RandyWanger
Je suis rôti de boeuf

Ex-MP Craig Williams charged with betting offences
The investigation was launched last year following bets placed on the timing of the 2024 general election.

She should beWorth noting amid the results from yesterday that the Tory party are currently being essentially wiped out in a lot of their former heartlands by both Reform and the Lib Dems, I would be surprised if Badenoch isn't at least put under some pretty hefty pressure in the days to come
One way of looking at it but I would suggest Reform are giving all parties a damn good kicking!!Worth noting amid the results from yesterday that the Tory party are currently being essentially wiped out in a lot of their former heartlands by both Reform and the Lib Dems, I would be surprised if Badenoch isn't at least put under some pretty hefty pressure in the days to come
They are but the Tories are currently on existential levels of loss, especially on the back of a near wipeout in the GE last year, and you're also ignoring the Lib Dems currently cleaning up in rural parts of the South West / East Anglia at the expense of the ToriesOne way of looking at it but I would suggest Reform are giving all parties a damn good kicking!!
It’s very odd actually, as we have no local elections in our area. Don’t really understand why it’s only a selection of the country voting?
East Sussex is the same and the Tory ESCC wanted to postpone our elections. Many are quite annoyed about it, as we have had various matters forced on us by them, such having to book appointments to go to the local tip, when there have never been any queues."Essex County Council has decided to cancel the local elections scheduled for May 2025 to focus on reforming local government and implementing a devolution project. The council aims to reduce the number of local authorities in Essex from 15 to as few as two, and a new mayor for the county could be elected in 2026"
Assume others with cancelled elections are doing similar.
Don't think either County Council had much of a choice. Government told both counties that if ESCC, WSCC & B&HCC if they didn't come up with an agreement to have a mayor and cancel elections they would and then impose one. Essex were probably told the same.East Sussex is the same and the Tory ESCC wanted to postpone our elections. Many are quite annoyed about it, as we have had various matters forced on us by them, such having to book appointments to go to the local tip, when there have never been any queues.
Over 9,000 people signed a petition, but one Tory, who shall be nameless, took it on herself to take the deciding vote and force it through.
Not all councils have votes every year. Cumbria split into unitary authorities last year - so all our councillors are new, so we've had no elections this year.So we have local elections for only those Councils that haven’t opted out of having a vote. Sums up politics to perfection!
There were a few elections in Chichester, Midhurst, Hove and Eastbourne, all good for the Lib/Dems apart from Westbourne in Hove which was a Labour hold.They are but the Tories are currently on existential levels of loss, especially on the back of a near wipeout in the GE last year, and you're also ignoring the Lib Dems currently cleaning up in rural parts of the South West / East Anglia at the expense of the Tories
That's what is happening here next year. My objection is who wants a Mayor? It is extra money, and what are they going to do?Not all councils have votes every year. Cumbria split into unitary authorities last year - so all our councillors are new, so we've had no elections this year.
My view is a proper plan, with costings, should have been put to us in a referendum but our government knows best and says we must have a mayor.That's what is happening here next year. My objection is who wants a Mayor? It is extra money, and what are they going to do?
I wouldn't trust any referendums especially seeing the contributions to social media today.My view is a proper plan, with costings, should have been put to us in a referendum but our government knows best and says we must have a mayor.
Sussex elections were in 2021, so were due this year. We have had them postponed for devolution that nobody seems to want.Not all councils have votes every year. Cumbria split into unitary authorities last year - so all our councillors are new, so we've had no elections this year.
It was a bit of a joint effort. The Labour government invited those councils with elections in 2025 to cancel them on the grounds that they are thinking of changing the system sometime soonish so they can carry on for another 4 years or so. And the Tory councils in about half of them realised that they were likely to lose their seats and control so decided to go along with this."Essex County Council has decided to cancel the local elections scheduled for May 2025 to focus on reforming local government and implementing a devolution project. The council aims to reduce the number of local authorities in Essex from 15 to as few as two, and a new mayor for the county could be elected in 2026"
Assume others with cancelled elections are doing similar.
I understand your frustration with referendums but how else would people be able to show their approval or disapproval of the government imposing a mayor whether we want one or not. At least it would give democracy a chance, unlike what we are being presented with.I wouldn't trust any referendums especially seeing the contributions to social media today.