FabSwingers.com > Forums > Politics > Ok. So Reform are a thing. Now what?

Ok. So Reform are a thing. Now what?

By *resesse_Meliorem OP Couple 4 weeks ago

Border of London

Sure, this isn't a general election. We know - people are more comfortable voting for a nonsense party when it comes to local elections.

But this has gone beyond that. The message is very clear: Reform are a party with the ability to gain votes in large quantities. A result like we see unfolding at the moment tells the country "look, we are real, we are viable and a vote for us can realistically get us into power". Crossing that threshold means that, come the next general election, Reform will be more than just a protest vote (which the Greens remain) - it will potentially be a vote for a majority party and prime minister.

Will that force people to consider the real impact of a Reform government and vote against them, or embolden people to make England great again? Will the Conservatives offer a coalition and strategic standing down in certain constituencies, or fight and potentially split the right? Are the Greens still even relevant, and will Labour galvanise the left, or will they be running around like headless chickens?

Is the face of UK politics changing forever, or is this just some local election shenanigans?

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By *apybarasCouple 4 weeks ago

High Lighthouse

Labour have lost the left, and not convinced the right. They are done for.

Reform has pretty much replaced the Torys in most people's minds.

The Greens have made gains, but the jury is out on whether that can be improved upon.

Up to now Reform have done a lot of talking. Now we'll see if they can back that up with action. On their track record in Kent and other places, maybe not.

There's quite a while to the next GE, and I don't think Reform will have quite the platform they'd like.

It's too far out to make real predictions, but I think it'll be close, possibly even a hung parliament.

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By *oleraine-coupleCouple 4 weeks ago

Coleraine

Potted history of populism through the decades

Incompetence

Corruption

Cronyism

Failure

Those with the least always lose the most

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By *ecadentDeviantsCouple 4 weeks ago

North West

"Labour have lost the left, and not convinced the right. They are done for.

Reform has pretty much replaced the Torys in most people's minds.

The Greens have made gains, but the jury is out on whether that can be improved upon.

Up to now Reform have done a lot of talking. Now we'll see if they can back that up with action. On their track record in Kent and other places, maybe not.

There's quite a while to the next GE, and I don't think Reform will have quite the platform they'd like.

It's too far out to make real predictions, but I think it'll be close, possibly even a hung parliament."

I think a hung parliament is very likely. Maybe we will see if Nige makes good on his previous utterances on electoral reform in that instance eh?

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By *akat158Couple 4 weeks ago

Nottinghamshire

Now we try to mentally prepare for an increase in authoritarianism, fascism, and an erosion of progressive rights.

If Reform do end up winning a general election, we'll be governed by someone who idolises Trump and Putin.

We'll see the further push towards privatisation of the NHS and dismantling of public services.

They'll tell you all that the best way to make you better off will be to make the ultra rich, better off.

You'll probably be poorer and you might be paying for your healthcare.

And that's if you're lucky enough to be a white male. Any other demographic and it's likely to be rough.

But don't worry, they'll try and stop some dinghy's using a plan they don't really have.

And they'll have got there largely because of voter apathy and this weird saying that 'they're all the same', despite there being a large body of evidence to suggest that's not even remotely true.

Oh well, good luck everyone.

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By *otMe66Man 4 weeks ago

Here and there

[Removed by poster at 08/05/26 12:49:13]

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By *ingdomNightTimePleasuresMan 4 weeks ago

nearby

Race to the bottom

Reform are only here because tories and now Labour are both so shit

High small boat arrivals, tax payers attacked for cash to pay for increasing welfare and migrant hotels, and a wank brexit. No credible plans for the economy. Housing delivery at 12 year low. Increasing poverty, homelessness and unemployment.

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By *otMe66Man 4 weeks ago

Here and there

We have seen this play out before, and I anticipated this outcome simply by listening to Farage, who has been very open in his plans

Farage never got the Brexit he wanted, hence the disruption and formation of Reform. In my view, Farage is not about taking the power or more importantly the responsibility of being PM, but more about shifting the political direction of both Labour and the Conservatives.

That is exactly what happened during the Brexit. His pressure changed the policies and landscape that gave him "Leave".

Both conservatives and labour parties now face the same dilemma adapt, listen and respond, or risk losing more ground to Reform. That fear will drive change, it could be messy at the GE but Farage will be the puppet master.

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By *ostindreamsMan 4 weeks ago

London

Starmer has been stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Left wing voter base always had two sub-groups that didn't agree with each other on social issues - The working class who have conservative social views on immigration, LGBT etc and the upper middle class progressives who are socially liberal on these issues.

Farage knows how to exploit this difference and take the working class on his side and he has repeatedly been successful in it. Unfortunately, the upper middle class progressives will as usual call these voters flag-shaggers or whatever trends at that time and move on.

Starmer has been trying to reach out to these voters through his immigration policy changes, alienating his progressive voters who are now moving to the Greens. Most of these changes haven't been enforced yet. It would be interesting to see how effective these changes are, in the next few years.

If these changes really solves the legal/illegal immigration concerns that people have, Reform may lose its shine. If not, I believe Tories will be forced to adapt Reform's proposed policies and form a coalition with them.

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By *CExeCouple 4 weeks ago

Hong-Kong/Exeter

The Greens had potential a while back, but unfortunately they're absolutely infested with vile antisemitism and will likely tread the same path as Corbynism and Momentum.

Reform are a mix of old working class Labour with some conservatism thrown in for good measure. While claims of 'fascism' and equally daft descriptors are thrown around, they're not much different to other mainstream parties. The last week or so I've seen loads of folks talking about the £5M donation, all while seemingly oblivious to the £4M that Labour received from Quadrature, a hedge fund with hundreds of millions invested in arms and oil. People pick and choose facts that suit their narrative and world view.

Ultimately politics is a mess, and not just in the UK. My unpopular opinion is that we needed disruptors like Farage, Trump and even Corbyn to shake things up and force a reset in the stale, rotten systems we have in place that hark from a time gone by.

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By (user no longer on site) 4 weeks ago

Now we make sure we never have a meet with their supporters to start, disgusting.

But what's needed is different in England to the other nations. England has a chip on its shoulder and inability to be European. It's now sucked up to fascism. What's needed is control of budgets for party spending, the bc to be gone and journalism to become what is should be, skeptical of all parties, not in bd with some. The watchdog is toothless to the money spent on hate. I rejoined Facebook from scratch last year, first thing on a blank canvas in as join or support reform Ltd company. Makes you wonder.

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By *akat158Couple 4 weeks ago

Nottinghamshire

"Now we make sure we never have a meet with their supporters to start "

If you find any tips or tricks on how to avoid them, let us know 😁

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By *abioMan 4 weeks ago

Newcastle and Gateshead

See that reform seem to be taken seats from both labour and conservatives in different parts of the country makes me think that other than on immigration, people don’t actually know where reform actually stand…

and now people are going to find out and this is where we see them being picked apart on policy

The other thing that may start happening is if it looks like reform may get close to power, a lot more people may start voting tactically to keep them out….

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By *estivalMan 4 weeks ago

borehamwood

"Potted history of populism through the decades

Incompetence

Corruption

Cronyism

Failure

Those with the least always lose the most "
sounss like every government this century

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By *otMe66Man 4 weeks ago

Here and there

"Now we make sure we never have a meet with their supporters to start, disgusting.

What makes a Reform voter disgusting? In the real world how would you identify a Reform voter, here in a political forum, rather easy when declared.

England and English people are European, I'm not following why you would say they have a chip on their shoulder and struggle to be a thing that geographically can't be changed. What is the chip on the shoulder?

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By *otMe66Man 4 weeks ago

Here and there

"See that reform seem to be taken seats from both labour and conservatives in different parts of the country makes me think that other than on immigration, people don’t actually know where reform actually stand… "

How have you read this through Reform taking seats from the 2 main parties in different parts of the country?

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By *ostindreamsMan 4 weeks ago

London

But what's needed is different in England to the other nations. England has a chip on its shoulder and inability to be European. It's now sucked up to fascism. "

What exactly does it mean to be European? Reform-like parties are growing towards majority in every major European country. Even in Sweden, the darling of the left, the ruling coalition has a majority party that's similar to Reform. They have been making numerous policy changes on immigration recently.

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By *reachersdaughterWoman 4 weeks ago

someplace

This is grim. Sad to see really

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By *ingdomNightTimePleasuresMan 4 weeks ago

nearby

"This is grim. Sad to see really"

Tory and Labour failure has brought us here.

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By *reachersdaughterWoman 4 weeks ago

someplace

"This is grim. Sad to see really

Tory and Labour failure has brought us here. "

Ok mister

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By *akat158Couple 4 weeks ago

Nottinghamshire

"Tory and Labour failure has brought us here. "

That's no excuse to vote for Reform.

Are you going to explain to someone that you voted to scrap the NHS because Labour started a war twenty years ago?

Are you going to tell a woman in your life that the reason she no longer has bodily autonomy is because the Conservatives didn't fix potholes?

Blaming other parties for your terrible voting choice is on you.

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By *resesse_Meliorem OP Couple 4 weeks ago

Border of London

Blaming other parties for your terrible voting choice is on you."

So the problem is democracy itself?

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By *akat158Couple 4 weeks ago

Nottinghamshire

So the problem is democracy itself?"

Yes, that's definitely what you should take away from that comment 🤦‍♂️

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By *resesse_Meliorem OP Couple 4 weeks ago

Border of London

So the problem is democracy itself?

Yes, that's definitely what you should take away from that comment 🤦‍♂️"

You're blaming outcomes on people voting (choosing) terribly (wrongly).

It's a perfectly valid observation. Not everyone agrees, but there's an argument that giving stupid people a vote risks leading to bad outcomes. What is the correct take away?

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By *umpertrucksMan 4 weeks ago

London

"Tory and Labour failure has brought us here.

That's no excuse to vote for Reform.

Are you going to explain to someone that you voted to scrap the NHS because Labour started a war twenty years ago?

Are you going to tell a woman in your life that the reason she no longer has bodily autonomy is because the Conservatives didn't fix potholes?

Blaming other parties for your terrible voting choice is on you."
. A bizarre comment. No one has voted to scap the NHS. It just needs to be overhauled, part privatised and made more accountable .

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By *akat158Couple 4 weeks ago

Nottinghamshire

" What is the correct take away?"

The take away is that it's your choice to vote for Reform, no one is forcing you to do it.

If you vote for them, you're voting for a leader that praises authoritarians, for a party that wants to demolish the NHS, strup away human rights, strip away workers rights, strip away women's rights, strip away LGBTQ rights, strip away environmental protections and climate change targets, and make rich people richer, then that's on you.

I hope whatever nebulous bullshittery they promise in return that's so much better than all the other parties in Britain, is worth it.

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By *resesse_Meliorem OP Couple 4 weeks ago

Border of London

" What is the correct take away?

The take away is that it's your choice to vote for Reform, no one is forcing you to do it.

I hope whatever nebulous bullshittery they promise in return that's so much better than all the other parties in Britain, is worth it.

...that's in response to "Tory and Labour failure has brought us here"?

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By *akat158Couple 4 weeks ago

Nottinghamshire

" bizarre comment. No one has voted to scap the NHS. It just needs to be overhauled, part privatised and made more accountable . "

Farage has literally said he wants to move away from a taxpayer funded system to an insurance based model.

You can Google him saying this.

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By *ostindreamsMan 4 weeks ago

London

"Tory and Labour failure has brought us here.

That's no excuse to vote for Reform.

If you look at people's voting over the last decade, you can understand why Reform ended up in a strong position.

People have been voting for Tories who were supposed to be financially prudent and also control net immigration(something which they promised). But Boris Johnson made some serious with the immigration policy and resulted in record breaking net immigration. They couldn't take control of illegal immigration either. And the party that was supposed to be financially prudent splurged all the money during Covid.

Then they voted for Labour who also promised to deal with the immigration problems. So far, they haven't. To make matters worse, the economic situation hasn't improved much.

I personally believe that if Starmer/Shabana can push through the immigration reforms they have proposed, it would solve many problems and Reform will lose its shine. But the Labour backbenchers are strongly against it and I don't think they will let it pass.

But either way, the voters have given opportunity to centre parties to solve their problems. If they don't do it, who should we blame if they decided to vote for Reform?

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By *akat158Couple 4 weeks ago

Nottinghamshire

...that's in response to "Tory and Labour failure has brought us here"?"

That would be the comment I wrote it in reply to, so.....yes.

I was against Labours war in Iraq and I've suffered personally under many years of Tory mismanagement.

But I haven't suddenly decided that rolling back a few decades of social progression sounded like a good idea.

Who you vote for is your responsibility. Stop blaming your bad choices on others

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By *ecadentDeviantsCouple 4 weeks ago

North West

But either way, the voters have given opportunity to centre parties to solve their problems. If they don't do it, who should we blame if they decided to vote for Reform?"

‘The immigrants’ ?

Seems to be the prime motivator for a lot (arguably the majority) of Reform voters let’s face it.

Because stopping the immigrants will solve all this countries problems won’t it?

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By *ingdomNightTimePleasuresMan 4 weeks ago

nearby

Seems to be the prime motivator for a lot (arguably the majority) of Reform voters let’s face it "

Those that have turned on Labour in only 22 months

Labour have raided Pensioners, farmers, disabled, workers, and savers. Free clothes, holidays and spectacles for the front bench. Rising unemployment, poverty and homelessness. House building at 12 year low. Chancellors fake CV, Rayner, Mandelson.

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By *resesse_Meliorem OP Couple 4 weeks ago

Border of London

...that's in response to "Tory and Labour failure has brought us here"?

That would be the comment I wrote it in reply to, so.....yes.

I was against Labours war in Iraq and I've suffered personally under many years of Tory mismanagement.

But I haven't suddenly decided that rolling back a few decades of social progression sounded like a good idea.

Who you vote for is your responsibility. Stop blaming your bad choices on others "

It's possible that the originator of the comment to which you responded did not actually vote for Reform. We assumed you were referring to a "generic you". Perhaps you're actually directing that "you" to him (or us)?

The originator of the content seemed to be generalising, that the failure of the two main parties has led the nation to a state where many are voting Reform. You seem to be to seeing this more personally.

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By *akat158Couple 4 weeks ago

Nottinghamshire

"It's possible that the originator of the comment to which you responded did not actually vote for Reform. We assumed you were referring to a "generic you". Perhaps you're actually directing that "you" to him (or us)?

It's immaterial what the voting choice was of the poster is was responding to.

I was merely responding to the content of the comment.

I'm not taking anything personally.

I'm just trying to explain that if you looked at a table of food and thought 'well, I don't like the sandwiches very much and the pizza looks a bit stale. So I'm going to eat this steaming pile of dog shit instead' then that decisions on you, not the caterer.

Thanks for your input though.

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By *umpertrucksMan 4 weeks ago

London

But either way, the voters have given opportunity to centre parties to solve their problems. If they don't do it, who should we blame if they decided to vote for Reform?

‘The immigrants’ ?

Seems to be the prime motivator for a lot (arguably the majority) of Reform voters let’s face it.

Because stopping the immigrants will solve all this countries problems won’t it?"
. It looks like you might need to read the Reform manifesto in more detail. The party is committed to reducing taxation ,part privatising the health service, abolishing capital gains tax and uplifting the tax free allowances for workers.

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By *ostindreamsMan 4 weeks ago

London

But either way, the voters have given opportunity to centre parties to solve their problems. If they don't do it, who should we blame if they decided to vote for Reform?

‘The immigrants’ ?

Seems to be the prime motivator for a lot (arguably the majority) of Reform voters let’s face it.

Because stopping the immigrants will solve all this countries problems won’t it?"

Whether you like it or not, immigration itself is a problem for many. No one said that solving immigration would solve all the countries problems. The economic problems are different and should be seen in isolation from social problems.

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By *heeseandCrackersCouple 4 weeks ago

Newcastle

We’ve politely asked their voters to move past our profile

Which we have resisted doing but it’s a hard boundary for us

Cheese figured the colour of his skin would put most off but I didn’t want to take a chance

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By *ydaz70Man 4 weeks ago

Rotherham /newquay

Love seeing people losing there shite because some voted reform hilarious

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By *tar6926Man 4 weeks ago

Manchester

Congratulations to Reform. Hopefully it’s just the start. Labour and the horrible Tories are the worst.

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By *resesse_Meliorem OP Couple 4 weeks ago

Border of London

"Congratulations to Reform. Hopefully it’s just the start. Labour and the horrible Tories are the worst."

You support Reform, yet when referring to both Labour and Conservatives, you reserve the descriptor "horrible" for Tories? Interesting. With which party did you previously identify?

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By *izandpaulCouple 4 weeks ago

merseyside

"Tory and Labour failure has brought us here.

That's no excuse to vote for Reform.

Are you going to explain to someone that you voted to scrap the NHS because Labour started a war twenty years ago?

Are you going to tell a woman in your life that the reason she no longer has bodily autonomy is because the Conservatives didn't fix potholes?

Blaming other parties for your terrible voting choice is on you."

Think that's a very disingenuous way to describe people who feel after long bouts of Tory and Labour governments we are still in the same sad place.

People are fed up listening to the same clap trap and wet promises of a bright new world ahead as long as you give us another chance.

Some are being driven into the arms of Reform.

Politics needs to use, not just say, the word No a lot more.

With some dread I can see Trump number 2 being voted in, their oil industry in West Texas is going through a growth boom, it needs the time for new infrastructure to be laid, mainly to get the price for gas to be above the minus 9 dollar mark and a price above late 60's early 70's dollars a barrel to make it worth extracting but with tankers hanging around south of the Arabian Gulf turning towards US to load with light crude, the cash being poured into US will be massive and when Trump starts to show his voters how he has taken the petrodollars from the Gulf States to US oil companies he'll be a Messiah.

As long as the shit in the Gulf is continuing the US well heads will be working overtime.

Time will tell.

The world is in flux at present.

I've worked in the oil and gas industry around the world since a young man and have never seen a time like this, very exciting.

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By *resesse_Meliorem OP Couple 4 weeks ago

Border of London

"We’ve politely asked their voters to move past our profile "

Tories will be ecstatic. Profiles used to say "no TERFs, no Tories". It looks like people are avoiding Reform nowadays and Tories are back on the menu

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By *ingdomNightTimePleasuresMan 4 weeks ago

nearby

Reform UK on 27% national equivalent vote in locals, says Sky News, with Tories 20%, Labour 15% and Greens and Lib Dems both 14%.

What a shift in 22 months. Labour made a lot of enemies.

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By *resesse_Meliorem OP Couple 4 weeks ago

Border of London

Think that's a very disingenuous way to describe people who feel after long bouts of Tory and Labour governments we are still in the same sad place.

Exactly. Taking the time to understand people who feel differently is infinitely better and more productive than writing them off as bigots who vote terribly. When anger brings out these voters, the worst thing one can do is make them angry, if one disagrees with them.

This *exact* attitude got Trump elected.

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By *akat158Couple 4 weeks ago

Nottinghamshire

"This *exact* attitude got Trump elected."

Yes, let's blame everyone else but ourselves for our terrible decisions 🤣

"It's your fault for calling us completely accurate names"

- people who call you a snowflake

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By *r BloMan 4 weeks ago

Stourbridge

Reform are a private for profit company, why they are called a political party is puzzling and why so many are convinced that so many establishment Tories who are now part of it and put this country in the mess it's in will be a different outcome is baffling to say the least. Just shows how easily a few billionaires control the masses as per usual.

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By *resesse_Meliorem OP Couple 4 weeks ago

Border of London

"This *exact* attitude got Trump elected.

Yes, let's blame everyone else but ourselves for our terrible decisions 🤣

"It's your fault for calling us completely accurate names"

- people who call you a snowflake"

You're looking at a decision realised at the ballot box. You should be looking at what drives them to that decision and that ballot box.

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By *akat158Couple 4 weeks ago

Nottinghamshire

You're looking at a decision realised at the ballot box. You should be looking at what drives them to that decision and that ballot box."

Is it:

Lack of critical thinking skills?

Inability to analyse information correctly?

Disinformation on social media platforms and troll farms?

Interference by hostile foreign nations harnessing the power of social media and people's innate bias' to destabilise their enemies political system?

That kind of thing?

Oh no, it's the supposedly mean words they get called for voting to make things worse for everyone 😂🤣

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By *ostindreamsMan 4 weeks ago

London

You're looking at a decision realised at the ballot box. You should be looking at what drives them to that decision and that ballot box.

Is it:

Lack of critical thinking skills?

Inability to analyse information correctly?

Disinformation on social media platforms and troll farms?

Interference by hostile foreign nations harnessing the power of social media and people's innate bias' to destabilise their enemies political system?

That kind of thing?

Oh no, it's the supposedly mean words they get called for voting to make things worse for everyone 😂🤣

Curious, what do you think of the Greens?

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By *resesse_Meliorem OP Couple 4 weeks ago

Border of London

You're looking at a decision realised at the ballot box. You should be looking at what drives them to that decision and that ballot box.

Is it:

Lack of critical thinking skills?

Inability to analyse information correctly?

Disinformation on social media platforms and troll farms?

Interference by hostile foreign nations harnessing the power of social media and people's innate bias' to destabilise their enemies political system?

That kind of thing?

Oh no, it's the supposedly mean words they get called for voting to make things worse for everyone 😂🤣

It's absolutely all of those things. You're getting it now - it's a whole ecosystem of misinformation, propaganda and hate. You'll see it being harnessed by the Greens (Palestine/Jews) and Reform (immigrants/Europe). But all the propaganda in the world is useless if people are content and happy with their lives (and the government), and it requires some underlying substance to trigger anger (deplorables).

How do you propose to deal with the first two issues, though?

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By *abioMan 4 weeks ago

Newcastle and Gateshead

How have you read this through Reform taking seats from the 2 main parties in different parts of the country?"

Because in the south, reform have taken a lot of the councils from the conservatives, and in the north they have taken a lot of the councils from Labour…

I’m surprised at a local level here for example in south Tyneside, Sunderland and Gateshead, people have looked at the way that reform have run County Durham and thought “hmmm… I really fancy some of that!”

That is what makes me wonder once you stop demonisation of immigrants, do people actually know what policies reform have?

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By *arry and MegsCouple 4 weeks ago

Ipswich

Now people get a chance to see how useless and unprepared reform are before a general election

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By (user no longer on site) 4 weeks ago

"Now people get a chance to see how useless and unprepared reform are before a general election

As opposed to seeing how competent Labour is.

Good to see Suffolk has got a Reform Council! Suck it up!

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By *ellhungvweMan 4 weeks ago

Cheltenham

I think that no matter what you think of Reform you cannot deny that the world has changed.

This should be a huge wake up call to everyone who thinks that all the events of the last decade were some kind of aberration.

It should have been clear to everyone for a long time that there are huge disconnects in society and very large proportion of the electorate have been taken for granted and routinely dismissed.

The old shibboleths of left and right no longer hold any real meaning for the majority of people. They want change and they know the old parties are unable to provide it.

I dont see how any one can maintain the

delusion that things will go back to what they were.

I don’t know whether Reform will be able to make any meaningful impact on people’s lives if they get into power but it is abundantly clear that many people don’t think the previous order worked. The world will change and I think those parties that are able to have a _meaningful_ impact on the day to day lives of the great “unwashed” silent majority will be the benefactors. Will that be Reform? I have no idea but it won’t be the old parties.

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By *ools and the brainCouple 4 weeks ago

couple, us we him her.

Trumpism at work in the UK.

Y'all ready to become the 51st state ?

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By *eroy1000Man 4 weeks ago

milton keynes

"Sure, this isn't a general election. We know - people are more comfortable voting for a nonsense party when it comes to local elections.

Is the face of UK politics changing forever, or is this just some local election shenanigans?"

What now? Well standard procedure is to call everyone racist and throw insults, especially mentioning their intelligence level. Never fails. Longer term it's an opportunity for other party's to attack Reform by pointing out failings of running councils.

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By *otMe66Man 4 weeks ago

Here and there

How have you read this through Reform taking seats from the 2 main parties in different parts of the country?

Because in the south, reform have taken a lot of the councils from the conservatives, and in the north they have taken a lot of the councils from Labour…

That is what makes me wonder once you stop demonisation of immigrants, do people actually know what policies reform have? "

Wouldn't the question would be; are more areas of the country feeling influenced by local impacts of unplanned immigration in their local communities and that is causing an spike in Reform support?

It could be argued that is the case, however it could be far more nuanced than that with both labour and conservative parties not offering anything voters can get behind.

Or more likely it is a mix of both, but readily measurable.

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By *willz39mMan 4 weeks ago

seaham

really well said guys - just got to hope that it doesn't play out that way and people realise what they would be let themselves in for!

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By *uietbloke67Man 4 weeks ago

outside your bedroom window ;-)

Im going to sit back and watch all of those English reform councils do the square root of feck all other than line their pockets.

Get me my popcorn.

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By *otMe66Man 4 weeks ago

Here and there

"Im going to sit back and watch all of those English reform councils do the square root of feck all other than line their pockets.

Get me my popcorn."

Does your local council or any council provide a good service today?

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By *r BloMan 4 weeks ago

Stourbridge

"Im going to sit back and watch all of those English reform councils do the square root of feck all other than line their pockets.

Get me my popcorn.

Does your local council or any council provide a good service today?"

Yes mine did, despite being full of people i did not want to elect a few years ago most of them have done a good job and continued with and even improved local services plus even worked with the opposition when it was needed. Unfortunately the tjose who have been elected will do nothing but stop anything from getting done for anyone. I wouldn't mind if they did stop the boats but those fucking thick cunts don't realise local government have nothing to do with Parliament and the decisions made in the house of commons.

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By *ark742024Man 4 weeks ago

Stoke/Cheshire

The idea that Labour has done nothing in government is for the birds. The media in various guises has sought to undermine them from day one. It’s beyond pathetic

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By (user no longer on site) 4 weeks ago

"The idea that Labour has done nothing in government is for the birds. The media in various guises has sought to undermine them from day one. It’s beyond pathetic "

Anyone who thinks Labour has done a good job in local government should try visiting Birmingham.

Here we had pretty much a Labour one party state for over a decade. Thousands of pounds a year in Council tax and no recycling collected for a year and I’ve driven on better roads in the third world.

Thank goodness the thieving scum have been kicked out.

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By *rDiscretionXXXMan 4 weeks ago

Gilfach

"The idea that Labour has done nothing in government is for the birds."

Nobody is saying that they've done nothing. We all agree that Labour have done things, it's just that most people don't like those things.

"The media in various guises has sought to undermine them from day one. It’s beyond pathetic"

That's what the media does. They did it to the Tories, and they'll do it to Reform when they get in.

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By *abioMan 4 weeks ago

Newcastle and Gateshead

"Now people get a chance to see how useless and unprepared reform are before a general election

As opposed to seeing how competent Labour is.

Good to see Suffolk has got a Reform Council! Suck it up!"

Ahem… reform won Suffolk from the conservatives…

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By *abioMan 4 weeks ago

Newcastle and Gateshead

"The idea that Labour has done nothing in government is for the birds. The media in various guises has sought to undermine them from day one. It’s beyond pathetic "

The perception is that they have not really had a plan and have made U-turn at everything almost remotely unpopular

The truth of these elections is that the conservatives got punished for leaving labour with shit… and labour got punished for not doing enough to improve it!

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By *onin25Man 4 weeks ago

Durham

The truth of these elections is that the conservatives got punished for leaving labour with shit… and labour got punished for not doing enough to improve it! "

This exactly. People seem to think things can get meaningfully better overnight, and ignore that a lot of our economic problems can be made worse really quickly by things outside of the governments control happening overseas like the Iran war which Labour opposed but Farage was ready to go all on one.

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By *uietbloke67Man 4 weeks ago

outside your bedroom window ;-)

"Im going to sit back and watch all of those English reform councils do the square root of feck all other than line their pockets.

Get me my popcorn.

Does your local council or any council provide a good service today?"

Yip, my council provides me with a decent service.

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By (user no longer on site) 4 weeks ago

"Now we try to mentally prepare for an increase in authoritarianism, fascism, and an erosion of progressive rights.

If Reform do end up winning a general election, we'll be governed by someone who idolises Trump and Putin.

We'll see the further push towards privatisation of the NHS and dismantling of public services.

They'll tell you all that the best way to make you better off will be to make the ultra rich, better off.

You'll probably be poorer and you might be paying for your healthcare.

And that's if you're lucky enough to be a white male. Any other demographic and it's likely to be rough.

But don't worry, they'll try and stop some dinghy's using a plan they don't really have.

And they'll have got there largely because of voter apathy and this weird saying that 'they're all the same', despite there being a large body of evidence to suggest that's not even remotely true.

Oh well, good luck everyone.

Spot on and the little boats they caused in the first place.

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By *rytomakelifefunMan 4 weeks ago

Leeds / Sheffield

Most of reform won't survive first contact with reality. I'll be surprised if they can even manage to get anything done at local level.

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By *rDiscretionXXXMan 4 weeks ago

Gilfach

"Most of reform won't survive first contact with reality. I'll be surprised if they can even manage to get anything done at local level."

Then you should be pleased that Reform have done so well. These local elections will allow people to see what Reform are like, before the important elections come along in 3 years time.

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By *hromakeyDreamcoatMan 4 weeks ago

Carlisle

The problem is that Reform offer simple solutions to complex problems, and people fall for it because thinking is hard. Even in this thread people are saying that we are being taxed more to pay for asylum seekers. The cost of asylum seekers to this country is minuscule in comparison to what the government spends as a whole, about a third of one percent, in fact.

Until people start thinking, and stop eating the shit that is spooned into their mouths, then we are going to get grifters like Farage running political parties on behalf of their Thai national friends who give them £5 million.

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By *hromakeyDreamcoatMan 4 weeks ago

Carlisle

"Most of reform won't survive first contact with reality. I'll be surprised if they can even manage to get anything done at local level.

Then you should be pleased that Reform have done so well. These local elections will allow people to see what Reform are like, before the important elections come along in 3 years time."

Reform have been fucking things up in a few places already, but it’s not made a difference to their supporters.

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By *ostindreamsMan 4 weeks ago

London

"The problem is that Reform offer simple solutions to complex problems, and people fall for it because thinking is hard. Even in this thread people are saying that we are being taxed more to pay for asylum seekers. The cost of asylum seekers to this country is minuscule in comparison to what the government spends as a whole, about a third of one percent, in fact.

The problem with asylum isn't just limited to the cost and economics. While cost and economics is an issue because the current model is unsustainable, there are bigger societal issues which come with it. As long as the others ignore people's concerns on these issues, people will vote for them because from the voter's perspective, they are the only ones listening.

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By *hromakeyDreamcoatMan 4 weeks ago

Carlisle

What are the wider societal issues?

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By *ostindreamsMan 4 weeks ago

London

What are the wider societal issues?"

The government is letting in young men from countries which have vastly different values, without any background checks and dumping them in hotels in working class areas.

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By *hromakeyDreamcoatMan 4 weeks ago

Carlisle

What are the wider societal issues?

The government is letting in young men from countries which have vastly different values, without any background checks and dumping them in hotels in working class areas."

But what are the wider societal issues?

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By *ostindreamsMan 4 weeks ago

London

What are the wider societal issues?

The government is letting in young men from countries which have vastly different values, without any background checks and dumping them in hotels in working class areas.

But what are the wider societal issues?"

These are the bigger societal issues I mentioned. These hotels are spread around the country in many places and people don't like it.

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By *oorlandtwoCouple 4 weeks ago

Stoke on Trent