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How did you vote and why today

(675 Posts)

GNHQ have commented on this thread. Read here.

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.

Susieq62 Sat 09-May-26 20:10:25

Thank you Daisy Anne

LemonJam Sat 09-May-26 20:55:21

sixandahalf

lemonjam It's so sad that we have lost our humanity somewhere along the way.

Yes, it’s so sad sixandahalf.

Galaxy Sat 09-May-26 20:56:47

Yes i think that has been demonstrated on this thread, GN are posting warnings about it, but on people go.

M0nica Sat 09-May-26 21:21:14

What about Pauline Hanson. Doesn't she represent populism in Australia. She is certainly racist.

Susieq62 Sat 09-May-26 21:38:49

One Nation is a very right wing party in Australia

Allira Sat 09-May-26 21:58:10

DaisyAnneReturns

Rosie51

Susieq62

Allira those leaders need to be griped about as they have caused untold damage to the world economy , to the lives of others, to communities to my bank balance ! Starmer doesn’t even enter their categories in my view!! He is nowhere near perfect but he does care !!!!
I am now going to back off Nanna8 as I know more about my country than she does !!

I am now going to back off Nanna8 as I know more about my country than she does !!

And still you make it personal about Nanna8. How can you possibly be sure you know more about the UK than her? It's a bit arrogant to make that assumption.

I don’t think it’s arrogant to suggest that someone who currently lives in the UK may have a more up-to-date perspective than someone who left 50 years ago and hasn’t returned since.

Oh, I'm not so sure.

Sometimes someone with an objective view can see things more clearly than those who live here with their subjective views and prejudices, especially if these people work in the political arena in other countries.

Allira Sat 09-May-26 21:58:58

M0nica

What about Pauline Hanson. Doesn't she represent populism in Australia. She is certainly racist.

But - she isn't doing as well as Farage here!!

Allira Sat 09-May-26 21:59:12

Susieq62

One Nation is a very right wing party in Australia

And?

Allira Sat 09-May-26 22:00:58

Galaxy

Yes i think that has been demonstrated on this thread, GN are posting warnings about it, but on people go.

It's a distraction from what is happening here, Galaxy.

Perhaps those doing the distracting are really Farage supporters?

Allira Sat 09-May-26 22:05:14

M0nica

What about Pauline Hanson. Doesn't she represent populism in Australia. She is certainly racist.

What about all the populist leaders in so many countries?

Is Pauline Hanson the Prime Minister of Australia?
No. Anthony Albanese is and he is Labour.

So what is your point?

Allira Sat 09-May-26 22:11:36

Susieq62

One Nation is a very right wing party in Australia

Anyway, according to your rules, you are not allowed to comment on politics in other countries!

But I don't mind, and I'm sure nanna8 won't mind either.

Allsorts Sat 09-May-26 22:34:39

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Allira Sat 09-May-26 22:40:39

Well, I feel perfectly at liberty to comment on politics in other countries, including Australia, if I wish to.

Allira Sat 09-May-26 22:41:12

Allsorts

Message deleted by GNHQ

And so it continues.

🤔

Mollygo Sat 09-May-26 23:22:47

Allira

Well, I feel perfectly at liberty to comment on politics in other countries, including Australia, if I wish to.

So do I.

It’s very presumptuous to decide you have the right to tell others what they can and can’t comment on.

Mojack26 Sun 10-May-26 00:01:50

Sounds like a modern studies school exam question...🤣Q1 Who did you vote ? Explain your reasons....🤣

Rosie51 Sun 10-May-26 00:35:44

DaisyAnneReturns

Rosie51

Susieq62

Allira those leaders need to be griped about as they have caused untold damage to the world economy , to the lives of others, to communities to my bank balance ! Starmer doesn’t even enter their categories in my view!! He is nowhere near perfect but he does care !!!!
I am now going to back off Nanna8 as I know more about my country than she does !!

I am now going to back off Nanna8 as I know more about my country than she does !!

And still you make it personal about Nanna8. How can you possibly be sure you know more about the UK than her? It's a bit arrogant to make that assumption.

I don’t think it’s arrogant to suggest that someone who currently lives in the UK may have a more up-to-date perspective than someone who left 50 years ago and hasn’t returned since.

I'm not entirely sure that Nanna hasn't returned in over 50 years, but that aside Susieq62 felt empowered to comment on Australia when she's not Australian, doesn't live there, and only visits every 2nd year. Nanna does have family still living in the UK who presumably she actually talks to, so she gets their 'up to date' opinion on how things are going. Does everyone who comments on Trump and the USA have 'lived experience' in the USA before they comment? Whichever way you frame it, some posters make a beeline for Nanna, and that's why Gransnet HQ felt the need to make a post.
I'm from London, do I have the right to blast down any poster who dares criticise London or Londoners if they aren't London born and bred?

Rosie51 Sun 10-May-26 00:39:02

Allira

Well, I feel perfectly at liberty to comment on politics in other countries, including Australia, if I wish to.

Yes but you're British, don't you know the rules are different for Brits, unless of course they emigrated some years ago when they lose that entitlement? Do catch up Allira, please don't let the side down 🙄

M0nica Sun 10-May-26 08:21:27

Mojack26

Sounds like a modern studies school exam question...🤣Q1 Who did you vote ? Explain your reasons....🤣

I asked 'how', not 'who', which rather reframes the uesrion.

There is an assumption that people vote for the party they currently support, or against the party they dislike. But I was just interested because I am not sure thatis true. As I said I voted for independents, almost without regard to policies becaause I am so angry about the way national issues completely hijacked this election

In fact national issues still stand in possession of it. All the discussion about the results of these elections has been conducted in terms of its effects on naational issues and who our Prime Mnister is/was/should/might be and nthing about what effect the changes will have on those living in all the areas covered by these elections.

LemonJam Sun 10-May-26 08:34:30

Pauline Hanson, One Nation and right wing populism however are not gaining traction. Australia has a second term ( land slide vote) centre left government that has stable ratings. Plus the younger demographic is skewed to markedly to left of centre politics.

Many wonder why Australia is bucking right wing populism trends.

Whitewavemark2 Sun 10-May-26 08:47:26

Looking at the final figures.

Both Labour and Tories are in trouble, but….

I think that they may also be showing that Reform has peaked.

We shall see.

Maremia Sun 10-May-26 09:10:05

As I posted on another Thread, the strange thing is that, when Starmer said he was staying in post, the value of the pound rose.

DaisyAnneReturns Sun 10-May-26 09:34:55

Allira

Well, I feel perfectly at liberty to comment on politics in other countries, including Australia, if I wish to.

Commenting on another country’s politics is perfectly fair. Assuming you understand present-day realities better than people actually living there is another matter entirely. Countries move on a lot in 50 years.

LemonJam Sun 10-May-26 09:53:46

DaisyAnneReturns

Allira

Well, I feel perfectly at liberty to comment on politics in other countries, including Australia, if I wish to.

Commenting on another country’s politics is perfectly fair. Assuming you understand present-day realities better than people actually living there is another matter entirely. Countries move on a lot in 50 years.

I agree that we each understand the day to day realities in our respective countries. Equally we all can comment on politics in other countries.

Nanna8 has unique, 50 year I think, day to day reality of living in Australia, which has a centre left coalition government, voted into a second government term on a land slide, as recently as May 2025. She may support right wing populism personally, but she is well positioned to share with us, if she is willing, why her fellow citizens are NOT turning towards right wing populism in their voting patterns- as occurred towards Reform UK candidates in our local elections last Thursday.

I am heartened that Australia is bucking the right wing populism voting trend. I sincerely would like to understand the various reasons why. Sharing our experiences of day to day realities respectively in the UK and Australia could be a good thing, if Nanna8, or any other Australian citizens on Gransnet, are willing to share and debate.

Galaxy Sun 10-May-26 10:34:59

Why would she. People on here have been warned about their behaviour towards her, many people would not want to share their insights after that.