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How did you vote and why today

(675 Posts)

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M0nica Thu 07-May-26 20:28:23

Obviously some will choose to keep that to themselves. But I went to the polls feeling very angry today.

Local government elections are meant to be about local issues, but inevitably they do reflect what is happening nationally, but this year I feel national issues completely hi-jacked the whole local government process, Todays local elections are being seen and have been treated in the media as a proxy national elelction to confirm or undermine our current governments legitimacy.

The papers are full of long analysese of this govenment, what it has not done since being elected, how long Keir Starmer can stay as PM, the back biting and infighting between contenders for his job. Local issues, what matters to us in our towns villages and rural areas. schools, potholes rubbish collection , who cares about that when we can have another photoshoot of KS, or another story about Angela Rayner

Anyway, i was so fed up I deserted the party I have voted for for the last 60 plus years and gave all my votes to the independents, one only 18. They seemed to be the only people in this whole shamble that cares about us, the people living in these different council areas and write to us about local issues.

foxie48 Sat 09-May-26 08:54:56

The current number of immigrants in temporary accommodation has decreased by 43% since 2023. Kandinsky The current govt has been focused on processing the dreadful backlog that they inherited from the Conservatives (some of whom have jumped ship and now represent Reform!) We are talking about people who have arrived in the UK seeking asylum, families with children as well as young men and IMO we have a moral duty to house them somewhere until their claim for asylum is granted or denied. Every community regardless of it's mixed political affiliation should play their part, it's what democratic civilised countries do.

nanna8 Sat 09-May-26 09:02:51

Grandmabatty

How would you know Nanna8 that the people on here a 'atypical'? You don't live here. Although you are entitled to an opinion, its only that. Not fact

I’m referring to your election results. Duh. Not many on here seem to support Reform. Therefore atypical. Not hard really.

Galaxy Sat 09-May-26 09:04:10

Nana can speak about anything she likes within the guidelines, I find the constant harping about her nationality deeply unpleasant and quite ironic really.

GrannyGravy13 Sat 09-May-26 09:05:23

Galaxy 👍

Kandinsky Sat 09-May-26 09:05:29

we have a moral duty to house them somewhere until their claim for asylum is granted or denied

But that’s not what people want. They don’t want them here in the 1st place.
If you are a genuine person in need fleeing from persecution etc you can live quite well in the 1st safe country you arrive at. You don’t have to risk your life crossing the channel in small boats to arrive in soft touch Britain.

Maremia Sat 09-May-26 09:07:12

That's not what some people want. Don't assume to speak for all of us.

Susieq62 Sat 09-May-26 09:08:53

Nanna8 I take exception to being classed atypical !
I voted out of my comfort zone yesterday to keep reform out of my area and in some part I succeeded
For a person who chose to leave the UK many years ago you really have a downer on us and you obviously know our PM intimately! Please tell us your secret info and sources!
By the way , I visit Oz frequently and I am stunned by the racism, cost of renting women living in cars which I I have seen there! Maybe let us know why this is in situ in “ god’s own country” !! Had a great discussion with women about this last year when I was there and they said things are totally different from when they emigrated, one from Czech Republic, one from Italy !

nanna8 Sat 09-May-26 09:09:29

Galaxy

Nana can speak about anything she likes within the guidelines, I find the constant harping about her nationality deeply unpleasant and quite ironic really.

Thanks Galaxy I appreciate your comments ( and agree with them )

fancythat Sat 09-May-26 09:10:17

^ If you take the time to read through their manifesto, the weight given to controlling immigration is completely out of proportion to the amount of consideration given to what many people would consider is more important and relevant ie the economy, climate change, health and social care, education etc^

Says who though?

I think that is part of the point of why Labour and conservatives have failed so badly lately.
It is they who have missed the point.

It sticks in voters throats that we all are supposed to stick to the law, and yet illegal immigration is not that big an issue to those who are supposed to uphold the law.

GrannyGravy13 Sat 09-May-26 09:10:39

nanna8 keep posting 👍

nanna8 Sat 09-May-26 09:11:01

So much xenophobia. Sad really. Very ironical. Racism in Australia? Not where we live. Quite the reverse but if that is the sort of place you would visit and know, so be it.

fancythat Sat 09-May-26 09:11:31

People do not like hypocrites.

Which is also part of the way Labour and conservatives had failed.
They themselves as people are constantly being shown up to not go by the Law either.

Galaxy Sat 09-May-26 09:12:01

Would have been better if I had been able to spell your name Nannasmile

nanna8 Sat 09-May-26 09:13:57

😀 no problem - not my real name anyway. A lot of people have nana as well as nanna.

Allsorts Sat 09-May-26 09:14:35

I think very many Labour voters voted Reform because they felt unheard. Starmer does not listen, he does not see, people are very concerned about illegal immigration.That was the main worry, Starmer just paid another huge amount to France to stop them, that's a joke. Also crime, the victims of it seem unheard. Starmer has bought the Labour Party down but he doesn't care, he will still just carry on as usual..
I didn't vote Reform they have not the experience or know how to succeed, don’t think they will accomplish anything. What this has done is shaken everyone up and for once maybe concerns will be addressed and not dismissed. I am afraid I just see chaos ahead but hope with all my heart it isn't.

Maremia Sat 09-May-26 09:20:00

Reform now has two years to prove their worth.

Grandmabatty Sat 09-May-26 09:23:38

"I’m referring to your election results. Duh. Not many on here seem to support Reform. Therefore atypical. Not hard really." Nanna8
In my post to GrannyGravy, I made it clear how Scotland voted. You seemed to have missed that in your rather rude response?

AGAA4 Sat 09-May-26 09:26:22

Immigration seems to be the most pressing issue for Reform voters. Has Reform said how they will deal with it humanely?
I feel that focus on immigrants takes away from the real issues in our country.

eazybee Sat 09-May-26 09:38:14

Farage has pinpointed people's concerns and given them the opportunity to express them, which many have seized.

Now he and his party have to address and deliver and it is not going to be easy. Inevitably more chaos lies ahead, but Starmer is not the person to deal with it.

Aveline Sat 09-May-26 09:41:18

It feels like the Westminster bubble is completely out of touch with life as it's experienced by us out here. Illegal immigration, crime, islamophobia and gender nonsense are very real issues yet the government seems to shy away from them fearing a woke backlash.

GrannyGravy13 Sat 09-May-26 09:44:56

Grandmabatty

"I’m referring to your election results. Duh. Not many on here seem to support Reform. Therefore atypical. Not hard really." Nanna8
In my post to GrannyGravy, I made it clear how Scotland voted. You seemed to have missed that in your rather rude response?

Under your voting system Reform has 17 MSPs

Which is what I posted earlier.

twaddle Sat 09-May-26 09:58:34

Aveline

It feels like the Westminster bubble is completely out of touch with life as it's experienced by us out here. Illegal immigration, crime, islamophobia and gender nonsense are very real issues yet the government seems to shy away from them fearing a woke backlash.

Those aren't important issues to me - nor to the people I know. We're more concerned about the cost of living, the NHS, buses/trains, public services such as libraries and pot hole repairs, social services (care homes), housing, etc.

twaddle Sat 09-May-26 10:01:25

eazybee

Farage has pinpointed people's concerns and given them the opportunity to express them, which many have seized.

Now he and his party have to address and deliver and it is not going to be easy. Inevitably more chaos lies ahead, but Starmer is not the person to deal with it.

No, I don't think he has. He's scoured the headlines and picked up on a few issues and then made every effort to exploit and exaggerate a few minority stereotypes, ignorance and bigotry, with help from GBNews and some other media.

valdali Sat 09-May-26 10:05:33

AGAA4

Immigration seems to be the most pressing issue for Reform voters. Has Reform said how they will deal with it humanely?
I feel that focus on immigrants takes away from the real issues in our country.

Reform's contention is that all those problems are caused by illegal immigrants though, & they will just tow all the boats back to France & empty them out on French beaches.

That's going to make us extremely popular with the Europeans, who we are happy to recognise we need to stick together with over issues like Greenland & Ukraine - but sticking together can't be done unilaterally, when it suits us.

If the problems really were caused by illegal immigrants, it might be worth it; but that's just a fairytale that Reform likes to tell & an awful lot of people out there find comforting to listen to.

Primrose53 Sat 09-May-26 10:08:52

Lots of sour grapes this morning.