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May 2025 Local Elections - Was Undecided Now Decided (16th Dec 2024 - 20:32:35) Under the Govt's White Paper released today, 21 councils may have local elections suspended - originally scheduled for May 2025. This 'could' mean Labour will delay our local elections planned for next year - possibly until 2026 or 2027. If true, this doesn't feel very democratic?

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Steve miller (16th Dec 2024 - 21:24:48) bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c30n72j4nrqo As explained here it seems a reasonable idea. Not a lot of spending money on electing councils that will shortly be abolished!

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Joe (16th Dec 2024 - 21:45:59) I think this is because the Labour Government wants to abolish most district councils in favour of all the work done by district councils being done in future by the county councils and Mayors, which therefore means abolishing this a level of local government will no longer present a need to have any district councillors. If it saves a lot of taxpayers money and possibly a reduction in council tax then it is a good idea if done properly.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Susie (17th Dec 2024 - 04:22:27) Joe There will never be a reduction in council tax whatever changes they might make to local governments. All those pensions and salaries have to be paid for still. Staff will be relocated it's all been done before, move offices, build more hubs etc etc get rid of one tier and create another. Good old labour, but they won't tax the working man! And I believe in Father Christmas ho ho ho.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Joe (17th Dec 2024 - 08:54:19) Suse I do not believe that the idea of removing a large layer of local government is akin to a normal merger? The staff who work in all the many local district councils in Hampshire are a) not all just be doing the same work if they moved to work for the county council in Winchester ? And not all staff from all over Hampshire are going to be able to travel there. I am not sure precisely, but for the whole of Hampshire there are at least 100 or more district councillors who are not staff as such, although they are paid allowances and the leader of the district council does get substantially more in remunerations. They will save on the cost of all the elections for a start. Who knows about town and Parish councils yet ?

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Joe (17th Dec 2024 - 09:05:18) I have just looked it up and EHDC alone has 43 elected district councillors, so this will affect many different areas of district councils, eg Basingstoke and Dean, Havant, Fleet, Fareham, Gosport , New Forest, Isle of Wight. Southampton, and Portsmouth are unitary authorities and the structure of these may change too. We obviously do not know all the details yet but surely cost saving will be achieved hopefully!

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Was Undecided Now Decided (17th Dec 2024 - 10:00:44) Several political commentators - who may be more cynical - are pointing out that stopping local elections prevents Labour losing ground to Reform UK. Local elections are typically seen as a vote of confidence by the public in the Govt, so removing that democratic right for the electorate prevents any local change in political direction. That could be by design. Separately - does Hampshire need a Mayor?

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Joe (17th Dec 2024 - 13:19:40) There are local Mayors anyway? There is one in Bordon and one in Alton and Haslemere - most town councils already have them ? No need for an extra one for Hampshire - there already is a Lord Lieutenant for each county,

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Simon (17th Dec 2024 - 15:29:16) Most councils are broke, so a time-and-money hungry administrative exercise doesn't sound like best way forward.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - C (17th Dec 2024 - 15:54:20) Lord Lieutenant is a non-political ceremonial role only, they don’t set or deliver policies.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - John Jonson (18th Dec 2024 - 08:07:11) So those who are in favour of cancelling local elections claim that this will save public money: The money situation is so bad, going by your logic: Henceforth, all elections should be cancelled. It's crystal clear. Labour got voted in purely because the Torries have become unelectable, not because people wanted Labour. Now, having been grudgingly voted in, Labour is cancelling democracy so that they can stay in. No shame.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Joe (18th Dec 2024 - 09:47:30) No the logic does not follow to cancel all elections - but local government has two different layers and it would simplify things to only have one layer of administrators dealing with our council taxes. If they merged the 2 layers it hopefully would cut costs.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - John Jonson (18th Dec 2024 - 10:25:39) Simplify the system when / where suits? Also simplifying would be saying NO all non-essential wasteful expenses, across the board, equally applied without exceptions, until funds might be replenished. NO to: Greedy wasteful workshy public sector, Greedy influential unions, Inefficient wasteful over-funded NHS, Vanity global environmentalism projects, Erroneous national environmentalist subsidies, Grandstand foreign aide, DEI total nonsense, Cushy immigrant pull factors, Public subsidised for new private houses, The list goes on... Governments make choices, for the good and for the bad. Labour's record is firmly with the latter.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Aggree (18th Dec 2024 - 11:16:25) Yes John the list goes on must be the worst government ever bring back Boris at least he would keep us out of the dreaded EU . How can a government pay the well off more and take away from the least well off crazy. They will soon be paying the illegal migrants to come here. Total disaster government.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - AF (18th Dec 2024 - 12:52:03) Oh dear Comrade Starmer keeps upsetting more and more people and messing up everything. At least Liz Truss had the common decency to resign when it all went wrong. Come Comrade do the Right thing - RESIGN.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - M (18th Dec 2024 - 16:49:33) I believe a shake up of local government is long overdue. It seems ridiculous to have 3 layers of local government (Parish/Town, District and County) who all have different responsibilities. Take waste collection/disposal. Parish council provide some waste bins on their land, and have to arrange/negotiate emptying. District council empties all the other public waste bins, household waste and fly tipping, again having to negotiate a contract. County council provides Household Waste Recycling centres and again another contract and provider to be found. Where's the sense in that, surely much better value, and a joined up service, if only one was responsible? There are many other public services (grass cutting, road maintenance, planning, housing, benefits etc etc) that have similar demarcations with duplication of staffing and administration which could be provided more efficiently, and cheaper, with just one council in control. I for one would welcome just one local council (County?) who would be the one stop shop for all public services.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Dave B (18th Dec 2024 - 18:01:58) @AF, just because YOU do not like the election result does not mean the NEWLY elected government has lost its mandate. They were elected for 5 years.....they have a massive majority and quite frankly the Conservatives or Reform are not ready for Government. And before you bang on about broken promises do not forget Boris and his broken promises and lies. BTW, I hate Labour with a passion but I prefer our democratic system and safeguards rather than populist nonsense where we would change governments and prime ministers every six months. Do not forget how hated and unpopular Margaret Thatcher was in 1979 to 1982. God knows what would have happened to the country if she had resigned because of public clamour. (and no...i am not comparing Starmer as PM with Maggie)

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - John Jonson (18th Dec 2024 - 20:26:52) I agree with both Dave B and M. Streamlining local authorities is a good concept BUT: Not based on party politics. The process must be lead by non party-political interests. Opposition parties are not yet ready for government, not yet. But they are fast evolving and should be ready before the 5 year terms is out. By which stage please let Labour take a breather from government obligations!

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Was Undecided Now Decided (20th Dec 2024 - 11:19:32) Local elections must be allowed to take place, to do otherwise through a strategic excuse is straight out of the Marxist playbook. "Democracy delayed is democracy denied".

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Joe (20th Dec 2024 - 11:57:27) If the government has removed the district council level of administration in 2 years time there will be no need to elect district councillors - there will still be local elections for Parish and county councillors and presumably they will need more of those than there are at present. If that doesn’t happen then it makes sense to tie up all local elections to be held on the same date, because presently the district elections are held on a different 4 year cycle.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Was Undecided Now Decided (2nd Jan 2025 - 09:49:55) Hampshire County Council is one of a number of Councils being given until 10 January to join the Lab Govt's plan to devolve strategic authorities. www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7veg6l14dpo One anticipated outcome would be delay to local elections planned for May 2025. Many politicians and commentators highlight that local elections are seen as an important measure of support/distain for the incumbent Govt between General Elections. Preventing local elections is straight from the Marxist playbook. 'Democracy delayed is democracy denied'.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Sam (2nd Jan 2025 - 20:19:14) Joe’s response is the most sensible one, elections for something that no longer exists very shortly after it would be a waste of money, time and effort.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Was Undecided Now Decided (9th Jan 2025 - 20:09:36) Hampshire County Council have voted in favour of reforms meaning a delay to democratic local elections in 2025. Voters will be denied the opportunity to have a say on who runs their local councils, while the deckchairs are rearranged on the Titanic one more time. New unitary authorities will all feature majors in the image of London. Critics point out that this also helps Labour avoid defeat in any 2025 local elections. As I've mentioned before, it's straight from the Marxist playbook - deny democracy by delaying it.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Trevor Maroney (10th Jan 2025 - 21:03:26) The 2025 county elections should not be cancelled or postponed. Any proposed reform of the electoral system should be done by local councillors voted into office on a mandate from the current (today's) electorate; not be those elected 4 years ago. Given the results of the July national election voters' views have clearly changed. Whatever the outcome of the May election it should be up to the 2025 batch of councillors to decide if or when and how the local electoral system should be changed in consultation with existing unitary, district and borough councils. I believe that any and all workable solutions should be fully costed and compared with the existing electoral system before being put to voters in a local referendum; not just pushed thorough by the government diktat of the day. If I am not mistaken, that is how democracy should work, but do please correct me if you think I'm wrong. We shouldn't allow these drastic changes to be just bounced through by existing parties with vested interests wishing to retain their current power base: national or local. I am happy to debate this issue further provided individuals use their real names and declare any vested interests. For the record, I am no longer a member of any political party. I am looking at this issue from a cross-party perspective as, I believe, everyone should. After all, we do live in a democracy. Trevor Maroney

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Was Undecided Now Decided (16th Jan 2025 - 15:10:10) Very interesting and timely that questions around the cancelled local elections were raised in parliament today (by Rupert Lowe MP). For those who may not have seen or read what he said and asked (paraphrased): 1. Should we continue to pay council tax after the cancelled date of May local elections, as our democratic right to vote will be stripped from us, and 2. What should the then unelected councillors be called, after May I appreciate not everyone can yet see how significant the cancellation of local elections is, as it's being buried under the guise of wider reforms. But it is important that we continue to ask why we are not being given our democratic right to vote.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Charlie (17th Jan 2025 - 13:22:46) Totally agree.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Was Undecided Now Decided (5th Feb 2025 - 15:05:59) Feb 25 UPDATE: Elections in our area have been CANCELLED. Concerned about council tax increases? You have no way of voting to show your concern. Concerned about issues with local infrastructure? You have no way of voting to show your concern. Unhappy with how your local council is run? You have no way of voting to show your concern. No matter why or how, your vote has been removed in 2025. There is already early concern that elections might not even happen in 2026. Some might say it's a ploy to prevent the electorate sending a clear message locally up to Westminster. Democracy delayed is democracy denied.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Was Undecided Now Decided (29th Apr 2025 - 08:34:40) This is your reminder that you were originally due to vote in local elections on 1 May 2025, but they have been cancelled by the Government. Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green) said this move "damages the democratic accountability of local authorities to local residents, and has not been subject to a full and proper consultation". Baroness Pinnock (LibDem) said it "denies timely democratic representation to a substantial portion of the electorate".

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Sam (29th Apr 2025 - 19:35:39) Anyone saying democracy delayed is democracy denied is living in a cloud and it reveals exactly which party they like or dislike, they are just using it to grind their own axe. You will get your vote.. just like a general election the date uncertain until it’s revealed. So this is a whole load of fuss over literally nothing. Everyone had their opportunity to vote during the general elections, democracy whilst the Tory’s did a bit of gambling on the date it was delivered. And the country overwhelmingly decided whom will get a go.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (29th Apr 2025 - 19:57:02) Don't agree, Sam. I don't know anyone who thinks it acceptable that some areas of the country have a vote while others don't, regardless of what party they support. What does it say about yourself that you think suppression of elections is acceptable?

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Was Undecided Now Decided (30th Apr 2025 - 16:46:09) @ Sam - I hear you Comrade! Nope, I have pretty much zero affiliation with any party at the moment. But every measure (e.g. polls, analysis) has already highlighted that the MAJORITY of the electorate - regardless of party - is unhappy with having their democratic right to vote in local elections denied. Even voters in areas with local elections overwhelming report that they disapprove of cancelled elections elsewhere. You are in the minority - statistically - on this one.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - John Jonson (30th Apr 2025 - 17:31:06) The area denied election is conveniently ANTI Labour. Labour know they are NOT popular nationally nor locally here, they know they are in Gov only due to a flawed voting system. Given the vote now, Labour will NOT be in Gov. Labour are denying the voters any chance to throw Labour back to opposition. Cynical tactics. Same goes for the rape gangs national enquiries. Labour know the truth will hurt them electorally. Labour relies on local voters (of the Muslim flavour) in the affected rape gangs regions. Labour run the local authorities responsible for the cover-ups. Labour are thus trying to avoid the national enquiry - to the detriment of the rape victims. Sickening!

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Was Undecided Now Decided (1st May 2025 - 09:37:22) It's 1st May. This should have been the day for Local Elections, where we the electorate get our say on local and even national policies. But this year, our Government has cancelled them citing devolution processes. Don't forget this when you next get to vote. Your future vote will be more important than ever.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Andrew (1st May 2025 - 10:51:18) It was a Labour manifesto commitment to bring in Mayors for strategic authorities. There was no manifesto commitment to reorganising the tiers of local government into unitary authorities. As others have pointed out, there is confusion as to who does what at local level, i.e. District/Boroughs on the one hand versus Counties on the other hand. It was the Conservative led County Council in Hampshire that applied to the Westminster government to delay the local elections which would otherwise have taken place today. There is a clear case for saying that here in Hampshire, the Conservatives are running scared of their opponents by seeking this delay. But, practically, holding elections to choose fresh councillors for a year pending the reorganisation was not felt to be in our interests.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - M (1st May 2025 - 11:30:32) @Sam You're wrong! We are being denied a democratic right. Maybe check out the law before sticking your head above the parapet, and looking like a d..

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Was Undecided Now Decided (1st May 2025 - 13:11:50) Andrew, it was the current Labour Government led by the Deputy PM who brought in this round of devolution, and put a stop to local democracy. Devolution is essentially another way or rearranging quangos.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - M (2nd May 2025 - 08:21:30) Well look at the results this morning, just Incredible and excellent news. A great wake up call. Reform clearly the most popular and have taken one of Labours MP safe seats too. They also lead the numbers of councillors by a huge majority with Labour a very small number. Let's see whats next for the unpopular Starmer brigade.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Andrew (2nd May 2025 - 08:28:32) I think we are in violent agreement! 🙂 I'm not disagreeing that Labour has initiated the reorganisation in Local govt. What I am doing is pointing out that (a) there was no manifesto commitment to having unitary authorities and (b) in Hampshire, it is the Conservative County Council that sought a delay in the elections.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - The original M (2nd May 2025 - 17:24:15) Look at the turnout though? Not a fan of the present Government but you can hardly call winning an election as ground changing when you're only looking at turnout around 30%

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Was Undecided Now Decided (2nd May 2025 - 19:22:40) As a number of political commentators are pointing out, you can see why Labour cancelled so many local elections. Fantastic shift back to reality led by Reform.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - M (2nd May 2025 - 22:20:45) Hear hear ! Excellent and exciting news for the future with Reform storming ahead. Look out Starmer you're a one hit wonder and not for long either!

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Ollie (3rd May 2025 - 11:24:17) Those of you celebrating Reform’s success in these local election, let me remind you what a vote for reform means: A party who will charge you to use the NHS. A party whose MPs have voted against improvements to workers rights, including banning zero-hour contracts and ending fire-and-rehire schemes. A party who has recently taken advice from Liz Truss (who if you’ll remember crashed the economy and the pound. A party who has consistently voted against new renewable energy infrastructure, in a time where climate change is unequivocally damaging the world we live in. A party who has voted against laws to tackle tax avoidance. Reform is not a fresh start, it’s a return to failed ideas which put the needs of the few ahead of the needs of the many, you only need to look at the current state of America to see what you could be voting for in 4 years.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (3rd May 2025 - 11:57:22) Well, Ollie, let's hope we get the chance to vote. My chagrin here is that we were forbidden from voting because Labour know they would do abysmally round here. I take your points but we are already under a communist dictatorship voting system, we're not allowed.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Ollie (3rd May 2025 - 13:42:26) D, If we were under this “communist dictatorship system” would Labour not have cancelled all local elections given Starmer’s current approval ratings? (https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/explore/public_figure/Keir_Starmer) Calling our current government a communist dictatorship is also a bit of a stretch. By definition a dictatorship is a form of government when one single individual has entire authority over a country. The fact that the Labour Party did so terribly in these regions is evidence that we are not in fact under a dictatorship, a real dictator would have removed the opportunity for that to happen entirely. Additionally, Starmer is the one of the most centrist Labour Party leaders since Blair, so even considering calling him a communist is unrealistic. Don’t get me wrong, I have my issues with Starmer and the Labour Party, but being in a communist dictatorship is not one of them.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Paul2 (3rd May 2025 - 13:58:26) Wow Ollie, you’ve literally been brainwashed by the MSM. I didn’t bother reading past your first point, as that was fundamentally wrong and basically a lie.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Ollie (3rd May 2025 - 14:24:16) Paul2, You call it wrong and a lie yet fail to provide any form of proof showing that it is. Whereas I can: My first point about the NHS: Farage said in 2012 that “I think we’re going to have to move to an insurance-based system of healthcare”, and in 2015 he told the BBC that the idea of replacing the NHS with an insurance-based system was “a debate that we're all going to have to return to”. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30877758 My second point about workers rights, if you are intelligent enough to interpret a bar chart: votes.parliament.uk/votes/commons/division/1849 My third point about Liz Truss: thetimes.com/article/3b941a6a-5833-4131-8d60-d8068497ea74 My fourth point about infrastructure: votes.parliament.uk/votes/commons/division/1965 Also not quite sure how you are calling climate change a lie. I’m happy to go on, but it is unlikely that you’ll be interested. Calling me brainwashed for having some pretty basic factual knowledge about Reform and UK politics as whole, sounds a little like you are the one who has been brainwashed by Farage’s populist rhetoric, I do feel sorry for you.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - M (3rd May 2025 - 15:04:58) Ollie Reform are the only party prepared to tackle migration, just look at what they plan to put in place where they have control of councils. Starmer can't make a decision saying its not one of his 5 points just isn't good enough because it b....y well should be. I firmly back Nigel and Reform he's the only one to be in touch with reality. NHS is in disrepair exactly because its over used by well guess who and if it comes to it a payment may be necessary,its the same in France and many other countries, nothing is free if you expect quality! France have an excellent health care system but it's not free.. research it yourself.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Ollie (3rd May 2025 - 16:10:17) M, You talk about a migration plan, whereas all there is in Reform's 'Our Contract to you' spin-off manifesto is a section about illegal immigration. These are two entirely different things, with illegal immigration accounting for under 4.5% of total net migration in 2024. However, I'll assume you are talking about illegal immigration. Their main claim is to just send immigrants back to France. This is merely a slogan to attract the electorate as if we're being realistic, France will not agree to this. They are not legally obliged to, and already have a substantial number of illegal immigrants fleeing persecution in their country. You also claim that Reform will somehow be able to start to control immigration with their newly gained local council control. This is just wrong. Local councils have zero power to control borders, asylum applications, and visa systems. As for the NHS, I can agree with you that it is under stress. However, data does show that migrants contribute much more to our public services than they take out of it. If you were actually concerned about the NHS, it would be logical to focus on changes to the current system such as Labour's removal of NHS England, which helps to centralise power and ensure for more streamlined improvements. While France does have a co-payment system, they also spend far more per capita than we do on healthcare and have a system that is much more efficient and preventative than we do. Simply saying 'nothing is free' doesn't answer the overarching question when other countries do far better with the similar issues we face. If Reform really wanted to improve the NHS and immigration, they would provide evidence based pledges which make sense not just logically, but also economically. What they are offering is simply populist political theatre which has successfully convinced a large number of people to support them, not genuine policy.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - passfield resident (3rd May 2025 - 17:11:47) Well said Ollie.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (3rd May 2025 - 17:18:27) Referring to your point about paying for NHS treatment, Ollie, we already do, if I go to a NHS dentist, I have to pay. By the time you factor in a checkup twice a year which you probably didn't need anyway, I find it cheaper to go private and only pay for treatment when you actually need it. Please explain to me, Ollie, how anti terrorism demonstrators are arrested, tried and jailed in less than a week (Kier Starmer's actual words) yet one of his own members of parliament walks free on an assault charge.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Ollie (3rd May 2025 - 18:36:47) D, I don't disagree that the system can be made more efficient through things such as paying for an NHS dentist. However, there is a definite difference between this kind of system and the insurance-based system that Farage is proposing. One of the core values of the NHS is that 'everyone counts', meaning that nobody is excluded, discriminated or left behind. This is what the current government is aiming to uphold, as I mentioned previously. Moving to an insurance based system totally removes this value, essentially turning the NHS into a private good. We should absolutely be in agreement for improvement in the NHS, but replacing it with a model which prioritises ability to pay over need of care isn't the answer. Just imagine having an accident at home or work and having to pay over £1000 for an ambulance, because that's what the system is like in America at the moment, and it is what Farage has alluded to on multiple occasions. Regarding your second point, you are trying to compare two extremely different cases. I'll assume you are referring to the protests in Southport last year. These are the people who threw bricks at a mosque, and people who tried to burn down a hotel housing migrants. I don't think that comparing this to the case of Mike Amesbury is suitable. Of course him walking free should be scrutinised and I imagine Labour will receive some long lasting criticism for this. However, comparing this case to an event of serious violent disorder on a mass scale doesn't really make sense. One is a one-on-one assault and the other is mass coordinated riot fuelled by misinformation on social media, they are not the same. Hope this helps

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (3rd May 2025 - 19:15:32) Ollie, I think you are confusing legitimate migrants with illegal immigrants. An illegal immigrant is not a migrant.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Ollie (3rd May 2025 - 19:43:00) D, I know the difference between the two. I was only assuming M was talking about illegal immigrants as there is no specific plan in the reform manifesto about migration. Migrants are essential to the functioning of our economy. And the issue of illegal immigrants is exaggerated beyond belief by individuals such as Farage making people think that they are the cause of all of our problems. And then tries to appeal to voters with plans which sound like they make sense, but actually have zero economic and legal sense.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - M (3rd May 2025 - 22:38:43) @Ollie I assume you know the number of boats without permission to enter the UK that arrived in the last 6 days then and the number of illegal migrants. For those of you other than Ollie its 26 boats. Yes 26 boats in just 6 days , and how many illegal migrants you may ask.. Well just one thousand eight hundred and seventy eight,(1878) illegal migrants that we will now house and provide financial support and healthcare including dentistry and so it goes on Ollie. I'm curious as to how many different political parties in government you have as an adult have experienced, your explanation to validate your opinions without a doubt will be interesting.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Ollie (4th May 2025 - 00:08:11) M, Firstly, these people aren’t ‘illegal immigrants’ the moment they step on our shores. Under international law anyone has the right to seek asylum. It is only if any of these 1800 people have their claims rejected that they become ‘illegal’. It is only when their claims have been reviewed and they have become legal asylum seekers that they are eligible for the benefits you are talking about, thus making your numbers false. It’s also important to note that the number of claims rejected has doubled since 2022, to just over 50%. Also, this January, enforced returns were up 24%. These illegal immigrants are not entitled to the support which you mention, they are more likely to be deported than receive even the most basic, poor-quality accommodation here. It is the legal asylum seekers fleeing persecution, war, human rights abuses etc who are entitled to the very basic benefits which the government can give them if they apply for. In short, your claim that illegal immigrants get all these benefits is false, and the number of rejections and deportations is increasing, something that by the sounds of it should please you. In an answer to your question about my personal political experience, it may shock you to hear that I am 18 years old. However honestly, I don’t particularly see how this is relevant. I’m also not quite sure how this is meant to ‘validate my opinions’, all of what I have said is based on factual evidence, and if you’re going to imply that my young age makes my views less valid, I’d have to disagree. Knowing and being able to research facts doesn’t depend on age, and as it is something that impacts my future, I think that it should be encouraged and not dismissed. What worries me is how easily people like you can use large numbers out of context to blow a situation way out of proportion, which is by definition scaremongering. I agree with you that immigration is an issue that needs to be combated, but it requires serious, thought through policy. Not just shouting “illegal immigrants” and hoping people will vote for you and make the problem disappear overnight.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (4th May 2025 - 01:16:37) Ollie, I would add that at the time of the Southport murders, Kier Starmer publicly said the murders were not terror related. The perpetrator of these three murders of young girls was later charged with terrorism offences. I really don't believe a former director of public prosecutions wouldn't of had that information.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Ollie (4th May 2025 - 08:46:07) D, Firstly I don’t see how this strengthens your argument at all. You are trying to compare two totally different cases. However initially, Starmer was going along with the information that he had. It was the misinformation spread by individuals such as Tommy Robinson and Farage which gave people a false impression of Rudakubana’s motives. Also to correct you, whilst he was initially charged under the terrorism act, those charges were later dropped and he was sentenced under murder charges.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (4th May 2025 - 09:04:46) Ollie, did you used to contribute to this website under the name of "James"? Very similar styles of writing.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Joe (4th May 2025 - 09:53:03) The Stockport murders were not terrorism related. He was a disturbed individual. The same thing happened when Jo Cox was murdered they immediately thought terrorism.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - M (4th May 2025 - 10:26:42) Agree with D i also thought of James. & so @Ollie / James ( whomever) Your attempt at deflection doesn't help yourself, However the numbers i gave are accurate and facts.You may not like it but its true,small boats with migrants are entering illegally, you can't enter France or any other country for that matter in that manner. irregular migrants attempting to cross the English Channel in small boats without permission to enter the UK was exactly as i said. Get on with your day!

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (4th May 2025 - 10:42:35) Joe, I suggest you Google the case again. The murderer was found to have terrorism related items in his bedroom. I do hope you're not trying to use mental illness as an excuse for the murder of three innocent children.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Ollie (4th May 2025 - 11:24:22) No, I am not James. My point about the Southport case still stands. You claimed he was ultimately charged under terrorism offences - he wasn’t. That is a fact. He was charged and sentenced for murder. The initial terrorism-related investigation was dropped, which happens when the legal threshold isn’t met. M, you’re missing a key distinction. Seeking asylum is not a criminal offence - it’s a legal right under the 1951 Refugee Convention. That means migrants arriving to claim asylum are not breaking the law by doing so. And to your wider point: large numbers of migrants arrive in countries across Europe - France, Italy, Germany and Greece. The UK is not uniquely affected, and we are certainly not the sole ‘victim’ in this issue, as you imply.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (4th May 2025 - 11:53:10) Ollie, how can anyone coming from France claim asylum? No wars or persecution there.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Ollie (4th May 2025 - 12:40:19) D, These are people coming from countries mainly in the Middle East but also parts of Europe such as Albania and Belarus. Asylum law does not require them to seek asylum in the first country they arrive in. After all France receives far more asylum applications than we do. As do Germany and Spain.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - M (4th May 2025 - 12:51:43) Ollie Reread my previous point, because you're missing the point! You still haven't declared how many different political parties you have experienced in government,if you choose not to i will assume your points are just text book talk, and not by experience that counts.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (4th May 2025 - 13:10:57) Must be nice having all those countries to choose from as an asylum seeker, yet they don't stop at the first one, they come here.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - M (4th May 2025 - 14:50:58) That's because we're a very generous country to anyone entering illegally. More so than France or Germany,Greece etc etc. We're just the tax payers footing the bill to support them, and a soft touch. All those lovely hotels,new i phones provided all bills paid,free health care & dentistry are too attractive. Its not a deterrent when all that is waiting for illegal entries is it.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Ollie (4th May 2025 - 15:05:40) D - They do, as I have just said. See statista.com/statistics/293350/asylum-grants-in-europe for EU and commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn01403 for the UK M - We take far fewer than France and Germany. Greece is one of the countries many asylum seekers pass through, thus making sense that they have less than us. As I have stated before, it is not illegal for someone to claim asylum in a country. It is only when these people have their claims denied that they are then illegal, and these people do not get the benefits you speak of, as I have said previously. In terms of political parties I have experienced: Labour, and the Conservatives under Sunak, Truss, Johnson, May and Cameron. And I have studied UK politics back to Callaghan. But I am still unsure how you think this makes my views any more or less invalid. I’m only going off fact, and you and D are not.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - M (4th May 2025 - 17:07:43) Ollie I'm right on fact with my earlier figures, you just don't like it or want to accept it! So i assumed right text book politics...lol.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Ollie (4th May 2025 - 17:55:44) I'm not denying your facts that there were that many people arriving on small boats. But you claim that they are all illegal immigrants is just false. They become illegal immigrants when their asylum claims are denied. I don't know how I can make this any more obvious to you, it is just fact. Around half of those people will be accepted and half of them will be denied, which is statistically true, see: commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn01403 I think it is a little hypocritical saying I don't like or want to accept your figures. I am perfectly happy to, but only if they are correct. I think the issue here is that you are failing to understand, no matter how many times I lay it out for you in black and white, that not all of these people are illegal, and that when they are denied claims, they have zero right to benefits from our government. Accept the statistics and know the facts before you try to claim I am doing otherwise.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - M (4th May 2025 - 19:00:52) Ollie You really are tiresome my figures are correct, accept it mate and move on ! End of.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (4th May 2025 - 20:46:11) Surely anyone who enters this country without going through customs is here illegally? This guy is definitely James, he's as convincing as Mr Toad disguising himself as a washerwoman.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Ollie (4th May 2025 - 23:51:33) M - Your figures are correct but still insisting on them being illegal isn’t. I think you should accept that and move on. D - Entering a country and seeking asylum, which is what these people are doing has never been illegal. Can confirm for the final time I am not James.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Oldie (5th May 2025 - 09:57:54) Ollie it’s illegal to enter a country without the appropriate documents ie passport and necessary paperwork coming in an inflatable boat across the channel NO totally ILLEGAL.Come in the correct channels ie through customs yes . It’s time this useless government got their act together that useless pixie balls needs to go . As does the other two chancellor and deputy pm . Starmer as well he’s just as useless.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - A young person (5th May 2025 - 10:22:22) Ollie, You’re not going to win with these people who are invested in misinformation and racism and are willing to blame immigration for our country’s problems and not the real reason that we have just had 15 years of Tory rule plus Brexit.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - John Jonson (5th May 2025 - 10:52:57) Young person and others: The usual woke accusation of Racism, Islamophobia etc are an attempt to delegitimise the argument which they can not logically win. Any sensible, civil debate will debase their cause, so they will avoid it. Instead, the woke Left are shutting down arguments by unjustifiably calling names or by recruiting legal or quasi legal action.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (5th May 2025 - 11:53:04) A Young Person, you cannot blame the record number of ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS crossing the channel under this current government on the previous Conservative government. It is not racism to want to defend your country against illegal immigration. You'll have to do better than that.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Oldie (5th May 2025 - 12:22:25) As D says it’s not racism to see the obvious. Brexit was the best thing to happen to this country unfortunately this government are trying to get back in by the back door it will ruin us . We are now worse of than the last 15 years of conservative government so no gains to having a labour government yes the conservatives did need a kick up the bum but we’re still far better than the lot we have in at the moment. This lot are running around like headless chickens.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Charlie (5th May 2025 - 12:55:29) Ollie, I feel I must now post on this Thread if only to stop you repeating yourself - you are worse than my parrot. Yes, you are right. A person seeking asylum is technically not an illegal immigrant. However, there are many, many people on small boats arriving in the UK who are not asylum seekers – they are economic migrants. Yes, difficult to prove so the UK has to enact the lengthy process of assessing the immigrants and then, if they are considered not to be asylum seekers, deporting them. I think this fact is what is angering people. This process is costing the taxpayer billions of pounds and it is neither fair or justified particularly in the light of our own finances and please don’t throw up the old chestnut “13 years of Tory misrule is to blame”. Repetition detracts from any argument. We do need legal and qualified immigrants in the UK and I emphasise the word legal. The UK has historically welcomed people from other parts of the world who will work and contribute to the UK. What people are angry about is that so far neither the Conservative or Labour Parties, in spite of their pledges and promises have been either able or willing to do anything about “stopping the boats.” Like or dislike Nigel Farage and his policies, at the moment, certainly in theory, he does seem to have a “handle” on this. The proof of the pudding will be, if at the next General Election, Reform becomes the party in power. We shall have to just wait and see. His astounding success in the local elections will also be a test for all Reform’s new councillors and two mayors.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Oldie (5th May 2025 - 14:16:45) Charlie have you thought about running for PM you seem to have more sense in your little finger than most of our present government. As for Ollie and young person they must still be in kindergarten.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Ollie (5th May 2025 - 15:55:52) Charlie, I appreciate your balanced and factual tone, its a breath of fresh air compared to the nonsense M and D have been claiming, so thank you. I agree that both main parties have been inadequate in combating this issue, never have I said otherwise. Nor will I blame people's dislike of immigration on racism and islamophobia, or bring in the topic of Tory rule and Brexit. I have my own opinions on those topics. However, I do urge you to read the Reform manifesto and have a think about whether their immigration plan is legitimate, calculated thought out policy. The IFS published an article about the sums in Reform's manifesto around the time of the election last year and I would urge anyone to read it and form an opinion: ifs.org.uk/articles/reform-uk-manifesto-reaction You are right about Farage having an 'in theory' handle on immigration, however I urge you to have a real thought on whether in practise, we can just send immigrants back to France. Anyone can get votes by claiming they will fix a country by doing some very seemingly simple and easy things, just look at Trump ('i will end the ukraine war in a day 'you will get tired of winning' - ironic how that has turned out). It's the overarching issue of populism, people who are too uninformed to look at the facts and practicality of proposed policy - and voting for it with no thought of the negative consequences that come with it.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Oldie (5th May 2025 - 17:17:00) Exactly Ollie that’s what happened with the election all the young voters who didn’t know better voted for a pack of lies that’s why we are in this huge mess .

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (5th May 2025 - 18:15:26) Well done, Oldie. He walked right into that one. 😄

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Oldie (5th May 2025 - 18:38:36) Exactly Ollie that’s what happened with the election all the young voters who didn’t know better voted for a pack of lies that’s why we are in this huge mess .

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - M (5th May 2025 - 23:08:01) Out for the day so missed this, but totally agree Oldie, well said. Ollie my stats are spot on, like it or not it doesn't change the numbers... they are factual just accept it.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Charlie (6th May 2025 - 13:17:04) M At the risk of not repeating myself please read my post about immigrant asylum seekers and the adjective used to describe them which is a fact. In your post 4 May, 2025 the facts you have stated are not quite correct. In 2023 France took in 167,432 immigrants seeking asylum. In 2023 Germany received 350,000 asylum claims compared to approximately 67,000 in the UK. I think Greece has received less than the UK but is having monumental problems on the islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Leros, Kos, and Gavdos due to a surge in immigration. In 2024, 84,200 applications for asylum were made in the UK which related to 108,100 individuals, Germany received 237,314 and France 158,730. I am not trying to be clever as anyone can research these figures and nor am I agreeing that what is happening with regard to immigration in the UK and the processing is right, but M you must post correct facts, because not to do so weakens your argument in this debate. Oldie you do not know that it was young and and/or uninformed people who voted en masse and put the Labour Party in power. People of all ages and in all walks of life changed their allegiance including the Red Wall. Many, many people including Conservatives were disillusioned and frustrated with the Conservatives and rightly so and many Conservatives that I know personally voted for Reform. They could not bring themselves to vote for Labour. I am sure there are people out there today are regretting the fact that we now have a Labour Government with such a huge majority but we will just have to suck it up as they say. Remember the old sayings “people get the government they deserve” and “history repeats itself.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Ollie (6th May 2025 - 15:17:51) Oldie and M if you are interested in actually becoming clued up in how different demographics voted in the election, rather than making generalisations I'd recommend having a scroll through the YouGov statistics for the 2024 election: yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/49978-how-britain-voted-in-the-2024-general-election

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - A young person (6th May 2025 - 18:44:32) Ollie, the part of that survey I particularly like is the education levels. With Reform UK LTD and the Conservatives doing very well with voters who lack a higher education.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - M (6th May 2025 - 18:52:37) Charlie A little condescending me thinks. My facts are spot on and directly from the Home Office. Nobody likes a smart arse.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Ollie (6th May 2025 - 23:35:43) A young person - it does make me laugh, oh the irony

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (7th May 2025 - 08:51:04) Ollie and A Young Person, if you are suggesting people vote according to their intelligence level then you really are scraping the bottom of the barrel in your argument. Time to put your toys away and go home to Mummy I think.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Realist (7th May 2025 - 09:42:07) Don’t think a lot of pensioners, farmers, self employed, or business owners voted labour. If they did they are regretting it . This government is floundering not knowing what to do next it has no idea what to do to stop the rot . All their plans just not working, making the economy worse and Joe Public even worse off . The unions running riot they think money grows on trees. If all this goes on brace yourself for a very very hard time. Until the next Mrs T comes along.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Charlie (7th May 2025 - 09:59:43) It is a great pity that M and D have to resort to unpleasant insults such as "smart arse" and "go home to Mummy". Posters who resort to this are either rather unintelligent or posters who know they are wrong and are losing or have lost the argument. This spoils a good debate.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (7th May 2025 - 16:13:18) I've always been able to ignore the nastier comments aimed at myself, Charlie. I will not mention you comparing Ollie to your parrot (Norwegian Blue, is it?)

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - A young person (7th May 2025 - 17:46:44) D, I don’t think the poll suggests you choose a party based on your intelligence level, but it does show that intelligence level correlates with support for certain parties such as Reform UK LTD and the Conservatives. Is their reason why those lacking an education support these parties? Is it the misinformation and hate they spread? After all it was this week the week of VE celebrations that one of their councillors posted a meme supporting Hitler.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - M (7th May 2025 - 19:41:52) Charlie Whilst you continue to be condescending in your comments and think you are always right, although that's debatable it will get heated. As the saying goes if you can't take the heat get out etc etc. Measuring intelligence by judging comments on this site is laughable and the last laugh is on you mate.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (7th May 2025 - 19:52:42) A Young Person, you are saying the same of Conservative and Reform voters as the Nazis said about Jews. You have a lot to learn.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Was Undecided Now Decided (8th May 2025 - 11:46:42) I'd respectfully suggest a few people commenting here might need to tone down the messaging. There are agencies regularly scraping data off social media sites, and following up on comments made. Yes, its all a bit Orwellian but please be aware it's already happening and no-one wants to be caught up in that. It's the world we live in - and something to think about in terms of any future freedoms etc that you might want a future Govt to protect for you.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - passfield resident (8th May 2025 - 15:22:47) Yes-they are watching Liphook Talkback like hawks to send in the SAS to snatch up subversives. Quite right.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - M (8th May 2025 - 23:20:42) Charlie Do enlighten me on my inaccurate posts as you say in your comments May 6th? I put my data up earlier than the date you referred to, and straight from the Home Office data. Clearly you don't have the same insight into the information to object with such ferocious comments.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Was Undecided Now Decided (9th May 2025 - 13:01:18) Passfield Resident, I wouldn't be so glib. It's a fact that data on social media sites and forums such as this one are being scraped. I can't say anymore, but the next question you should be asking is 'And what happens to it then?'. And that's the more interesting part.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - passfield resident (9th May 2025 - 13:43:58) WUND. Let's test your theory. You tell me what I'm not supposed to say, I'll say it and then we'll see what happens.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (9th May 2025 - 17:21:20) "I can't say any more?" Sounds like a scene from Blackadder, Captain Darling.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Joe (10th May 2025 - 07:54:14) Passfield resident, if there is a complaint to the police that something published on line contains racism, or is stirring up racial or religious hatred, because that would be a criminal offence, they are duty bound to investigate. I am surprised that you did not follow the reports of last summer’s riots which occurred after the Southport murders, and the resulting sentencing of those who put out misleading information on social media.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - passfield resident (10th May 2025 - 10:15:13) Joe-of course I know. That's not what WUND is on about

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Charlie (10th May 2025 - 12:19:36) M I quoted migration figures for 2023 and 2024 because some people think that we are taking more immigrants than any other country including yourself ergo your post dated 4 May and I quote “That's because we're a very generous country to anyone entering illegally. More so than France or Germany,Greece.” You are inaccurate to 2 points. The people coming over in small boats are claiming to be asylym seekers and asylum seekers are not classed as illegal. This is very difficult to prove or disprove which is why a lengthy and expensive process has to be implemented. I agree that it is not fair, but I would welcome any suggestions to an alternative solution. Your second inaccurate point is that we take more immigrants than France and Germany. Not true. You state in your post 3 May “26 boats in just 6 days , and how many illegal migrants you may ask. Well just one thousand eight hundred and seventy eight,(1878)” The figure as say is from the Home Office but your adjective describing the migrants is not accurate.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (10th May 2025 - 13:04:35) What racist comments have been made here?

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Was Undecided Now Decided (14th May 2025 - 17:30:21) @PR - after you, please go ahead first.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - M (14th May 2025 - 22:30:25) Charlie The people coming over in small boats are called illegal entrants and my figures in my post are spot on. Stop behaving like an idiot.... and accept it, the numbers entering illegally are increasing and there for all to see.its not rocket science!

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (15th May 2025 - 11:39:27) There seems to be confusion amongst the current government between legitimate migrants and illegal immigrants. They are not both the same.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Charlie (15th May 2025 - 14:54:01) Agree D. This is the trouble. The migrants coming over in small boats are claiming to be asylum seekers whether M likes the term or not and asylum seekers are not illegal. If it could be proved that when they landed on our shores they were not asylum seekers, they would be deported immediately. However because of their claims to asylum status which cannot be proved or disproved on arriving in the UK, the migrants have to undergo the lengthy and expensive processing system. Then, if they are found NOT to be asylum seekers, they are deported. I am not saying it is fair and I don't think the French help with this ongoing problem, but it is a fact. M just doesn't seem to understand that asylum seekers are not illegal.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - Charlie (15th May 2025 - 17:12:59) At the risk of beginning to sound like my parrot, following on from my latest post, I will state for the last time: migrant/people seeking asylum are not classed as illegal; it's a legal right. Under international law, anyone fleeing persecution can apply for asylum in a country that has signed the 1951 Refugee Convention, and they have the right to remain there until their application is assessed. That is exactly what the boat people are doing - they are not illegal - they will be processed and if they are deemed not to be asylum seekers then they will be deported. If they manage to evade deportation and remain in this country they will then be deemed illegal. I am now going to bow out of this Thread as I do not really like being called a “smart arse” and an “idiot” and I would say to M "it takes one to know one."

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - M (15th May 2025 - 17:45:56) Charlie some updated figures for you to chew on,over last 7 days entering UK in small boats; Irregular entrants - 1183 Number of boats -20 & Without permission to enter the UK... There may be many more on larger vessels or undetected. Your retort isn't accurate.... mine is.

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - D (16th May 2025 - 09:11:19) What percentage do get sent back? After how long?

Re: May 2025 Local Elections - A different M (16th May 2025 - 16:39:52) Taking Charlie's latest comment as correct it appears that those immigrants coming over by small boat (or other means such as lorries) are not classed as illegal if they claim asylum. Therefore, in my simplistic understanding, they are "illegal immigrants" until they claim asylum. To me that means that all immigrants that enter our country through improper channels (boats, lorries etc) are "illegal immigrants" so calling them illegal is correct? Once they decide to claim asylum they can then be knocked off the "illegal immigrant" number and added to the "asylum seekers" number. Am I correct Charlie? If so then the comments by others are correct, all immigrants who enter the country through improper means (boats. Lorries etc) are illegal until processed?

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