Council Elections

[OneTealShaker]

The first declared seats going to Reform.

Reform +2
Labour -1

Buckle up people.

Looks like Labour are going to lose control of Wales.

The question is who are all these people voting reform? Did the last year of a disastrous Trump presidency not teach them anything?what do these voters think reform is going to get them?
the only positive thing is their most likely failed governance of the council will result in the failed general election. I just hope Labour Party gets their sh together by that point!

Couldn't be more pleased with the results. I feel very patriotic and optimistic for the first time.

Almost as if UK and US are different places and Trump and Farage are different people.

And of course, personal anecdote is the best indicator of the causes of the decline of a country. Gotcha 😊

An all expenses paid room, and endless legal aid.

If you don’t know any of the roughly 8 millions Reform voters, you live in an echo chamber and need to widen your circle.

I haven’t written anything on this thread half as condescending as what you’ve just posted to me.

Quite simply I disagree. I do not believe that self-reflection by me or people like me is going to turn the tide of politics and I’m tired of the supposed attitudes of liberals being trotted out as a convenient excuse.

It overlooks the fact the world has serious problems that drive division which is then exploited by those with power. It also completely ignores how hostility and aggression in politics is far from the preserve of liberals/the left. To put it very mildly.

I saw a couple of them in the past and I’m quite happy to stay in my echo chamber than associating with them.
in my county reform won in the two most deprived areas. Quite telling. Let’s see if they prosper.

I’m afraid a few exclamation points are insufficient to convince me.

US Healthcare companies operate with profit margins of 30%, the highest of any industry. Their CEOs receive the highest compensation. People are always willing to spend their last penny on their health. Most firms are closer to 5% margins.

Campaigners fail to overturn decision to allow US takeover of GP surgeries BMJ 2022; 376 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o492 (Published 24 February 2022)

Plus….

• Private firm will operate entire NHS hospital Adrian O’Dowd, The BMJ, 2010

• Campaigners fail to overturn decision to allow US takeover of GP surgeries Clare Dyer, The BMJ, 2022

• US private hospital chain is investigated for possible unnecessary coronary procedures B. Roehr, The BMJ, 2012

• Investigation shows how private equity firms have “infected” US healthcare system, says senator Elisabeth Mahase, The BMJ, 2025

• Helen Salisbury: Does it matter who owns general practice? Helen Salisbury, The BMJ, 2021 - the short answer is yes… Research published in 2017 showed that patients who were registered with general practices owned by limited companies reported worse experiences of care than other patients

I would like to know what policies the absolutely fucking thick as fuck sheep who voted for reform and the disgustingly corrupt SNP???.?
Please help me understand the thought process behind these choices, as I am REALLY struggling to comprehend.
Absolute disgrace

One of the biggest reasons for people to go bankrupt in the States is due to the inability to pay medical insurance and bills.

There is also ZERO incentive for so-called 'protest' parties to build bridges and lessen divisions. Their whole pitch only works as long as the populace is angry and frustrated. Why therefore would they ever strive to make things better? Instead, they'll find new scapegoats, new crusades, while lining their own pocket. Not hard to understand.

Totally agree

I am so sick of this.
When will people stop voting out of hatred? Just because they want illegal immigrants gone, this will solve none of that! That's why people voted Brexit too. And illegal immigration grew exponentially. And after all that they still buy into this idiotic notion. These people cant be convinced with facts or numbers, all they care about is voting out of hate. dooming us in the process. when will people learn??? Jesus Christ.

I'm nearly 60. Give over.

And not everyone votes in their own interests. People weren't voting in their own interests when they elected Atlee. I'm not lying. In any case, in a democracy representatives should represent everyone not just their own voter base.

I think politics has become very twisted in the last 30 years. It's like looking at a case of collective psychosis.

Labour can only blame themselves: Maybe Never Here Keir should have paid more attention to the UK economy instead of jetting around the world ( 45 trips in 2 years?); while incompetent Rachel Thieves thinks that they way to solve the Cost of Living crisis is to tax everyone to oblivion so she can hand more money over to the workshy who contribute nothing to the economy... don't even get me started on that Raynor woman trying to defraud HMRC.

What a shit show!

Some people clearly think we need our own version of Trump, he is the bigly-bestest after all. £5mil donation for "personal security" is not news! Thank you for your attention in this matter.

I wonder if people who insult voters by calling them stupid ever learn. Clearly didn’t learn from the Brexit vote. Insulting voters will never win them around to your way of thinking.

Yes, agreed, and not listening to people (looking at you, BBC), means you will always be surprised by the results.

I don't live in an echo chamber and I am not at all surprised at these results.

Whatever. Don't really think there's any need to be so touchy and defensive, but you do you, Thank god some of us at least are capable of a little more self reflection about our former approaches. It is most certainly in order. The tactic of sticking your fingers in your ears will clearly not change anything for you, that's up to you (you can look forward to the same result, then, and spend all your time blaming everyone else when it happens) but politicians and activists against Reform taking a very different approach on the ground, particularly in how they talk to and engage with their electorates, is still in my view of the best chances we have to defeat Reform. And we do have a little time left still.

The other, as someone upthread has said, is that there's still plenty of time for local Reform councils to implode and to demonstrate their incompetence (mine is also busily doing that), which is also helpful. But I'd rather we have something more positive and tangible to offer ourselves than "told you so" or just waiting.

In my humble opinion, which is of course, clearly not anywhere near as superior as yours.

My post was a link to the official HMT policy position and draft regulations! I can’t see what is so controversial about them now they are formal government policy 🤣

Out of interest, what do you think the Prime Minister is doing exactly when he’s out of the country in an official capacity?

What happens when the Nigel fills up his plane with all the illegals, tries to land them in Afghanistan, and the Taliban say no? Will the plane just disappear like in that TV show?

If you have the stomach to read the reform manifesto, you’ll see a lot of promises and no details on how.

They’ll “stop the boats” but what does that mean? Shooting them into the channel?

“Send them back” to where? They don’t have paperwork, that’s why even when their appeals are failed they still end up staying here.

Tighten work visas and end Indefinite Leave to Remain? That means forcing corporations to train up Brits and pay them adequately, they won’t like that at all.

Anyone can be in opposition. Not anyone can govern.

I said this week that Reform win could be a good thing - their voters would have to drink own champagne and three years till GE is enough time to see how well Reform will manage councils, so hopefully a bit of realisation by 2029.

The problem is that Reform gained a lot of seats but only 4 councils so far, so they won't be held to account.

in my county reform won in the two most deprived areas.

OMG, we wouldn't want to mix with any poor people, would we?