Uk Elections today

But Carlotta County Councils can't do anything about immigration - incidentally, do you mean immigration in general or those crossing the Channel by small boat?

I'm well aware that County Councils can't do anything about immigration growstuff which is why I specifically said that this was a warning shot to the two main parties, particularly Labour. I completely agree with the rest of your observations but I know that many poor northern towns have felt overlooked and ignored by both Labour and the Tories for a very long time. They've seen little to no investment in their infrastructure; unemployment is generationally high, quality of health is poor, schools are poor and over subscribed and social care is on the bones of it's arse. At the same time, they're seeing more and more money being spent on immigration and they're angry and resentful because they feel they're carrying the heavier burden for that. Farage is certainly a mini Trump and a Reform government will be as catastrophic for the UK as Trump has been for the US. But the people who voted for Reform are the same demographic who voted for Trump; the angry, the overlooked and the disenfranchised who just want to be heard. Ignore them at your peril.

I don’t know Wyllow3, I’ve been out today, I only just noticed how close the numbers were, so you may well be right.

growstuff

But Carlotta County Councils can't do anything about immigration - incidentally, do you mean immigration in general or those crossing the Channel by small boat?

You say that Labour have increased stealth taxes (justifiably), but the cuts Reform seem likely to make will hit those very same people. County Councils' major responsibility is for social care. Services have already been cut to the bone, which is why the elderly and disabled don't get the home visits they need and it's so hard to get funding for care homes. Parents of SEND children are already having to subsidise their PIP funding and it now looks likely they will have to pay to send their children to school. It will be interesting to see what Reform councils do.

This is where the reality check sets in. People who live in areas where a lot need social help, housing, less income for their SEND children, feel Labour has not given them what was expected,

...... then find Reform, whom they placed hopes in, actually cuts back further? Or "Re-organises" local "bureaucracies" already cut to the bone (I'm thinking of local government functions, who staff SSD, Housing, Education and more)?

I think it's a case of by their deeds shall we know them, not their words. And if many of them are decent people, which I'm sure with those numbers, there are, they will have to address peoples needs in practice, not in theory, before more elections come along of greater import.

Haven't the Lib Dem wins come in from the "usual suspect" areas? Ie not the Red Wall areas of the country but went Labour last year and objecting?

The results are more interesting than they first look I think. At the moment, Reform gains and Tory losses are virtually equal, and Labour losses and Lib Dem gains are virtually equal. Where have the Lib Dem votes come from? I don’t know if it’s coincidental, so I’m looking forward to the nerds working out the stats, so we know exactly what has happened.

Allira

As for the Tories - is that it? Are they doomed to the wilderness for ever?

I think they might think about finding a new leader.

But Carlotta County Councils can't do anything about immigration - incidentally, do you mean immigration in general or those crossing the Channel by small boat?

You say that Labour have increased stealth taxes (justifiably), but the cuts Reform seem likely to make will hit those very same people. County Councils' major responsibility is for social care. Services have already been cut to the bone, which is why the elderly and disabled don't get the home visits they need and it's so hard to get funding for care homes. Parents of SEND children are already having to subsidise their PIP funding and it now looks likely they will have to pay to send their children to school. It will be interesting to see what Reform councils do.

As for the Tories - is that it? Are they doomed to the wilderness for ever?

The two main parties will be gloomy tonight.

Well if they’ve got any common sense at all, they'll see this as a warning shot and a chance to get themselves sorted out and the electorate on board with where they're heading. Ask why people voted as they did, learn from it and act now before it's too late. Labour can't keep increasing stealth taxes, removing benefits from the sick, disabled and elderly, whilst doing apparently very little about record breaking immigration that's costing the country billions. These are key issues in the areas that they've lost heavily today. They've been warned.

Oreo

Whatever anyone thinks of Reform as a political party, they have done spectacularly well in these Council elections and the Runcorn by-election.Better than I thought they would.
The two main parties will be gloomy tonight.

They'll have to put on their thinking caps.

Whatever anyone thinks of Reform as a political party, they have done spectacularly well in these Council elections and the Runcorn by-election.Better than I thought they would.
The two main parties will be gloomy tonight.

mrsmeldrew

Allira

petra

Allira

Anniebach

Reform spokesman said this morning he supports a NHS where some pay something!

Well, we're paying for our eyes, our teeth, prescriptions already!

You forgot our ears and feet 😂

Oh yes, of course.

How could I forget feet, although I must say podiatry is still free with the NHS if not chiropody.

In Worcestershire, DH told at last podiatry appointment (he is type I diabetic) that there would be no further appointments unless he cut his foot. So we have to pay £40 now.

But what type of podiatry? Orthotics are still available on the NHS as far as I know.
Podiatry services for diabetics are still available in this area but for how long, I don't know.

I will never forget the grifter Andrea Jenkyns giving protestors the finger. Charming woman.

Allira

petra

Allira

Anniebach

Reform spokesman said this morning he supports a NHS where some pay something!

Well, we're paying for our eyes, our teeth, prescriptions already!

You forgot our ears and feet 😂

Oh yes, of course.

How could I forget feet, although I must say podiatry is still free with the NHS if not chiropody.

In Worcestershire, DH told at last podiatry appointment (he is type I diabetic) that there would be no further appointments unless he cut his foot. So we have to pay £40 now.

Wyllow3

I'm hoping and concerned that my very special needs disabled granddaughter will not suffer from Reform cuts in the SEND and other local disability and child provision departments after whats been said by Farage - their county council has gone Reform.

Interesting as the day goes on the Lib Dems are picking up more seats, which was predicted last night.

I hope so too but a Reform spokesman told Kuenssberg this morning that one of the local council cuts could be to school transport for pupils with SEN as motobility is available. I believe that Farage is keen on a DOGE approach to reducing spending so we will see how that pans out.

petra

Allira

Anniebach

Reform spokesman said this morning he supports a NHS where some pay something!

Well, we're paying for our eyes, our teeth, prescriptions already!

You forgot our ears and feet 😂

Oh yes, of course.

How could I forget feet, although I must say podiatry is still free with the NHS if not chiropody.

Allira

Anniebach

Reform spokesman said this morning he supports a NHS where some pay something!

Well, we're paying for our eyes, our teeth, prescriptions already!

You forgot our ears and feet 😂

I'm hoping and concerned that my very special needs disabled granddaughter will not suffer from Reform cuts in the SEND and other local disability and child provision departments after whats been said by Farage - their county council has gone Reform.

Interesting as the day goes on the Lib Dems are picking up more seats, which was predicted last night.

foxie48

Voters don't vote in local elections, 33% in this part of the world. I'm still waiting to hear who won the seat in my area but I voted for the incumbent, who is a Green party member and who has always been extremely active in the area. He's a good candidate and tbh I'd have voted for him regardless of which party he belonged to.

In local government as you say that counts for so much, a hard working and approachable councillor!

I guess for Reform councillors and areas where they have control it will be how services are delivered and whether people get the help they need (care, SEND, housing, education, you name it). They'll also have the realities of how to work with migrants like it or not as other councils have.

Allira

Anniebach

Reform spokesman said this morning he supports a NHS where some pay something!

Well, we're paying for our eyes, our teeth, prescriptions already!

Yup......but paying to see my GP or for other treatments I get, that would go down publicly, a real vote winner....

Reform haven't thought this through.

They are all for reducing bureaucracy yet somehow assessing who'd pay and who not and starting to charge within already busy GP practices or hospitals......

Voters don't vote in local elections, 33% in this part of the world. I'm still waiting to hear who won the seat in my area but I voted for the incumbent, who is a Green party member and who has always been extremely active in the area. He's a good candidate and tbh I'd have voted for him regardless of which party he belonged to.

Anniebach

Reform spokesman said this morning he supports a NHS where some pay something!

Well, we're paying for our eyes, our teeth, prescriptions already!

The leafy shires of middle England
Staffordshire?

The County Council now has a Reform majority.

Well, let's see them put the money where their mouths are. I hope they'll fill all the potholes.

4 for labour out of 98 so far in my council.
The North of England are again saying please listen.

Yep Durham is my council, from what I can see so far all the deprived wards in this area voted reform.