[Youngian]

The Tories at least had professional rigour and experience in their ranks. Reform running a major city is a grim prospect.

[Boiler]

It is, and you'd hope that them doing so and the electorate at large watching them fuck up big time would be a warning: but sadly, a large chunk of the electorate are taken in by the FFC and his rich mates and will say it's someone else's fault, just like how they say the reasons their lives are shit is not because they made poor life decisions in their past.

[davidjay]

Having thought I’d left frantic polling day activity behind me, I’ve been persuaded to have our abode used as the Campaign Centre for two wards (my own ward and its neighbour) here in south Brum.

Things haven’t really got started yet, but the house feels a bit like the condemned cell. Before the whirlwind.

Ahh well. C’est la guerre. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger and all that bollocks.

Wish us luck. We’re going to need it.

Good luck. I feel bad about not helping but I can't in all conscience go out and defend this council.

[mattomac]

My hope is that some places remain Labour.

Plymouth is a comedy in that it elects thirds and will remain with a Labour council before it changes next year into a unitary authority.

I did note in some of the voxpops though more of a supportive view of the council from some so maybe it won't be a complete disaster for Labour, probably helps that Tories were removed only a few years back and Labour have been doing things (Though that seems lost nationally).

Plaid hopefully will repel Reform (I'm not a fan but its that or Reform and frankly Reform will be a minority government anyhow as the Tories look completely wiped). I would expect Plaid to govern as a minority with support from Lab and the Greens.

SNP will take Scotland again, I don't think Sarwar's outburst helped him in anyway, the time if any to call for Starmer was post election and blame it on WM.

My area is just about Labour but has a sizeable LD opposition and I expect that they will become the council, Tories are on 7 and they will be squeezed and maybe these independent parties make a dent. Reform will no doubt take areas in Tolworth and Old Malden but probably won't make a massive impact in places like Kingston, New Malden and so on.

My hope nationally for Labour is it can hold on in places and the Greens don't hit it too much in London.

[mattomac]

I didn't get chance to vote this time anyhow, in fact party politics has turned me off in recent months, Populism from the left and right even from the centre is fundamentally damaging.

My mums not been well and the GP sort of gave her the last rights only for a blood test to show her condition was related to calcium and blood levels so she ended up in hospital (And I ended up staying in Cornwall, work have been excellent), she isn't anywhere near as good as she was 6 months ago but she is eating and at least back to being able to have a conversation with. For some reason very little matters outside of that in the context as Labour will still be in power and their local authority is Independent/Lib Dem and isn't voting.

Also with the global situation whether Starmer was told something or not which has dominated this period is not that important. As for any leadership context, there isn't currently anyone better not for the international stage, and I would be concerned that we would turn away from closer ties with Europe under at least one of the names.

[Boiler]

Spot on. And I hope your mother continues to improve.

[The Weeping Angel]

I voted for my councillor and friend.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

I hope your mum continues to improve, Matt.

[Samanfur]

Likewise, Matt.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Likewise from me too.

[Tubby Isaacs]

We're fortunate enough to have got our council elections done in 2023, so we don't have any Reform councillors. Even Shropshire and Gloucestershire next door, which elected the Lib Dems last year, have 16 and 11 Reform respectively. The less said about Worcestershire the better.

[The Weeping Angel]

I hope your mom's health improves Matt.

[mattomac]

Thanks for the well wishes