Lib Dems not doing too bad either. Torys and Labour rightfully getting a hammering. If you group anyone with a legitimate concern whether that be on economic, immigration as a far right racist then it's shows they don't have the finger on the pulse of the nation. It was obviously coming for the Torys but Labour pretty much self inflicting this damage through recent decisions. Take immigration for instance, there has to be a common ground fair approach somewhere. Whether that being fast tracking setup of offshore applications, however that would work. Doing nothing and putting out soundbites every week certainly isn't the answer, neither is pulling up the drawbridge and isolation from the rest of the world. I can understand why people have legitimate concerns and link this to crumbling infrastructure and services. No migrants aren't responsible for that, but without a sensible policy to develop our services and infrastructure whilst allowing record numbers to arrive just adds to the problem. Schools, dentists, hospital beds.. massive investment and efficiency improvements required to support a rapidly expanding population. Tough times but our political landscape definitely needs to represent the wider population rather than just pandering to small sections. Some form of PR is a must, scrapping the lords maybe to replace a house chamber made up of these elected through PR. Can almost see the tory party becoming virtually non existent, it's a good job this wasn't a general election for them. Will be interesting to see how many councils the Lib Dems take control of.
My grandparents keep moaning about it but they’ve admitted they don’t need the money. Older folk are very entitled.
My friend has been married twice and sold three properties. Drives a 30 grand car and lives in a park home now. She isn't short of a bob or two.
Good luck to whoever wins, doubt it'll make any difference to my life. I'll still be paying all my utility bills, putting mi bins out an tekkin rubbish to the council depot.
Pretty much same thing. I've been in same job for 15 years and haven't noticed any changes. Always tried to live within my means anyway though.
A mate's parents complained about losing it as "it would have been a nice bit of money towards the cruise."
I agree with some of this. Branding everyone who votes for Reform as racist is incorrect and misses a wider point. The country in many ways is crumbling - the debate about immigration and boats is just a symptom of that. There are deep problems, lots of poverty and disaffection and people are simply looking for something else as they're completely disillusioned. I personally think Reform is definitely not the friend of the working-class but when Labour hit pensioners, poor families and the disabled its no wonder people don't think Labour have any answers. Labour do not have answers to the decline that is evident to many people living through it. They have no vision under Starmer and never did have. Neither do the Tories have any vision. The whole country needs a reboot. Its no wonder people are voting Reform when they are in despair and can't see real improvement. As said, I don't think Reform will do anything meaningful at all to fix fundamental issues - I think the Greens are now the most progressive party - but its not surprising at all that people are voting for Reform.
I'm incredibly disheartened by this Labour government. They are beyond ****. It's a shame that people are moving to Farage as he is pretty reprehensible, but there are no other good options. A bit like in the US if the main parties can't offer hope, then he who shouts the loudest will win.
The question is, once scrutiny is applied to the racist rabble, will that alter the minds of those who are hiding behind 'they're all the same' mantra and using it as an excuse to vote for Farage and his sycophants? If you vote reform, you want to pay for healthcare. You don't want an NHS. You want your services butchered, probably so that money can go into the pockets of rich people, and you want anyone with a non white skin colour, a non British accent, and anyone from a minority group to have their rights diluted. You also don't believe in climate change. If you vote for reform and are vehemently against any of those positions, you're putting your discontent in the wrong box. Farage has always been a racist. He's grifted his way through life on the back of it aligning himself with anyone who'd gift him money from far right fringes. I can understand disillusionment in politics, particularly over how right wing media amplifies untruths and creates blame where it shouldn't. But Reform is not your friend or your ally. It is a facade, behind a mask lies fascism with a pint and a faux grin designed to make it look palatable. It won't be if you fall for it.
Voting for Reform as a protest vote in a general election is a bit like shitting the bed at a hotel as a protest against the service and then realising that you now have to sleep in a shat bed.
But if the same old Torys and same old Labour won't listen what choice do people have but to punish them but look elsewhere. Hopefully it will force a huge policy shift, but Starmer saying he will not change course. Greens aren't credible either, they would destroy the economy with their energy policies. Lib Dems have also proven they can't be trusted from the ConDem alliance. Reform are the only ones who people haven't yet seen to break promises I guess. Now they have councils they will be under scrutiny a lot more now. It will be poliitcal suicide if the Labour government decide to try and punish the areas who have voted in reform councils by slashing their budgets etc, they will end up like the Torys now. Having said that we have seen before where local results don't translate into national ones.
I agree with what you’re saying, definitely. It’s rather sad that the same people who voted for Nigel’s last version of this party - which helped ensure we left the EU - and caused the sort of damage those of us on the side of remaining in the EU warned would happen, are now voting for his latest version. Sad, because the majority of them are too thick to understand that. Sad, because they’ll be again helping to damage the country, and in a few years further it’ll be the foreigners to blame again. Just an endless line of ignorant, uneducated stupidity. Democracy is great. But I know some Farage lovers, and I wouldn’t trust them to point out France on a map, never mind understand what they’re voting for, or more importantly, voting against. All that said, this Labour government seems as unpopular as the Tories’ many iterations. Led by a bloke with the charisma of a packet of ready salted crisps. No idea who is running comms for them, but they’re a disaster. If you seek it out, you’ll find a lot of good stuff that Labour have implemented in 10 months. But they don’t shout about it enough. It’s just constant reference to the mess left by the Tories. Nigel is an absolute charlatan. But he’s got a way with words, has charisma and has successfully convinced enough idiots that he’s a man of the people. You have to respect it. Sad state of affairs.
Disappointing results but not unexpected given the demise of the Tories and Starmer being portrayed as a wet wipe. Reform like UKIP before is a protest vote, but one that can do damage. Labour need to concentrate on making ordinary working lives better, look at improving the NHS because Farage will sell that off to Trump at the first opportunity. And not get tucked into playing the immigration Some older folk
It's a catch 22 I think branding people "protest voters" is very derogatory. Perhaps those "protest voters" do it to get up the noses of people like them.
Its a political term to refer to voters moving away from the party they might usually vote for. It's not meant as a,derogatory term.
Starmer talked a good one before election, tax won't need to be upped... then he put council tax up. I'll stop the boats, 10k so far since january, then there waspi u turn. Blokes a clown sooner he out the better.