Uk Elections today

For "LizzieDrip" (beyond parody) - and that "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." of yours.

"RW Media against Labour"? Huh? That was the same media that lampooned BoJo for several years, and highlighted his (many) failings, and the same media that happily exposed the sad joke that is Liz Truss (& continues to expose her occasional excuses)? THAT "RW Media"? What ARE you on about?

IF by "barrage" you mean the airing of the complaints by several hundred thousand pensioners who had no reason to expect an attack on winter fuel payments, plus the vast number of disadvantaged poor and disabled that Labour have also attacked (arguably their core support) - then what would YOU expect any media to write?

NB -- the allegedly "RW Media" have very little influence, if you research actual newspaper sales (go on, try it for once) you'll see they are a tiny fraction of what they were 20 years ago. TV news is far more influential, but both BBC and ITV bulletins just report what's happening.

I'll direct your strange fantasy world to consider a key Starmer campaign point, re Immigration boats, having (rightly) slaughtered the Tories for doing next to nothing over several years, he confidently promised to reduce the numbers right down, a 'Trump-esque' day-1 promise. All the TV firms and press have done is to report that the actual figures are the WORST THEY HAVE EVER BEEN. That is NOT a "RW Media barrage" -- it's just accurate reporting. If you happen to think that viewers shouldn't mind that the situation has worsened, feel free to stand at the next by-election on EXACTLY that point -- let us know how you get on? I'd suggest that one reason for Reform's success is on just that policy issue, so it's more important than you think?

Those of us who knew Starmer from his (hopeless) CPS days didn't expect much, but after the shambolic Tory tailspin of recent years we had a few hopes of seeing some degree of Govt competence. It takes a special degree of political stupidity to contrive policies that have alienated so many folk so quickly, especially after that landslide win, but Starmer (+ Reeves & cohorts) has managed just that.

NB >>> as I've stated on here several times, I have no great hopes of competence from any party, how much evidence do you need? The sudden upswing for Farage & his Reform opportunists will soon be tested, the councils they now control will be quickly under the spotlight. One such is Kent, which has gone from complete Tory control to almost all seats being Reform. When interviewed, the new Leader clearly hadn't the slightest idea what to implement, other than "looking at the Chief Exec's salary". That council spends over £2.5 BILLION per year, so finding an exec £20K or so cheaper isn't going to make much difference??

"The introduction of widespread Reform candidates, and particularly if they win, has widened the gender gap.

This varies by local authority, but Reform have less than a fifth (20%) of women standing for them in nine councils.

In Doncaster this is 15 per cent and in Leicester 11 per cent. Labour are nearly 50/50 in Cornwall and Doncaster, the Greens hitting that in Doncaster and very close in Nottinghamshire

Terrific step forward, huh?

petra

Casdon

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Casdon

I think that shows how little he understands about how councils operate. Working within an overall framework, Councillors set the direction and budget levels to meet the council’s statutory obligations and comply with the laws and other requirements imposed on them. External audits are already mandated by law. Surely he should know that?

What about rainbow lanyards, DEI initiatives, cosying up with Stonewall and compliance with their exhortations - glossy leaflets and pamphlets, meetings to discuss all this navel gazing. Value for money using budgets can vary enormously it seems. I like the idea of cutting waste. Music to most people’s ears I imagine. Spend wisely on things that the voters want, pot holes filled, efficiency measures, local government has gone under the radar for too long. Millions spent on consultancies, working from home and suchlike are ripe for culling.

I’d conclude that you know as little about council budgets and how much they are controlled as Farage does from that statement. What proportion of an average councils budget is spent on the things you mention, do you think? He is going to find out the hard way that he’s been selling pipedreams.

The last figures on this are from 2022. 379 councils supplied figures on a freedom of information request.
It averaged approximately £79,000 per council.
Some might look at that figure as small change. But it’s not, not if you have been turned down for funding to enable your disabled child to go to special school.

But there would be no guarantee it would be your child who would get the funding. You'd have to divide it equally between everybody in the county, give them a few pence and ask them each individually what they would want to do with the money. It really is small change.

Allira

Casdon

Allira

Well, the proof of the pudding is in the eating!

😀

I do think people are concerned about local issues which have been neglected by some Councils in pursuit of vanity projects.

I think the point is though, that it’s the councillors who make the decisions about projects the council will pursue, not the officers. I don’t think Farage understands that council officers have limited decision making authority.

Yes, I realise that.

Officers in each department do, however, decide what needs to be carried out and submit reports for consideration by the Council or various committees for approval.

Yes, ultimately the officers have to account for everything they spend to the council, and it’s then audited. I’ve sat in some council committees where they have minutely crawled over projects. Farage doesn’t do detail, I seriously doubt if he’s done the same.

Wyllow3

Well, exactly, Casdon!.

But I think for example my local council has an annual budget of over £563 million pounds. It depends what the £76.000 'vanity' money is spent on, doesnt it? If its a project that brings some colour/varity into the city in grotty areas it may not be essential but for those who never go on holiday...

I think some Councils have spent more than is necessary on projects which have proved to be failures or made investments which have lost money.

Casdon

Allira

Well, the proof of the pudding is in the eating!

😀

I do think people are concerned about local issues which have been neglected by some Councils in pursuit of vanity projects.

I think the point is though, that it’s the councillors who make the decisions about projects the council will pursue, not the officers. I don’t think Farage understands that council officers have limited decision making authority.

Yes, I realise that.

Officers in each department do, however, decide what needs to be carried out and submit reports for consideration by the Council or various committees for approval.

Well, exactly, Casdon!.

But I think for example my local council has an annual budget of over £563 million pounds. It depends what the £76.000 'vanity' money is spent on, doesnt it? If its a project that brings some colour/varity into the city in grotty areas it may not be essential but for those who never go on holiday...

Allira

Well, the proof of the pudding is in the eating!

😀

I do think people are concerned about local issues which have been neglected by some Councils in pursuit of vanity projects.

I think the point is though, that it’s the councillors who make the decisions about projects the council will pursue, not the officers. I don’t think Farage understands that council officers have limited decision making authority.

You ned to do your homework as regards "working from home", FGT. There are different sorts.

Durham Council only does the hybrid part home/ part office type which isn't the controversial one, which is 100% distant working.
Hybrid arrangements save money for councils and generally means a happier and more productive work force. It's also in contracts which Farage cant just legally sweep away.

Act in haste and repent at leisure about major changes when the new councillors are mostly inexperienced and know very little?

West Country voters have tended to return Liberal Democrat candidates although they do not have overall control in any County Council
Surprisingly, voters in Cornwall returned 28 Reform candidates and 26 Lib Dems.

Casdon

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Casdon

I think that shows how little he understands about how councils operate. Working within an overall framework, Councillors set the direction and budget levels to meet the council’s statutory obligations and comply with the laws and other requirements imposed on them. External audits are already mandated by law. Surely he should know that?

What about rainbow lanyards, DEI initiatives, cosying up with Stonewall and compliance with their exhortations - glossy leaflets and pamphlets, meetings to discuss all this navel gazing. Value for money using budgets can vary enormously it seems. I like the idea of cutting waste. Music to most people’s ears I imagine. Spend wisely on things that the voters want, pot holes filled, efficiency measures, local government has gone under the radar for too long. Millions spent on consultancies, working from home and suchlike are ripe for culling.

I’d conclude that you know as little about council budgets and how much they are controlled as Farage does from that statement. What proportion of an average councils budget is spent on the things you mention, do you think? He is going to find out the hard way that he’s been selling pipedreams.

The last figures on this are from 2022. 379 councils supplied figures on a freedom of information request.
It averaged approximately £79,000 per council.
Some might look at that figure as small change. But it’s not, not if you have been turned down for funding to enable your disabled child to go to special school.

Plenty of EU plaques in Sunderland. And the Eden project in Cornwall had EU funding, too. Seems to me that the EU made a point of helping areas where there industries of the past had gone but central government had done little to create employment for local people.

Well, the proof of the pudding is in the eating!

😀

I do think people are concerned about local issues which have been neglected by some Councils in pursuit of vanity projects.

MayBee70
It’s quite possible that those deprived areas never saw any improvement.

growstuff

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Casdon

I think that shows how little he understands about how councils operate. Working within an overall framework, Councillors set the direction and budget levels to meet the council’s statutory obligations and comply with the laws and other requirements imposed on them. External audits are already mandated by law. Surely he should know that?

What about rainbow lanyards, DEI initiatives, cosying up with Stonewall and compliance with their exhortations - glossy leaflets and pamphlets, meetings to discuss all this navel gazing. Value for money using budgets can vary enormously it seems. I like the idea of cutting waste. Music to most people’s ears I imagine. Spend wisely on things that the voters want, pot holes filled, efficiency measures, local government has gone under the radar for too long. Millions spent on consultancies, working from home and suchlike are ripe for culling.

Yawn yawn!

FGT is, of course, very knowledgeable about the way that Durham County Council has been run... Impressive for a non Durham resident...

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Casdon

I think that shows how little he understands about how councils operate. Working within an overall framework, Councillors set the direction and budget levels to meet the council’s statutory obligations and comply with the laws and other requirements imposed on them. External audits are already mandated by law. Surely he should know that?

What about rainbow lanyards, DEI initiatives, cosying up with Stonewall and compliance with their exhortations - glossy leaflets and pamphlets, meetings to discuss all this navel gazing. Value for money using budgets can vary enormously it seems. I like the idea of cutting waste. Music to most people’s ears I imagine. Spend wisely on things that the voters want, pot holes filled, efficiency measures, local government has gone under the radar for too long. Millions spent on consultancies, working from home and suchlike are ripe for culling.

I’d conclude that you know as little about council budgets and how much they are controlled as Farage does from that statement. What proportion of an average councils budget is spent on the things you mention, do you think? He is going to find out the hard way that he’s been selling pipedreams.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Casdon

I think that shows how little he understands about how councils operate. Working within an overall framework, Councillors set the direction and budget levels to meet the council’s statutory obligations and comply with the laws and other requirements imposed on them. External audits are already mandated by law. Surely he should know that?

What about rainbow lanyards, DEI initiatives, cosying up with Stonewall and compliance with their exhortations - glossy leaflets and pamphlets, meetings to discuss all this navel gazing. Value for money using budgets can vary enormously it seems. I like the idea of cutting waste. Music to most people’s ears I imagine. Spend wisely on things that the voters want, pot holes filled, efficiency measures, local government has gone under the radar for too long. Millions spent on consultancies, working from home and suchlike are ripe for culling.

Yawn yawn!

Casdon

I think that shows how little he understands about how councils operate. Working within an overall framework, Councillors set the direction and budget levels to meet the council’s statutory obligations and comply with the laws and other requirements imposed on them. External audits are already mandated by law. Surely he should know that?

What about rainbow lanyards, DEI initiatives, cosying up with Stonewall and compliance with their exhortations - glossy leaflets and pamphlets, meetings to discuss all this navel gazing. Value for money using budgets can vary enormously it seems. I like the idea of cutting waste. Music to most people’s ears I imagine. Spend wisely on things that the voters want, pot holes filled, efficiency measures, local government has gone under the radar for too long. Millions spent on consultancies, working from home and suchlike are ripe for culling.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I like the fact though that he said he’d be calling the auditors in at the start. See what’s what, where the money’s going, who are the contractors, are they giving value for money etc. I should imagine folk living in the council area will be delighted!

I wonder how many of the new councillors can understand a balance sheet.

I think that shows how little he understands about how councils operate. Working within an overall framework, Councillors set the direction and budget levels to meet the council’s statutory obligations and comply with the laws and other requirements imposed on them. External audits are already mandated by law. Surely he should know that?

When does Farage start signing his Executive Orders?

I like the fact though that he said he’d be calling the auditors in at the start. See what’s what, where the money’s going, who are the contractors, are they giving value for money etc. I should imagine folk living in the council area will be delighted!

Wyllow3

Farage is already trying to do a Trump. From the Independent:

Farage warns council staff to look for other jobs after Reform takes control of Durham

Nigel Farage has warned council staff to look for other jobs after Reform took control of Durham

The Reform leader had a message for anyone working in a host of roles for Durham council, which his party is now in control of.

*Speaking at a victory rally in Durham on Friday (2 May), Mr Farage said: “These include those with working on climate change, diversity initiatives or even just from home.
“You all better be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly*

I rather think Farage will come up against Employment Law (not to mention the unions)

Just run your eyes down this clutch of employment law and specifics for Local authority workers.

www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=employment+law+for+coucil+employees&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Farage is already trying to do a Trump. From the Independent:

Farage warns council staff to look for other jobs after Reform takes control of Durham

Nigel Farage has warned council staff to look for other jobs after Reform took control of Durham

The Reform leader had a message for anyone working in a host of roles for Durham council, which his party is now in control of.

*Speaking at a victory rally in Durham on Friday (2 May), Mr Farage said: “These include those with working on climate change, diversity initiatives or even just from home.
“You all better be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly*

Silverbrooks

Wyllow3

The vote of the people in Runcorn where Reform won by 6 votes counted. Looked up the vote in other areas and quite a number won by majorities of around 20 or 30. I expect more than a few people wished they'd turned up in Runcorn...or voted tactically...

Background about Sarah Pochin, the new MP for Runcorn and Helsby.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sarah-pochin-mp-runcorn-reform-farage-election-b2743587.html

Interestingly, she was pictured at a “refugees welcome” event, stressing that her support only includes asylum seekers, branding those who cross the English Channel to enter Britain “illegal economic migrants - which shows a remarkable lack of understanding about the asylum system … so she will fit in perfectly with the other Reform MPs.

However:

She historically expressed support for means-testing the winter fuel payment.

I wonder how many pensioners, disgruntled at losing their WFP, voted for her yesterday?

She strikes me as rather a light weight, chop and change, clearly putting backs up and not seeing things through?. But someone was happy

couldnt resist a pic.