Uk Elections today

Rachel Reeves is far too toxic. I'll be happy if she single handedly sinks Labour.

Churchview

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 .

So far, so Trump.

I think we should really take notice of this

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.

Great. The party leader telling us to vote for a Mayor threatening to do that "with a pinch of salt"

I expect there will be some well meaning and adequately competent local councillors who will find the nitty gritty of managing small budgets with huge demands a reality check to the grand theories and get on with delivering services -if they actually really care about people then this is what they'll do.

But the "ideologues" thinking will come up against the sharp reality of having to deliver care services and SEND packages and homelessness help consistently deciding to "closing swanky headquarters and "sacking pen pushers" (who are probably managing said struggling services as best they can),

will make difficult situations worse. Close this or that because Reform (or some of Reform......doesn't agree with SEND? What about families, schools...

These are policy decisions made at UK level not locally.

fancythat

I am loathe to put too much identifiable info on social media.

But I will say this bit. For some reason, I have no idea why, there are no conservative and no labour canditates on our ballot form.
I wonder if it is to try and help liberal get elected?

Very likely, and I don't blame them. I dont have any in principle objections to tactical voting either individual decisions or parties operating for "best outcomes".

Less when there is PR but with FPTP for example, just this week in Canada, the NDP compromised with the Liberals in some seats but also individuals decided how to vote in order that the Liberals could gain seats

One of my grandsons is standing as Reform candidate for his local council, and while I wish him well, I wouldn`t vote for him if I lived there, because I absolutely can`t stand Nigel Farrage.
My 2 daughters are doing their regular stint at the polling station, it`s a nice little earner for them.

My son and family live on the west coast and I live in the Midwest. I have 2 grand kids that I never see. I am 75 with MS and getting hard to travel. They came last year (first time in 4 years). But not this year. Trying to make peace with this situation. Would appreciate any suggestions.

No elections here in my part of the north west England.

Learning how to use this site. Should have started in a different area

That does not explain why we have the most expensive electricity in Europe. Labours own figures show that subsidies add £700 per year to energy bills . A lot of these subsidies are for wind farms that are not yet connected to the grid and will not be for years to come. A shortage of cable laying ships and wire cable for power lines is the problem. Politicians have jumped on to net zero without looking to see if it is feasible in the timescale they have announced.

Elections here, we are voting reform, as are most of our family too. It'll hopefully be an interesting result.

there aren't UK elections today. There are elections in parts of England.

I'm voting Reform so is OH. Our only hope to stop the boats. People are drowning, country can't afford all the hotels, some but not all are dangerous criminals, etc. Plus Starmer is making many pensioners practically bankrupt with high energy and no winter fuel allowance. Feel sorry for those just a few pounds over the limit to claim pension credit. Choice between heat and eat. Businesses going bankrupt all over the place. Students fees up Starmer lied about that too. Many disabled people going to loose benefits
I don't care if Reform is any better but in my opinion they can't be any worse.

Watched Labour's Party Political broadcast - when Starmer said he was "protecting our borders" I laughted out loud!!

MaizieD

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..

UK energy is the most expensive in Europe by far, even where most countries are signed up to net zero.
Plenty of finformation available on it.
Meg.

sazz1

I'm voting Reform so is OH. Our only hope to stop the boats. People are drowning, country can't afford all the hotels, some but not all are dangerous criminals, etc. Plus Starmer is making many pensioners practically bankrupt with high energy and no winter fuel allowance. Feel sorry for those just a few pounds over the limit to claim pension credit. Choice between heat and eat. Businesses going bankrupt all over the place. Students fees up Starmer lied about that too. Many disabled people going to loose benefits
I don't care if Reform is any better but in my opinion they can't be any worse.

Please explain how a local councillor would change any of that.

Well I got my passport and went to my usual place this morning but it’s all shut up and no one seems to have been voting here are some towns not voting today !!!

I would be voting reform if we had elections here.
It is the only way the populace will get to express their dissatifaction for the next 3 years.
Meg.

Sazz1 the fact you don’t care says it all Reform are far right if that’s what you want OMG
I can’t bear the thought

I despair at people’s inability to think about the consequences of their actions.

Has anyone with an election today actually been to hustings and spoken to Reform candidates (or indeed any candidates) about what their policies are?

That’s assuming Reform candidates actually bother to attend hustings which, from what I am reading, many haven’t bothered to turn up to - which is exactly what happened in the GE.

Nowt to do with Wales or Scotland as no elections. The Labour government is here for another four years, so local elections and councillors will not change a thing.

We'll be voting in the by-election later today. We have been inundated with flyers from Reform. We also had 4 from them in one postal delivery alone on Monday. They must be spending a fortune if this is spread throughout the constituency. I'm disappointed with the start the Labour party has made on many fronts but I could never consider voting for the present Reform party.

Silverbrooks

sazz1

I'm voting Reform so is OH. Our only hope to stop the boats. People are drowning, country can't afford all the hotels, some but not all are dangerous criminals, etc. Plus Starmer is making many pensioners practically bankrupt with high energy and no winter fuel allowance. Feel sorry for those just a few pounds over the limit to claim pension credit. Choice between heat and eat. Businesses going bankrupt all over the place. Students fees up Starmer lied about that too. Many disabled people going to loose benefits
I don't care if Reform is any better but in my opinion they can't be any worse.

Please explain how a local councillor would change any of that.

You could say that about any local Councillor, but one or two can at least have their say. Of course they can vote against what they disagree with. A voice for all, wether Independant, or Reform

sazz1

I'm voting Reform so is OH. Our only hope to stop the boats. People are drowning, country can't afford all the hotels, some but not all are dangerous criminals, etc. Plus Starmer is making many pensioners practically bankrupt with high energy and no winter fuel allowance. Feel sorry for those just a few pounds over the limit to claim pension credit. Choice between heat and eat. Businesses going bankrupt all over the place. Students fees up Starmer lied about that too. Many disabled people going to loose benefits
I don't care if Reform is any better but in my opinion they can't be any worse.

sazz1 have you no idea at all how hard it was to fight for people with mental health disabilities to access benefits?

Don't you actually release that Farage - like his US counterparts - are hostile to this group? And how hard it is and was for parents to get SEND often neurodivergent children the help needed - he is also hostile to this group and wants cuts?

Silverbrooks

I despair at people’s inability to think about the consequences of their actions.

Has anyone with an election today actually been to hustings and spoken to Reform candidates (or indeed any candidates) about what their policies are?

That’s assuming Reform candidates actually bother to attend hustings which, from what I am reading, many haven’t bothered to turn up to - which is exactly what happened in the GE.

I agree , people don't think before they vote. Now we have a LabourGov wrecking g the economy , killing off farming and business, and giving taxpayers money to overseas terrorist supporters. Well done all.

BlueBelle

Well I got my passport and went to my usual place this morning but it’s all shut up and no one seems to have been voting here are some towns not voting today !!!

Did you get a polling card?

Freya5

Silverbrooks

I despair at people’s inability to think about the consequences of their actions.

Has anyone with an election today actually been to hustings and spoken to Reform candidates (or indeed any candidates) about what their policies are?

That’s assuming Reform candidates actually bother to attend hustings which, from what I am reading, many haven’t bothered to turn up to - which is exactly what happened in the GE.

I agree , people don't think before they vote. Now we have a LabourGov wrecking g the economy , killing off farming and business, and giving taxpayers money to overseas terrorist supporters. Well done all.

giving taxpayers money to overseas terrorist supporters

What is this referring to?