[The Weeping Angel]

I think people who vote Reform will be in shock when they start implementing their doge style policies.

[Boiler]

Reform have been successful because Labour have failed to deliver on the ground. They cannot keep blaming the Conservatives for the problems this country is in.

It served the Tories well for their fourteen years - "the mess we inherited" etc.

[Boiler]

Looking at the final tally of votes in my area, 67 out of the 2,644 votes were cast for the Homeland Party...

[Abernathy]

I think people who vote Reform will be in shock when they start implementing their doge style policies.

Indeed. There is quite a long and consistent history of populist extreme right politicians gaining elected office and immediately running into the sand , going back at least as far as a character called Derek Beackon, who was elected in 1993 to Tower Hamlets council for the racist BNP, and wasted no time in demonstrating why he was totally incapable of doing the job he was nominally elected to do. He lasted eight months.

The tradition has continued through elected UKIP, Brexit Party, and Reform UK ( they’re basically all the same) candidates, right through to today. Farage is a lazy, self-interested, grifting cunt who has held no advice surgeries in Clacton since he was elected as their MP nine months ago, and barely bothers to attend parliament. As an MEP, his record was startlingly similar. Talk of him as the next PM is utterly risible, and if (Dawkins forbid) it should ever come to pass, The frog-faced fascist would undoubtedly continue the tradition, and probably only just better the duration of Liz Truss’s tenure in the job.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I'm amazed Labour have failed to deliver on the ground in 9 months, and within 5 weeks of their first budget period starting. I know they've made mistakes and done unpopular things, but the expectation of "Where's the Change?" is pretty silly. George Osborne got 6 years grace.

[Crabcakes]

Reform have been successful because Labour have failed to deliver on the ground. They cannot keep blaming the Conservatives for the problems this country is in.

Byline Times puts it more bluntly:
https://bylinetimes.com/2025/05/02/loca ... ervatives/

Reform have proved they can win anywhere. Whatever your view of them, I think it's time to start taking them very seriously.

I’ve got a lot of time for the Byline Times, but even I’m not sure how legitimately objective an article is that claims ‘Labour still aren’t listening’ that comes out the afternoon the results are announced, and indeed while some of them still haven’t declared. Especially one written by a former Labour employee who might still be annoyed at not having the job he held previously…

[Youngian]

The doorstep pitch at the GE was Labour had little to offer for now and there's hard work ahead after Truss and Johnson's tomfoolery but we're levelling with you. And it was appreciated by quiet bat people who probably don't turn out for locals.

[Abernathy]

Reform have been successful because Labour have failed to deliver on the ground. They cannot keep blaming the Conservatives for the problems this country is in.

Byline Times puts it more bluntly:
https://bylinetimes.com/2025/05/02/loca ... ervatives/

Reform have proved they can win anywhere. Whatever your view of them, I think it's time to start taking them very seriously.

Well, yes. I have little doubt that they are being taken very seriously, as were the threats posed by their previous incarnations as the NF, BNP, UKIP, Brexit Party, and now Reform. As for proving they can win everywhere, you need to add that they can win everywhere in a very particular set of circumstances, viz a limited set of council elections in parts of England, a parliamentary by-election caused by a Labour MP being too ready/handy with his fists, and a Conservative Party continuing to circle the drain.

Circumstances that are very unlikely to be replicated again. Particularly if the Reform councillors elected predictably prove as incompetent as all their antecedents, and the government begins visibly to deliver on its mandate of meaningful change and restored prosperity (with still more than four years to deliver this).

In short, Nev, don’t hold your breath.

[The Weeping Angel]

I'm amazed Labour have failed to deliver on the ground in 9 months, and within 5 weeks of their first budget period starting. I know they've made mistakes and done unpopular things, but the expectation of "Where's the Change?" is pretty silly. George Osborne got 6 years grace.

Yep, people were a lot more forgiving of Osbourne than Reeves.

[Boiler]

Oh, dear Lord... Crafty is now a councillor

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg419g63qelo

Party leader Nigel Farage MP, who visited the area during the election campaign, spoke at a celebration event in Newton Aycliffe.

He warned civil servants working on climate change or diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, or anyone who "thinks they can go on working from home, I think you better all be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly".

[davidjay]

Oh, dear Lord... Crafty is now a councillor

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg419g63qelo

Party leader Nigel Farage MP, who visited the area during the election campaign, spoke at a celebration event in Newton Aycliffe.

He warned civil servants working on climate change or diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, or anyone who "thinks they can go on working from home, I think you better all be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly".

Councils don't have civil servants, but then again a backbench MP from Essex shouldn't be making policy in the north-east.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Newton Aycliffe has the Hitachi train factory which looked like it might run out of orders a while ago. Labour committed to protecting the jobs, and a big order from an Open Access operator came through, possibly with informal assurance that the Government would support Open Access. Not the biggest role but I’m sure it helped. That order was very convenient.

County Durham duly told the Government to fuck off anyway. Bet Farage didn’t get many questions about Rail policy.

[The Weeping Angel]

Newton Aycliffe has the Hitachi train factory which looked like it might run out of orders a while ago. Labour committed to protecting the jobs, and a big order from an Open Access operator came through, possibly with informal assurance that the Government would support Open Access. Not the biggest role but I’m sure it helped. That order was very convenient.

County Durham duly told the Government to fuck off anyway. Bet Farage didn’t get many questions about Rail policy.

They say no good deed goes unpunished.

[RedSparrows]

Christ. Climate change, diversity and WFH.

Truly the scourges of our time (well, the first...). Grow the fuck up, Britain.

[Watchman]

They are going to shat themselves when they find out what running a country council actually involves

Absolutely. Getting rid of the diversity and equality officer and the vegan/halal sandwiches in the town hall coffee shop isn't going to stop the boats.

I made a similar point on a local Facebook page and was told, “good we don’t have to keep pandering to minority religions “

[Boiler]

Newton Aycliffe has the Hitachi train factory which looked like it might run out of orders a while ago. Labour committed to protecting the jobs, and a big order from an Open Access operator came through, possibly with informal assurance that the Government would support Open Access. Not the biggest role but I’m sure it helped. That order was very convenient.

County Durham duly told the Government to fuck off anyway. Bet Farage didn’t get many questions about Rail policy.

They say no good deed goes unpunished.

Sounds like Nissan in Sunderland and the EU referendum.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Getting rid of the diversity and equality officer and the vegan/halal sandwiches in the town hall coffee shop isn't going to stop the boats.

Do you think the older, less qualified, less educated, less intelligent Reform electorate will realise that?

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Just bear in mind:

Labour - 6170 councillors
Conservatives - 4500 councillors
Liberal Democrats - 3069 councillors
Green Party - 850 councillors
Reform - 674 councillors


Breakthrough my arse.

[Watchman]

Getting rid of the diversity and equality officer and the vegan/halal sandwiches in the town hall coffee shop isn't going to stop the boats.

Do you think the older, less qualified, less educated, less intelligent Reform electorate will realise that?

Absolutely not, but I wonder what their reaction will be when it doesn’t happen

[davidjay]

Just bear in mind:

Labour - 6170 councillors
Conservatives - 4500 councillors
Liberal Democrats - 3069 councillors
Green Party - 850 councillors
Reform - 674 councillors


Breakthrough my arse.

Without doubting your sincerity, in the 1928 Reichtag elections the Nazis won 12 seats and were the ninth-biggest party.