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Uk Elections today

(303 Posts)
fancythat Thu 01-May-25 08:38:45

I cant see another thread about the subject.

Online newspaper headlines think Labour will suffer[normal for a Party in power] and Reform will do well.

We shall see of course.

Personally, I think Labour are underestimating the strength of feeling in the general public about immigration by boat. And about grooming gangs[white/non white, all of it].

As I was writing this, I think there is growing resentment about Net Zero too. People's energy bills are too high.

All of this has been discussed on this forum before of course.

But I think Labour may be about to see it all played out today.

Pippa000 Thu 01-May-25 10:53:42

No voting here in Wales either, but in the not too distant future we do have voting for the Senedd which has been Labour run for 25 years. Reform is apparently making a strong bid into some labour strongholds. I think many here are looking with interest at the local elections in England.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 01-May-25 10:36:14

Dorisdodar

Starmer has told a few lies lately too..

At least his is patriotic, and can be relied upon not to admire people like Putin and Trump, who could cause such disaster for our country.

Dorisdodar Thu 01-May-25 10:34:21

Starmer has told a few lies lately too..

LizzieDrip Thu 01-May-25 10:15:59

Whitewavemark2

So it is very likely that some voters will be happy to vote for a Trump supporter, a Brexit supporter and a Putin Supporter, and whose economic policies would out-Truss Truss.

Can anyone explain why?

Good question WW.

Farage lied about Brexit and, when it was a proven disaster for the UK, he wasn’t even man enough to accept any accountability - it wasn’t his fault!!!

Sadly, people have shown they will vote for liars and snake oil salesmen - Johnson, Trump. Why🤷‍♀️

FWIW my answer to your question is:

People have short memories; they’ve been indoctrinated by a constant barrage of right wing media & SM against Labour; people expected the new Labour government to change the country overnight; issues such as immigration have been blown out of proportion by SM, MSM & Reform.

Grandmabatty Thu 01-May-25 10:15:42

Nanna8, while it is always good to see how an outsider views Great Britain, it is better if it is based on actual evidence and not through the lense of Australian media

Athrawes Thu 01-May-25 10:08:15

I went to vote but it was a difficult choice of candidates as only one of them had popped information through our door so it was very limiting. Still we shall see what the outcome will be. It was a nice sunny walk anyway!

nanna8 Thu 01-May-25 09:55:25

I don’t think Farage is ‘right’. More like he is appealing to Labour voters just now because they can’t believe a single word their party says and the Conservatives are even worse. His is a protest party but whether he survives 4 years is a moot point. I don’t think he will, they will do their very best to discredit him even if they have to make something up.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 01-May-25 09:55:11

So it is very likely that some voters will be happy to vote for a Trump supporter, a Brexit supporter and a Putin Supporter, and whose economic policies would out-Truss Truss.

Can anyone explain why?

LizzieDrip Thu 01-May-25 09:50:43

I agree with WW and Silverbrooks, let’s see Reform put their money where their mouth is.

Currently they like to see themselves as ‘disrupters’ and the ‘anti-establishment party’.

When / if they have councillors and Mayors elected by the people, simply disrupting won’t cut it - they’ll actually have to do something for their communities.

It’s easy to criticise from the sidelines (who hasn’t called the referee a wan***) … much harder to actually do the work.

Bring it ongrin

Ilovecheese Thu 01-May-25 09:40:39

MaizieD

fancythat

I fear that after today they will lurch even further to the right..

I was thinking why.
But actually, you could be right.

Because the idiot McSweeny, who appears to be running Labour, is obsessed with retaining Reform voters. And thinks that focussing harder on immigration is the way to go...

Spot on MaisieD

Grandmadinosaur Thu 01-May-25 09:36:24

We have inaugural elections today for a Mayor for two combined authorities.

Reforms candidate is a popular local sportsman. Seems a nice guy as I say very popular but no political experience whatsoever. What could possibly go wrong.

Churchview Thu 01-May-25 09:34:45

Nigel Farage was campaigning at Aaron Banks' Gloucestershire country estate this week because Banks is the Reform candidate in the West of England Combined Authority Mayor elections.

Dozens of people waving Reform flags and Banks promising to sack all WECA employees who are “just shuffling paper around” and close the “swanky” headquarters on his first day in office. Farage telling the press to take what Banks says with a pinch of salt hmm.

So far, so Trump.

MaizieD Thu 01-May-25 09:30:45

fancythat

^I fear that after today they will lurch even further to the right..^

I was thinking why.
But actually, you could be right.

Because the idiot McSweeny, who appears to be running Labour, is obsessed with retaining Reform voters. And thinks that focussing harder on immigration is the way to go...

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Thu 01-May-25 09:29:40

No voting for us here in Trafford today.

This made me laugh though!

Silverbrooks Thu 01-May-25 09:24:12

Whitewavemark2 In one way I would like to see a win for Reform in some councils because then we can all see what they are capable/incapable of.

I was thinking the same thing.

If big Boris fan, Andrea Jenkyns wins the Mayoral contest in Greater Lincolnshire, I look forward to seeing her go head to head with Farage over SEND.

fancythat Thu 01-May-25 09:16:56

Blair's report is broadly right (and yes,I have read it all the way through)

Some of you Gransnetters are impressive.
You put a lot of work into certain subjects.

fancythat Thu 01-May-25 09:15:48

I fear that after today they will lurch even further to the right..

I was thinking why.
But actually, you could be right.

Grantanow Thu 01-May-25 09:13:26

Gas is expensive as we have to buy a lot from the Norwegians. Milliband has banned drilling so we are on the hook. I think he will be sacked at some point. Blair's report is broadly right (and yes,I have read it all the way through).

Whitewavemark2 Thu 01-May-25 09:08:22

Ours are cancelled because of a trial to re-do the boundaries - or something?

NYT reporting Farage holding MAGA style hustings. Is he?

In one way I would like to see a win for reform in some councils because then we can all see what they are capable/incapable of. Mind you I would feel sorry for those having to put up with them.

And actually see some policies in action. At least we would be able to try and work out what their policies actually are.

Silverbrooks Thu 01-May-25 09:08:17

Only in England.

23 councils - 14 County Councils, 8 Unitary Authorities, and 1 Metropolitan Borough.

15 of these are currently controlled by the Conservative Party compared to just one for Labour. Seven councils are under no overall control. Of these seven, four are run by Conservative minority administrations, two by Liberal Democrats, and one by Independents.

Papers are saying that there could be tactical voting to keep Reform out - polls suggesting Conservative voters who don't want an alliance with Reform could vote Labour or Liberal Democrat.

Agreed about energy bill. Marginal pricing not net zero.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 01-May-25 09:02:10

We should have local elections today but they have been postponed 🤬

Sarnia Thu 01-May-25 08:58:26

Starmer is getting his excuses ready.

MaizieD Thu 01-May-25 08:57:38

‘they’ being Labour, of course.

MaizieD Thu 01-May-25 08:56:37

High energy bills are not the consequence of Net Zero. They're high because electricity is priced to account for the most expensive method of production, which is gas fired power stations, gas being very expensive. Wind and solar power produce electricity far more cheaply.

I expect Reform to do well today (though there is absolutely mo way I would voters for them) because Labour haven’t made desperately needed tangible improvements to people’s lives.

I fear that after today they will lurch even further to the right..

fancythat Thu 01-May-25 08:51:36

Oh. Sorry. You have a point.