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Council Elections

1001 replies

OneTealShaker · 08/05/2026 00:35

The first declared seats going to Reform.

Reform +2
Labour -1

Buckle up people.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
23
Puzzledandpissedoff · 08/05/2026 12:16

And endless droning on about consulting people. They had years to consult people. To decide what they would do. You don’t get into power and then say we will consult people

Actually that's exactly what many politicians do, @Monty36 - at least partly because "consultations" enable them to say they're doing something about whatever-it-is without the need for any real inconvenient action

Trouble is, they'll often pretend to be terribly engaged with what their focus groups have to say, but then go right ahead and do whatever they intended in the first place - which is frequently nothing

OneTealShaker · 08/05/2026 12:17

Hallowedturf · 08/05/2026 11:34

Voters believe Starmer has little or no respect for them

Three quarters of voters believe Sir Keir Starmer’s Government has little or no respect for them, a poll has shown.

A survey by More in Common and the UCL Policy Lab, released on the day of the local election results, found 44 per cent of Britons agreed with the statement: “The Government doesn’t respect people like me at all.”

A further 31 per cent said Sir Keir’s administration only “respects people like me a little”.

Half of all voters (50 per cent) described the Labour Government as “chaotic”, nearly twice as many as the number who said the same about the previous Tory administration under Rishi Sunak when prompted to compare the two.
The Prime Minister’s priorities are also seen as out of step with those of the public.

Sounds a lot like those with a superior complex commenting on this thread calling Reform voters stupid.

They never learn.

OP posts:
Boomer55 · 08/05/2026 12:18

Reform has won a huge majority in Essex - They control the council even before all votes counted. The swing has been 39%.

‘Reform UK has gained control of Essex County Council from the Conservatives, securing the 39 seats needed for a majority.
Labour lost the 2 seats they had.
The Greens got 1 seat.
LDs have 3.
Meanwhile, the Tories have only eight seats, a 30-seat drop from the last elections.’

(BBC News )

If this is ever reflected in a GE, we’ll end up with Pound Shop Trump. 🙄

Livelovebehappy · 08/05/2026 12:23

Happyjoe · 08/05/2026 12:05

Lol, but it's not the fault of immigration! And as we're talking about the NHS - we'd have no NHS if we didn't have immigration.

Now, if you think the tories cutting training places for docs, nurses, midwives and getting rid of their bursaries and relying heavily on immigration to treat us in hospital isn't good - that's fair enough. Even the BMA told the tories years ago not to do it because would cause issues in the future. Well, hello, future is now here!

But it's not the 'fault' of immigration. Gas lit indeed, lol.

We wouldn’t need to rely on immigration to fill NHS roles if there was a welfare review, as I suggested. Get people back to work, instead of increasing the welfare budget to accommodate the ever increasing number of people relying on it. Just a suggestion…

Twiglets1 · 08/05/2026 12:23

Boomer55 · 08/05/2026 12:18

Reform has won a huge majority in Essex - They control the council even before all votes counted. The swing has been 39%.

‘Reform UK has gained control of Essex County Council from the Conservatives, securing the 39 seats needed for a majority.
Labour lost the 2 seats they had.
The Greens got 1 seat.
LDs have 3.
Meanwhile, the Tories have only eight seats, a 30-seat drop from the last elections.’

(BBC News )

If this is ever reflected in a GE, we’ll end up with Pound Shop Trump. 🙄

Edited

Yes they have won control of Essex County Council.

Monty36 · 08/05/2026 12:23

Boomer55 · 08/05/2026 12:18

Reform has won a huge majority in Essex - They control the council even before all votes counted. The swing has been 39%.

‘Reform UK has gained control of Essex County Council from the Conservatives, securing the 39 seats needed for a majority.
Labour lost the 2 seats they had.
The Greens got 1 seat.
LDs have 3.
Meanwhile, the Tories have only eight seats, a 30-seat drop from the last elections.’

(BBC News )

If this is ever reflected in a GE, we’ll end up with Pound Shop Trump. 🙄

Edited

Not a surprise at all.
Essex will be unforgiving mind. Reform have also taken Havering. Again not a surprise.
There is a long time to a GE though. They will have to deliver.

tabulahrasa · 08/05/2026 12:25

Flyingintotheunknown · 08/05/2026 12:07

Oh this old tale….
You claimed on here I didn’t know the difference between boat migrants and migration. You have pretty much said in that post that you don’t seem to know the difference! People aren’t upset about LEGAL migration and those who come here who benefit our society such as Drs and nurses.

If people aren’t upset about legal immigration then why would they vote reform, who have made it very clear they’re targeting all immigration?

OneTealShaker · 08/05/2026 12:25

StandFirm · 08/05/2026 11:59

What is your distinction between a 'good' and a 'bad' immigrant then? What's the 'right kind' of immigration? The VAST majority of immigrants are students or employed. A quick google tells you that asylum seekers are only 12-14% of immigration requests every year. Small boat arrivals are only 5% of the total - so hardly the 'invasion' levels claimed by Reform. If you think there are too many immigrants, the only areas to target would be students (our universities absolutely need them) and those 'good' immigrants propping up our economy. So tell me, what do you think the problem is?
I think you and I and everyone else feel the pressure on public services - which is a budgeting issue and linked to the slower growth that we've experienced since the luminaries of Brexit have foisted that shit on us. It's also linked to other pressures, some of which are down to Nige's good friend, the orange one across the pond.
I completely fail to see how Reform will help with any of it. More likely those grifters will compound the existing problems and create new ones.

You are completely out of touch if you think 12-14% asylum applications is not a problem.

As for students, the fact that low grade universities in the uk have been selling visas for years now for people to buy a useless degree and bring their family and dependents with them and put pressure on public services is insane. One student and spouse and kids and later elderly parents all coming in using schools, NHS(for tiny surcharge) and all the other services is an absolute racket. And the public is sick of it.

OP posts:
womendeserveequalhumanrights · 08/05/2026 12:28

OneTealShaker · 08/05/2026 12:17

Sounds a lot like those with a superior complex commenting on this thread calling Reform voters stupid.

They never learn.

Massive Reform wins. I toyed with the idea of voting Reform honestly. My results not yet in. Of course I'd never feel free to say openly I'd consider voting Reform, because I live in an area where I've seen more than one person performatively tear up the Reform leaflet and put it in the bin. Also call Reform voters slurs.

That makes me think less of those people. For people allegedly on the left and 'progressive' calling a load of people who you know nothing about horrible names (I discreetly checked if they knew what Reform policies are - they don't) that's really not very tolerant.

The thing is about Reform, people who are well off and on the left, like the BBC, like to sneer at Reform, act as if Reform voters are bad horrible people and this means a huge swathe of Reform voters are just going to quietly vote Reform and never, ever admit it. Lie if necessary.

The only way this sneering superiority would actually work is if we got rid of democracy and had totalitarianism, which I suspect is what they want in the (in many cases) vain belief they'd be part of the ruling elite, dictating to everyone else. Of course they dress it up as 'stupid working class people shouldn't vote, just us nice educated middle class with comfy jobs people who know THE TRUTH' but it's totalitarianism and incredibly classist.

The people saying 'only us educated elite should vote' are generally the same ones claiming bearded male rapists are women on their say so, so it's not surprising people they think of as 'stupid' aren't listening any more. Just quietly getting on with voting Reform.

I never understand why people who create an atmosphere of insult, intolerance and scorn that means others are literally scared to admit they vote a certain way think they have the moral high ground.

Raccoonsmacaroons · 08/05/2026 12:29

ThatNattyPlayer · 08/05/2026 09:56

They want to improve local services for children and the elderly, I won’t go into too much detail as no doubt I will be deemed thick if I do.

Thanks for responding, @ThatNattyPlayer. Those are important issues. I’m sceptical, but I hope your local Reform candidate comes up with the promised goods.

I can totally see how particular posters on this thread would make you reluctant to engage any more.

Flyingintotheunknown · 08/05/2026 12:29

tabulahrasa · 08/05/2026 12:25

If people aren’t upset about legal immigration then why would they vote reform, who have made it very clear they’re targeting all immigration?

What are you talking about! I said people AREN’T upset about legal migration. Do you not know the diff between are and aren’t? And no they haven’t made it clear they are targeting ALL migration, they have made it clear they are targeting those with non British citizenship! They can always apply for citizenship you know!

mumofoneAloneandwell · 08/05/2026 12:30

I reckon starmer is doing a better job than people thought

Hence the Jeremy corbyn esque campaigns to bring him down

Hes only been pm a year tbf

I voted green because I was always going to, but hes surprised me

Yuasa · 08/05/2026 12:31

OneTealShaker · 08/05/2026 12:17

Sounds a lot like those with a superior complex commenting on this thread calling Reform voters stupid.

They never learn.

What is there to learn? Genuine question.

The world faces any number of difficult challenges. I don’t believe there are easy answers and I don’t believe Reform will improve anything. I guess if I’m wrong about that, I’ll learn. But so far, I’m not sure what the lesson is supposed to be. Brexit raised all the same arguments and positions and nothing has improved.

The most perceptive comment on here - buried by everything else - is that this has to be read as a vote of rejection, not hope for the future. I completely agree. I see little joy about Reform itself and reams of comments slamming Starmer. But I honestly do not know what obvious lesson I’m supposed to take from this.

EasternStandard · 08/05/2026 12:33

mumofoneAloneandwell · 08/05/2026 12:30

I reckon starmer is doing a better job than people thought

Hence the Jeremy corbyn esque campaigns to bring him down

Hes only been pm a year tbf

I voted green because I was always going to, but hes surprised me

It doesn’t really work that way. Labour losing voters at this rate means the electorate don’t agree with you.

ToWhitToWhoo · 08/05/2026 12:36

OneTealShaker · 08/05/2026 12:17

Sounds a lot like those with a superior complex commenting on this thread calling Reform voters stupid.

They never learn.

I do not consider Reform as stupid; I consider them (the politicians) as at best dangerous grifters and at worst INHUMAN EVIL MONSTERS, who get off on cruelty. I do not feel superior to them; I feel terrified of them.

At least, my own city council has remained Reform-free.

And turnout is shockingly low in local elections, which gives the extremists disproportionate influence. As the saying goes, 'Bad polticians are elected by good people who don't vote',

.

tabulahrasa · 08/05/2026 12:39

Flyingintotheunknown · 08/05/2026 12:29

What are you talking about! I said people AREN’T upset about legal migration. Do you not know the diff between are and aren’t? And no they haven’t made it clear they are targeting ALL migration, they have made it clear they are targeting those with non British citizenship! They can always apply for citizenship you know!

Yes, you did say that - but their policies would affect all immigrants, so I’m asking, if people are only upset about illegal migrants, what sense does it make to vote for a party who also want less legal migration?

Cojones · 08/05/2026 12:39

Reliablesource · 08/05/2026 10:56

Personally, I’m quite relaxed about Reform taking loads of council seats because they deserve a crack at the whip. Labour and Conservatives are almost indistinguishable now and between them, have brought the country to their knees.

At least we now have a chance to see whether Reform can translate words into actions locally, before the next GE, so we can judge whether or not they actually have any credibility. If they screw up on local councils, then at least the electorate gave them a go.

@Reliablesource I’d say let them have a go at running the country if Niggle Fartrage wasn’t such a selfish c*nt with terrible policies. They’ve done damage where they are running councils but desperation is allowing Reform to make huge gains.

He’s not in it to make Britain better, he’s seen Trump milk the US for all he can and wants to do the same to us so he, like the rest, can line his pockets.

Reform say what people want to hear, it’s all because of the immigrants.

Their policies are to reduce the NHS to a shell, bring in unaffordable health insurance, remove benefits and keep women at home to raise the next generation of purebreds. No doubt Fartrage also wants to reduce taxes for the already wealthy. It’s because people are desperate and disaffected (not thick) they want to believe he’ll fix things. He’s a shitshow waiting to happen.

southerngirl10 · 08/05/2026 12:42

Greens just won Hackney and said it was a victory for diversity. How the hell does that work? There are only 36% white English left there. I think they went past the point of diversity there years ago. White English have obviously voted with their feet. Will Hackney only be truly diverse when they've all gone?

GimmieABreakOr3 · 08/05/2026 12:43

I don’t agree with Reform’s policies. However, I can fully understand why people would vote for Reform. They are fed up with Labour, and I don’t blame them.

Kpo58 · 08/05/2026 12:44

EasternStandard · 08/05/2026 12:33

It doesn’t really work that way. Labour losing voters at this rate means the electorate don’t agree with you.

Or is it that they don't know what he's doing because the papers and news outlets are obsessed with illegal immigrants going to take over the country and cook your granny, etc rather than reporting on the boring stuff that is helping us quietly?

GimmieABreakOr3 · 08/05/2026 12:44

southerngirl10 · 08/05/2026 12:42

Greens just won Hackney and said it was a victory for diversity. How the hell does that work? There are only 36% white English left there. I think they went past the point of diversity there years ago. White English have obviously voted with their feet. Will Hackney only be truly diverse when they've all gone?

I mean, that is pretty diverse. What makes up the rest of the 100%? What’s your definition of diverse, a white majority?

GimmieABreakOr3 · 08/05/2026 12:45

Cojones · 08/05/2026 12:39

@Reliablesource I’d say let them have a go at running the country if Niggle Fartrage wasn’t such a selfish c*nt with terrible policies. They’ve done damage where they are running councils but desperation is allowing Reform to make huge gains.

He’s not in it to make Britain better, he’s seen Trump milk the US for all he can and wants to do the same to us so he, like the rest, can line his pockets.

Reform say what people want to hear, it’s all because of the immigrants.

Their policies are to reduce the NHS to a shell, bring in unaffordable health insurance, remove benefits and keep women at home to raise the next generation of purebreds. No doubt Fartrage also wants to reduce taxes for the already wealthy. It’s because people are desperate and disaffected (not thick) they want to believe he’ll fix things. He’s a shitshow waiting to happen.

“Niggle Fartrage” 😂😂😂

2dogsandabudgie · 08/05/2026 12:46

Cojones · 08/05/2026 12:39

@Reliablesource I’d say let them have a go at running the country if Niggle Fartrage wasn’t such a selfish c*nt with terrible policies. They’ve done damage where they are running councils but desperation is allowing Reform to make huge gains.

He’s not in it to make Britain better, he’s seen Trump milk the US for all he can and wants to do the same to us so he, like the rest, can line his pockets.

Reform say what people want to hear, it’s all because of the immigrants.

Their policies are to reduce the NHS to a shell, bring in unaffordable health insurance, remove benefits and keep women at home to raise the next generation of purebreds. No doubt Fartrage also wants to reduce taxes for the already wealthy. It’s because people are desperate and disaffected (not thick) they want to believe he’ll fix things. He’s a shitshow waiting to happen.

You lost me at the childish name calling of Farage. I can't take you seriously.

Flyingintotheunknown · 08/05/2026 12:46

tabulahrasa · 08/05/2026 12:39

Yes, you did say that - but their policies would affect all immigrants, so I’m asking, if people are only upset about illegal migrants, what sense does it make to vote for a party who also want less legal migration?

Again…. As I have said in my previous posts I’m not a reform voter but the general consensus from reform voters seems to be that migration needs to be controlled. If people have already migrated and settled here and have British citizenship they have no need to worry as reform can’t do jack shit about them. What reform seem to be saying is there’s an awful lot of migrants who are here claiming benefits which is no benefit to the UK at all. And I think it’s quite self explanatory why people are upset about boat migrants.

GimmieABreakOr3 · 08/05/2026 12:48

2dogsandabudgie · 08/05/2026 12:46

You lost me at the childish name calling of Farage. I can't take you seriously.

Was funny though….

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