How did you vote and why today

BTW I hope the present trend of reducing numbers crossing the channel continues - I agree we have to control our borders more effectively than we have done in the past 2 decades.

But I know that if the small boats suddenly stopped, there wouldn't miraculously be shorter waiting lists, state-funded residential care for all, lower inheritance tax, non-taxed pensions, static income tax, a generation set to be wealthier than their parents, a less divided nation, cheap morgages, negligible inflation.

Looking forward to how Farage is going to implement his 'stop the boats' policy.
I don't always read Reform publications and so I missed the memo with those details.

Maremia

Reform now has two years to prove their worth.

I am a bit concerned that they dont even have to do that.

Just a, not as bad as Labour and conservatives would be enough, sadly.

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.

Which is bizarre, given the constant votes going the other way.

I fear it is far more like conspiracy theory people say.
People behind the scenes pulling strings on both of those parties on the issues above[not as sure about crime].

^I feel that focus on immigrants takes away from the real issues in our country.

^

But it is the number one issue for many.
Perhaps number two, after economy?

Primrose53

Lots of sour grapes this morning.

No just serious and valid worries. Time will tell.

Well, he can't just "send them back". Legally, we all know that. And people really lack thinking it through no imagination

.... were the boot on the other foot as regards France - would we accept plane loads or boat loads of non nationals just being dumped back on our shores. No way - a total public outcry

Neither could Trump, mostly, who is instead setting up - or plans to - gigantic detention centres all around the country.

But guess what he is coming up against - NIMBY from republican supporters. suddenly all over the country plans for those detention centres are being disrupted by MAGA supporters giving all the reasons it wont be acceptable in their own back yard 🙄.

We are discussing and analysing possible consequences, Primrose. This is different from sour grapes, where you just moan away. It's very, very, different.

valdali

BTW I hope the present trend of reducing numbers crossing the channel continues - I agree we have to control our borders more effectively than we have done in the past 2 decades.

But I know that if the small boats suddenly stopped, there wouldn't miraculously be shorter waiting lists, state-funded residential care for all, lower inheritance tax, non-taxed pensions, static income tax, a generation set to be wealthier than their parents, a less divided nation, cheap morgages, negligible inflation.

2nd paragraph I agree with.

1st paragraph.
Trouble is sooo many people, including posters on this forum have taken sooo long to come to that conclusion.
And yes , both major parties are catching up. Not even sure they are there yet.
Which is why I posted earlier on this thread that the two main parties have brought everything onto themselves.

No wonder there have been a number of Mps going to other parties.
I am wondering if a few more will, after the local elections.

^Well, he can't just "send them back". Legally, we all know that. And people really lack thinking it through no imagination
^

The point is, Reform are talking about it and seem to care.

Cant say the same about Labour and conservatives for, as valdali puts it, the last two decades.
It wasnt as if the two main parties didnt have time to even change their minds.
Not sure they have now at all, really.

valdali

BTW I hope the present trend of reducing numbers crossing the channel continues - I agree we have to control our borders more effectively than we have done in the past 2 decades.

But I know that if the small boats suddenly stopped, there wouldn't miraculously be shorter waiting lists, state-funded residential care for all, lower inheritance tax, non-taxed pensions, static income tax, a generation set to be wealthier than their parents, a less divided nation, cheap morgages, negligible inflation.

Well said and I agree. I too want the boats to stop and better safer way of people seeking asylum along with much more efficient and effective ways of processing their claims.

Reform know that the immigration issue is important to people as it has been blamed for all the ills in the country. If their plan is to turn the boats back and dump the people back in other countries it is doomed to failure.

Its one thing coming up with magical not do-able solutions, as opposed to being in power and having to try and find ways of dealing with aspects of immigration, for as we all know, we do need it. Easy to knock those in power when you don't have to put your policies into practice.

Of course I "Care" as a LP member, but neither do I believe it is easily remedied, at all. It's a minefield of complications.

One really obvious one are the calls to "Deport" which of course I agree with in appropriate circumstances.

Fine in theory: in practice, you have to have the agreement of the receiving country, as regards both prisoner transfer and sending home those who are not deemed to be in need of asylum.

Fancythat Decent and loyal MPs don’t defect to other parties because things are “going badly in their own”. These were local elections (as I’m sure you’re aware) and shouldn’t affect MPs other than raising much needed awareness.

This country has many many more issues than Asylum Seekers and I’m not going to be drawn into discussing this further as you know only too well what our views are on here, we are a mixed bunch of voters and all have our own views and allegiances, however I’ve yet to see anyone on here who doesn’t want the boats stopped, just perhaps for different reasons to yourself.

Incidentally during 2025 the crossings decreased from their peak, in 2022, by 13% and since Labour came to power in 2024 some 60,000 have been deported, a mix of migrant criminals, failed Asylum Seekers and Visa “overstayers”.

LemonJam

in some ways Reform hasn't done as well as last year's local elections. The elections expert Peter Kellner said this afternoon that while Reform was likely to end up with gains of more than 1,000 seats overall, there were some warning signs. “Reform may well be on course for a record number of gains by any party in any elections, and in normal circumstances this would be astonishing. But if you compare it with a year ago it seems both in terms of seats and vote shares they are not going to do as well,” he said.

Reform won 41% of all seats contested across England in last year’s local elections, while this year’s tally appeared by Friday afternoon to be about 35%. “We have that record on recent polls and elections, and it seems clear that Reform has peaked,” Kellner said. Any further slips in support would make a general election majority on this share of the vote much more difficult.

Reform’s vote share in English council seats so far has grown the most in areas with greater socio-economic deprivation, early analysis shows. Figures from 691 wards show the party gained by an average of 20 percentage points in the least deprived areas and 30 percentage points in the most deprived areas".

So voters in deprived areas have turned towards Reform. Their lived experience is wanting to experience improvements in their lives to stick with Reform.

Thats a big message for all parties.

I come from an affluent area. We are now
Reform.
All business people & professions.
I did say last year, my two neighbours who voted Labour all their lives were dissatisfied with labour, have voted reform.
All those on benefits will probably stick with Labour.

Forgot to add they are both teachers
LJ

AGAA4

Reform know that the immigration issue is important to people as it has been blamed for all the ills in the country. If their plan is to turn the boats back and dump the people back in other countries it is doomed to failure.

Well, we will have to wait and see, I agree with you, but if and when Reform take power in 2029 the landscape may look very different to that of today.

Dependent on “where” Reform intend to “turn back the boats” they’ll potentially be breaking both Maritime and International Law, they cannot, as they think, use the Navy, so who will do this?

Also if they wait until the boats almost hit our coasts, the boats they travel in can barely make one channel crossing, let alone two and people will simply drown!

foxie48

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.

Mainly men!

These were local elections, your comment about people on benefits is both misplaced and frankly ignorant!

Fancythat Decent and loyal MPs don’t defect to other parties because things are “going badly in their own”. These were local elections (as I’m sure you’re aware) and shouldn’t affect MPs other than raising much needed awareness

Not even if they badly and repeatly disagree with the Leaders?

Oh yes they do in my opinion.

As a side issue, or maybe not, never quite understand what the Whips do. Seems to make MPs "keep in line" even when they dont want to do that. Eles "they could lose their jobs". Not sure if it was always thus or not.
But hardly, inspiring, democaratic, caring, and a whole heap of other words.

however I’ve yet to see anyone on here who doesn’t want the boats stopped,

Many wouldnt say so, even up to one year ago, on this forum.
Or would do fancy words to not exactly say so. And not make it look as if that was the case.

It is only in the last year or less, that most posters will openly say this.

Too late now basically.

fancythat

^I feel that focus on immigrants takes away from the real issues in our country.

^

But it is the number one issue for many.
Perhaps number two, after economy?

One of the most important issues - usually around 45–55%
The single most important issue - usually around 25–35%

And of course this may change if people realise what Reform actually stand for that directly affects their lives.

Maremia

Reform now has two years to prove their worth.

So has labour another three years😩

MT62 10.45;

I don't disagree, Reform has made many gains and has gained council seats in your area, which you describe as affluent. Their vote share, in English council seats however had grown the most in areas with greater socio-economic deprivation, at the time I posted yesterday.

At thats stage, figures from 691 wards showed the party had gained, by an average of 20 percentage points in the least deprived areas and 30 percentage points in the most deprived areas".

MT62

At the risk of repeating myself, one of the reasons (not in all cases, of course) it that many Asylum Seekers come from a very long way, it’s an arduous and hard journey before they even reach Europe, let alone France, women along with their children and the elderly, simply wouldn’t be able to make this journey in a lot of cases.

Wars, such as Gaza, Ukraine and now Iran, along with places like Afganistan and Syria, result in displaced people, these people have to live somewhere, and please don’t say @they all come here, because that’s a nonsense.

By all means be concerned, but all decent humans deserve somewhere safe to live for themselves and their families.

The system certainly needs tightening up, made more efficient, more effective and streamlined, but the system isn’t the fault of Asylum Seekers, neither us the national and international legislation around Asylum Seekers their fault either.