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

@PickAChew Do you think Darren Grimes will be leader of the council? He has a very high profile.

It's so disheartening to see that opinions, that a few years ago people would have kept quiet about and be embarrassed to express, are now being spouted openly. It scares me that even quite sensible, measured people have pushed to the right, and those who were already on the right are now pushing even further to the extreme right.

This is what worries me more than Reform itself

He'll have a cabinet position but I think someone who knows what they're doing will have to be leader.

Godwin's law has pretty much been turned on its head in the past few years. It's almost a compliment to some.

Do you think they’ve got one of those?

I made the mistake of listening to a LBC phone in this evening. The racists really have been emboldened. It is so depressing.

They've got a couple who have been councillors for long enough to pretend.

3 days

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/a-reform-uk-councillor-has-been-suspended-by-the-party-3-days-after-being-elected_uk_68173abfe4b0c86669215866

Reform have suspended one of their new Councillors, saying that she posted her intention to defect.

(She was reported in the Telegraph - a month ago - criticising Farage's exclusion of Tommy Robinson, predicting statues of Robinson in every town + city)

I wish them this headache many times over. They might learn something about due diligence.

I thought they were supposed to have improved their vetting. With you all the way @PickAChew.

And there we have it. Reform is a portal into a real far right world.

Oh, but Reform supporters aren't racists.

Great news. First of many, I hope.

David Gauke’s advice to the Conservatives - some of it equally applies to Labour.

”It would need to demonstrate that it has fundamentally changed. It needs to restore its reputation for economic credibility, which means that it cannot deny the damage done by Brexit – and support measures to mitigate that damage by moving closer to the EU. It should be willing to be very critical of Donald Trump. And it needs to wholeheartedly make the case against Reform and Farage not on tactical grounds – “vote Reform, get Labour” – but because it is a very bad idea to get Reform at all. This means, for example, that it cannot give the impression that the real objective is to form a post-election pact between the Tories and Reform.”

https://conservativehome.com/2025/05/05/david-gauke-the-direction-the-conservatives-will-be-tempted-towards-to-seek-salvation-is-not-the-way-they-need-to-go/

Well at least Reform will eat each other.
I imagine there are many in their ranks that joined due to immigration concerns - as I'm not sure which other policies are attractive to most people. From there they either they genuinely don't realise Reform can't sort it and are happy with the 'promise', or really like Frogface, but a proportion who followed this party initially will think they're watering down on immigration and will want to be more Stephen Yaxley Lennon.
Stupidity of posting your intentions to dump your employer is not unexpected to me, but I must not think every Reform person is short on thinking skills I know!

This was me and DH this weekend…

😁

Reform in Kent is already backtracking on their promises

https://bsky.app/profile/ottoenglish.bsky.social/post/3lofwoptnac2p

Here's a Reform party election leaflet... distributed in Kent in the run up to May 1st. It's making A LOT of promises there and mentions stopping the boats TWICE

Reform now have a majority on Kent County Council and immediately their newly elected politicians are saying they can't tackle the boats crisis... because they're councillors

Me all the time. Posted it on Facebook a little while ago - it’s impossible not to look at what they are up to, even if through your fingers…

Sky News

Reform councils to ban some flags from flying over their buildings

Ukrainian flags will be banned from flying over council buildings in Reform-controlled authorities, a Labour MP has claimed.

Zia Yusuf, Reform's chairman, announced on social media this morning: "Reform controlled English councils will move at speed to resolve that the only flags permitted to be flown on or in its buildings will be the Union Jack and the St George's flag.

"No other flags will be permitted to be flown on its flag-poles, balconies, reception desks or council-chamber walls."

This will stop the likes of the Ukrainian, Palestinian, Pride or other banners atop government buildings.

What about County flags??

It is understood that Reform will allow county flags as they are part of "national heritage"

I'm predicting a rather a sombre miners' gala, this year.

I don’t know why you want these other flags flying. I remember at the beginning of the Russian invasion there were Ukraine flags flying outside peoples houses. That’s great but it’s a personal choice.

But why would you ban them?

I don’t see the need for them.