Local Elections

I doubt it, they've set expectations at 1000 seats lost, anything less will be hailed a success.

At a local level, our Tory councillor is far more involved and visible than the LibDem chap - gets personally involved in problems, follows through, actively supports local events as if she wants to be there and uses her discretionary budget to support several local youth groups.

Dawned if I'll vote for her though. Not even aware if Labour have a candidate (in our former mining village!)

https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1653757875200708611

I think the Tories attempts at disenfranchising the youngest & poorest will see them not lose as many as that

https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1653757539908042752

At a local level, our Tory councillor is far more involved and visible than the LibDem chap – gets personally involved in problems, follows through, actively supports local events as if she wants to be there and uses her discretionary budget to support several local youth groups.

Well, exactly, it's a bit daft that local elections are party political - local government is mainly about effective administration and delivery of local services and an individual's councillor's ability to do that shouldn't be affected by the colour of rosette that they wear. The services they are mandated to deliver, and the budget they have to do that, is pretty much fixed by the central government, it's not up to them

The shame of it is that many, many Tory councillors who do a really good at delivering public services will be out on their arse because if they'll be punished for the ****wittery of the central Tory government.

I think the Tories attempts at disenfranchising the youngest & poorest will see them not lose as many as that

I've heard the suggestion elsewhere that the voter ID requirement, while profoundly wrong and a solution to a non-problem, will disproportionally benefit the LDs as their voters are most likely to have the right ID.

Think the ID requirements, especially in the Red Wall might backfire spectacularly.

Remember too that many of the wards up this time were last up in 2019, at the nadir of Theresa May's popularity. If the Tories lose many seats at all this will be bad for them. As I live in what is a safe Tory ward (mainly down to the personal vote of one of the Cllrs who isn't up for reelection this time) I don't know what the ground game is like, but anecdotally a lot of Tory activists aren't bothering, and a lot of Lab activists are pissed off at Starmer. So who knows.

Fingers crossed the majority party in Sheffield get a kicking. They've been giving Labour a bad name for years. Unfortunately the Greens are largely incompetent and libdems are wannabe Tory.

The shame of it is that many, many Tory councillors who do a really good at delivering public services will be out on their arse because if they’ll be punished for the ****wittery of the central Tory government.

If a hypothetical Tory councillor is a good councillor, they would end their affiliation with the Tory government.

I’m sure there’s more to it than that, be interested to know the dilemma if there is one.

Well, there's some fun graphs there isn't there.

https://electionmaps.uk/polling

Can't be arsed to vote this time because there are no viable candidates I like. I want to vote for independent but non available so I will just let the big parties enjoy the dominance.

Locally I think the Tories will do quite well (still get no seats mind) as they are the only party opposing a new congestion charge which Labour & LDs are supporting. Obvs anything in any way affecting motorists is very controversial amongst those who believe it is their divine right to drive everywhere and anywhere.

Does seem quite a low key event as local elections go though - not much in the way of posters etc up.

It will be an interesting one for sure.

If a hypothetical Tory councillor is a good councillor, they would end their affiliation with the Tory government

You'd hope so, but it seems you can be a good councillor and have a broader moral vacuum

Our current local Tory councillor is excellent - I won't be voting for her however purely due to the party affiliation.

Luckily I've met all the candidates in the area whilst they've been canvassing, & was going to vote green before meeting them but the labour one is now going to get my vote.

@footflaps It’ll be interesting to see what happens there, all the evidence is that active travel isn’t the wedge issue the antis think it is and doesn’t bring electoral success.

Same applies in Milkstone & Deeplish round here mind you.

Will be voting tactically to keep Labour out of overall power in the town hall. Which means a vote for the greens so not too bad.

Had nothing through the door from Labour. My vote in these elections will be for the Greens because a) they're front runners in this ward and b) I was the recipient of a full student grant. Will probably hold my nose and vote Labour in the GE.

@footflaps It’ll be interesting to see what happens there, all the evidence is that active travel isn’t the wedge issue the antis think it is and doesn’t bring electoral success.

A very vocal minority is my take on them...

Aye, that definitely seems to be the pattern.

If a hypothetical Tory councillor is a good councillor, they would end their affiliation with the Tory government

Ive dealt with a few torys over the years.  On the council the tories are the only ones with clean hands.  On the assisted dying bill its a free vote in holyrood so I need to speak to tories as well.  I have been polite and reasonable but its not easy.

Sup with a long spoon

Free Member
Can’t be arsed to vote this time because there are no viable candidates I like. I want to vote for independent but non available so I will just let the big parties enjoy the dominance.

Posted

You should spoil your ballot paper. Let them know you don't like them. Your vote is precious ,bloody well use it.

If a hypothetical Tory councillor is a good councillor, they would end their affiliation with the Tory government.

We have a very active councillor who was a Tory, lots of locals (particularly pensioners) like him. Unfortunately he decided to go independent to form a coalition group with a couple of other ex Tories one of whom got kicked out of the party for being racist. They only did it as it enabled a coalition of independents to run the council after years of cronies running the local Labour party. They've been a total shower. And he closed the sea front cycle path. I hope he gets voted out but I suspect he'll get back in as people recognise him.
Long story short: beware of Tories going independent as they may be more right wing than they appear!

I expect the ID requirements to vote in person tomorrow are going to cause at least a few news headlines, due to those turning up with no ID.

True blue territory around here - Phillip Hammond was the local MP until he was thrown out of the party for being too reasonable. That said, I have seen only 2 Conservative placards around the village but at least half a dozen Lib Dem placards. Word is, even around here the Tory councillors are at risk.

No opportunity to express my opinion this time around, no polling taking place in Wiltshire.

My ward is part of Newark and Sherwood - local MP honest bob jenrick - and is heavily dominated by tories who hold 29 out of 39 seats.
I've just taken a look at the candidates standing in each ward and it's striking that a majority - but not all - of tory candidates describe themselves as 'local conservatives'.
There are 3 seats in my ward with 2 labour candidates, 3 'local conservatives', 1 indy and 1LD; I will be voting lab, lab, indy.

I’ve just taken a look at the candidates standing in each ward and it’s striking that a majority – but not all – of tory candidates describe themselves as ‘local conservatives’.

Apparently happening all over the place. It seems somewhat optimistic thinking that anyone who is deciding not to vote tory will go "ah well these are the local ones" and change their mind.
Perhaps the ballot paper is going to be LOCAL.....conservatives.

The same as @Harry_the_Spider I’m hoping to dislodge Bury’s remaining Tory councillors

Our local Labour candidate, Gareth, is only 25, he’s a top bloke and is mad keen to see what he can do for the constituency.

I’ve put my money where my mouth is and have been designing his social media and I’ve been out leafleting. All the Labour material has reminders that you will need ID to vote but I foresee problems as people are just unaware of it, generally. Which is of course why the Tories are doing it. It’s a deliberate policy of voter suppression

Anecdotal evidence, talking to people on the doorstep, is that the Tories are ****ed! Their attempts at a ‘local’ rebrand, removing any reference to the party, aren’t washing with anyone and people are angry. The most telling comment I’ve had was someone (who I suspect would usually vote Tory at a GE) who told me he hadn’t bothered voting in local elections for years, who definitely would be doing this time to send a message to ‘that lot’

Hoping to get our second Labour Councillor in the ward elected today. Just off out to deliver Get out the Vote cards to our promises.

The count is tomorrow which is good as I hated the overnight slog, observing count and recount at 4am after a full day campaigning

Across Leeds we should be fine give or take the odd independent or green

... feedback on our doorsteps is similar to Binners. Labour vote holding up and strengthening since last year. Dyed in the wool Tories can't bring themselves to vote for the Tories even if they won't vote Labour. We got ax 20% swing to Labour and our first Labour Councillor for 30 years in last year's election.

I’ve just taken a look at the candidates standing in each ward and it’s striking that a majority – but not all – of tory candidates describe themselves as ‘local conservatives’.

Never mind the lowly councillors, even the full Tory MPs are trying this trick. There was a thread recently (or maybe it was within one of the political threads) about how many Tory MPs now have green background colours and you really have to go searching for the Conservative Party logo.

They're aware of how tainted the brand is.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens there, all the evidence is that active travel isn’t the wedge issue the antis think it is and doesn’t bring electoral success.

Local elections last year where my Mum lives (where there's been vocal opposition to new Low Traffic Neighbourhoods) were heralded as a referendum on all things LTN, the undemocratic socialist dictators who have imposed their dystopian future on us will be sent running for the hills...

What's that, the Tories standing on an anti-LTN platform have the lowest vote share of all?
Labour have been voted back in with an increased majority?

Oh... 🤔
Followed by frantic efforts to backpedal and claim it was just an anti-Tory vote. Yeah, surprisingly, Active Travel is actually a decent vote winner in the majority of cases.

Postal vote here so no worries about ID. Only person who we have seen is the incumbent Green (South Chichester) who is pretty good and well liked I think. They are hoping for a 2nd green but otherwise suspect Lib Dems will do well.

I'd normally agree that in local council elections it's more about how effective the person is rather than their party affiliation but this time around I think we have to use every opportunity to voice disgust at the Tory government, so until the GE this is one of the few opportunities to do that. I've just voted for a mix of independent and Labour candidates.

We have had a Residents Association for 87 years . This year they decided they want to build on the green belt.
Huge opposition ,let's see how much they get their arses kicked.
Shame as I liked having non political councilors who in theory would put the boroughs needs first.
Obviously not.

Shame as I liked having non political councilors who in theory would put the boroughs needs first.

Playing devil's advocate, but what happens if the borough needs housing? We've had plans for a small (10-12 properties) social housing build thrown out locally due to nimbys who have never needed social housing in their lives.

We are already the most densely populated borough in Surrey.
They were working on figures that were out of date.
They want to build on an area that floods.
They rejected a plan to build on brown sites.
There are no plans for increased doctors ,hospitals or schools.
Chris effing Grayling has put out a leaflet saying that the green belt is exempt from the building plan.
Half the RA councilors don't want to build on the green belt. The other half must have been on some very nice holidays recently.

We are already the most densely populated borough in Surrey.
They were working on figures that were out of date.
They want to build on an area that floods.
They rejected a plan to build on brown sites.
There are no plans for increased doctors ,hospitals or schools.
Chris effing Grayling has put out a leaflet saying that the green belt is exempt from the building plan.
Half the RA councilors don’t want to build on the green belt. The other half must have been on some very nice holidays recently.

Part of the issue is the UK's terrible planning system; part of it is, as above, local councillors getting backhanders and sweeteners to build inappropriate housing for short term profit and sod the long term implications.

This is worth a read:
https://www.centreforcities.org/blog/new-zealand-shows-how-planning-reform-will-end-britains-housing-crisis/

There are thousands of acres of brownfield sites especially in cities, much of it perfect for medium density housing development, even on a small scale. It's already close to amenities and services and a dozen small scale sets of flats/apartments/terraced housing scattered around a town or city is almost unnoticeable compared to the same number of homes built as semi-detached boxes on what used to be fields.

But councillors like the latter cos it's more obvious that they've Done Something to solve the housing crisis and Invest in the Local Area. And they get better backhanders.

Lib Dems here have gone all in on "say no to red lines" i.e. block proposals to extend bus lane hours so that buses can actually run effectively. Their vote share is tiny so it'll be interesting to see what that does for them. Also somehow labour have been able to spin all the LTN debate as a Green party policy despite having voted for it themselves. I personally have no idea who to vote for as none of the leafletting was at all inspiring

Let them know you don’t like them. Your vote is precious ,bloody well use it.

In complete agreement with this. There may not be anyone you like standing, but doesn't stop you researching their bios and voting to keep out the ones you don't want. Lesser of two evils etc. Not voting voids any future opinion you may have.

We apparently have  Conservative, Labour and Indy candidates running in our ward. Not seen or heard from any of them. Only one I can find any info on is the conservative one who looks like a right nasty piece of work. Even my local town labour website has no mention of their candidate and the Indy is harder to track down than Lord Lucan........nobody has been round or if they have they haven't dropped a leaflet.

Absolutely pathetic. I'd spoil my ballot but to be honest I think thats pretty immature and also - my response to that if I was in charge of anything would be, why don't you run then if you can do better?

I genuinely think I might look in to running for the Greens next time. How difficult can it be if this is the competition?

Anyone done it?

I personally have no idea who to vote for as none of the leafletting was at all inspiring

The stuff I got was a willy-waving contest of who was more "local" and had lived in the area for longest. Also the Lib Dems sent round a terrible survey that you had to fill in by hand and post back to them and as they don't seem to have heard of The Internet (or indeed how to run fair and non-biased surveys), they're not getting my vote.

I got to the Polling Station at 9am. I was the 17th person in there since 7am...

I engaged with "Burnley Conservatives" on social media. They claimed that all communication from all parties advised voters that they needed ID. I received their "intouch" propaganda leaflet through the door, no mention of ID anywhere. I called them out on it, they immediately downed communication.

Lying shitbags, the lot of them. I hope their bollocks turn square and rot at the corners.

@crazy-legs Our local MP (who is a complete Tory sock puppet with a wafer thin majority) put out a very green leaflet with Conservatives in miniscule writing, and then voted to continue sewage dumping. Isn't that right @muddydwarf?

@rs1 Labour are consistently disappointing on AT round here, considering it's car dependency is inequality issue as much as a public health or environmental one. The King of the North hasn't really demonstrated a willingness to use his extensive political capital to do the right thing either.

Popped to my polling station at 0845, place was empty.

Choice was pick two of the following:

Lib Dem 1

Lib Dem 2

Con 1

Con 2

Indy

Reform Party (FFS)

No idea who the Indy was and they didn't bother to leaflet.

Voted Lib Dem.

The tories will do much better than everyone expects, mostly because Sunak has steadied the ship and looks at least half competent, and the fact that Starmer is doing a very good job at looking like he can't be arsed. People like myself have very little reason to drag themselves out and vote for a party which takes our vote for granted.

Tories have also being doing "expectation management" saying they expect to lose 1000 seats - which of course objectively would be a disaster for them but now losing 900 will be seen and spun as a good result