Members say archives are sacred, far-right label is broken

Refnation members delivered a near-unanimous defence of the past, voting Should the UK remove comedy sketches that don't meet today's cultural standards from the archives? No by a crushing margin. The floor treated the idea as an insult to audiences and to the archive itself; the Yes side barely showed up.

The verdicts

Members split almost down the middle on Should the UK reintroduce VAT-free shopping for international tourists?, with Yes scraping through on the promise that tourist pounds would spread beyond the tills. On Should Capital Gains Tax (CGT) be raised to up to 45% to fund higher income tax personal allowances? they said No, more worried about what the change would deter than what it might redistribute.

The chamber decided Is the UK's social contract broken? Yes by an overwhelming majority, with those who feel heavily taxed and poorly served carrying the argument; defences of everyday goodwill found few takers. Should the UK continue to support Ukraine in its conflict against Russia? also passed, though even the strongest Yes voices framed it as a wary compromise rather than a blank cheque.

Should the UK require disclosure of generative AI in advertisements? won a decisive Yes, yet the most respected objections focused on whether fresh rules were needed when deception is already covered. Members said No to Should the UK government regulate online criticism of public figures?, though many drew a sharp line between criticism and abuse.

Finally the floor declared Is the term "far-right" used too broadly in UK politics and media? Yes, arguing the label is now applied to anyone grumbling about GP queues, housing or borders. Opponents did not deny the term's overuse; they warned the danger it once named is still growing.

Voting continues today.

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