MaggsMcG
You didnt tackle the threat to the NHS
In my opinion there does need to be restrictions on free NHS services for those that can afford to pay, including pensioners.
Means testing, yes.
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Reform, their policies and local government
(231 Posts)An explainer of some policies that Reform will try to implement, often, it appears breaking the law.
1. Net zero
Major solar and wind energy projects face threats from Reform-controlled councils whose members are instinctively hostile to net zero policies.
“We will attack, we will hinder, we will delay, we will obstruct, we will put every hurdle in your way,” said the party’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, of such projects.
A solar farm in Romney Marsh, Kent, which could power 20% of homes in the county, is in the crosshairs of party, which controls the council. In Staffordshire, a proposed windfarm in the county’s moorlands area and a solar farm in Cheadle will be opposed.
But Reform’s plans will also meet hostility from within communities. In Greater Lincolnshire alone, net zero industries contribute about £980m to the local economy, accounting for 12,209 jobs, according to analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU).
Legally, the picture is also unclear. Reform could try to block pylons and large solar farms through the judicial review process, though the new planning and infrastructure bill aims to make the challenges harder.
2. Send provision
Farage’s unsubstantiated claims that doctors are “massively over-diagnosing” children with mental illness and special educational needs has sparked fears that Reform UK councils could further restrict or make dramatic cuts to special educational needs and disabilities provision (Send).
The 10 councils where Reform have overall control are projected to have a combined deficit by March next year of £489m. It is as much as £95m in the case of Kent and £71m in Derbyshire.
Reform councils could call for changes to the law to reduce access to education, health and care plans, which are much sought after by families of some children after years of state underinvestment in education.
However, any moves to push for cuts or reshaping of policy also potentially risks sparking a backlash from both its own voters and splits within the party. Andrea Jenkyns, the mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, has spoken about her son having ADHD and appeared to contradict Farage. James McMurdock, a Reform MP in Essex, also cast himself as a champion of parents struggling to get Send support for children.
Reform councils who unlawfully try to restrict access to Send support will face the prospect of being challenged at tribunals by families.
3. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies
In an echo of the axe taken by the Trump administration in the US, Farage has already warned: “If you are working in DEI or climate change then perhaps alternative employment is where you should be looking.”
The party’s hostility to “gender ideology” could have repercussions for councils working with charities such as Positive Health, which runs sexual health promotion, education and HIV training for Lincolnshire.
Any savings from cuts to supposed DEI-related schemes are likely to be minimal. Derbyshire and Lincolnshire have each pointed out they don’t have DEI schemes.
4. Immigration
Farage has said that Reform-controlled councils will “resist” accepting any more asylum seekers, pitting then on a potential collision course with Westminster.
Zia Yusuf, the party’s chair, has also said its legal team is examining planning law mechanisms to challenge the use of hotels for asylum accommodation.
The moves would have consequences in places such as Kent, where the county council has been at the forefront of handling provision for unaccompanied minors.
But again the law would not be on the side of councils. The responsibility falls to the Home Office, which selects the hotels and contractors for the scheme.
5. Heritage and culture
Reform has said only the St George and union flag will be flown at council property, although it backtracked when it came to the question of county flags.
The policy appeared to be aimed at the flying of rainbow flags in solidarity with LGBT+ people and to celebrate Pride. It would also spell the end of councils flying Ukrainian flags, serving as a reminder that Farage has frequently been accused by Labour of “fawning” over Vladimir Putin.
Other potential culture wars could arise over council funding of museums or galleries with exhibitions that are deemed to denigrate Britain’s history or the empire.
6. Transport
Opposition to 15-minute cities – an urban planning concept that has become a lightning rod for conspiracy theorists – and support for “pro-motorist” policies have long been red meat to Reform.
Farage lashed out in the local election campaign at “cycle lanes that no one uses” while Reform’s likely leader of Worcestershire county council, Alan Amos, claimed: “All the other parties have bent over backwards to please a small minority.”
At the same time, Amos was eager to emphasise that Reform was eager to support bus travel, a hot issue in a number of counties where Reform’s voter base has tended to be older.
When it comes to cycling, existing policies at many councils are already advanced while there is strong public support for cycling schemes.
Guardian today.
David49
MaggsMcG
You didnt tackle the threat to the NHS
In my opinion there does need to be restrictions on free NHS services for those that can afford to pay, including pensioners.
Means testing, yes.
In practice, there already is.
Casdon
In fairness though today hasn’t been a good day for any party. As well as the Reform councillor, a Tory MP convicted, and suspended from the party for sexual misconduct at the Groucho Club, a Labour MP under investigation for expenses, and a Lib Dem councillor, the youngest in the country suspended for something we don’t yet know about.
All a disgrace frankly!
If you elect to become a public figure, serving the public in any capacity, like it or not, you should strive to be “whiter than white”, and at the very least, stay within the law!
I think means testing in the NHS is a completely no go idea.
Can we not see how much bureaucracy it would entail? Proof of this, that, of the other? How it would add to GP and hospital work and take time when people claim already "we have too many managers"
J52
Reform Councillor Andrew Hamilton Gray ( Loughborough) was sacked from his post as a police officer in January because reported in as sick, but he went on holiday.
Good upstanding role model! Not!
He wasn't on holiday. He was running a luxury car business on the side and reporting in sick so he could deliver cars overseas.
He's now on the college of policing barred list:
www.college.police.uk/ethics/barred-list/search-the-barred-list/95738D78-E516-41BD-8191-9A71B8FE1A43/Andrew%20%28Andy%29/Hamilton%20Gray%20%28Hamilton%2C%20Gray%29
Story here:
tinyurl.com/yynakkax
He was sacked for breaching professional standards on "honesty and integrity, discreditable conduct, orders and instructions, and duties and responsibilities".
So much for Reform's vetting procedures. There's nothing in the Electoral Commision rules that would stop him from seeking election but he must have known that this would come out.
Wyllow3
I think means testing in the NHS is a completely no go idea.
Can we not see how much bureaucracy it would entail? Proof of this, that, of the other? How it would add to GP and hospital work and take time when people claim already "we have too many managers"
I agree
In addition to Wyllow3’s very valid points, there is also the fact that
tax revenue, including income tax and National Insurance contributions, primarily funds the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. General taxation covers the vast majority of the NHS budget, with a smaller portion coming from patient charges and other revenue.
So those who pay the biggest contribution to the NHS, i.e. those who pay most tax and NI, would be required to pay again for treatment under means testing.
On the other hand,
Imagine if you were told that you’re entitlement to free NHS treatment depends on how much you’ve contributed in tax and national insurance, and if you haven’t contributed enough if you don’t get free NHS treatment.
Your entitlement, not you’re entitlement.
It would be easy to restrict free eye test, hearing aids, prescriptions, in the same as WFA only those on benefits would get free services.
More revenue is needed, that can only come from those that have money
“He wasn't on holiday. He was running a luxury car business on the side and reporting in sick so he could deliver cars overseas.”
Doesn’t make it any better does it.
No, it doesn't.
Reports say he had permission to run the business but frankly, the kinds of cars he was claiming to have been dealing in and delivering overseas could easily have been a conflict of interest. Luxury cars and money laundering often go hand in hand.
David49
It would be easy to restrict free eye test, hearing aids, prescriptions, in the same as WFA only those on benefits would get free services.
More revenue is needed, that can only come from those that have money
Why is that fair though?
David49
It would be easy to restrict free eye test, hearing aids, prescriptions, in the same as WFA only those on benefits would get free services.
More revenue is needed, that can only come from those that have money
Why not do it in other ways?
For instance, wealth tax for those earning over £150,000 and/or clamping down on those not paying full taxes, from small self employed up to large organisations.
Using the same criteria as WFA will penalise that group who suffered when WFA was hurriedly instigated. So? I do not support this!
David49
More revenue is needed, that can only come from those that have money
And when they provide the money, you think it’s just and fair to only give the benefits of their labours to those who have made a smaller, or even zero contribution?
Whether it is fair or not someone has to pay more or receive less, there are not enough high earners to tax to make a difference
At £125k income 45% + NI + council tax already, An income of £150k is only 2 or 3% of the population.
An intermediate tax at 30% over median income ( £35k ? ) would raise much more.
I don't think it would be "easy", at all, David. Prescriptions? thats a minefield.
The amount of tablets many older people need its a quite shocking suggestion frankly. And same issues in terms of bureaucracy in means testing.
The only "possible" is to raise to retirement age, despite huge efforts from GB news and the Telegraph in January to accuse Labour of considering means testing prescriptions. Even Reform won't touch it.
Whitewavemark2
nanna8
Maybe, maybe not. You don’t find him unlikeable and that is good. Others disagree. In fact everyone over here, even real hardline Labour people , think he is dreadful. We see things differently from afar.
I think that if you are sold on charismatic figures, you certainly don’t get that with Starmer. (Although I think his private persona is very different according to everything I read)
What you do get is a serious person, who does not pander to the media by popping up and selling his policies every 5 minutes as the likes of Farage (although in his case it isn’t so much policies as moans) do.
Starmer right from the very start of his premiership said that he prefers to work quietly behind the scene to bring results.
I do prefer that sort of character to the more idiotic characters that we’ve been subjected to recently, but I also recognise that much of the voting public appear to need to be spoon fed, and Starmer’s preferred modus operandi will go against him.
I so agree, he's quiet, steady and reliable, the others belong in the field of entertainment
David49
Whether it is fair or not someone has to pay more or receive less, there are not enough high earners to tax to make a difference
At £125k income 45% + NI + council tax already, An income of £150k is only 2 or 3% of the population.
An intermediate tax at 30% over median income ( £35k ? ) would raise much more.
I could NEVER support that! Particularly if it was set at £35,000, this would affect so many “normal” people who frankly all were affected badly by the previous govt and austerity.
Cossy
David49
Whether it is fair or not someone has to pay more or receive less, there are not enough high earners to tax to make a difference
At £125k income 45% + NI + council tax already, An income of £150k is only 2 or 3% of the population.
An intermediate tax at 30% over median income ( £35k ? ) would raise much more.I could NEVER support that! Particularly if it was set at £35,000, this would affect so many “normal” people who frankly all were affected badly by the previous govt and austerity.
It’s pretty clear that austerity is going to get much worse than the Cameron era, think more in terms of the 1950s when taxes were much higher, our lifestyles today are not sustainable with the GDP we have now, maybe Labour will boost the economy, if they do it will take 10yrs.
I like Starmer but he needs to do more quickly to make a difference, whatever he changes will be unpopular with many, particularly if we have to spend a lot more on defence.
David49
It would be easy to restrict free eye test, hearing aids, prescriptions, in the same as WFA only those on benefits would get free services.
More revenue is needed, that can only come from those that have money
But which benefits? I have 11 items on repeat prescription, but don't qualify for Pension Credit. If I had to pay prescription charges for all of them, I'd end up as they do in the US and skip the ones which seem less important. I don't believe any of my prescription items are unnecessary, so not taking some of them would eventually affect my health and life expectancy. There are many other people who just miss thresholds for means-tested benefits.
Personally, I'd make all prescriptions free (I believe only 10-15% of people in England pay for them anyway) and raise the shortfall (which wouldn't be a huge chunk of GDP) through graduated wealth and income taxes.
David49 The issue is how the "austerity" would be distributed. Which segment(s) of the population would end up being worse off?
Cossy
David49
Whether it is fair or not someone has to pay more or receive less, there are not enough high earners to tax to make a difference
At £125k income 45% + NI + council tax already, An income of £150k is only 2 or 3% of the population.
An intermediate tax at 30% over median income ( £35k ? ) would raise much more.I could NEVER support that! Particularly if it was set at £35,000, this would affect so many “normal” people who frankly all were affected badly by the previous govt and austerity.
I agree - and my income is nowhere near £35k, so I wouldn't be affected anyway.
David49
MaggsMcG
You didnt tackle the threat to the NHS
In my opinion there does need to be restrictions on free NHS services for those that can afford to pay, including pensioners.
Means testing, yes.
But how would you decide who can afford to pay? What criteria would you use? Means-testing would bring all the usual "cliff edge" issues. In any case, we all already pay now for the NHS through the tax and NI system(s). Higher earners are paying more for the NHS without being means-tested on the treatment they receive.
TBH those who can already "afford" it are probably already paying for some medical procedures, so they don't have to wait so long. Free dental care has already disappeared for most people.
Given the demographic profile of the majority of Reform voters, it would be political suicide for the party to introduce means-tested prescription charges.
Yes, it is not mentioned in Reform Manifestos at all. I went and checked.
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