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

[unn]

Yesterday, at a café, I overheard two elderly ladies saying that they voted for Reform in the county council elections as they wanted their heating allowance back and want the Labour government out in Parliament.

How bloody ignorant are these people? The county council has zero responsibility of your pensions and heating allowance. They deal with potholes and local education.

Probably have forgotten that the general election was 10 months ago.

It’s a lack of critical thinking skills really

someone offers you a solution but you don’t question how they are going to implement it - or how it will impact you - it just sounds like the answer to your problems

like Trump getting rid of immigrants- people didn’t think he meant them! Or their partners/ kids

the problems Reform blame immigrants for - lack of housing, NHS waiting lists, schools, crime are so much more complex but that requires you to be curious and look into it

far easier to think Reform have all the answers

Well local council elections are an opportunity to pass judgement on national government by voting in such a was as to send a clear message that they don’t like the party. To complain that what they are passing judgement on isn’t impacted by local government is to miss the point. The electorate (no idea about the two referenced in the OPs post) don’t like what the national government are sling, and this is the loudest, easiest way to send that message. Because, let’s be honest, the government isn’t listening and is following a flawed agenda without a care to the consequences

I’m not nasty. Just sick of ignorant people

Oh, I quite enjoy the name calling; the endless ' racist', ' thicko ' and as one charming pp put it, 'poor people who have failed at life'... We'll see who has the last laugh. Hint: it won't be tabitha and tarquin in their rural leafy idyll. Fwiw, I'm not a reform voter, just a very pissed off ( ex) Labour supporter, who despairs at the vile classism and the absolute hypocrisy of its members who champion the new wave of underdog, whilst actively loathing the working classes, for whom the party was created to represent.

Everyone has a right to vote whether they are intelligent or not.

I had a leaflet through my door from the Reform party with Farage's face and signature on it, saying what Reform would do. One of the bullet points was Reinstate the WFA so I can see why these elderly ladies voted Reform if they had received the same leaflet.

I'm a boomer and I didn't vote for it. Neither did anyone I know. If the 18 to 24 year olds had actually got off their arses and voted (put their money where their mouths were in stead of staying at home in their droves) then we wouldn't be in this fucking mess.

Are you new on the planet OP, this is how the political tide turns. People don’t just from voting traditional parties at one GE to voting for an outsider at the next, with nothing in between.

Local elections will impact national policies as Labour will start to worry about losing support. Even more than due to polls.

Mine only had a small photo of NF. Had a larger photo of the candidate (he didn't get through). Also had for some reason, a prepaid envelope which I stuffed with as much rubbish as I could.

Absolutely agree - I’m sure a large %ge of reform voters expected Nigel Farage to be in Number 10 now !

I had two leaflets through from Reform. One from our local candidate talking about local issues and the other more about the Reform party with NF on it talking about national issues. It did say on the front " Take the first step by voting Reform on 1st May," but can see why some people would have found this misleading.

What was the prepaid envelope for?

I have no idea! Hopefully everyone who had this and despises NF and Reform, used this envelope as it costs Reform to use them

Makes you wonder why politics, finance and tax are not taught as core subjects in schools. I know they touch on them in some of the social lessons, but these are the core things that a person needs to be able to do understand, and a good understanding if core to enabling social mobility.
People that understand these things will teach their own children, and people that don't will not and so it will cycle through generations.

One could argue the opposite... Reform run a few councils, screw up, people see what they are? i guess thats what they are hoping for?

There are over 300 councils in England, Reform now control just 18.

BUT as one minister is reported to have said "the WFA will define the Govt and may well cost us the next election, regardless of what we do now"

However, it wont be the Conservatives who will benefit, it'll be Reform and that will spell the end of the Tory party, something that we should all be concerned about.

Reform is pretty much our version of the AfD in Germany, even more right wing than the RN.

You have quite strong opinions about what ‘other’ people should do, don’t you? 🤔
Fortunately, democracy means we each get a say and are not drowned out by the arrogant and pompous. That’s the point of it.
Perhaps you’d rather a different system where just you and people who agree with you automatically get to rule?

Hang on a minute.. not all boomers voted for brexit … most boomers aren’t stupid

Judgy thread

This

On the plus side (I'm dragging a wide net) they voted. Where I live turnout was so low I reckon it was me, partner and next doors dog. I agree, the difference between councils and government isn't very clear to lots of people.

This is so true.

There is more information, more easily accessible, than at any time in history, but people's ability to analyse it and distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources seems to be at rock bottom.

Those over 65 voted for Brexit by almost 2 to 1, with the 57 to 64 age group not far behind.

BUT people should be free to vote as they wish, without being criticised for it or called names.

Its just a shame that its the young who will live with the consequences for the longest.

Councils everywhere have had to make some very tough decisions because the central government grant to local government hasn't kept pace with rising costs.

Roads have been particularly badly affected. In two-tier council areas, they come under county councils and have to compete with funding for education and adult social care. Adult social care is near impossible to cut, because it's needs based and statutory, and schools are funded by a formula determined at national level. The only areas where a county council can make significant savings are roads and libraries.

Economic deprivation and crime aren't local authority matters.

I’m not sure who you mean when you say that’s what they’re hoping for. Do you mean Labour?

The rest yes I agree, Labour will struggle the WFA is what they’re focusing on rn. If they overturn it then it shows how local elections do impact politics. And they’ll likely do more on other stuff in Reform’s remit to try and counter.

Yes Conservatives might be out, it could be a coalition in the end with Reform leading it. It’s all far off though in political terms so hard to say what will happen for sure.

Both main parties need Reform to completely mess up any councils they are controlling.

Not sure on a Con/Reform coalition, too many in the Tory party despise Farage but agree, its a long way off.

Rumour is, Labour thought the WFA was a mistake months ago but too bloody minded/stupid to change, now it will be, as you say, put on Reform and local elections.

I think a government that occasionally admitted it’d got something wrong, held its hands up, and changed course, would be refreshing. We all fuck up from time to time; it’s how we respond that matters.

Sadly the puerile political culture we have means they’re all terrified of “flip flopping” or looking indecisive.

If immigration isn’t controlled Reform will get many more seats. How do other countries like Belgium, Netherlands control immigration but our Gov is unable?