We have a Reform nob in the Family. My BIL is standing as a local candidate. Fortunately in a different ward but won't be showing any support. He's already started posting anti-immigrant stuff on his facebook. Fortunately I don't havr it so can't go upsetting him and causing a family rift.
My sister isn't amused with him. He's a tosser.
Oh things will change alright. There will be no welfare system and no NHS for a start. In a way, if the idiots voting for Reform can't even see that Nige and co ARE the living embodiment of the establishment, they probably deserve everything they get. The trouble is that the rest of us get it too
I would also suggest their handling of the economy would make us look back at the Liz Truss Mini Budget with fondness such would be the level of incompetence.
Oh things will change alright. There will be no welfare system and no NHS for a start. In a way, if the idiots voting for Reform can't even see that Nige and co ARE the living embodiment of the establishment, they probably deserve everything they get. The trouble is that the rest of us get it too
The problem is that here in Wales Reform UK have specifically promised that the NHS would remain free at the point of use, etc. People (including our naive top of the list candidate) seem believe them and throw back memes on Reform’s promises to anyone who suggests that the NHS is at risk under them. They don’t entertain the possibility that this and other similar promises are a Trojan horse designed to get Reform into power.
How do you actually deport someone who arrived by boat with no documentation? where do you deport them to?
Reforms policies are impossible to implement
Facebook is a Reform cesspit, filled with vocal idiots and bots. I understand people feeling failed by Tories and Labour, but thinking Reform can't be any worse is a special kind of desperation.
"Fool me once.. "
Reform are at least something that isn't 'the same old same old'. And I think desperation is the right word - most of us would underestimate how bad things are in many areas. Plus, everyone calls them stupid racists so they support someone who doesn't and sides with them (while generally side-stepping the race thing enough to maintain presence in the media and vindicate his supporters).
I can't stand the guy. But that shouldn't get in the way of seeing how he's doing what he does quite effectively.
Reforms policies are impossible to implement
The point was they were never supposed to be implemented. Reform exist to stand on the sidelines and moan about things. Best of all worlds; you don't actually have to do anything but you can say how brilliantly you would do it.
But as soon as they get into power, they're exposed for the grifters and charlatans that they are which is why so many councillors have stood down (or been told to stand down).
Reform are here, canvassing. Sorry, can't vote for anyone that dresses like me - kind of charity shop Levellers circa 1992, with self cut hair. At least they look like they enjoy a few beers is the best I can say about them.
I have a suspicion that Reform reform aren't just benefiting from online Bots.
I have this hypothesis that they also deliberately inflate their popularity in the real world at a micro level as well. Our local "Vote Reform" page has been busy posting photos of themselves out canvasing in our village, in the local pub, etc. But its a small village (pop ~1500), and I'm on all the political parties mailing rounds as I vote so whoever's at the door ticks my name off their list. Yet I've not seen them once (and the OH works from home so it's unlikely they'd miss us even if canvasing in the middle of the day). I think they just post up to give the impression that they're popular in the village without actually having to do any canvasing.
Reform are at least something that isn't 'the same old same old'.
There are few people who've stayed front and centre of UK politics for as long as Nigel Farage. What's new about him? He's been instrumental in tearing us out of the EU, and in putting the Tories in power after that by picking and choosing where his candidates stood. He's already fooled us UK voters at least twice. He's used up and thrown away multiple party names. And as pointed out earlier in the thread, many in his top team were in government only a few years ago.
How do you actually deport someone who arrived by boat with no documentation? where do you deport them to?
You're labouring under the misconception that there has to be a plan, the reality is that no-one cares beyond "not here." Their supporters would cheerfully "deport" national citizens who were born here.
Labour should make a point of campaigning on the promise of closing down all NHS hospitals in areas that vote reform. And whilst they are at it, removing pensions anyone in that area as well. After all, that's what they clearly want..
Most of the folks that voted for them seem not to be bothered by this.
Which is part of the problem. Thick, gullible people being allowed to vote without understanding the consequences and are easily sucked in by propaganda (also see Brexit and the £40m daily back for the NHS rubbish - more than likely the same idiots who are now voting Reform).
I think you Derbyshire dwellers need to look a bit harder -
Council Tax up by the maximum amount without a referendum- promise to cut taxes, - broken.
“DOGE” cutting waste - none to be found, council running on minimum services allowed by law, promises broken.
Care homes and children’s/young adults centres - closed - promises broken to “look after our own”..
Bins, the most important thing in the world to some people are your district Authority responsibility, not DCC.
Mate lives in Worcestershire which is a Reform council. His view is it's not better or worse than other parties. The council tax has gone up, as it has everywhere else and Reform have blamed that on anyone but themselves, but that's normal council stuff. He said they make a bit more noise, but bar that it's business as usual.
Not sure if this says more about Reform, the parties there before them or how local politics on general.
Not sure if your mate is actually local to Worcester or not, but the first 12 months was an utter pantomime, council meetings falling apart, huge arguments spanning multiple monthly meetings etc etc. It seems to have calmed down a little now, after the previous council chair was turfed out and a more experienced (ex-tory) Reform councillor took over. Their promises came to nothing - our council tax hike was the largest in the country (I'm told) at 9%, not that I expected any different given how all councils seem to be beyond the bottom of the barrel when it comes to budget.
From Facebook
OK everyone. I know many of you are appalled by the announcement by Reform yesterday.
I actively encourage you to lodge a formal complaint with the Electoral Committee. Do it today.You can do this via email to complaints@electoralcommission.org.uk
And feel free to use this template.
Dear Electoral Commission Regulatory Team,
I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding the campaign tactics recently announced by Reform UK on May 4, 2026.
The party's home affairs spokesperson has publicly committed to a policy of "prioritising" the placement of migrant detention centres—with a proposed capacity of 24,000 individuals—specifically in constituencies and council areas that vote for the Green Party. Conversely, the party has "guaranteed" that areas electing Reform UK representatives will be exempt from these facilities.
I believe this constitutes "Undue Influence" under the Representation of the People Act, as it uses the threat of infrastructure placement to pressure citizens into voting a certain way or to penalise them for their existing political affiliations. This tactic appears designed to:
* Intimidate voters by threatening negative local consequences for their democratic choices.
* Incentivise votes through the promise of specific geographic exemptions that are not based on administrative or logistical necessity, but purely on partisan alignment.
Threatening to punish specific geographical areas based on their voting record is a violation of the principle that elections should be free from coercion. I urge the Commission to investigate whether this policy breaches the Electoral Code of Conduct or the legal prohibitions against intimidatory behaviour in campaigning.
I look forward to your response regarding the steps being taken to ensure the integrity of the 2026 local and further national elections.
Not sure if your mate is actually local to Worcester or not, but the first 12 months was an utter pantomime, council meetings falling apart, huge arguments spanning multiple monthly meetings etc etc. It seems to have calmed down a little now, after the previous council chair was turfed out and a more experienced (ex-tory) Reform councillor took over.
Yep - local government is not exactly glamorous work, I think a few new councillors went into it thinking it'd be a bed of roses and then found that council meetings about new signage on the high street or how much should be spent on the local firework display was not the introduction to power that they wanted.
Also, councils do actually have fairly strict rules about public office work, scrutiny, conduct and so on and it turns out that while you can get away with mouthing off down the pub about "bloody immigrants", those sort of comments in a council chambers gets you on the end of a disciplinary hearing.
Our local "Vote Reform" page has been busy posting photos of themselves out canvasing in our village, in the local pub, etc. But its a small village (pop ~1500), and I'm on all the political parties mailing rounds as I vote so whoever's at the door ticks my name off their list. Yet I've not seen them once (and the OH works from home so it's unlikely they'd miss us even if canvasing in the middle of the day). I think they just post up to give the impression that they're popular in the village without actually having to do any canvasing.
Door to door canvassing has got to be a relic of the past. To actually get someone to answer the door (and not see your rosette and slam it in your face*) and have them be a realistic swing voter, then to actually convince them to change their vote to your party? Whats the statistical hit rate on that? And if it only really works for about a week before the election, even putting in 12 hour shifts you are getting a small handful of votes surely.
However, claiming you are canvassing, and posting pics on Facebook, reaches far more people, many of whom in reform's case would lap up a bit of nostalgia of doorstep canvassing, milk delivery and doctors with leather bags making housecalls.
*not sure what would be worse, this, or getting a super-fan who was going to vote for you anyway wanting a 45 minute conversation about pointless guff, wasting your time.
As a resident of Worcester, where Reform got in with a majority to control the local council at the last local elections... Expect MASSIVE increases to your council tax bill (despite promises they would cut them, Reform are pushing through a 9% increase here right now!), decreases in public spending, England or Union Jack flags bloody everywhere for a while (paid for by Reform out of your council tax money no less!) and plenty of other general corruption and shithousery to line Farage's pockets all dressed up as patriotism...
Fortunately there are one or two by elections here soon, which could throw the council control wide open again as Reform only have a very slim majority currently.
have them be a realistic swing voter, then to actually convince them to change their vote to your party?
Door to door canvassing is more about "getting out the vote" rather than convincing people to swap their vote. Even more true in local elections where, despite being able to easily speak directly to your representatives and/or candidates if you choose to, most people won't bother to vote and will leave the choice to others to make (and then whinge about the outcomes). Local elections are very much about who bothers to vote. A quick chat to make a connection, to make the vote seem more consequential, can help move a stay at home vote to a cross in a box.
not that I expected any different given how all councils seem to be beyond the bottom of the barrel when it comes to budget.
I'm surprised Reform councils never got organised and pointed out the slashing of central government funding while increasing councils responsibilities. Seems a sure fire way to point the blame where (some of it) belongs, and get their media team running a "Reform in government would fix this" message.
Except Reform is now largely made up of the Tories who did it in the first place, and actually fixing problems is not really the Reform way.
Reform are at least something that isn't 'the same old same old'.
There are few people who've stayed front and centre of UK politics for as long as Nigel Farage. What's new about him? He's been instrumental in tearing us out of the EU, and in putting the Tories in power after that by picking and choosing where his candidates stood. He's already fooled us UK voters at least twice. He's used up and thrown away multiple party names. And as pointed out earlier in the thread, many in his top team were in government only a few years ago.
I mean the 'same old same old' that is the 2 party red-blue flips we've had for what since forever. Reform to some will be 'doing it differently', whatever that means. There's low trust in the main parties and it's about how they've different intentions and priorities to Labour and Conservative. It's hollow BS, what I'm getting at is how most people don't understand the detail enough to judge if it is or not (like I don't when Reeves talks economic policy, I judge the aims and whether I trust their judgement or track record). Stories and hope.
He is a fraud. The whole thing is a scam. Don't get me wrong, I don't support anything even close to all that populist BS. But I do think there's a too-common head-in-sand attitude or 'they're all thick' mentality that only leaves the door more open for them. The reason people listen to Farage and hear what they want to hear is more complex and real than racism or stupidity and one thing I do agree with the average reform voter on (well, we could like the same bands or beer or whatever) is that Labour and Conservative have both failed to offer a lot of those voters any hope, so here we are. Can't see a way forward? Then maybe reverse sounds good to enough people. Who's to blame, those taking advantage of a situation or those who created the situation? 'Both'.
I'll be honest Derbyshire County Council doesn't seem any different since Reform took over.
Same in County Durham, no notable difference whatsoever
Door to door canvassing has got to be a relic of the past.
I had a Labour candidate at my door the other day. I think this is the first time it's ever happened.
Door to door canvassing has got to be a relic of the past.
the people running my local party have told me on many occasions that it's the most effective way of engaging with people - they have power points and everything. I think they just enjoy watching me trudging the streets if I'm honest.
Same in County Durham, no notable difference whatsoever
Thankfully, politics is largely a showcase and the actual day-to-day running of basic council functions is carried out by people who (usually) know what they're doing, even if they're financially hamstrung and just ticking over.
A lot of councillor rhetoric meets reality before it can ever be enacted, especially when councillors are overstepping the mark of local things they can actually influence and trying to get in on national politics which is really all that Reform had (mostly shouting about boats).
So I live in Chesterfield but a lot of the roads are managed by N.E. Derbyshire council.
They seem to be digging up ALL the roads currently, well I say digging up fixing the potholes.
Problem being that lots of major routes are currently closed for road repairs.
Recently one was closed a week before the signs said it would be closed.
Random article from the local rag about it.
We are going to have far right councils and govt very soon.The two main parties have wrecked the country and are now hated.
Door to door canvassing has got to be a relic of the past.
the people running my local party have told me on many occasions that it's the most effective way of engaging with people - they have power points and everything. I think they just enjoy watching me trudging the streets if I'm honest.
Comments on FB suggest people seem to really want canvassers on the doorstep, and it seems to be a sign that a party is making an effort at a local level.
The two main parties have wrecked the country and are now hated
I'm not a labour voter, but blaming them in tandem with the Tories for the problems the UK has is utter nonsense.
14 years of underfunding and all the other damage done by the Tories (Brexit!) was never going to be sorted at this point in time since Labour took over.
I remember the last two disastrous Labour governments.You obviously do not.
Cab for hire anybody.
This is going to sound a bit mad but here goes.
As above. It is Labour, or it is Conservative and thats been forever and a day. But is that really a bad thing ?
We know the tories are corrupt, and we know that labour are too, but just a tiny bit and the system means the tories underfund public serfices(pun) and cut tax to the richest, which makes them happy, and the great unwashed demand these services, which requires investment and they put up tax to bring in the funds
Maybe the problems is that has allowed one side to remain in power for too long, and if it were no more than say one 4 year stint(or 5 or 6), then on to the other it kind if keeps both sides happy.
The super wealthy can look forward to the tories coming in, which makes them happy, and the general population can look forward to labour coming in, which makes them happy, but neither is there long enough that an excess annoys one or the other.
Anyone following this 😆 Im terrible at putting these things down. Maybe a bit naive, but i always try to find the middle ground.
Too much choice causes problems. People no longer know where to stand. its all up in the air and no real cohesion.
I think its called The paradox of choice.
I remember the last two disastrous Labour governments.You obviously do not.
I remember them just fine.
The 1970s labour party have nothing at all in common with the modern labour party
The 90s/00s governments of Blair and then Brown, were successful governments. The only genuine criticism of that era is the Iraq invasion saga, but it's a rather large stretch to suggest that "wrecked the country" You could also pretend Brown's de-regulation of the UK banking sector was the sole cause of the 2008 crash, when we really know that sub prime lending in the US would've caused the crash regardless of anything Labour had or hadn't done.
I suspect that's all by the by as from memory you've expressed support for Morrissey's current views on...stuff...so I suspect we know why you think Labour and the Conservatives have "wrecked" the country...
I think its called The paradox of choice
There isn't choice, there are silos. It's very very easy these days to remain in a bunker of similar political thought to your own. We do not have have any more a single agreed arena where political ideas are debated, and metaphorically given a shake down in the "market-place of ideas". Go back to the 70's and 80's on You tube and compare the quality of debate across the political divide with the current.
You can convince yourself that 'everybody' thinks like you do, or that 'everybody' else is entirely wrong, or that because of what you see everyday any number of terrible things are happening; flags on every lamp-post, or Shira law in every town. When the reality is nothing like it.
The amusing thing in my locality is that the local Labour councillors have spent god knows how much on promoted social media posts telling us of doom and gloom if people vote for reform, but have been entirely unwilling or unable to tell us anything positive the’ve managed to do for the local community in the past sixty odd years they’ve been running the council.
Mercifully, local councils have very little sway in how to fund and run services. The amount of power any council can exert is minimal, given the liabilities that have to be met for social care and rubbish clearance. Reform found this the hard way, where nothing much has changed, including raising council taxes instead of reducing them. God help us if they get near real power, but hopefully these local elections will serves as the negative feedback system we need.
Yeh,Labour governments never call in the IMF or double the national debt leaving the country in a mess .Tony still a banker is he?
but have been entirely unwilling or unable to tell us anything positive they’ve managed to do
Probably because demand for services has consistently out stripped demand and willingness to pay for services, particularly welfare and social care. We have two choices (as no one will consider the third).
1. Continue on the sustained downward trajectory we've been on for years with Labour, it's not going to get better.
2. Crash the whole thing and let Reform totally trash our failing system, deepen social divides and create a USA style toxic political mess.
3. Or be grown up about things, realise that we're not prepared to fund services to level we want (and in fact can't because as you provide more you increase demand whilst reducing your economically active contributing members of society) and manage the service reduction so that those who lose are not the ones with the most desperate needs. At the same time some of the money needs to be diverted into long term investment into infrastructure. Highly unpopular and long term so political suicide. Starmer even tried to make a start and was blocked by the eft wing of his own party.
Actually I've thought of an option 4.
4. Rone economics where we print money and pretend it won't have a consequence until it does.
4. Rone economics where we print money and pretend it won't have a consequence until it does.
at least this one is fun in the beginning
Mercifully, local councils have very little sway in how to fund and run services. The amount of power any council can exert is minimal, given the liabilities that have to be met for social care and rubbish clearance.
Yep which is why technically it doesn't matter which political party they align to. It is all about how it feels and I feel happier having people with Green values running things than those with Reform values because they are less likely to be massive tossers.
Yeh,good idea.Slash benefits in areas destroyed by Thatcher.That will work out well.
