Didn’t Gordon Brown sell off our gold??
It’s been a while so I will start us off…….whats for supper and why?
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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.
Chocolatelovinggran no, not at all but I do know there is a lot of misinformation out there and stirring on every side.
A briefing isn't at all the same as say, Facebook. It's so sad though that it has come to this.
sundowngirl
Didn’t Gordon Brown sell off our gold??
His mistake wasn't selling off the gold, which released money for the economy, but selling before it went up in price.
Thank you for that, NotSpaghetti, my feathers were a little ruffled!
So, David, are you saying, let's just continue on this path, or..?
NotSpaghetti
...of course it may not be true?
It’s true. It’s been done
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgj0y8nev7o
Chocolatelovinggran that certainly wasn't my intention.
Apologies.
£40k is really not worth it it seems to me!
What a waste.
It included Edward Bawden and Graham Clarke too.
The article says it may have raised 30,000 - probably the difference is auction house fees.
It was valued at £47,000
I see their latest wheeze is to sell their own football shirt.
Do they have a team?
Trying to appeal to the football demographic I suppose.
Chocolatelovinggran
Thank you for that, NotSpaghetti, my feathers were a little ruffled!
So, David, are you saying, let's just continue on this path, or..?
We are where we are, there is no easy way back, but let’s not sit back and watch it get worse. If we want better services we have got to pay for them not borrow, there is plenty of wealth in the UK but it’s hoarded by too many or spent on luxurious lifestyles.
I support what Starmer is trying to do but I fear his own left wingers will prevent him from achieving.
Their standard speech tactic is to complain about Britainbeing broken, find some group to blame and offer their smart Party to solve the 'problem'. They seem to have moved on from the EU to immigration. Their approach reminds me of the Nazis and Fascists.
They have the largest party in our county council, causing a stir puts it mildly, so far the Tories havn’t joined them so only limited changes.
I worry about a Reform /Tory coalition at the next GE
David49
They have the largest party in our county council, causing a stir puts it mildly, so far the Tories havn’t joined them so only limited changes.
I worry about a Reform /Tory coalition at the next GE
The punch ups will be fun to watch!
growstuff
David49
They have the largest party in our county council, causing a stir puts it mildly, so far the Tories havn’t joined them so only limited changes.
I worry about a Reform /Tory coalition at the next GEThe punch ups will be fun to watch!
Tories had better change leader quickly because I don’t think Badenoch would be much use.
David49
They have the largest party in our county council, causing a stir puts it mildly, so far the Tories havn’t joined them so only limited changes.
I worry about a Reform /Tory coalition at the next GE
I look forward to it. Must be better than this Labour shower
Whitewavemark2
I see their latest wheeze is to sell their own football shirt.
Do they have a team?
Trying to appeal to the football demographic I suppose.
Well that's a post if ever I read one!
Educated, smart thinking people wear a football shirt too! My son often does, he has a PhD. He does not support Reform in any shape or form.
Unless you didn't mean it like that. 🤔
Have Reform got a football team though? If they haven’t, can somebody explain what the point of them having a football shirt is, or is it a fan shirt, like little girls who love Frozen, or pop fans wear?
I have noticed that turquoise blue seems to be everywhere! Note TV shows for a example. Is this subliminal suggestion?
Casdon
Have Reform got a football team though? If they haven’t, can somebody explain what the point of them having a football shirt is, or is it a fan shirt, like little girls who love Frozen, or pop fans wear?
I think you can have whatever you like on a football shirt, you don't have to have a team. They're custom-made, so I could order a batch with my dog on!
I think Reform are silly to sell their own football shirts, but the comment that this speaks to a certain demographic was wrong and shows intolerance.
There are so many things that are alarming in whitewaves summary of Reform's core policies.
For me, the most alarming is this complacency about climate change and Reform's intention to abandon the Net Zero target. easybee says Net Zero is impractical and increasingly expensive". Given the number of climate-related problems that are occurring at the moment - wild fires, regular heatwaves, melting ice cap, terrible floods, etc, etc - the argument re cost does not make much sense. How expensive will it be when crops fail, reservoirs dry up, hospital admissions go through the roof, towns and homes become completely waterlogged, islands are submerged, etc, etc. Such catastrophes obviously have a knock-on effect in terms of food and water shortages/drought, lack of hygiene resulting in disease, etc, etc. Population displacement will also increase the movement of large numbers of people to less affected countries. The expense arising as a result of all these issues will be enormous.
I believe the number of people cycling has increased steadily, and presumably this is partly due to the initiatives introduced to make cycling more safe and enjoyable. In the City of London, cyclists now outnumber cars. I assume the introduction of congestion charges has some bearing on this. The majority of people live in towns and cities and air quality is an issue for them.
But Reform knows which policies will appeal to their target audience.
escaped
Casdon
Have Reform got a football team though? If they haven’t, can somebody explain what the point of them having a football shirt is, or is it a fan shirt, like little girls who love Frozen, or pop fans wear?
I think you can have whatever you like on a football shirt, you don't have to have a team. They're custom-made, so I could order a batch with my dog on!
I think Reform are silly to sell their own football shirts, but the comment that this speaks to a certain demographic was wrong and shows intolerance.
I’m sure you can get anything printed, I just don’t understand what the point is. I didn’t say anything about it speaking to a certain demographic, both my children are mad on football and wear their team’s shirts when they play - which to my mind is what they are for.
In general we don’t display our political allegiances in the UK, unlike the US where it’s a big thing. Maybe that’s about to change, don’t be complacent about it.
That would be a sartorial disaster David49. I don’t think I can remember wearing anything with a logo on since I was about 25. Imagine people our age walking round in political T-shirts with mugshots of our favourites on the back (or worse, the front). No thanks.
Boz
I have noticed that turquoise blue seems to be everywhere! Note TV shows for a example. Is this subliminal suggestion?
Oh! What's special about turquoise? It's my favourite colour.
Allira
Boz
I have noticed that turquoise blue seems to be everywhere! Note TV shows for a example. Is this subliminal suggestion?
Oh! What's special about turquoise? It's my favourite colour.
Ps I wear it and have accessories in turquoise, am I saying something? 🤔
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