Asking Reform Councillor for help

[diennaa]

I am currently campaigning for a community facility. Got nowhere with asking me previous councillor who was labour for help. She just ignored me. Greens were extremely helpful with advice practically but couldn't get involved as they were just across the boundary. We now have a reform councillor, and I just feel uneasy approaching him. I am from am immigrant background and have an accent. My grandfather came here as a refugee, I was born abroad, came here when I was 15. Part of me thinks that it could be an easy win as they are going to want to show that they are getting things done, another part doesn't want to give them the easy win, and another just doesn't want to speak to them at all. Am I overthinking this?

They're your councillor, for good or ill. Try to get them to do some work, keep records of everything. Good luck.

Why not just ask them and see what they say? If they make you feel uneasy, approach a different councillor or see if the issue can be resolved by someone outside the council instead. Hope it all goes okay.

They're opposed to illegal immigrants not legal ones, aren't they?

Just ask the councillor and let us know how it goes

Ask. It’s their job to try and help.

It will either show your cllr as good or bad regardless of party.

I mean Labour already didn’t help you so take a chance.

I'm baffled by the question TBH.

You're worried that this councillor won't help you because your grandfather was an immigrant but you're also worried that this councillor will help you because they will use it as a win?

How will they use it as a win?

It's an easy win but labour did nothing?

Very hard to describe the paranoia and fear that comes with being a brown immigrant having to approach a reform councillor. Yes it's all psychological but the amount of racism i have faced these past few months from likely reform voters has been incredibly draining, so I may well be being unreasonable but my head is totally scrambled.

Yes because they had been councillor in the area for years and wrre likely complacent. They were very shocked when they lost their councillor position!

Have you been to the police about these racist attacks? They are very good on hate crimes.

If you knew the racists were linked to Reform did you have other details about them, like names?

Ok thank you all for giving my head s wobble. I would email him but he doesn't have an email address listed unlike the other councillors so that's my first hurdle.

He likely hasn’t been given access yet. Our new con cllr hasn’t but has shared his work number on his Facebook page. Also another way to contact.

There have been so many. Two i went to the police snd they took a statement from me and my child. Another was a protest outside a hotel some hax teform banners and others just england flags and I walked past and they assumed I lived there and shouted abuse at me. I spoke to the police who were there and they did nothing and told me just to go home. A few other smaller incidents where admittedly I did nothing.

Thank you

I'm sorry you have to deal with a reform councillor

Do you need to speak to the councillor about the police's lack of action.

Waving England flags usually is far right behaviour outside of football tournaments but it's not illegal.

Am disappointed the police let you walk past a migrant hotel when there was a protest going on outside it - they're not usually meant to and that's definitely something worth raising with the councillor.

It was my fault for being bold to walk by but it was my only way home and I didnt think I was the target, not thT I agree with it anyway. I wasn't that close to them so thought it would be OK as lots of others were walking past and there was a counter protest.

Oh god i just found his facebook page and it is awful. He says 'we have learnt allot' and then a heap of posts about boats and migrants and polanski. England flag in his bio. Here goes!

Good luck and keep us posted

I'm not a fan of Reform

Their candidate for mayor in Hackney was an immigrant though - I think lived in Hackney for about 20 years but still has a strong accent.

I have a lot of issues with them, but racism is not one of them. Give it a try. What have you got to lose? And you have everything to gain. He's supposed to be serving his local area and helping out.

Oh please. Please don't pre judge.

My local councillors tend to ignore emails (they're not Reform, just not very helpful) so when I had a local issue recently I contacted my MP and said there was no point going to the councillors because they don't respond so could he help me. Surprisingly it was sorted!

Personally I'd rather cut my hand off than ask Reform for help with anything.

Keep all interactions to email or letter. When he fucks up, go to the media.

What is wrong with an England flag? I proudly display my Irish flag. What is wrong with saying we’ve learnt a lot? What’s wrong with them critiquing an opponent?
illegal immigrants are an issue in every country. I think you are working overtime here. It will be fine. You might be surprised.

I don't agree with his politics, but our local Reform councillor has been very responsive when it comes to sorting out local issues 🤷🏻‍♀️

Well even if he appears to be semi literate and you understandably don't like his politics at least you've got some evidence that he's a real person. I haven't.