Thread 22 Starmer - Running up to local elections

[BIossomtoes]

Here we go. Previous thread.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5305431-thread-21-starmer-casting-nasturtiums?page=40&reply=143731831

Maybe you could take that up with your local council and ask why some addresses weren't on the ballot paper.

As I said before all addresses were printed on my ballot paper. I was quite surprised to find that the Reform candidate lives about a five minute walk from me and the Lib Dem candidate even closer, he has taken over from the previous Lib dem councillor who was excellent (now retired).

Memories are short. The most recent sound bite is the one that sticks.

"Generally, asylum seekers in the UK are not allowed to work while their claim is being processed. However, after waiting for more than 12 months for a decision on their claim (or after submitting further information as a fresh claim), they can apply for permission to work. If granted, they are typically restricted to jobs on the Immigration Salary List. Asylum seekers also have the right to volunteer."

I know why some addresses are not on ballot papers. It is every candidate 's right not to have them there. And my right to judge the possible reasons for that. In the case of all the new Reform candidates it's because they don't live in their constituencies.
Not sure why you keep harping on at me about it. Rest assured, I know my way round a ballot paper, thank you.

Well, my new (Reform) councillor certainly lives locally. He went to school with my kids and is 18/19 now. Sure he's a lovely lad but if this is the calibre and typical experience of their candidates, it doesn't bode well for our new Reform led council!! What a shit show...

I've just said in another thread - either they will fuck up running the council which will be disastrous for our local area. Or they will do an OK job - which will be disastrous for the whole country as it will give the Reform party more credibility for the next General Election!

I see Darren Grimes was elected. FFS.

Re:FB, I am in a Labour area, but Reform came third in the GE. As others have said, anything posted on our community pages that can be twisted into blaming immigration in the comments is pounced upon with glee by the Reformites.

Someone managed to shoehorn immigration and Reform into a post about street party Road closures on my community Fb page.

XTC

… although I see you’ve already got that! I’ll add:

The Monster is Loose (Meatloaf album title) seems apt.

That isn't good enough though. They should be allowed to work from the moment they are registered.

Facebook

https://bylinetimes.com/2025/04/30/reform-uk-facebook-groups-are-full-of-racist-far-right-posts-and-islamophobic-conspiracy-theories

Reform UK Facebook Groups Are Full of Racist Far Right Posts and Islamophobic Conspiracy Theories

Groups set up by Reform UK officials contain posts calling for Muslims to be lynched and suggestions that Jewish people are trying to “dilute out country with foreign invaders”

I copied this info from the internet. Asylum seekers can and do volunteer though so they can start to integrate into the UK that way.

@DuncinToffee our local Facebook groups are full of anti immigration rhetoric, including the local newspapers posts, it doesn’t have to be relevant in any way seemingly.

Worryingly it seems to go hand in hand with anti vax and conspiracy theories, including chem trails because someone in a local village had seen two planes at the same time 🙄

You copied it from here

https://www.nrpfnetwork.org.uk/information-and-resources/rights-and-entitlements/employment/asylum-seekers

It's a nice wishlist, wonder how she is planning to fund it all

https://bsky.app/profile/reformexposed.bsky.social/post/3loao2o66ek2n

Reform UK’s new County Councillor for Birchwood, Lincolnshire, Brenda Collier plans to ban biscuits.

Those awaiting a decision for more than 12 months are not automatically granted permission to work. They can apply for permission to work by writing to the Home Office with any evidence of how they meet the requirements. Home Office guidance on permission to work for asylum seekers provides further information on this. If granted, permission to work is limited to roles listed on the Immigration Salary List.

So it's not exactly straightforward and very bureaucratic.

I am also wondering how many volunteer jobs they can realistically do

If. I had any interest in AI, this is the point at which I would have replied with a picture of a pack of Fox's Soundbites.

We shouldn't underestimate Reform's gains but

It's worrying how many of these soundbites seem to be following the Trump playbook - and if they fail, blame someone else.

Quite.

Saw this on Bluesky:

The Greens now have nearly 200 more councillors than Reform.

This is not something you'd be likely to guess from all the copiously salivating media coverage of Farage & his crew of billionaire-backed far-right chancers.

The interviewer’s face was a picture! 😂

Quite. And volunteering doesn’t allow them to support themselves and pay tax.

Not the point I know, but is that a war memorial being used a backdrop to a political interview?

That would be fair enough if the topic of the interview was directly related to the memorial itself or maybe even conflicts and our armed forces generally but otherwise it looks a bit like they’ve used something intended for somber reflection as a prop for a spiel about council work.

Parks, libraries and leisure centres are likely to be regarded as too "woke" and off message for this lot.

Telling symmetry:

Con - 676
Reform + 677

As a party of The C of E (no religion needed) you'd think the Tories might get the message.

Historians who covered the fall of the Liberals and the rise of Labour are missing an opportunity here to pay off their student loans.

Personally, I am remembering the Social Democrats revolutionising British politics. Because somebody has to.