This migrant problem is going to let Reform in isn’t it?

[EvangelicalAboutButteredToast]

Honestly it’s such a bloody nightmare. Reform are making a total hash of local government from what I’ve read, putting teenagers in charge of whole departments with no relevant experience. What are they going to do if they are elected to run a country!!!! I’m honestly terrified. Labour need to be seen to be actively doing something to quell the far-right momentum that’s gaining traction from ordinary folk. I’m amazed at the average, usually pretty sensible people around me who are now telling me they are going to vote Reform.

there was an interview I saw yesterday where the minister said that thousands of people were being deported regularly. The interviewer asked why there were no videos of this and she said there could be. Well let’s see it! It would absolutely help.

Only recently though.

Pretty sure I'm not looking over my shoulder for Nigel Farage when I go to a cash machine! I'm almost certain it isn't Lee Anderson catcalling me in the street.

Australia managed it somehow..

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_the_boats

ABC News Fact Check determined that the promise to "stop the boats" had been delivered on 30 April 2015, when only one boat had arrived in 18 months,[3] after 300 had arrived in 2013.[1]

Our visitors this weekend are from Leeds. They're Following local FB pages local girls and students are just vanishing off the face of the earth. No witnesses. Desperate families putting up posters. Local news, absolute radio silence.

Even a local young man in police training didn't warrant a mention when he vanished.

Honestly it's chilling how bad it's got in this city and no-one is talking publicly.

Given that Labour has systematically alienated the NHS, pensioners, rural communities, those in receipt of disability benefit, and employers, plus anyone trying to make their budget stretch, yes, probably.

If the Tories come out with a clear set of calm and sensible policies, change their leader and silence their nuttier members (most of whom have defected to Reform anyway), they might just be able to force a coalition govt or hung parliament.

This was done with overseas island detention centres. Where would ours be?

It's a small town.

And yes, the young men often have nothing to do. It is really bad for their mental health, but unfortunately, they are not allowed to work. We could fix that if we wanted to.

I used to work with the young asylum seekers living locally. My young adult volunteered with them for an extended period as well. Neither she nor I ever had any bad experiences... the young men were nothing but polite and respectful, even though my dd was young and very pretty. Many of them had experienced a horrific amount of trauma, and they just wanted to rebuild their lives in a safe place. They didn't present a risk to anyone, really.

I do completely understand people being distressed and angry about a teenager being sexually assaulted, of course, but the only the perpetrator is responsible for that. It isn't fair to blame all the other asylum seekers who have done nothing wrong.

Well Corbyn has just launched his new party so that will fracture Labour Party and especially the unions = funding.
Interesting times ahead.

That comment doesn’t help does it? You are sweeping me into a far right bracket because I am a conservative voter. All that does is push people who are politically pretty middle leaning into a far right position which is what is happening all over social media.

The RNLI will not stop helping the migrant boats as that’s literally what their job is - saving lives or preventing the loss of life. The French have no interest in preventing the launching of ships filled with young men as it takes them away from France. The only reason the camps used to exist on French soil was because we were part of the EU and had an agreement with them. Directly we left the EU we terminated this relationship and they were literally just waving them through. I think we now pay France to do something but I don’t know what.

Did you see the press that Farage was apparently talking about sending our worst criminals to reside in El Salvadorian jails? How the hell does he think he’s going to make that happen?!!! Its completely bizarre.

Farage is creating momentum everywhere. To downplay the risk from Reform is ridiculous

I agree with this. If Tories promise

To reverse inheirtance tax on farms (does anyone really want parts of our beautiful farms owned by Russians or the Chinese?)

Put back the WFA. It will cost tons to implement if they try and means test. Make it clear why means testing doesnt really cost in

Stop robbing pensions and their tax benefits because you will discourage people from setting up in the first place. In the end the state will end up supporting you!

Stop the war on business. Not all business is big corporates. Small businesses like hairdressers and pubs have been stabbed in the back by increase in NI and NMW.

Have a root and branch review of who exactly is assessing the small boats arrivals. How many people are actually working on this? Why are we allowing so many compared to say Spain to stay? Review this. Is it just that its easier to say yes as opposed to allowing endless appeals. Once the decision is made no appeals. Just have a robust process. If you dont have an ID. Just why? What are you trying to hide? FFS - dont just take their word for where they are from? Its an accident waiting to happen.

Put them on boats around the coast of England. The visa issue regarding bringing in members of the family has made a reasonable dent (done by the Conservatives). That has gone virtually unnoticed by the media

Allow tourists to claim VAT back. It wont be on everything but they will be spending in our hotels and restaurants etc.

Review the NHS with a cross party group. Stop messing around with this. Look at a a co payment system. Other EU countries do perfectly well with this Streeting for all his talk in opposition is making a pigs ear of it and his negotiation skills are clearly as good as my elderly dog's!

Reduced MH benefits for young people (I know - I have my tin hat!) but we cannot carry on like this

Remove the Triple Lock. I know - I can hear the howls of some who say the State Pension is the only thing some people are living off. If I was being harsh I would say what have those people been doing for the last 40 years? Where is their private pension?

But plenty of time to see what they can achieve. Or not.

I have worked for at least three public sector organisations (depends how you count them as some have merged)! We've had re-organisation after re-organisation, each resulting in at least 90 redundancies. I've seen departments merge, whole organisations merge, jobs evaluated, regraded, or changed beyond recognition, new organisational structures created by expensive management consultants... you name it, they've tried it. Needless to say, most of the "nice to have" non-statutory services were cut years ago.

Many local authorities can no longer no longer make ends meet. Not due to financial mismanagement, but mainly because the model of social care funding simply doesn't work. Local authorities have complex statutory obligations regarding social services and the demand has increased enormously over the last few years (mainly due to an ageing population and an increase in those with complex care needs). Council incomes haven't increased by enough to cover this and selling their assets will merely buy them some time. I've also heard many anecdotes of family members being pressured to become full-time carers, even though this would force them to give up their own jobs and rely on Carer's Allowance.

The crisis in social care funding is impacting on the NHS, which was already struggling. Some of the waiting lists are unacceptable and in our area at least, urgent referrals for patients with suspected cancer are no longer on the "two-week-pathway" but a new "28-day-pathway". Also, our local hospital is in a poor state and has needed rebuilding for decades. Successive governments have agreed, but the money has never materialised.

I think we should have discussions about the kind of public services we want. For example, do we want the "Ryanair model" (as I heard proposed by management consultants), whereby taxes are low, and statutory services are extremely limited, but all "extras" are expensive and must be paid for privately? Or do we want the model of high tax but excellent public services favoured by the Nordic Countries?

But it is absolutely true that Reform won't get a majority in Wales next year. Not unless its share of the vote soars to at least 45%. Under current polling, Reform wouldn’t even secure a majority via coalition with the Welsh Tories.

The local by-election in Wales last week saw Reform come third, btw.

I am not playing down the threat from Reform, but I think we need to keep calm.

The rnli are getting paid for these rescues by the government. It wouldn't be possible otherwise

@WitchesofPainswick That was one aspect of it I think, it was a multi pronged approach. Seemed to work from the stats. I’m no expert.

Use France since they’re the ones who wave people through in the first place. Brittany have lots of space… Corsica.. Scottish highlands.. loads of islands up there..

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Sovereign_Borders

I admit to being surprised when Port Talbot voted Labour again after the furore with their steel works.

When my son worked in Norwegian territory for an international firm he paid Norwegian taxes. They're quite resolute in that way.

So you say Reform is far right but you will still be happy to see them form a government with the Tories?

We want the Nordic Countries excellent public services but dont want to pay for it personally (insert VERY good reasons why the extra tax shouldnt come from you!). We want others to pay. Amazon, rich people, businesses large and small - anyone but me!

Personally, I'd be very happy to pay more tax for better public services.

What's your evidence for this?

Because all the information that I can find suggests otherwise.

I’m afraid many people think there is.