How did you vote and why today

I don't usually venture on to the politics threads and will probably get shouted down but I can't see how Reform getting on to local councils will have any ability to do anything about immigrants. I thought that was in the government's hands.

^People actually like the racism, xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia, scapegoating of the vulnerable, climate change denial and corruption.
^

Ha ha!

Still dont get things.

No hope for Leaders. They wont either.

Though obviously there will be some like that.

One of the funniest posts I have read in a while. If it wasnt all so serious.

DaisyAnneReturns

^Many here aren't keen on Trump and say so often so I dont think it matters if someone abroad has an opinion.^(Reka)

We talk about Trump because what he does affects our lives. I don't think the averages Australian is affected by what the Primd Minister of the UK does. Nanna8 talks about how the UK should be run.

Which she is entitled to do.

However, I don’t think she fully understands some local things, just as we wouldn’t understand her local and even some of her own national issues.

I will say, imo, that I feel this site is fairly representative of the UK as a whole, we are a very mixed community in terms of finances, education, (I simply mean how long we stayed in education, not that some of us are uneducated and some not!), the communities in which we live, the parts of the country in which we live, our jobs or former jobs and our political views.

In my own borough, which is a unitary (but not for much longer) we had a 43% turn out, my own ward retained their Labour councillor, Reform made the most gains, but we still have a Labour majority, but not big enough to form control of the council.

I live in a very diverse area, it has wealth, poverty and everything in between. It also has a ward in the top 20% of English deprivation as well as many many homes in the £1m+ bracket.

I know of no one who did both Reform, but then if I suspect it may be the case in my daily life, I don't talk politics, I tend to seek commonality unless its specifically a political forum or discussion: there is so much to life besides: I may think person x at the gym may have voted for them, but we can have a lovely discussion about grandchildren, can't we?

(or a bit of a "women only" laugh or two, at certain aspects of blokes in the women's changing rooms).

Help me to ‘get it’ then fancythat.

What is the appeal of Reform?

MT62

It’s funny how reform has done so well, seeing that no one apart from me, knows of anyone who’s voted for reform.

We didn’t have local elections (boundary changes are in the pipeline) we had County Council one though.

I know several people who voted Reform, they now have control of our County Council.

One is an experienced high band nurse.

nanna8

The people here are clearly atypical looking at the results of the elections. It doesn’t matter in any way but it is clearly the case.

Yes.

No-one on here voted for Reform because anyone who did has retreated after being called names and vilified.

However, someone must have done, looking at the results.

If you chat to anyone in RL, no-one votes for Reform either.
Strange that.

Reform appear at least to listen to people's concerns.

Tizliz

I don't usually venture on to the politics threads and will probably get shouted down but I can't see how Reform getting on to local councils will have any ability to do anything about immigrants. I thought that was in the government's hands.

You are completely correct, however some of Reform’s leafleting in this local election reflection national, central government policies and issues.

Just a little disingenuous!

BTW, please don’t feel you’ll get shot down, you’re perfectly at liberty to post whatever you want

Reform appear at least to listen to people's concerns

Exactly. And for some reason that really annoys some people.

MissAdventure

Reform appear at least to listen to people's concerns.

We best start nagging our local ones, as they got elected either side of our bridge

Allira I do feel that’s a little unfair, I don’t think those supporting Reform have been anymore vilified than those supporting Labour or Green.

Reform supporters, do however, appear to back away or get very upset when questioned about the why and how Reform are going to action their own policies.

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.

👍

LizzieDrip, or to put it another way Reform sense what people are angry about, stir it up, exaggerate it and feed it back.

There’s a post on Facebook saying that across England new councillors with responsibility for highways and potholes, bin collection, social care etc are meeting today to discuss how to stop the small boats. I don’t know whether that’s true but alas it’s far from unlikely.

I was surprised at your side, grannygravy, not so much at mine.

Kandinsky

*Reform appear at least to listen to people's concerns*

Exactly. And for some reason that really annoys some people.

There’s a massive difference to listening and taking positive actions.

I absolutely agree that these results should be a wake up call to our government and their communications folk.

Tell me though, how exactly does Farage listen to Clacton? He refuses to run surgeries, he doesn’t our our any written newsletters, he’s rarely in Clacton and was “missing” from Parliament the whole of the last month before the elections, how on earth can that be described as listening?

In my very humble opinion, I think Reform has focused on issues which have grown out of Brexit, ie Immigration and used it to stir up the fears and emotions of people who feel disenchanted and totally overlooked and need something or someone to blame.

Just ask yourself, if “the boats” stopped tomorrow and every Asylum Seeker still here out into detention centres, how would your and that of others, be improved?

MissAdventure

I was surprised at your side, grannygravy, not so much at mine.

I think it’s fair to say, some of us were horrified! But possibly not surprised!

fancythat

Though obviously there will be some like that.

One of the funniest posts I have read in a while. If it wasnt all so serious.

It doesn't seem very funny to me. It's true - some people (about 25-30%) do like those things.

Farage helicoptered into Chelmsford City Racecourse yesterday evening to address the media and supporters. To be clear. The racecourse is not in Chelmsford City which is solid LibDem country. It is north of the city in Kemi Badenoch’s constituency, closer to Braintree than Chelmsford, no doubt chosen for that reason. Why didn’t he chose his own constituency?

He bragged about his success in making David Cameron and Theresa May* stand down and claimed Keir Starmer will do the same by the summer.

*Epstein files. Nigel Farage and Steve Bannon collaborated in 2018 to undermine Theresa May’s leadership during the Brexit negotiations, with Jeffrey Epstein kept informed of their efforts.

bylinetimes.com/2026/02/16/bannon-epstein-farage-and-johnson-and-the-plot-to-topple-theresa-may/

He spend most of his speech slagging off other politicians and making personal remarks especially about the Tories including James Cleverly, Braintree's MP. It was very similar to a Trump rant about how inferior everyone is compared to him. Watch it if you can bear it. It’s utterly revolting.

Farage is all about destabilising the country, destabilising others and being top dog. Nothing about what Reform will do at a local or national level (if ever it comes to that) to improve people’s lives.

fancythat

^People actually like the racism, xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia, scapegoating of the vulnerable, climate change denial and corruption.
^

Ha ha!

Still dont get things.

No hope for Leaders. They wont either.

Then please do enlighten us? I know exactly why and who I support.

Can you tell us your reasons? Help us to understand?

If you don't believe redorm can carry out any of their "threats", then there is nothing to be horrified about, i would have thought.

Graphite

Farage helicoptered into Chelmsford City Racecourse yesterday evening to address the media and supporters. To be clear. The racecourse is not in Chelmsford City which is solid LibDem country. It is north of the city in Kemi Badenoch’s constituency, closer to Braintree than Chelmsford, no doubt chosen for that reason. Why didn’t he chose his own constituency?

He bragged about his success in making David Cameron and Theresa May* stand down and claimed Keir Starmer will do the same by the summer.

*Epstein files. Nigel Farage and Steve Bannon collaborated in 2018 to undermine Theresa May’s leadership during the Brexit negotiations, with Jeffrey Epstein kept informed of their efforts.

bylinetimes.com/2026/02/16/bannon-epstein-farage-and-johnson-and-the-plot-to-topple-theresa-may/

He spend most of his speech slagging off other politicians and making personal remarks especially about the Tories including James Cleverly, Braintree's MP. It was very similar to a Trump rant about how inferior everyone is compared to him. Watch it if you can bear it. It’s utterly revolting.

Farage is all about destabilising the country, destabilising others and being top dog. Nothing about what Reform will do at a local or national level (if ever it comes to that) to improve people’s lives.

👏👏👏👏👏👏

Kandinsky

*Reform appear at least to listen to people's concerns*

Exactly. And for some reason that really annoys some people.

Really? I've never witnessed anybody being annoyed if Reform listens. Their listening skills seem somewhat selective anyway. The truth is they don't listen to the majority.

Maremia

Reform now has two years to prove their worth.

As I mentioned earlier, DH said they have two (or three) years now to mess it up as they seem to have done so far in local politics.

Labour need to put their thinking caps on and work out what the public want, not what they believe they should have.
The Tories are in disarray.
The Lib Dems have a great opportunity here.
The Greens will appeal to younger voters.

However, politics in this country appears to be more partisan than ever, not good at times of international crisis.