Uk Elections today

Sadly experience counts for very little nowadays, especially when you look at what a mess so many so called ‘Experienced’ councillors & MP’s make. I say give Reform a chance. Quite frankly we have little to lose.

If local councillors just deal with local matters, why are a lot of them, or most, affiliated to national parties?
Why are they not all Independents?

That question is to anyone.

All of our councillors are Independent.

I was on my town council for two years but we were non political! My city council is made up of the major parties! You get more done if you are non political 👍

fancythat

If local councillors just deal with local matters, why are a lot of them, or most, affiliated to national parties?
Why are they not all Independents?

Just our history? There was a time when Councils had a lot more independence power/money so party politics led to different choices in terms of certain projects?

These figures were given by National Grid in response to a Freedom of Information request and confirmed by a ‘government spokesperson’.

National Grid cannot link onshore solar or wind power because of a shortage of the wire cables connecting them to the grid via Pylons. We no longer make this wire in the UK. There is also a shortage of the transformers needed to bring the voltage down to the consumer level. We no longer make them either. As you can imagine other countries around the world are also in the process of reducing use of fossil fuels, hence the shortage.
Politicians in this country seem to lack the ability of forward thinking and have shut down our fossil fuels production too early.

Information like this can be found easily if you deign to look rather than rely on the rubbish spouted by politicians.

GrannyGravy13

All of our councillors are Independent.

There are only 2 Councils in England like that.

fancythat

GrannyGravy13

All of our councillors are Independent.

There are only 2 Councils in England like that.

Yes, I know.

It works well here and our MP is also very approachable and listens to their constituents.

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..

Johnathan Leake, Telegraphy 30/4/25
"Household energy bills will rise to pay for a net zero upgrade of Britain’s regional power grids, Ofgem has announced.
The energy regulator on Wednesday published plans for a massive expansion of the local distribution networks that deliver power the last few miles from the energy grid to homes and businesses.
The plans, to be undertaken between 2028-33, will be paid for by households through extra levies on their bills.
It means sharp increases in the average network charges that every home pays. These charges have already risen from £238 in 2019 to £372 today."
.....there is more if anyone cares to look it up. Cheaper electricity is an absolute myth.

We are about to put in solar.
We are finding the bills too expensive.

Big outlay, but will pay back in time.
I dont really like the idea, but feels like the electricity costs will keep going up.

We are hoping it will work out to be a good decision.

People can disagree over the reasons for high costs. But that doesnt change the size of the bills as they are now. And what they look likely to be. At least in the short term.

Why don’t we just vote for consultants and consultancies? That’s all any party does when they get in…….costing ratepayers millions….

My son in all seriousness reported that his local grocery store is turning off one of its freezers to help keep costs down… and this means that his choice of ice cream is quite limited. Not impressed…

Wot! No Magnums?😲

Um - if we're talking about 'indoctrination', should not the role of the 'legacy' media and papers like the Guardian be taken into account? Or is 'indoctrination' a term only used for beliefs and policies with which one does not agree?

As for the annoying terms 'left' and 'right', in 'my day' the 'left' were supposed to look after the interests of the working person, those with less money and education. Whereas now it seems to me they disregard the needs and views of 'ordinary' people, who, for instance, do not want hostels for asylum seekers taking over their town. That is now called 'right wing' and much is made of the so-called 'rise of the far right' when it seems to me that such folk are merely wishing to defend their culture and lifestyle. Labour seem far more concerned with their crazy Net Zero ideology, which means we close down our natural resources and import coal instead, impoverishing our already struggling country. And they seem far more concerned with Trans rights, than the rights of the English - oh! - wash my mouth out with soap! The leader of Scottish Labour is a Pakistani man whom I've heard ranting about the necessity to take over schools with Muslim beliefs. And opposing that is 'right wing'? Anyway, I digress - if Labour get a pasting in the polls so much the better, but I think it will take more than that for some sections of the country to WAKE UP, before there is no more Britain.

Fact Check on your claim "The leader of Scottish Labour is a Pakistani man whom I've heard ranting about the necessity to take over schools with Muslim beliefs. "

"https://www.thenational.scot/politics/25121123.fact-check-claim-anas-sarwar-called-muslim-take-over-schools/

Yes it was a right wing racist group made a video using clipped half sentences, imported imaging not at the event and using A1, from a full speech at a 2022 event

Read about the original speech made in 2022 and how the racist attack was made in the article. The article shows both the original speech and the A1 false version.

www.thenational.scot/politics/25121123.fact-check-claim-anas-sarwar-called-muslim-take-over-schools/

undines Maybe you'd like to correct your post.

It made me really angry growstuff - an anonymous Social Media video released ^completely changing the meaning.

Then it was picked up and reported as fact not just by the likes of Laurence Fox, but even "mainstream" GB news claiming he was asking for Sharia Law, when in fact what he was saying was that Muslim politicians should come out of any stereotypes and joining in politics fully as any UK citizens individuals with different POV.

GrannyGravy13

fancythat

GrannyGravy13

All of our councillors are Independent.

There are only 2 Councils in England like that.

Yes, I know.

It works well here and our MP is also very approachable and listens to their constituents.

22 of our 39 councillors are independents. It's a shame our MP is a complete waste of space (and leader of the opposition). Maybe the town's independence is why it was recently named the best place to live in the UK by The Sunday Times.

Wyllow3

It made me really angry growstuff - an anonymous Social Media video released ^completely changing the meaning.

Then it was picked up and reported as fact not just by the likes of Laurence Fox, but even "mainstream" GB news claiming he was asking for Sharia Law, when in fact what he was saying was that Muslim politicians should come out of any stereotypes and joining in politics fully as any UK citizens individuals with different POV.

And people pick up on this stuff and repeat it. What a state!

Oops! Reform appear to be - predictably - taking chunks out of Labour in the local council elections.

This should wipe the eternal grin off Rachel Reeves cheery chubby cheeks.

But will it be enough for Sir Keir to jettison his toxic chancellor? Or will he carry on allowing her to take an axe to the elderly and the disabled?

And exactly why do Starmer and Reeves so obviously loathe the two most vulnerable categories of our society?

They don't loathe them in particular. Look outside the bubble.

Reform has won the by-election by six votes, tight but still a win.

Labour and Conservatives need to start listening to the electorate…

I would prefer that Starmer got rid of Miliband and Rayner, both far more destructive, before departing himself. But who would lead Labour?
This is what happens when people vote tactically, leading to the worst of all possible options: Farage.