Note: I had intended to write this blog soon after the results of the May 7 English local elections, which resulted in a resounding win for Reform, with Greens doing particularly well, were made known. But with one thing leading to another, I have delayed writing it for over two weeks now, but I am glad that I did as so much has happened in the meantime. But let me begin with how I began when I started writing this blog two weeks ago …

Refer to my Southend May 7 2026 Local Elections – the Results blog (see here) that I wrote after the results in my own area were known and with the local council elections for the rest of the country still coming in, for the background to this blog.

• Reform UK: gained 1,451 seats, winning 1,454 seats and taking control of 14 councils
• Labour: lost 1,496 seats, winning 1,068 seats and losing control of 38 councils
• Conservative: lost 563 seats, winning 801 seats and losing control of 6 councils
• Liberal Democrats: gained 155 seats, winning 844 seats and gaining 1 council
• Green Party: gained 411 seats, winning 587 seats and gaining 5 councils
• Independents: gained 34 seats, winning 212 seats

As for Scotland and Wales, the elections that took place were for their respective national assemblies, found a similar voting pattern emerging but with their respective nationalist leaning parties: SNP and Plaid Cymru still attracting significant support. No elections were held in Northern Ireland.

I asked AI:

How has the vote for Reform followed by Green changed the UK political landscape. Why do some people love Reform and others hate them? Same question, but this time Greens?

AI replied:

The UK’s political landscape has shifted significantly with Reform UK’s surge and the Green Party’s gains. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has made substantial inroads in traditional Labour strongholds, particularly in working-class areas and Brexit-backing regions. This has led to Labour’s worst performance in decades, with losses exceeding 1,400 council seats.

Reform UK’s Appeal and Controversy

Reform UK’s popularity stems from its anti-establishment and anti-immigration stance, resonating with voters disillusioned with mainstream parties. Supporters see them as a force for change, tackling issues like mass migration and economic stagnation. However, critics view Reform as far-right, citing policies like mass deportation and climate skepticism.

Green Party’s Rise

The Green Party, led by Zack Polanski, has made notable gains, particularly in urban areas and university towns. Their focus on environmental issues, social justice, and progressive policies has attracted voters seeking alternatives to traditional parties. While some see them as a beacon for climate action, others criticize their radical policies and perceived lack of pragmatism.

Demographic Breakdown

Reform UK’s supporters tend to be older, working-class, and English nationalist, while Green Party voters are typically younger, middle-class, and cosmopolitan.

So let me come back to today and especially focus on some of these recent happenings as well as give my opinion that when it come to political party preference, notwithstanding my antipathy toward mainstream British politics and my political neutral stance, why with the main players I prefer: Restore, Reform, Conservative, LibDem, Labour and Green in that order, and in the case of the last three especially I quote my late mum: “all gawd help us”.

To start with, with reference to the above meme, the Labour led coalition that draws in the LibDems, Greens and non-independent Independents once again run the Southend City administration. It was mathematically possible for Reform and Conservatives to do so, if drawing in Independent support, but once Reform declared, in righteously indignant mode, they weren’t going to do deals, the result was a foregone conclusion. Interestingly, the ex-Reform local leader, Tony Cox, is now mayor, although foolishly (imo) he seems not to be adopting political neutrality. I have yet to meet my (Prittlewell ward) Reform councillor, ex-MEP Michael Heaver. Sadly, I see little evidence of deeper knowledge and interest in local community issues and, as with the rest of the new Reform intake, more they seem more intent on banging the drum about matters of national disquiet rather than what they would do for the City. I await further local developments.

I have gone on long enough with reasons why I especially dislike Labour under Keir Starmer (the worst government in my lifetime). Loud alarms were raised when he called out those angry over the Southport massacres as far-right racists, and that rhetoric continued with his attacks on those attending the Unite the Kingdom rally at the weekend. Hardly, a week goes by when I find further reasons for my dislike, e.g., in the recent Kings Speech, which called for the rolling out of mandatory digital ids. But if not Labour then who? Let me begin with Conservative and LibDems, then move on to the current front runners if recent results are anything to go by: Greens and Reform and finally onto a potential party spoiler: Restore.

Strangely enough, in the “Get Brexit done” General Election of December 2019, I did not vote Boris, the man who said he would do it, despite being an ardent Brexiteer, and voted for an old friend, who stood for Labour, partly because I didn’t like our Conservative chap. At best, Boris got Brexit half done but his party then went on to lose its way, not helped by the Covid plandemic. Despite its resounding win in 2019, the Conservatives had a resounding defeat in 2024, with Starmer’s Labourites getting in despite getting less votes than in 2019. The Conservatives have tried to rebuild under new leadership, but just as disillusioned Labour voters turned Green, many dissatisfied Conservative voters have turned to Reform, and show little sign in returning to their previous folds, as things presently stand. As for the LibDems, they did get support from formerly Labour and Conservative camps but numbers were relatively modest. With its leader going on about issues such as Trump suing the BBC for misreporting, they are in my book consigned to irrelevancy – which actually is a shame.

I dislike Greens every much and maybe more than I dislike present Labour (despite Labour being the Party I supported in my youth). I prefix this with an observation that many Green supporters are people of honour and highly intelligent, which makes my antipathy all the more sad I have tried hard, with limited success, to understand why people support Greens, especially among those who formerly supported Labour. I recall that back in the day, the main reason I preferred Labour over Conservative was its support of the underdog. While the underdog constituency may have changed, e.g. more immigrants, there is a feeling their needs won’t be met by parties on the right, especially the so-called far right. I find Greens getting into power a frightening prospect. Its Islam-Marxist stance, widespread Jew hatred, stands on issues like abortion, euthanasia and transgenderism, attacks on wealth, dismissal of free speech concerns, adopting a dubious climate emergency tackling measures at the expense of the economy, and cluelessness over world events are all things that come to mind, but right now they are the party that seem to be attracting most suport from the leftist camp.   

So that brings me to Reform. I suspect there is a growing belief that not only has Britain lost its way, along with a distrust of the present uni-party political system, and that the best option, especially in the light of Labour’s dismal failures and rapidly moving world events, is to vote Reform. There is also a feeling among right leaning pundits that the Right (which is not a term I favour, btw) of British politics is divided, not just Conservative and Reform, but lesser parties, such as UKIP and Heritage, and the newest kids on the block: Advance and Restore. I have expressed qualms over Reform’s evident lack of local engagement but when its leader, Nigel Farage, lies over people like Tommy Robinson, Rupert Lowe, Ben Habib, and another leader, Richard Tice, dismisses me and those who share my concern as “that lot”. Concerns include lack of action over Muslim rape gangs, ignoring the evil of Covid capitulation, and ingratiating themselves with members of other political parties rather than those who need representing because they have been let down by mainstream political parties.

While I have a soft spot for the Heritage Party, as things stand, I prefer Restore Britain over Reform UK, as they appear to be closest in sharing my own priorities and concerns. Which brings me onto the June 18 Makerfield by-election, and the Restore candidate, Rebecca Shepherd, a local businesswoman, who is aiming to challenge Labour’s Andy Burnham and Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon. The bookies are currently predicting a Labour win. Restore did remarkably well in the recent local elections, in Great Yarmouth, which points to Reform being even less of a certainty when it comes to defeating Labour in this lower middle to working class, mainly white British constituency. The Labour leadership front runners: Andy Burnham (if he wins Makerfield), Angela Rayner, Wes Streeting, Ed Miliband and David Lammy, are depressing prospects to replace Keir Starmer. Whatever the election outcome, it will be an interesting indicator of the national political mood.  

I almost agree with Tommy Robinson as to the importance of getting involved politically. I can’t tell readers how to vote or who to vote for. The best I can do is share what I see as I continue watching from my wall. I do see dark days ahead for the UK, especially if the current political status quo is maintained and there is a further turning away from its Christian heritage. The best I can do, albeit with reservations, is to echo Tommy’s plea, but add – be a decent person, get involved in serving your local community and put your trust in God Almighty and not in any individual.