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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.

AnnieGransnet (GNHQ) Sat 09-May-26 12:01:33

A gentle reminder from us that posters are allowed to have views on UK politics whether they currently live in the UK or not.

We’ve noticed a tendency across a number of threads for discussions to veer into repeated comments repeatedly suggesting otherwise - and it isn’t especially fair or productive discussion. It's also pretty derailing and annoying a lot of Gransnetters.

Many of our posters live overseas and may have family here, follow UK affairs closely or simply care about what happens in the UK. Please stick to debating the point being made rather than the poster’s location.

twaddle Sat 09-May-26 12:01:44

Allira

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.

That's not true! A few people have written that they voted for Reform. Nobody has been vilified or "called names".

Allira Sat 09-May-26 12:03:33

twaddle

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.

That is probably true but it is a very insular view; these are purely local issues, not national or international which do affect us all.

Cossy Sat 09-May-26 12:06:30

MissAdventure

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.

I do agree, but we still have council with no overall control and now an influx of first time councillors to train and we only have our current set up for 1 year as we have new boundaries being set.

I cannot provide evidence for what I’m about to post, as it’s hearsay, but my understanding is that a lot of the councils who are having boundary changes would have happily postponed their elections too next year, as for them it was a co little pointless as all will stand again, including those in a three out of four voting cycle, but Farage made a huge fuss so most elections went ahead, at great cost!

fancythat Sat 09-May-26 12:08:03

Cossy

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?

Do you really want to though?
You or LD?

Reform have rather been talked about a lot already.

Dont want this issue to become like the Brexit one, where people were still asking 6 years later literally, as to why people voted for Brexit.

I can only give my reasons[I may have voted for them last year in local elections, but may not have done. I am a very floaty voter].

LizzieDrip Sat 09-May-26 12:10:27

winterwhite

*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.

Yes, precisely winterwhite.

I’m still waiting for someone to help me understand what is the appeal of Reform. Surely, if they’re a great party, stand up and be counted … tell us what’s great about them.

I promise not to ‘ridicule’ anyone - I just really want know!

twaddle Sat 09-May-26 12:11:08

The reason people voted for Brexit will remain an enigma.

twaddle Sat 09-May-26 12:14:14

Allira

twaddle

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.

That is probably true but it is a very insular view; these are purely local issues, not national or international which do affect us all.

But these were local elections!!! Local elections are about local issues (or should be).

fancythat Sat 09-May-26 12:16:33

My reasons
1. They are not Labour and coservative! Literally.
Had more than enough of them, partly because they dont listen much.
See someone's list above about all sorts of things , including illegal immigration.
2. for me, one of main reasons, illegal immigration
Not to be at all confused with legal immigration[some people who dont listen still manage themselves to muddle the two up.
3. illegal immigration - Reform seem to care[to be honest even I have already said some of these points on this thread, but it doesnt seem to sink in wiht all].
Labour and to a certain extent conservative, seem not to care.
Someone upthread said "well what can reform do"? I dont know. Not my job to know. But apparently things are written on their manifesto.
4.local elections - people, well voters, seem to have got past the point of knowing or caring what Reform will do. But they know Labour and conservatives wont really do anything in reality.
5. forgot the exact question!
yes some people are xeno, racist ect from the list. But a whoel lot are not. In my opinion.

But illegality is not on.

6. Farage
To my personal mind, he is both a plus[can lead a party very successfully], is personable[that matters a lot to some people, increasoningly I think from what I can gather in rl, seems to care[not sure that can be said of many leaders.
The minus is, I rather see Reform as a one man party. If Farage gets fed up, where does that leave the Party.

I could prob come up with more reaons for people voting Reform, but that is enough for now.

twaddle Sat 09-May-26 12:16:53

Actually, I don't know anybody who is obsessed by immigration, islamophobia or gender issues anyway. I suspect the people I do know who are concerned about gender issues have opposite views from the poster. The only issue on the list there is any concern about is crime, which is a local issue and national/international.

fancythat Sat 09-May-26 12:17:09

twaddle

The reason people voted for Brexit will remain an enigma.

To you and the 6 year people.

MissAdventure Sat 09-May-26 12:17:45

People voted reform because Farage is a great narrator who appears to take on board peoples concerns.
Not their racism, zenophobia - concerns.
Its reasonable to be concerned ant it needs acknowledement.

fancythat Sat 09-May-26 12:17:46

twaddle

Allira

twaddle

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.

That is probably true but it is a very insular view; these are purely local issues, not national or international which do affect us all.

But these were local elections!!! Local elections are about local issues (or should be).

A lot of people dont see much past their garden gate. If they have one.

fancythat Sat 09-May-26 12:18:13

And would barely know who runs their Council[I dont think I do].

V3ra Sat 09-May-26 12:18:53

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.

I don't know anyone that voted for Reform but they won all seven wards in our town that were up for election, and by huge majorities.
(Our own ward was excluded this time).

We also had (still have?) a hotel used for housing immigrants.
The first we were aware of this was when people from outside the area arrived en masse one evening and attacked it, trying to set fire to it.
Thankfully the police controlled the situation.

Anyone I know is dumbstruck that our town has taken this voting decision 😳

twaddle Sat 09-May-26 12:19:10

Thank you for answering, fancythat.

MissAdventure Sat 09-May-26 12:19:44

MissAdventure

People voted reform because Farage is a great narrator who appears to take on board peoples concerns.
Not their racism, zenophobia - concerns.
Its reasonable to be concerned ant it needs acknowledement.

Ooh. There's an ant in my comment. grin
They get everywhere.

Allira Sat 09-May-26 12:19:45

twaddle

Allira

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.

That's not true! A few people have written that they voted for Reform. Nobody has been vilified or "called names".

I think you are a relatively new poster, twaddle so may have missed many threads.

I didn't mean on this thread.

twaddle Sat 09-May-26 12:20:01

fancythat

twaddle

The reason people voted for Brexit will remain an enigma.

To you and the 6 year people.

Of whom there are quite a lot.

twaddle Sat 09-May-26 12:21:00

Fair enough, Allira. You're right. I haven't scrolled back to see what's been written in the past.

fancythat Sat 09-May-26 12:21:21

There are.

fancythat Sat 09-May-26 12:21:37

to 12.20pm post

valdali Sat 09-May-26 12:21:47

MissAdventure

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.

I don't think they can carry out most of the "promises" that they're making, but what they can do if they form a government is mess around with the tax system (tax reliefs for crypto, lower the higher rate of income tax, then have to put up the base rate to stay solvent, mess with the UK's credit rating (a la Liz Truss).

Also if government descends into Reform trying to get their own way and constitutional checks & balances restraining them, then there's not much effective government going to be happening.

I don't worry too much, 2.5 years is a long time in politics.

Allira Sat 09-May-26 12:23:35

twaddle

Allira

twaddle

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.

That is probably true but it is a very insular view; these are purely local issues, not national or international which do affect us all.

But these were local elections!!! Local elections are about local issues (or should be).

Yes, of course - in England! 🙂

But the Welsh and Scottish elections cover more aspects of government and wider issues.

Never mind - give it a month and every pothole in the country will be properly filled!

Galaxy Sat 09-May-26 12:27:46

I don't vote reform but being lectured on homophobia and misogyny by people who voted for parties that placed women in prisons with males and parties that embraced the deep homophobia of medicalising children who will grow up to be gay is breathtaking. That's without talking about those waving the flag of a country that kills gay people for who they are.