How did you vote and why today

I strongly believe it’s our duty to vote, even if we feel disillusioned. It’s the only way we can influence the state of our constituencies, our country and the world. It infuriates me when people
say they can’t be bothered.
We live in a democracy and we’re bloody lucky. Rant over.

For some reason Kent now run by Reform, have had no election but am disappointed it has, at least so far, made such gains.

No vote this time as we are being reorganized. Unfortunately I think our excellent local councillor ( Green) will not get re-elected when we vote again and we might end up with a Reform so I'll be forced to vote tactically to try to keep him out.

I think it is up to the individual whether they vote or not. I don't believe in telling other people what they should and shouldn't do.

I always vote, even though I feel no firm commitment to any particular party. For some reason the image of Emily Davison throwing herself in front of the King's horse haunts me so I feel that the hard won vote for women should be used.

Redhead56

I voted Green our council has been selling land everywhere. We are five minutes from the village that is now surrounded by hundreds of new builds.
There is no infrastructure to accommodate this but the council allowed it anyway. They rake the money in from this and we residents paying council tax are short of services doctors dentists police the list is endless.

The problem is that the government penalise local Authorities whodo not build the number of houses they have been told to build.

Magenta8 totally agree

I have just been discussing this with 11yr old GS, who like me and DH is disappointed that our local independent councillor (who we know well) was not elected to the County Council - they were beaten by Reform.

I vote differently in local and general elections.
Yesterday I voted for the Lib Dems. The reason being that the local candidate who was standing for re-election has been very pro-active in our community. He is approachable, often calls on constituents to see if they have any issues and has made some vital improvements to local amenities.
In the GE I usually vote Conservative. I voted once for Tony Blair and look how that turned out. As things stand I will vote for the Tories in the next GE. I can see why people vote for Reform because they are clutching at a straw that they hope will actually stop the boats but I hope never to see either Farage or Polanski live at No 10.
For me Kemi Badenoch is saying what I want to hear. Overhauling the bloated benefits system and getting people into work and contributing to the national economy, for one thing.

Yes they have underestimated Badenoch ( I don't mean in terms of results for this election) I thought her challenging of anti semitism was impressive the other day.

I voted for our current responsive and proactive councillor. He lives in the village and reacts quickly to issues that arise. We have been asking for changes at a dangerous junction and for a 20 mile an hour speed limit round the Main Street/school for 40 years and he’s actually made those things happen. He is very hands-on, for example the traffic signs were filthy and he has gone out with a sponge on a stick and cleaned them all himself. Our first Labour councillor ever but the party is immaterial, it’s the quality of the person that counts.

Stop the boats, My God it makes me sick.

It's all wrong. The whole situation is manufactured. It is well within the capabilites of intelligent human beings to come up with a fair and humane way of processing people. Nobody wants to.

nanna8

I think Reform will do very well, Mainly because the Labour party under Starmer are so awful and more of a protest vote than confidence in them as a party. Very sad situation. Starmer needs to resign so they can regroup.

Nana8 do you realise what a racist, misogynist party you are praising. You are a very long way away in miles and this may suit your country of choice but I don’t want may country or town being represented by the Far Right especially one that is cheating, lying and corrupt.
Unfortunately in protest many people have turned to the one legged pony that can only spell one word ….immigration
Starmer although not a bad man ( my friend worked under him in law in London and told me he was a kind considerate man ) unfortunately he isn’t Labour he is a centrist and not thinking through working men’s eyes so he and his policies have lost the vote of the true Labour

BlueBelle whatever your thoughts on Reform UK are, they appear to be hoovering up local council and County council seats (according to the ITV Breakfast News) including my area.

nanna8: can post her opinions on U.K. politics without being told off just as any U.K. GN regularly post their options of politicoans and politics in other countries.

Galaxy

Yes they have underestimated Badenoch ( I don't mean in terms of results for this election) I thought her challenging of anti semitism was impressive the other day.

I also think Kemi Badenoch is impressive and certainly worth a listen. The dual facts that she is black and a woman is certainly being weaponised against her. But she comes across as tremendously strong-minded. And a largely white, stale, male government just cannot cope with a woman like that.

And I'm not Conservative, btw.

We did not have any local elections this time but in previous times I have voted for the person I thought would do their best for the community.
It is pretty obvious now though that Labour have taken a bashing in England so far. Let’s hope the Labour party now listen to the feelings across the country but I suspect they won’t.

Nana8 do you realise what a racist, misogynist party you are praising

They are both those things and many people love this. Their hatred of immigrants tops everything else.

Unfortunately in protest many people have turned to the one legged pony that can only spell one word ….immigration

The other parties have all brought it on themselves.
Bit of a sweeping statement, but whatever.

I will now add a conspiracy theory.
It is like[feels like at least] the "other parties[not as sure about Greens, or I suppose Lib Dems come to that] are controlled by outside interests, whatever and whomever they may be.

Reform may turn out to be too. But they have not been long enough in power yet for me to be more sure.

Their hatred of immigrants tops everything else.

That is too broad a sweeping statement, and incorrect too.
Not sure I can even be bothered to repeat several things.

A bit like Brexit. As in,
took about 6 years for people to stop asking the question "why did people vote for Brexit".

I am afraid I think the greens are deeply misogynistic and have a very serious problem with anti semitism.

For me the important thing today is which parties are actually now going to be in charge of which countries and councils. Gaining or losing seats is important, but not as important as gaining or retaining control. It’s looking to be an interesting day, and quite unpredictable I suspect.

Galaxy

I am afraid I think the greens are deeply misogynistic and have a very serious problem with anti semitism.

The thought of Zack Polanski anywhere near Downing Street does not bear thinking about.

I voted tactically and got what I was hoping, no reform candidate in my ward.

No vote for me yesterday but we had a Reform majority as a result of the last local elections and the rates went up 9%. So much for Reform promises, I didn't vote for them and will always vote tactically to try to keep them out. There was an interesting analysis of the voting patterns on the news this morning. Basically Reform do well in the same areas that voted for Brexit. Reform builds it's base on immigration and xenophobia!

I voted for the Lib Dems. It's probably a wasted vote here but I don't do tactical voting and I like the Scottish LD leader's anti war stance and his work with the disadvantaged.
We have 2 votes in Scotland with PR so I went Green for the List vote.
It was a big turnout.

I'm excited to think that 2 of my Scottish DGC can now vote. The 18 yr old is about to begin studying history and politics at uni.
they have probably cancelled out my votes 😂

Kandinsky

I voted Reform - I hope they do well 🤞

Me too 😉

I voted tactically to keep Reform out but fear they may get in which would put us on a slippery downward slope.