or the size of Sweeney's salary. Maintain the status quo. And while that sentiment is fine, you would still hope they would at least exercise their right to vote by honouring the process and supporting to keep Sweeney in place.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
4 hours ago
- The National
UK Government must 'urgently engage' with Scotland over migration
On Thursday, the Scottish Government led a debate on migration calling for the needs of Scotland's public services, businesses and communities to be 'supported, rather than harmed' by the incoming reforms. MSPs voted 67 in favour of the Scottish Government's motion, moved by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, and 42 against. A Scottish Tory amendment calling for a 'balance' to be struck on migration and 'reducing the numbers of illegal migrants who place added pressures on the welfare system and public services', did not pass. READ MORE: Mairi McAllan: I'm back and I want quick progress on housing emergency Scottish Labour's amendment in support of the UK Government's immigration plans also fell. In May, the Labour Government published an immigration white paper that contained sweeping changes to the system. The plans include ending automatic resettlement for those living in the UK for five years, moving to a decade, that migrants are required to display a higher standard of English, and an end to visa routes for care workers. Opening the debate, Forbes told MSPs: 'Migration is predicted to be the sole driver of population growth for decades to come. 'Right now, we need people to come here to live and work, to bolster our working age population.' (Image: Scottish Parliament) The Deputy FM reiterated calls for a bespoke approach to be taken towards Scotland's migration. She said: 'When I was first elected, I was often struck by the fact that there was a cross party support for the post graduate visa from both the Conservatives and Labour, a tailored nuanced approach with cross party support, and that's what we want to see again. UK ministers could choose to support us on this.' Forbes added: 'Migration enriches our society. It makes a net contribution to our economy, our public services and our public finances, it's the fertilizer that helps us to thrive, innovate and grow. 'In the face of these demographic challenges, we can't push them away. READ MORE: John Swinney and Anas Sarwar clash over reports of SNP secret meeting 'There are some things that we can do within devolved powers, but what we can't do is expand the workforce completely without control over that. And so I invite members from across the chamber to join us in making this call today.' MSP Liz Smith, Tory spokesperson for social security, said that debates around migration are generally based on 'increasingly unhelpful and damaging rhetoric which can border on racism and which clearly helps absolutely no one at all'. 'I agree that the current system of immigration controls is not working,' she added. 'In particular, I think the very high level of illegal immigration is a major concern, as is the fiscal cost associated with that, both in terms of accommodation and public service provision.' (Image: Scottish Parliament) Smith said she 'quite strongly' opposes a Scottish immigration system because of 'inherent complications', she did note the 'demographic challenges' of an aging population. Later in the debate, she claimed the debate on migration should not be framed as one of 'Scotland against the rest of the UK'. 'I think this debate is much more about different sectors across the UK,' Smith added. 'I don't like the idea that we often get into constitutional debate about this. I think it's much more to do with the sectors.' (Image: Scottish Parliament) Scottish Labour's Michael Marra said that any immigration system has to be 'safe, legal and well managed'. 'It's absolutely essential,' he added. 'Eleven months ago, the UK Labour Government inherited a chaotic broken system. 'Fixing that system will take time. 'Without any doubt, it's right that the UK Government has taken those steps necessary to ensure that immigration is safe, it's fair and also crucially that it meets the needs of our economy. READ MORE: SNP leadership challenge would not be a good idea, says John Swinney 'Because meeting those needs of the economy that's actually part of the basis of make sure that enjoys public support, which is absolutely crucial.' Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman, joining the debate remotely, told the chamber that she wanted to 'challenge the toxic narratives that define UK immigration policy'. 'We must be absolutely clear immigration is a societal good, not a problem to be managed,' she said. 'We should celebrate it.'
The Guardian
6 hours ago
- The Guardian
Syria asks women to dress modestly on beaches but says bikinis still allowed
Syria's government has asked women to wear 'burkinis' or more modest swimwear while visiting public beaches this summer, although they later clarified there will be no legal consequences for those who wear bikinis. A government directive on Tuesday asked women to wear a 'burkini or swimwear that covers more of the body', and loose-fitting clothing when out of the water. The decree also asked men not to be shirtless when not swimming. 'Visitors to public beaches and pools, whether tourists or locals, are required to wear appropriate swimwear that takes into account public taste and the sensibilities of various segments of society,' the tourism minister, Mazen al-Salhani, said in a statement. The guidelines would not apply for luxury resorts, where the decree said 'normal western swimwear' was permitted. The order provoked outrage and accusations that the Islamist-led government was trying to impose its version of morality on Syrians, many of whom, but not all, prefer conservative clothing. The government was quick to clarify that the directive was merely advice and there would be no legal penalties for those who did not follow them. Instead, the government quickly published a list of beaches where western-style swimwear, such as bikinis, can be worn and other beaches where burkinis are preferred. 'This does not mean that beaches where modest clothing is preferred that western clothing is prohibited, but that we respect public preferences and cultural, religious and social diversity in Syria,' Ghaith al-Farah, the deputy tourism minister, said in an interview with the Syrian channel Al-Ikhbariyah on Wednesday. He further said the directives had been published as part of general guidelines for public conduct and safety during the summer, which included advice on not getting sunburnt and avoiding certain fish. The tourism ministry said authorities would only patrol the perimeter of beaches, and it published pictures of beaches with people in bikinis on X on Thursday. Despite the seeming walking back of the decision, some Syrians worried this indicated a desire from the Syrian government to impose its own standards for women's dress. It was the first time the new government had made any decrees on women's dress since the toppling of the former president Bashar al-Assad in December, and fanned fears among Syria's religious minorities. Though the Assad regime curtailed most freedoms in Syria, it was fiercely secular and did not control women's dress. Maya Saloum, a 24-year-old English teacher from Jaramana, a suburb of Damascus, said: 'It's not their call to make decisions for others and decide what to wear and where to wear it.' Sara, a 20-year-old student in Damascus using a pseudonym, said: 'Neither the government nor anyone else should interfere in such matters. In my view there are far more important issues the country needs to address than interfering with and limiting people's freedoms.' She complained that since December she had received verbal harassment for wearing shorts or sleeveless tops in the streets from individuals and some security forces. Syria's president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has previously promised to protect freedoms and religious diversity in Syria and to guarantee women's rights under his rule.
North Wales Chronicle
7 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Council tax bills set to rise at fastest rate for two decades, economist warns
Paul Johnson said that local government in England did 'perhaps a little bit better than it might have expected' out of the Chancellor's statement on Wednesday, but the 'sting in the tail' is the assumption that 'council tax bills will rise by 5% a year' as part of the funding. The core spending power of councils is set to increase by 2.6% a year from next year, and 'if English councils do choose 5% increases – and most almost certainly will – council tax bills look set to rise at their fastest rate over any parliament since 2001-05', Mr Johnson said on Thursday. On Wednesday, Ms Reeves said that ministers will not be 'going above' the 5% annual increases in council tax. She told ITV: 'The previous government increased council tax by 5% a year, and we have stuck to that. We won't be going above that. 'That is the council tax policy that we inherited from the previous government, and that we will be continuing.' The biggest winner from Wednesday's statement was the NHS, which will see its budget rise by £29 billion per year in real terms. Ruth Curtice, the chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, has said that Britain is turning into a 'National Health State'. Overnight, the think tank said Ms Reeves' announcements had followed a recent trend that saw increases for the NHS come at the expense of other public services. Ms Curtice said: 'Health accounted for 90% of the extra public service spending, continuing a trend that is seeing the British state morph into a National Health State, with half of public service spending set to be on health by the end of the decade.' Defence was another of Wednesday's winners, Ms Curtice said, receiving a significant increase in capital spending while other departments saw an overall £3.6 billion real-terms cut in investment. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) made similar arguments about 'substantial' investment in the NHS and defence coming at the expense of other departments, although Mr Johnson warned on Wednesday the money may not be enough. In his snap reaction to the review, Mr Johnson said: 'Aiming to get back to meeting the NHS 18-week target for hospital waiting times within this Parliament is enormously ambitious – an NHS funding settlement below the long-run average might not measure up. 'And on defence, it's entirely possible that an increase in the Nato spending target will mean that maintaining defence spending at 2.6% of GDP no longer cuts the mustard.' Ms Curtice added that low and middle-income families had also done well out of the spending review 'after two rounds of painful tax rises and welfare cuts', with the poorest fifth of families benefiting from an average of £1,700 in extra spending on schools, hospitals and the police. She warned that, without economic growth, another round of tax rises was likely to come in the autumn as the Chancellor seeks to balance the books. She said: 'The extra money in this spending review has already been accounted for in the last forecast. 'But a weaker economic outlook and the unfunded changes to winter fuel payments mean the Chancellor will likely need to look again at tax rises in the autumn.' Speaking after delivering her spending review, Ms Reeves insisted she would not have to raise taxes to cover her spending review. She told GB News: 'Every penny of this is funded through the tax increases and the changes to the fiscal rules that we set out last autumn.' Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described rising health spending as a 'conundrum', with a similar approach having been taken 'again and again' as she spoke at a business conference in central London on Thursday morning. In reference to a pro-Brexit campaign stunt, Mrs Badenoch said: 'I mean, who remembers the side of a red bus that said 'we're going to give the NHS £350 million more a week'? 'Many people don't know that we did that. We did do that, and yet, still we're not seeing the returns. 'We've put more and more money in, and we're getting less and less out.' The Government have not explained how and why the NHS will be better as a result of its spending plans, the Tory leader added, and claimed the public know 'we need to start talking about productivity reforms, public sector reforms'.
