Buxton: Why one small town with very little immigration turned to Reform UK

The small town of Buxton, in Derbyshire, has taken an unexpected turn with the rise of Reform UK. Despite having very little immigration, the party won control of one council ward and came a close second to the Conservatives in another local election. The concerns that led to this shift in opinion are largely centered around immigration.

Many residents in Buxton, an area known for its opera house and grand Georgian crescent, have expressed frustration with recent government policies on immigration. The issue has become a significant concern, even among those who may not be directly affected by it. A couple of the teenagers at the school actually want to leave Britain, citing the state of the country as their main reason.

One resident describes himself as disillusioned with recent governments and believes most young men arriving on boats are here to work, rather than fleeing oppression. However, he also acknowledges that he does not know where those new faces are from, highlighting the lack of awareness about immigration among some residents.

Another group of people in Buxton is concerned about the impact of immigration on their local economy. The town's high street appears to be holding up well, but locals feel that there is nothing they need, as if the influx of immigrants has created a sense of powerlessness and hopelessness.

On the other hand, some residents have expressed support for Reform UK's stance on immigration. They believe that asylum seekers should be given more opportunities to work and contribute to society, rather than just being housed in hotels or army camps.

In Buxton, the chasm in opinion on immigration between the town's young and old is stark. The teenagers at the school are vocal about their concerns, while some older residents see immigrants as a scapegoat for societal problems.

I think it's crazy that people in Buxton are linking all their problems to immigration. Like, there must be more going on here than just "foreigners" . Have you guys thought about the state of mental health services in the town? Or how about the lack of affordable housing options for locals? That sounds like a bigger issue to me .

And what's with all this talk of immigrants being a scapegoat? Can't people see that it's just a complex problem that requires nuanced solutions ? Reform UK might have its flaws, but at least they're trying to offer an alternative to the status quo. And as for those teenagers who want to leave Britain... are we really gonna chase them away with fear-mongering and xenophobia? That's not how you build a better society, fam .

I mean, I'm all for having a lively discussion about immigration, but can't we do it without resorting to division and hatred? Let's focus on finding common ground and working towards solutions that benefit everyone, not just the "us vs. them" mentality

I'm seeing this and it's making me think - why can't we just have clear info on who these people coming to our country actually are? Like, I get that there's a lot of fear and uncertainty around immigration, but having facts and figures would really help to bridge the gap between young and old. It seems like some folks in Buxton are feeling pretty disconnected from reality ... and honestly, it's kinda concerning when people are making assumptions about others without even understanding where they're coming from

this is wild - i mean, reform uk taking control of one council ward in buxton? that's like something out of a scripted tv drama. and the immigration thing is so complicated... i feel bad for those young people who think they gotta leave bc britain isn't good enough for them. but at the same time, can we blame anyone for wanting to escape problems? and btw, what's up with all these people feeling powerless? like, buxton has an opera house - that's some cool stuff... shouldn't we be celebrating our diversity instead of fearing it?

man I can feel the anxiety radiating from this story it's like you're right there in Buxton feeling frustrated with the whole situation these young people wanting to leave because of the state of the country is heartbreaking it's not just about them, though - it's about how they're being perceived by their community. and then you have these older folks who are just trying to make sense of things but come across as kinda dismissive or even hurtful it's like they're pitting one group against another instead of trying to understand where everyone is coming from

anyway, I think this highlights how complex immigration is and how hard it must be for people who are going through the process to deal with all these emotions we need more empathy and understanding in our communities

so like what's next? UK's gonna be all like "oh noes, immigrants taking our jobs" and then we'll have a bunch of angry Brits moving to Australia meanwhile the party that's actually gaining traction is just talking about asylum seekers getting jobs idk man, it seems like nobody's really got an answer. and can we talk about how the economy in Buxton isn't affected by immigration at all? like what's happening with the high street?

I'm telling ya, it's crazy how things have changed. I mean, Buxton's got this beautiful opera house and all that, but now folks are more worried about who's moving in than the opera performances themselves . It's like, immigration's become a big issue, even among people who aren't directly affected by it. I remember when my parents came to the UK, they were excited to start a new life, not because they were running from anything, but because they wanted a better chance at the American Dream (or in their case, a decent job and some peace of mind). These young folks are worried about leaving Britain? That's just sad, mate. They're thinking it's all bad, but what if immigration's actually helping the economy and stuff? I mean, my aunt's friend's husband is from Romania and he loves working on Buxton's high street . We need to educate ourselves, you know? Not just rely on rumors and fear .