Do you think some people didn't know what level of government they were voting for?

Nothing to do who they voted for but what they think local elections will achieve.

A lot of people are going to be sadly disappointed.

To be fair, where I previously lived I was arguing for Remain ("boomer" who is fed up of the "it's all the boomers fault" like nobody of any other age voted Leave) because the majority of local Muslims were voting to keep the Poles out! Being opposed to immigartion is not just a "white thing", as the number of non-white members of Reform shows (and there's quite a few - they have been out on our streets canvassing for months in this area).

That said, whilst I agree that many people do not understand government in the UK, where decision making lies, etc, it is the usual misinformed "blame the voters" rhetoric. We teach very little about government, voting, or even rational and critical thinking in schools. If you do not teach young people the skills they need to make reasoned choices then you create adults who cannot do it. These skills do not spring fully fledged when you get the vote. Schools teach compliance, not questioning - and so do many parents. If you don't like how people are voting, then look to where the blame actually lies - with how we bring up and educate children.

You can also blame the political parties - they were also mainly campaigning on national issues, certainly at national level. Labour and Reform, for example, with their ads about the NHS - a matter not controlled by local government.

Politics has become about soundbites on media, rhetoric without any grounding facts. Political parties have deliberately dumbed down politics. I recall standing on doorsteps in my youth arguing for policies. Nowadays it's six words on Insta. Around here the only party on the streets - as I said, for months and months before the elections - was Reform. Their politics may not stack up but they put in the effort and they were seen and engaged with people. People who were terrified after losing winter fuel allowance, and faced with cuts to their disability benefits.

Repeatedly Labour voters, were telling Labour that they felt betrayed and scared. And even after a trashing in the polls, Keir takes this as a message to "go further, faster". Voters may not always understand, but they send clear messages, and "further, faster" was not the message. And actually the clearest message is not from those who vote. The majority can't be arsed to vote. That's the clearest message...

You're not wrong. The best argument against democracy is a 5 minute conversation with the average voter. So what do you propose instead?

The first step is surely to signal their will? How else do you suggest the electorate does that? It's communication.

There wasn't an election in my area as we're not due one, and someone in our local Facebook group claimed that Labour had cancelled it in our area because they were scared, and tried to get the community to complain to the MP about the lack of elections.

So yeah, there are some right thickos about. And they're allowed to vote.

Another ageist post

Yet the scale of the vote for Reform yesterday has struck home with a lot of Labour MPs. They know they are desperately unpopular, and will push the govt for policies that cause less anger.

Perhaps they will water down the changes to PIP as a result.

Yes, yesterday was about borough councils but it is a shot across the bows, a warning to the govt, and has influence.

Were they elderly as well

Funny how it's always the elderly that posters overhear on here

It is taught in schools. It's part of PSHE. Schools cannot do everything though..at some point adults need to take responsibility to learn themselves. If you're not "well versed" and want to be, go learn. Read a newspaper, a website. It's not hard to find info on the basic structure of UK politics and what the parties broadly represent.

Whatever the reasons these particular people had (and to be fair the OP only overhead snippets of conversation which doesn’t tell the full story) the fact is some people are ignorant. Brexit was proof of that - you only have to look at the people who pretty much immediately backtracked after voting for it when the obvious consequences dawned on them

Yanbu. Five minutes on a local facebook page will prove it. Totally oblivious to how it works.

TBH it's probably worse now than ever before. 30yrs ago people were thick but at least we had newspapers and only four TV channels so they'd probably get some well balanced news coverage. These days people don't read the papers, won't watch the news because it's "biased" or their "anxiety" and they pump unchecked crap into their brains from their phones.

So because people haven't voted how you wanted them to vote then they are thick or uneducated?
It's that exact attitude that pushes people to Reform FYI.
The intellectual superiority complex of the left minimises anyone's opinion which doesn't match their own. It's that attitude displayed by Labour which people are voting against.
The metropolitan elites sitting thinking they know what people in the Red Wall + North want when they haven't got a clue. Millions feel disenfranchised and completely disassociated from Westminster. That's what drives support for Reform!

Carry on because you are guaranteeing a Reform government at next election. FYI I have never voted Reform but I'm not so arrogant as to not read the room and understand why so many people do.

Freedom of movement hurt some demographics a lot more than others! You need to educate yourself!

Would you pack it in with the boomer narrative. FFS some of us are more clued up about how governments work than others.

Just like any other age group.

I think your dismissal is misplaced.

Obviously they may very well be ignorant, but not necessarily.

The main way that minority parties effect change is by shifting the policies of big parties in response to an electoral threat. That’s the model.

If these women like Reform policies and want them nationally, the best way to do that is to give Reform a strong local showing, given there wasn’t a national election this week to vote on.

In fact, a vote for Reform in the locals is probably more nationally impactful than in the nationals, given the much increased odds of them actually getting the result they want.

Maybe you just sat next to a table of psephologists, OP.

I think they just meant they wanted Reform in government and success in local elections is paving their way for this.

People may well be ignorant of who they’re actually voting for but it’s also shortsighted of posters on here to suggest that voting behaviour at local elections has no impact on national policy. Labour will be taking notice and can see that what they’re doing is not necessarily what some people want.

Please don't tar all older people with the same brush

And I really dislike tendency of people to use sweeping generalisations against people who vote differently eg the typical 'if you voted Brexit you are racist' and such like.

People have different perspectives and priorities. Some vote on single issues, some vote for a party because on balance they feel they are best despite not liking a specific policy.

It's reductive and doesn't help discussion.

Slagging off the electorate calling them thick, racist, selfish, etc is not a way to win hearts and minds and votes.

Similar to the guy interviewed back in 2016 - voting Brexit to keep out the Muslims!

Yep, seen a lot of people talking about stopping the boats in my local Facebook group, and I’m not sure how they think Staffordshire County Council - one of the most inland areas - is going to help with that.

Yanbu. Funny how it's not taught about in schools. I think a basic level of politics should be taught. I will hold my hands up and I am not well versed either and panic I have made a bad decision after voting.

I do agree some are ignorant, but Reform getting so many gains does send a clear message to the main parties and will have an impact on the next GE so isn't completely irrelevant.