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?

I get you OP and understand your concern. Generally though I find councillor quality and competence to be completely unrelated to the party they represent. I have worked on a community environment project and local Labour, Lib Dems and Tories all contributed to its success. The only party that didn't help us or even respond to our calls? The Green Party (it was literally a net zero project).

Would you feel more comfortable dealing with him in writing?

Also not sure where you are but I am in London and many if not most Reform representatives here are first or second generation immigrants.

I think it's right that Reform councillors are held to account and given casework - they have strong opinions on how to right the nation's ills - they won't be able to demonstrate that if we avoid talking to them.

same for us all…… I have a Green Party councillor. I despise most of what they stand for. But I needed to raise an issue and went to them with it this week. He came back to me quickly, but I’m guessing the timing was key as it’s all new for them so they’re probably keen. In 6 months time he might be the same as previous Labour councillors and just not bother. So maybe just try to approach and see how it goes. Unfortunately many in the same position who have to hold their noses whilst asking for help from someone you know doesn’t hold the same values as yourself.

You’ve set him up to fail in your mind, regardless of his response - you’re worried he might not respond or help you, yet you actually don’t want the help because you don’t want to give them the “win”. Like, really?

And you’re seemingly taking offence to him having an England flag in his social media bio? Cause how dare an Englishman display that, right? 🙄

Whats the community facility you’re campaigning for?

I'm about to ask our new reform councillor to assist with a problem.
We've been asking the Labour ones for years and got nowhere.

If the councillors are anything like the leadership of the party, the only thing they'll offer advice on is how to claim expenses they're not entitled to, how to evade tax and how to accept bungs.

I think we should all give our local councillors plenty of opportunity to demonstrate their willingness and ability to do their jobs.