In Durham, Nigel Farage tells council staff to look for other jobs
Says those working on climate change, diversity or even just from home - "You all better be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly".
This is exactly why I could never vote Reform. It's one thing to suggest that councils aren't prioritising their spending and staffing properly. It's another thing to try and whip up hatred against people who had the temerity to fill an advertised vacancy and adhere to their employment terms.
He really does want to be a mini-Trump. I don't think this kind of thing is any more appealing to a broad strand of the traditional Right, than to other shades of the political spectrum.
The fact that low watt PBers cannot distinguish between private gyms having women only sessions, and the kind of profound sexual segregation proposed by conservative Islamic politicians - is simultaneously remarkable, abject and unsurprising
A fairly terrifying thread. Worth reading the whole thing
"I've just finished working for the local elections and i tell you, England is finished. The impoverished area i worked in, the Somali and Pakistani inhabitants were organised. With many not able to speak or read English being told who to vote for by family. It was insane to me"
"The sheer amount eligible to vote that were neither born here, read English, write or understand English, having a say over how this country is governed. I saw too, foreign severely mentally incapacitated people with voting ballots being told who to vote for by presumably family."
A fairly terrifying thread. Worth reading the whole thing
"I've just finished working for the local elections and i tell you, England is finished. The impoverished area i worked in, the Somali and Pakistani inhabitants were organised. With many not able to speak or read English being told who to vote for by family. It was insane to me"
"The sheer amount eligible to vote that were neither born here, read English, write or understand English, having a say over how this country is governed. I saw too, foreign severely mentally incapacitated people with voting ballots being told who to vote for by presumably family."
And even she criticises Jenkyns's let them sleep in tents comment.
I'd support banning first cousin marriage and an end to "it's their own culture" stuff now. Removals of illegal immigrants on top.
We've got to start breaking this stuff down. It's got too bad and gone too far.
(Nearly) everyone is in favour of deporting illegal immigrants, the contentious question has been who decides if they are illegal? Farage, Suella, the Daily Mail, or the courts?
The problem for the courts are lack of funding and poorly written legislation. Both primarily down to the populists who have destroyed their once Conservative party.
You're asking a forum that mostly agreed that shopkeepers should be legally allowed to shot dead anyone they think is a shoplifter.
And you @Phil@bondegezou are total Liberal idiots who wouldn't see any issue if you were the last ones in the bunker with a plastic water pistol (you'd never have the courage to use an actual gun) as the hordes came for you.
If there really were hordes, I’d get a real gun. But I’m not about to arm myself against mobs that only exist in your imagination. I’m not the kind of right-winger who would have tried to keep Jews out of Britain even after Kristallnacht. This country is made stronger by the arrival of talented immigrants. I’ve worked alongside people who made London their home and was genuinely proud to see some of them become British citizens. As far as I’m concerned, they’re every bit as British as I am.
And when the sectarian Islamic party wins power you'll be telling us all about how you weren't a racist and how we were all wrong to oppose the Islamification of the UK (and Europe).
If that happens I'll apologise to you, there's just no evidence for it and I'm not stupid enough to fear my fellow humans without good cause.
A fairly terrifying thread. Worth reading the whole thing
"I've just finished working for the local elections and i tell you, England is finished. The impoverished area i worked in, the Somali and Pakistani inhabitants were organised. With many not able to speak or read English being told who to vote for by family. It was insane to me"
"The sheer amount eligible to vote that were neither born here, read English, write or understand English, having a say over how this country is governed. I saw too, foreign severely mentally incapacitated people with voting ballots being told who to vote for by presumably family."
Yawn. This talking point has been trotted out by the far right since the 1970s. It's also said about whichever immigrant group is bothering them at any given time.
In Durham, Nigel Farage tells council staff to look for other jobs
Says those working on climate change, diversity or even just from home - "You all better be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly".
Those savings are crumbs but will make good headlines in the local papers for the gullible to feed on .
When you consider that one pound in every four goes on council staff pensions, one can see that a reduction in the number of unnecessary staff might be more than crumbs.
Not once you have had a look at the pension enhancements that local government employees made redundant after age 55 get. They are the most burdensome in terms of adding to pension costs that there are.
Farage is a successful campaigner but UKIP / Reform have not been in govt, UKIP did win control of Thanet council in 2015, splintered over Manston in 2018 and get wiped out in 2019. Successful political campaigner but not until he's been in government not a successful politician.
Until recently I would have doubted whether he actually wanted power but something seems to have changed now he's sensed that it's possible to win.
That was Farage's hope - two mayoralties plus Runcorn, and a lot of councillors
He's got everything he hoped, and, I suspect, far more councillors than he dreamed
The most reassuring thing about today is your relentless shilling for the extremists. Given your track record, it’s now just a matter of time…
"Extremism" is such a loaded term because it seeks to define your own beliefs as the sensible middle ground, even when they are extreme by historical standards.
I would have thought you would revel in the description.
He's right though: they don't realise they're defending a dogma rather than a reasonable centre ground.
In trying to defend hyperliberalism they actually risk losing liberalism altogether.
The fact that low watt PBers cannot distinguish between private gyms having women only sessions, and the kind of profound sexual segregation proposed by conservative Islamic politicians - is simultaneously remarkable, abject and unsurprising
A fairly terrifying thread. Worth reading the whole thing
"I've just finished working for the local elections and i tell you, England is finished. The impoverished area i worked in, the Somali and Pakistani inhabitants were organised. With many not able to speak or read English being told who to vote for by family. It was insane to me"
"The sheer amount eligible to vote that were neither born here, read English, write or understand English, having a say over how this country is governed. I saw too, foreign severely mentally incapacitated people with voting ballots being told who to vote for by presumably family."
A fairly terrifying thread. Worth reading the whole thing
"I've just finished working for the local elections and i tell you, England is finished. The impoverished area i worked in, the Somali and Pakistani inhabitants were organised. With many not able to speak or read English being told who to vote for by family. It was insane to me"
"The sheer amount eligible to vote that were neither born here, read English, write or understand English, having a say over how this country is governed. I saw too, foreign severely mentally incapacitated people with voting ballots being told who to vote for by presumably family."
And even she criticises Jenkyns's let them sleep in tents comment.
I'd support banning first cousin marriage and an end to "it's their own culture" stuff now. Removals of illegal immigrants on top.
We've got to start breaking this stuff down. It's got too bad and gone too far.
(Nearly) everyone is in favour of deporting illegal immigrants, the contentious question has been who decides if they are illegal? Farage, Suella, the Daily Mail, or the courts?
The problem for the courts are lack of funding and poorly written legislation. Both primarily down to the populists who have destroyed their once Conservative party.
You're asking a forum that mostly agreed that shopkeepers should be legally allowed to shot dead anyone they think is a shoplifter.
And you @Phil@bondegezou are total Liberal idiots who wouldn't see any issue if you were the last ones in the bunker with a plastic water pistol (you'd never have the courage to use an actual gun) as the hordes came for you.
If there really were hordes, I’d get a real gun. But I’m not about to arm myself against mobs that only exist in your imagination. I’m not the kind of right-winger who would have tried to keep Jews out of Britain even after Kristallnacht. This country is made stronger by the arrival of talented immigrants. I’ve worked alongside people who made London their home and was genuinely proud to see some of them become British citizens. As far as I’m concerned, they’re every bit as British as I am.
Wiltshire and Cornwall: probably LIB minorities (well-hung).
Of the others where a full picture isn’t ready yet, North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire are looking like REF/CON. If LDs fall short in Shropshire it will probably be LIB/GREEN. Doncaster is looking like majority REF at the moment.
Edit: oh and Bucks would typically look to be CON/LIB historically on that result (if CON don’t get a majority), but still a few seats to come, and I am not sure in the current climate how viable such a pairing will be this time out.
The Tories might hang on in Bucks by the skin of their teeth
Wiltshire and Cornwall: probably LIB minorities (well-hung).
Of the others where a full picture isn’t ready yet, North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire are looking like REF/CON. If LDs fall short in Shropshire it will probably be LIB/GREEN. Doncaster is looking like majority REF at the moment.
We'll see, of course, but I wonder if some of those are more likely to be minority control.
Take Gloucestershire for example - Lib Dems are one off a majority - LD 27, Ref 11, Green 9, Tory 6, Lab 1, Ind 1.
Maybe the Lib Dems get on really well with the Greens and are happy forming an administration with them. But they could perfectly easily govern as a minority and take all key positions on the Council. To lose a vote, they need RefUK, Conservative, Green and Labour to all agree, which is a bit implausible. Why not just take it issue by issue and take their pick about who to call on for support depending on who is most likely to give it? Fundamentally, nobody else can get anywhere near running it, so they'd be fine not bothering with a coalition.
On Shropshire, the LDs have got that fairly easily it looks like.
A fairly terrifying thread. Worth reading the whole thing
"I've just finished working for the local elections and i tell you, England is finished. The impoverished area i worked in, the Somali and Pakistani inhabitants were organised. With many not able to speak or read English being told who to vote for by family. It was insane to me"
"The sheer amount eligible to vote that were neither born here, read English, write or understand English, having a say over how this country is governed. I saw too, foreign severely mentally incapacitated people with voting ballots being told who to vote for by presumably family."
A fairly terrifying thread. Worth reading the whole thing
"I've just finished working for the local elections and i tell you, England is finished. The impoverished area i worked in, the Somali and Pakistani inhabitants were organised. With many not able to speak or read English being told who to vote for by family. It was insane to me"
"The sheer amount eligible to vote that were neither born here, read English, write or understand English, having a say over how this country is governed. I saw too, foreign severely mentally incapacitated people with voting ballots being told who to vote for by presumably family."
And even she criticises Jenkyns's let them sleep in tents comment.
I'd support banning first cousin marriage and an end to "it's their own culture" stuff now. Removals of illegal immigrants on top.
We've got to start breaking this stuff down. It's got too bad and gone too far.
(Nearly) everyone is in favour of deporting illegal immigrants, the contentious question has been who decides if they are illegal? Farage, Suella, the Daily Mail, or the courts?
The problem for the courts are lack of funding and poorly written legislation. Both primarily down to the populists who have destroyed their once Conservative party.
You're asking a forum that mostly agreed that shopkeepers should be legally allowed to shot dead anyone they think is a shoplifter.
And you @Phil@bondegezou are total Liberal idiots who wouldn't see any issue if you were the last ones in the bunker with a plastic water pistol (you'd never have the courage to use an actual gun) as the hordes came for you.
If there really were hordes, I’d get a real gun. But I’m not about to arm myself against mobs that only exist in your imagination. I’m not the kind of right-winger who would have tried to keep Jews out of Britain even after Kristallnacht. This country is made stronger by the arrival of talented immigrants. I’ve worked alongside people who made London their home and was genuinely proud to see some of them become British citizens. As far as I’m concerned, they’re every bit as British as I am.
Oh God, you're such a twat.
Thank you, I love you as well, just not quite as much as @Leon
Badenoch (or her successor) asking the questions every week at PMQs is going to look more and more incongruous as this Parliament rolls on.
The Commons has become a sideshow anyway. Nobody other than politics fans really follows PMQs nowadays, and the government has a big enough majority that there’s rarely any real focus on parliament.
The PM promises to go faster with change. The problem is his changes bring higher taxes, higher energy prices, more migrants, more small boats, cuts in benefits for pensioners and the disabled. These are not the changes most people want."
Farage is a successful campaigner but UKIP / Reform have not been in govt, UKIP did win control of Thanet council in 2015, splintered over Manston in 2018 and get wiped out in 2019. Successful political campaigner but not until he's been in government not a successful politician.
Until recently I would have doubted whether he actually wanted power but something seems to have changed now he's sensed that it's possible to win.
That was Farage's hope - two mayoralties plus Runcorn, and a lot of councillors
He's got everything he hoped, and, I suspect, far more councillors than he dreamed
The most reassuring thing about today is your relentless shilling for the extremists. Given your track record, it’s now just a matter of time…
"Extremism" is such a loaded term because it seeks to define your own beliefs as the sensible middle ground, even when they are extreme by historical standards.
I would have thought you would revel in the description.
He's right though: they don't realise they're defending a dogma rather than a reasonable centre ground.
In trying to defend hyperliberalism they actually risk losing liberalism altogether.
If only we had some actual (Classic) Liberals to vote for!
They are now an utterly endangered species, with just a scant few remaining in the current Tory setup, and maybe an even smaller number in the LDs who didn't get the memo.
A fairly terrifying thread. Worth reading the whole thing
"I've just finished working for the local elections and i tell you, England is finished. The impoverished area i worked in, the Somali and Pakistani inhabitants were organised. With many not able to speak or read English being told who to vote for by family. It was insane to me"
"The sheer amount eligible to vote that were neither born here, read English, write or understand English, having a say over how this country is governed. I saw too, foreign severely mentally incapacitated people with voting ballots being told who to vote for by presumably family."
A fairly terrifying thread. Worth reading the whole thing
"I've just finished working for the local elections and i tell you, England is finished. The impoverished area i worked in, the Somali and Pakistani inhabitants were organised. With many not able to speak or read English being told who to vote for by family. It was insane to me"
"The sheer amount eligible to vote that were neither born here, read English, write or understand English, having a say over how this country is governed. I saw too, foreign severely mentally incapacitated people with voting ballots being told who to vote for by presumably family."
The PM promises to go faster with change. The problem is his changes bring higher taxes, higher energy prices, more migrants, more small boats, cuts in benefits for pensioners and the disabled. These are not the changes most people want."
Reform weren't far off winning control of Warwickshire council despite it including quite a lot of trendy areas like Leamington Spa. They were 5 seats short and missed 2 or 3 by less than 200 votes.
The PM promises to go faster with change. The problem is his changes bring higher taxes, higher energy prices, more migrants, more small boats, cuts in benefits for pensioners and the disabled. These are not the changes most people want."
They need to drop the Change thing. It was deliberately designed as the slogan for the Ming Vase election because it was nebulous and didn’t mean much. Now they’re in government he keeps waffling on about his Plan For Change but he’s never taken the time to really set out what he wants.
Labour figures fear more Gaza independent gains at the locals on Thursday
My dispatch from Burnley, where one candidate challenging Labour wants to end “free mixing” between men and women
So not in favour of unisex toilets, I suspect...
Women's safe spaces taken a step too far for some.
It's what is known in Woke circles as Intersectionality.
Single sex spaces when foughtfor by middle aged, middle class women is fine and dandy, but woe and pearl clutching when young Muslim women argue for it.
Labour figures fear more Gaza independent gains at the locals on Thursday
My dispatch from Burnley, where one candidate challenging Labour wants to end “free mixing” between men and women
So not in favour of unisex toilets, I suspect...
Women's safe spaces taken a step too far for some.
It's what is known in Woke circles as Intersectionality.
Single sex spaces when foughtfor by middle aged, middle class women is fine and dandy, but woe and pearl clutching when young Muslim women argue for it.
Misogyny fights a raging battle against Islamophobia in many a Pop Right mind.
Current figures for total Con+Ref and Lab+LD+Grn councillors:
Con+Ref: 869 (-1 or 0.1%) Lab+LD+Grn: 503 (+27 or 5.7%)
In this sense, the main story is a large movement away from Con and Lab, and a small movement from right (or rather independent) to left. In net terms, of course.
A fairly terrifying thread. Worth reading the whole thing
"I've just finished working for the local elections and i tell you, England is finished. The impoverished area i worked in, the Somali and Pakistani inhabitants were organised. With many not able to speak or read English being told who to vote for by family. It was insane to me"
"The sheer amount eligible to vote that were neither born here, read English, write or understand English, having a say over how this country is governed. I saw too, foreign severely mentally incapacitated people with voting ballots being told who to vote for by presumably family."
Sorry let me just get this straight. Is this you not reading something on twitter and having an hysterical reaction to it.
Difficult to keep up.
Yes. She has herself corrected it on Twitter and admitted that it is just assumptions she is making about people:
In The Kitchen - Activist🐝 so this blew up. To clarify nothing happened that was against the rules to cast a vote (which in itself may be the problem) when i said 'told to who to vote for by family', that is my assumption, or else why would one who cannot read or speak a language turn up to vote and know how or who to vote for. I have assumed that they have been instructed by someone. https://x.com/HaitchBee_/status/1918338158808424557
As someone has replied: cbagirl People like you have a lot of assumptions. Maybe just assume that they get the media in their language, they live in the community they are voting for and have these political discussions with their friends and family - like English speaking people do https://x.com/allthemm1/status/1918340564153430332
My wife, not very politically engaged, asked me who to vote for to stop the Tory or Reform candidate winning in Sidders. LibDem, I told her. So she voted for them. And the LibDems won!
Blimey, by one vote? lol
No, it was quite easy - around a 400 majority. Reform took a load from the Tories. And Sidmouth turned yellow, just as it did in the GE. The LibDems are going to be very hard to move now.
I read an article about Sidmouth recently; incredible demographic. Have the Lib Dems have cornered the beige market?
Welcome to Sidmouth, where over-90s are having the time of their lives The Devon town has only 842 residents under 30 — and 1,100 over 80 — and yet somehow it works, thanks to a strong sense of community and plenty of willing volunteers
Ha, ha. It is a town full of old people, that is for sure. I have never seen so many mobility scooters and everything is closed by 8.00 pm. It's been Tory since forever but there are quite a few late middle-aged newcomers like us and I guess we are changing the demographic. There are also a lot more families in Sidford, which is part of the constituency and a bit further up from the sea. There's a secondary school there and a couple of primary schools. That said, the Tories plus Reform were about 3,000 votes, the LibDems were 2,400.
Reform weren't far off winning control of Warwickshire council despite it including quite a lot of trendy areas like Leamington Spa. They were 5 seats short and missed 2 or 3 by less than 200 votes.
That’s a shame.
I’d have liked to see @SouthamObserver ’s reaction to having a Reform councillor!
The PM promises to go faster with change. The problem is his changes bring higher taxes, higher energy prices, more migrants, more small boats, cuts in benefits for pensioners and the disabled. These are not the changes most people want."
Bless ! Redwood the champion of the poor and downtrodden ! He threw the disabled bit in to make himself sound all warm and cuddly ! He really must think people are gullible fools .
A fairly terrifying thread. Worth reading the whole thing
"I've just finished working for the local elections and i tell you, England is finished. The impoverished area i worked in, the Somali and Pakistani inhabitants were organised. With many not able to speak or read English being told who to vote for by family. It was insane to me"
"The sheer amount eligible to vote that were neither born here, read English, write or understand English, having a say over how this country is governed. I saw too, foreign severely mentally incapacitated people with voting ballots being told who to vote for by presumably family."
Sorry let me just get this straight. Is this you not reading something on twitter and having an hysterical reaction to it.
Difficult to keep up.
Yes. She has herself corrected it on Twitter and admitted that it is just assumptions she is making about people:
In The Kitchen - Activist🐝 so this blew up. To clarify nothing happened that was against the rules to cast a vote (which in itself may be the problem) when i said 'told to who to vote for by family', that is my assumption, or else why would one who cannot read or speak a language turn up to vote and know how or who to vote for. I have assumed that they have been instructed by someone. https://x.com/HaitchBee_/status/1918338158808424557
As someone has replied: cbagirl People like you have a lot of assumptions. Maybe just assume that they get the media in their language, they live in the community they are voting for and have these political discussions with their friends and family - like English speaking people do https://x.com/allthemm1/status/1918340564153430332
My wife, not very politically engaged, asked me who to vote for to stop the Tory or Reform candidate winning in Sidders. LibDem, I told her. So she voted for them. And the LibDems won!
Blimey, by one vote? lol
No, it was quite easy - around a 400 majority. Reform took a load from the Tories. And Sidmouth turned yellow, just as it did in the GE. The LibDems are going to be very hard to move now.
I read an article about Sidmouth recently; incredible demographic. Have the Lib Dems have cornered the beige market?
Welcome to Sidmouth, where over-90s are having the time of their lives The Devon town has only 842 residents under 30 — and 1,100 over 80 — and yet somehow it works, thanks to a strong sense of community and plenty of willing volunteers
Reform weren't far off winning control of Warwickshire council despite it including quite a lot of trendy areas like Leamington Spa. They were 5 seats short and missed 2 or 3 by less than 200 votes.
That’s a shame.
I’d have liked to see @SouthamObserver ’s reaction to having a Reform councillor!
I live in Sidmouth now!
Leamington and Warwick voted Green, Labour and LibDem. Reform cleaned up in North Warwickshire. Southam was Tory, as ever.
Current figures for total Con+Ref and Lab+LD+Grn councillors:
Con+Ref: 869 (-1 or 0.1%) Lab+LD+Grn: 503 (+27 or 5.7%)
In this sense, the main story is a large movement away from Con and Lab, and a small movement from right (or rather independent) to left. In net terms, of course.
We are seeing the Trumpification of our right. The Conservatives are the new RINOs, and as endangered as their pachydermal near namesakes.
In Durham, Nigel Farage tells council staff to look for other jobs
Says those working on climate change, diversity or even just from home - "You all better be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly".
This is exactly why I could never vote Reform. It's one thing to suggest that councils aren't prioritising their spending and staffing properly. It's another thing to try and whip up hatred against people who had the temerity to fill an advertised vacancy and adhere to their employment terms.
He really does want to be a mini-Trump. I don't think this kind of thing is any more appealing to a broad strand of the traditional Right, than to other shades of the political spectrum.
Too much Nasty Nige will be a net vote loser imo. He needs to tack nicewards.
Reform weren't far off winning control of Warwickshire council despite it including quite a lot of trendy areas like Leamington Spa. They were 5 seats short and missed 2 or 3 by less than 200 votes.
That’s a shame.
I’d have liked to see @SouthamObserver ’s reaction to having a Reform councillor!
I live in Sidmouth now!
Leamington and Warwick voted Green, Labour and LibDem. Reform cleaned up in North Warwickshire. Southam was Tory, as ever.
And by miles; Reform were nowhere. Did you move from the most Tory division in the country??
Does anyone genuinely care about that family spat anymore? What is there left to say? He’s an incredible whinging sulk, and his family are all a bit odd.
Labour figures fear more Gaza independent gains at the locals on Thursday
My dispatch from Burnley, where one candidate challenging Labour wants to end “free mixing” between men and women
So not in favour of unisex toilets, I suspect...
Women's safe spaces taken a step too far for some.
It's what is known in Woke circles as Intersectionality.
Single sex spaces when foughtfor by middle aged, middle class women is fine and dandy, but woe and pearl clutching when young Muslim women argue for it.
A comment made in bad faith, if ever I read one.
I'm actually not that sure. Many liberals appear to be genuinely losing the plot.
Labour figures fear more Gaza independent gains at the locals on Thursday
My dispatch from Burnley, where one candidate challenging Labour wants to end “free mixing” between men and women
So not in favour of unisex toilets, I suspect...
Women's safe spaces taken a step too far for some.
It's what is known in Woke circles as Intersectionality.
Single sex spaces when foughtfor by middle aged, middle class women is fine and dandy, but woe and pearl clutching when young Muslim women argue for it.
Misogyny fights a raging battle against Islamophobia in many a Pop Right mind.
In Durham, Nigel Farage tells council staff to look for other jobs
Says those working on climate change, diversity or even just from home - "You all better be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly".
This is exactly why I could never vote Reform. It's one thing to suggest that councils aren't prioritising their spending and staffing properly. It's another thing to try and whip up hatred against people who had the temerity to fill an advertised vacancy and adhere to their employment terms.
He really does want to be a mini-Trump. I don't think this kind of thing is any more appealing to a broad strand of the traditional Right, than to other shades of the political spectrum.
Too much Nasty Nige will be a net vote loser imo. He needs to tack nicewards.
Yes - he needs to lean into "hail fellow well met" which is something, in all fairness, he does well at times. It's a tricky balance to channel the anger without coming over as nasty
Does anyone genuinely care about that family spat anymore? What is there left to say? He’s an incredible whinging sulk, and his family are all a bit odd.
The divorce is going to give us an entire silly season's worth of news stories.
Lib Dems still keeping up with Reform since this morning and have closed the gap a tiny bit. Reform up 5 and LD up 12 since my last post on this.
I guess the later results are in more fertile LibDem territory. Interestinglay as of 6:30 with 19 out of 23 councils decalared, The Tories have lost 599 councillors and Reform are up 599.
According to a forecast by Prof Michael Thrasher for Sky News, Labour’s vote share would fall by 16 points from 35 per cent to 19 per cent.
Reform UK is predicted to surge to top the polls on 32 per cent of the vote, up 17 points.
The projection would see the Conservatives fall to third with 18 per cent of the vote (down six points), with the Liberal Democrats behind on 16 per cent (up three points) and Greens fifth on seven per cent (no change).
Does anyone genuinely care about that family spat anymore? What is there left to say? He’s an incredible whinging sulk, and his family are all a bit odd.
They must do, it must drive loads of clicks. Even the local rags have it.
The PM promises to go faster with change. The problem is his changes bring higher taxes, higher energy prices, more migrants, more small boats, cuts in benefits for pensioners and the disabled. These are not the changes most people want."
They need to drop the Change thing. It was deliberately designed as the slogan for the Ming Vase election because it was nebulous and didn’t mean much. Now they’re in government he keeps waffling on about his Plan For Change but he’s never taken the time to really set out what he wants.
Stop trying to make Change happen, Keir.
I agree. Sick of hearing about change as if it's by definition a good thing.
With 2 seats to declare, Reform move ahead of Lib Dems as largest party in Cornwall, 27 to 26. Remainings are Liskeard Central (Con defence) and Rame Peninsula & St Germans (Lab defence).
Labour figures fear more Gaza independent gains at the locals on Thursday
My dispatch from Burnley, where one candidate challenging Labour wants to end “free mixing” between men and women
So not in favour of unisex toilets, I suspect...
Women's safe spaces taken a step too far for some.
It's what is known in Woke circles as Intersectionality.
Single sex spaces when foughtfor by middle aged, middle class women is fine and dandy, but woe and pearl clutching when young Muslim women argue for it.
Misogyny fights a raging battle against Islamophobia in many a Pop Right mind.
Sometimes it wins, sometimes it loses.
Is Islam a misogynistic religion?
Islam is a diverse religion with nearly 2 billion adherents. It is not one single thing, just as Christianity isn’t. There is misogyny in Islam and there are women’s rights in Islam, as again can be said about Christianity.
Let’s work against misogyny. I’d rather have Sadiq Khan on my side to do that than, say, James McMurdock.
Reform weren't far off winning control of Warwickshire council despite it including quite a lot of trendy areas like Leamington Spa. They were 5 seats short and missed 2 or 3 by less than 200 votes.
That’s a shame.
I’d have liked to see @SouthamObserver ’s reaction to having a Reform councillor!
Just checked my parents’ ward, Dunsmore & Leam Valley. Tory hold, but a 3 way contest with Reform and Lib Dems still close behind.
With 2 seats to declare, Reform move ahead of Lib Dems as largest party in Cornwall, 27 to 26. Remainings are Liskeard Central (Con defence) and Rame Peninsula & St Germans (Lab defence).
Liskeard Central goes turquoise so they will be the largest party on Cornwall Council.
The fact that low watt PBers cannot distinguish between private gyms having women only sessions, and the kind of profound sexual segregation proposed by conservative Islamic politicians - is simultaneously remarkable, abject and unsurprising
A fairly terrifying thread. Worth reading the whole thing
"I've just finished working for the local elections and i tell you, England is finished. The impoverished area i worked in, the Somali and Pakistani inhabitants were organised. With many not able to speak or read English being told who to vote for by family. It was insane to me"
"The sheer amount eligible to vote that were neither born here, read English, write or understand English, having a say over how this country is governed. I saw too, foreign severely mentally incapacitated people with voting ballots being told who to vote for by presumably family."
Sorry let me just get this straight. Is this you not reading something on twitter and having an hysterical reaction to it.
Difficult to keep up.
Yes. She has herself corrected it on Twitter and admitted that it is just assumptions she is making about people:
In The Kitchen - Activist🐝 so this blew up. To clarify nothing happened that was against the rules to cast a vote (which in itself may be the problem) when i said 'told to who to vote for by family', that is my assumption, or else why would one who cannot read or speak a language turn up to vote and know how or who to vote for. I have assumed that they have been instructed by someone. https://x.com/HaitchBee_/status/1918338158808424557
As someone has replied: cbagirl People like you have a lot of assumptions. Maybe just assume that they get the media in their language, they live in the community they are voting for and have these political discussions with their friends and family - like English speaking people do https://x.com/allthemm1/status/1918340564153430332
My wife, not very politically engaged, asked me who to vote for to stop the Tory or Reform candidate winning in Sidders. LibDem, I told her. So she voted for them. And the LibDems won!
Blimey, by one vote? lol
No, it was quite easy - around a 400 majority. Reform took a load from the Tories. And Sidmouth turned yellow, just as it did in the GE. The LibDems are going to be very hard to move now.
I read an article about Sidmouth recently; incredible demographic. Have the Lib Dems have cornered the beige market?
Welcome to Sidmouth, where over-90s are having the time of their lives The Devon town has only 842 residents under 30 — and 1,100 over 80 — and yet somehow it works, thanks to a strong sense of community and plenty of willing volunteers
The PM promises to go faster with change. The problem is his changes bring higher taxes, higher energy prices, more migrants, more small boats, cuts in benefits for pensioners and the disabled. These are not the changes most people want."
They need to drop the Change thing. It was deliberately designed as the slogan for the Ming Vase election because it was nebulous and didn’t mean much. Now they’re in government he keeps waffling on about his Plan For Change but he’s never taken the time to really set out what he wants.
Stop trying to make Change happen, Keir.
I agree. Sick of hearing about change as if it's by definition a good thing.
Talk about specifics.
It is appalling politics. I went back and looked at the Labour launch of their campaign for this election
Yes. It was “let’s make this the change election”
lol. Change from what? Change from the government in power? That’s them. And they’re already meant to be changing things. So is this a new change to the old changes? Or a change from the old change to the first changes? Or are they changing the change they want to be changing by voting for change
The fact that low watt PBers cannot distinguish between private gyms having women only sessions, and the kind of profound sexual segregation proposed by conservative Islamic politicians - is simultaneously remarkable, abject and unsurprising
The thing was that this 18 year old Muslim councillor was reported to want strict sex segregation when all she was asking for was more women-only sessions at the council gyms. If you're going to disagree with her position at least don't misrepresent what her position is.
Labour figures fear more Gaza independent gains at the locals on Thursday
My dispatch from Burnley, where one candidate challenging Labour wants to end “free mixing” between men and women
So not in favour of unisex toilets, I suspect...
Women's safe spaces taken a step too far for some.
It's what is known in Woke circles as Intersectionality.
Single sex spaces when foughtfor by middle aged, middle class women is fine and dandy, but woe and pearl clutching when young Muslim women argue for it.
A comment made in bad faith, if ever I read one.
No, I am perfectly serious.
The SC has ruled single sex spaces as legal, so now we need to explore where these are appropriate. I support free speech and am happy to hear this newly elected councillors views.
I am not a gym person, mostly because I spend my working days indoors, so prefer outdoors and fresh air for my exercise. I like my own choice of music, or serene silence too. If I were to join a gym in the future, then I would prefer a mixed sex one so that I could go with Mrs Foxy.
Labour figures fear more Gaza independent gains at the locals on Thursday
My dispatch from Burnley, where one candidate challenging Labour wants to end “free mixing” between men and women
So not in favour of unisex toilets, I suspect...
Women's safe spaces taken a step too far for some.
It's what is known in Woke circles as Intersectionality.
Single sex spaces when foughtfor by middle aged, middle class women is fine and dandy, but woe and pearl clutching when young Muslim women argue for it.
Misogyny fights a raging battle against Islamophobia in many a Pop Right mind.
Labour figures fear more Gaza independent gains at the locals on Thursday
My dispatch from Burnley, where one candidate challenging Labour wants to end “free mixing” between men and women
So not in favour of unisex toilets, I suspect...
Women's safe spaces taken a step too far for some.
It's what is known in Woke circles as Intersectionality.
Single sex spaces when foughtfor by middle aged, middle class women is fine and dandy, but woe and pearl clutching when young Muslim women argue for it.
Misogyny fights a raging battle against Islamophobia in many a Pop Right mind.
With 2 seats to declare, Reform move ahead of Lib Dems as largest party in Cornwall, 27 to 26. Remainings are Liskeard Central (Con defence) and Rame Peninsula & St Germans (Lab defence).
It’s a strange mix of the two biggest winners in Cornwall from two opposite ends of the political spectrum.
According to a forecast by Prof Michael Thrasher for Sky News, Labour’s vote share would fall by 16 points from 35 per cent to 19 per cent.
Reform UK is predicted to surge to top the polls on 32 per cent of the vote, up 17 points.
The projection would see the Conservatives fall to third with 18 per cent of the vote (down six points), with the Liberal Democrats behind on 16 per cent (up three points) and Greens fifth on seven per cent (no change).
Baxtered (just for a bit of… fun, or masochism, take your pick).
That would give REF a majority of 160, with next largest party (Labour) on, err - 87 seats.
Clearly isn’t going to happen, but there’s the crazy extrapolation of the day.
The further and faster slogan (and every talking head crow-barring it into every appearance) it screams New Labour era tactics. I am not sure it works anymore.
The fact that low watt PBers cannot distinguish between private gyms having women only sessions, and the kind of profound sexual segregation proposed by conservative Islamic politicians - is simultaneously remarkable, abject and unsurprising
The thing was that this 18 year old Muslim councillor was reported to want strict sex segregation when all she was asking for was more women-only sessions at the council gyms. If you're going to disagree with her position at least don't misrepresent what her position is.
With 2 seats to declare, Reform move ahead of Lib Dems as largest party in Cornwall, 27 to 26. Remainings are Liskeard Central (Con defence) and Rame Peninsula & St Germans (Lab defence).
Liskeard Central goes turquoise so they will be the largest party on Cornwall Council.
Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That’s not democracy—it’s tyranny in disguise.
What is truly extremist is not the popular AfD—which took second in the recent election—but rather the establishment’s deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes.
Starmer needs to fire his useless adviser McSweeney who is clearly out of his depth .
No more resets or change drivel .
You want him to go further and faster towards the exit?
Starmer really isn’t very good at politics and anyone so thick as to allow the Chancellor to make an imbecilic move on the WFA needs to consider whether they’re in the right job.
According to a forecast by Prof Michael Thrasher for Sky News, Labour’s vote share would fall by 16 points from 35 per cent to 19 per cent.
Reform UK is predicted to surge to top the polls on 32 per cent of the vote, up 17 points.
The projection would see the Conservatives fall to third with 18 per cent of the vote (down six points), with the Liberal Democrats behind on 16 per cent (up three points) and Greens fifth on seven per cent (no change).
Baxtered (just for a bit of… fun, or masochism, take your pick).
That would give REF a majority of 160, with next largest party (Labour) on, err - 87 seats.
Clearly isn’t going to happen, but there’s the crazy extrapolation of the day.
Somebody is going to have to come up with a model that can cope with 5 parties.
According to a forecast by Prof Michael Thrasher for Sky News, Labour’s vote share would fall by 16 points from 35 per cent to 19 per cent.
Reform UK is predicted to surge to top the polls on 32 per cent of the vote, up 17 points.
The projection would see the Conservatives fall to third with 18 per cent of the vote (down six points), with the Liberal Democrats behind on 16 per cent (up three points) and Greens fifth on seven per cent (no change).
Baxtered (just for a bit of… fun, or masochism, take your pick).
That would give REF a majority of 160, with next largest party (Labour) on, err - 87 seats.
Clearly isn’t going to happen, but there’s the crazy extrapolation of the day.
Somebody is going to have to come up with a model that can cope with 5 parties.
With 2 seats to declare, Reform move ahead of Lib Dems as largest party in Cornwall, 27 to 26. Remainings are Liskeard Central (Con defence) and Rame Peninsula & St Germans (Lab defence).
It’s a strange mix of the two biggest winners in Cornwall from two opposite ends of the political spectrum.
That's certainly true on issues like Europe and immigration.
However, RefUK and Lib Dems (and also Greens) do fish from the same NOTA pool in some respects. "Fed up with the two tired old parties? Why not try..."
For quite a few voters, it isn't about specific issues, but about a general sense of frustration at the way things have been going over several years, and the extent to which they feel better off than they were a decade ago.
Reform 28 (+28) --- 22 gains from Con, 2 from Lab, 2 from MK, 2 from Ind Lib Dems 26 (+13) --- 14 gains from Con, 1 loss to Ind Independents 16 (+0) --- 1 gain from Con, 1 from LD, 2 losses to Ref Conservatives 7 (-40) --- 22 loss to Ref, 14 to LD, 2 to Grn, 1 to Lab, 1 to Ind Labour 4 (-1) --- 1 gain from Con, 2 losses to Ref Green 3 (+2) --- 2 gains from Con Mebyon Kernow 3 (-2) --- 2 losses to Ref
Ref/Con minority looks most likely, enough of the Independents should support them.
The further and faster slogan (and every talking head crow-barring it into every appearance) it screams New Labour era tactics. I am not sure it works anymore.
Possibly the only party slogan you can link to a Daft Punk song.
Labour figures fear more Gaza independent gains at the locals on Thursday
My dispatch from Burnley, where one candidate challenging Labour wants to end “free mixing” between men and women
So not in favour of unisex toilets, I suspect...
Women's safe spaces taken a step too far for some.
It's what is known in Woke circles as Intersectionality.
Single sex spaces when foughtfor by middle aged, middle class women is fine and dandy, but woe and pearl clutching when young Muslim women argue for it.
A comment made in bad faith, if ever I read one.
No, I am perfectly serious.
The SC has ruled single sex spaces as legal, so now we need to explore where these are appropriate. I support free speech and am happy to hear this newly elected councillors views.
I am not a gym person, mostly because I spend my working days indoors, so prefer outdoors and fresh air for my exercise. I like my own choice of music, or serene silence too. If I were to join a gym in the future, then I would prefer a mixed sex one so that I could go with Mrs Foxy.
There's a nice video of a segregated barbecue on X from the local area.
Starmer needs to fire his useless adviser McSweeney who is clearly out of his depth .
No more resets or change drivel .
You want him to go further and faster towards the exit?
Starmer really isn’t very good at politics and anyone so thick as to allow the Chancellor to make an imbecilic move on the WFA needs to consider whether they’re in the right job.
The policy was such an odd one to announce off the cuff at the start of a new government. I think it was intended to cement this black hole stuff, get voters to blame the Tories for losing the WFA, and make Reeves look like the Iron Chancellor or whatever she likes to see herself as.
It tried to be too clever by half, and as a result it has done tremendous damage to Reeves, the government and the Labour brand.
Reform 28 (+28) --- 22 gains from Con, 2 from Lab, 2 from MK, 2 from Ind Lib Dems 26 (+13) --- 14 gains from Con, 1 loss to Ind Independents 16 (+0) --- 1 gain from Con, 1 from LD, 2 losses to Ref Conservatives 7 (-40) --- 22 loss to Ref, 14 to LD, 2 to Grn, 1 to Lab, 1 to Ind Labour 4 (-1) --- 1 gain from Con, 2 losses to Ref Green 3 (+2) --- 2 gains from Con Mebyon Kernow 3 (-2) --- 2 losses to Ref
Ref/Con minority looks most likely, enough of the Independents should support them.
Looks like the Cornish Tories have been swallowed whole by the Refukkers.
Reform 28 (+28) --- 22 gains from Con, 2 from Lab, 2 from MK, 2 from Ind Lib Dems 26 (+13) --- 14 gains from Con, 1 loss to Ind Independents 16 (+0) --- 1 gain from Con, 1 from LD, 2 losses to Ref Conservatives 7 (-40) --- 22 loss to Ref, 14 to LD, 2 to Grn, 1 to Lab, 1 to Ind Labour 4 (-1) --- 1 gain from Con, 2 losses to Ref Green 3 (+2) --- 2 gains from Con Mebyon Kernow 3 (-2) --- 2 losses to Ref
Ref/Con minority looks most likely, enough of the Independents should support them.
Looks like a massive win for the Council Officers' Party, to be honest.
Labour figures fear more Gaza independent gains at the locals on Thursday
My dispatch from Burnley, where one candidate challenging Labour wants to end “free mixing” between men and women
So not in favour of unisex toilets, I suspect...
Women's safe spaces taken a step too far for some.
It's what is known in Woke circles as Intersectionality.
Single sex spaces when foughtfor by middle aged, middle class women is fine and dandy, but woe and pearl clutching when young Muslim women argue for it.
Misogyny fights a raging battle against Islamophobia in many a Pop Right mind.
Sometimes it wins, sometimes it loses.
Is Islam a misogynistic religion?
Yes, as is most organised religion. As, tbh, is much of society, religious or not.
But what I find unappetising is reactionary blokes pretending the reason they hate Muslims is because Islam offends against their (otherwise invisible) ardent feminism.
It's racist and it's bollox. There are 2b Muslims in the world. The vast majority of them are like the vast majority of the other 6b.
Starmer needs to fire his useless adviser McSweeney who is clearly out of his depth .
No more resets or change drivel .
You want him to go further and faster towards the exit?
Starmer really isn’t very good at politics and anyone so thick as to allow the Chancellor to make an imbecilic move on the WFA needs to consider whether they’re in the right job.
James O'Brien reached that conclusion on LBC this morning. Suella on LBC saying Labour are finished. Kemi in Peterborough was quite buoyant compared to Starmer conceding defeat in Bedfordshire.
If Jenrick does decide to unseat Kemi he needs a pact with Nigey to only contest half the winnable seats. As it stands at the moment why would Farage bother? Let's hope Trump can screw the Reform pooch.
Listening to LBC on the way home the Con to Ref turncoats were all wibbling on about small boats.
REF have hammered all the other parties in the Doncaster Council election, but they narrowly lost the mayoralty. Anyone able to explain that to me - was it a candidate thing?
Comments
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Campbell_(boxer)
Popular skydiver Jade Damarell, who had 80 jumps under her belt in 2025 alone, deliberately chose not to open her parachute as she plummeted from 10,000ft on to a field in County Durham
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/skydiver-32-who-died-after-35156866
In trying to defend hyperliberalism they actually risk losing liberalism altogether.
https://www1.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2025/04/27/hyperliberalism/
Two stories, same day, I’m sure totally unrelated…
(left) NYT: UAE pours $2 billion into Trump crypto coins
(right) Bloomberg: Trump White House may ease restrictions on selling AI chips to UAE
https://x.com/IanSams/status/1918055860783210582
Take Gloucestershire for example - Lib Dems are one off a majority - LD 27, Ref 11, Green 9, Tory 6, Lab 1, Ind 1.
Maybe the Lib Dems get on really well with the Greens and are happy forming an administration with them. But they could perfectly easily govern as a minority and take all key positions on the Council. To lose a vote, they need RefUK, Conservative, Green and Labour to all agree, which is a bit implausible. Why not just take it issue by issue and take their pick about who to call on for support depending on who is most likely to give it? Fundamentally, nobody else can get anywhere near running it, so they'd be fine not bothering with a coalition.
On Shropshire, the LDs have got that fairly easily it looks like.
@johnredwood
The PM promises to go faster with change. The problem is his changes bring higher taxes, higher energy prices, more migrants, more small boats, cuts in benefits for pensioners and the disabled. These are not the changes most people want."
https://x.com/johnredwood/status/1918278001176780879
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/darren-grimes-wins-durham-council-seat-for-reform/
They are now an utterly endangered species, with just a scant few remaining in the current Tory setup, and maybe an even smaller number in the LDs who didn't get the memo.
“In 2024 there were 8,164 enforced returns to another country, an increase of 28% on the previous year (6,361).”
“In 2024 there were 25,186 voluntary returns, up by 24% compared to 2023.”
“There were 5,034 FNO [foreign national offenders] returns made in 2024, which is an increase of 25% compared to the previous year.”
“In 2024, there were 9,151 asylum-related returns, 36% more than 2023.”
If you want to remove illegal immigrants, removals are going up.
Some in PB want to remove people here legally because they are brown or Muslim: they’re banned-words.
https://x.com/keir_starmer/status/1918328292307833106?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
https://youtu.be/Xbq3kc29Tmg?si=Vbf-OOqLUd1j6ATE
No one self describes that way.
Stop trying to make Change happen, Keir.
Suck it up Trump !
Sometimes it wins, sometimes it loses.
Reading up, Campbell is a family man but with zero political hinterland, no history of office, and only became a candidate in February 2025.
Con+Ref: 869 (-1 or 0.1%)
Lab+LD+Grn: 503 (+27 or 5.7%)
In this sense, the main story is a large movement away from Con and Lab, and a small movement from right (or rather independent) to left. In net terms, of course.
I’d have liked to see @SouthamObserver ’s reaction to having a Reform councillor!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/live/bbcone
Leamington and Warwick voted Green, Labour and LibDem. Reform cleaned up in North Warwickshire. Southam was Tory, as ever.
Interestinglay as of 6:30 with 19 out of 23 councils decalared, The Tories have lost 599 councillors and Reform are up 599.
Reform UK is predicted to surge to top the polls on 32 per cent of the vote, up 17 points.
The projection would see the Conservatives fall to third with 18 per cent of the vote (down six points), with the Liberal Democrats behind on 16 per cent (up three points) and Greens fifth on seven per cent (no change).
Talk about specifics.
LDs have done well too. It’s Reforms day but LDs a definite strong second.
Let’s work against misogyny. I’d rather have Sadiq Khan on my side to do that than, say, James McMurdock.
But, we're not exactly overrun with them.
Although if they cannot get homes and spend a fortune on rent could they afford it ?
No more resets or change drivel .
Yes. It was “let’s make this the change election”
lol. Change from what? Change from the government in power? That’s them. And they’re already meant to be changing things. So is this a new change to the old changes? Or a change from the old change to the first changes? Or are they changing the change they want to be changing by voting for change
CHANGE
The SC has ruled single sex spaces as legal, so now we need to explore where these are appropriate. I support free speech and am happy to hear this newly elected councillors views.
I am not a gym person, mostly because I spend my working days indoors, so prefer outdoors and fresh air for my exercise. I like my own choice of music, or serene silence too. If I were to join a gym in the future, then I would prefer a mixed sex one so that I could go with Mrs Foxy.
That would give REF a majority of 160, with next largest party (Labour) on, err - 87 seats.
Clearly isn’t going to happen, but there’s the crazy extrapolation of the day.
Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That’s not democracy—it’s tyranny in disguise.
What is truly extremist is not the popular AfD—which took second in the recent election—but rather the establishment’s deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes.
Germany should reverse course.
(Or AV to keep TSE sweet 😋)
However, RefUK and Lib Dems (and also Greens) do fish from the same NOTA pool in some respects. "Fed up with the two tired old parties? Why not try..."
For quite a few voters, it isn't about specific issues, but about a general sense of frustration at the way things have been going over several years, and the extent to which they feel better off than they were a decade ago.
Reform 28 (+28) --- 22 gains from Con, 2 from Lab, 2 from MK, 2 from Ind
Lib Dems 26 (+13) --- 14 gains from Con, 1 loss to Ind
Independents 16 (+0) --- 1 gain from Con, 1 from LD, 2 losses to Ref
Conservatives 7 (-40) --- 22 loss to Ref, 14 to LD, 2 to Grn, 1 to Lab, 1 to Ind
Labour 4 (-1) --- 1 gain from Con, 2 losses to Ref
Green 3 (+2) --- 2 gains from Con
Mebyon Kernow 3 (-2) --- 2 losses to Ref
Ref/Con minority looks most likely, enough of the Independents should support them.
It tried to be too clever by half, and as a result it has done tremendous damage to Reeves, the government and the Labour brand.
‘We won both wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery or military brilliance’
https://x.com/trumpdailyposts/status/1918143599084028322?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
But what I find unappetising is reactionary blokes pretending the reason they hate Muslims is because Islam offends against their (otherwise invisible) ardent feminism.
It's racist and it's bollox. There are 2b Muslims in the world. The vast majority of them are like the vast majority of the other 6b.
If Jenrick does decide to unseat Kemi he needs a pact with Nigey to only contest half the winnable seats. As it stands at the moment why would Farage bother? Let's hope Trump can screw the Reform pooch.
Listening to LBC on the way home the Con to Ref turncoats were all wibbling on about small boats.