Cllr Jim O'Neill - Group Leader Reform UK Blackpool

14/06/2026

Over in Makerfield again this morning with these wonderful people knocking on doors for Rob Kenyon and

13/06/2026

On the Reform UK battle bus with Rob Kenyon!!

07/06/2026

The evening before Cllr Gary Kniveton escorted our D-Day veterans to Normandy, I had an exchange with him in his role as LCC’s Forces Champion that left a lasting impression.

What struck me most was how clearly he understood the weight of history and privilege on his shoulders. This wasn’t simply a duty to be carried out; it was a responsibility he approached with genuine respect for the men and women whose service and sacrifice we continue to honour.

Acts of remembrance like these remind us that service in our Armed Forces creates a brotherhood and sisterhood that spans generations. The bonds forged through service endure long after conflicts end, connecting those who served decades ago with those who wear the uniform today.

As we mark D-Day and remember the extraordinary courage of that generation, it is upon all of us to ensure their selflessness and sacrifice are never forgotten, and that their stories continue to inspire future generations.

06/06/2026

The Blackpool Gazette should be ashamed of itself.

On the anniversary of D-Day, one of the most important and heroic events in British and world history, the Gazette gave no social media coverage whatsoever to the men whose courage and sacrifice helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today.

On 6 June 1944, thousands of Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy in the largest seaborne invasion in history. Many knew they were sailing into almost certain death. More than 150,000 Allied troops took part in the operation, facing fierce German resistance as they fought to liberate Europe from N**i occupation. Without their bravery, determination and sacrifice, the world we know today could have looked very different.

Blackpool and the Fylde Coast have a proud military heritage. Local men served in every branch of the armed forces throughout the Second World War, while communities across Lancashire played a vital role in supporting the war effort. D-Day is not some distant historical event with no local relevance; it is part of the story of countless local families whose relatives served, fought and, in many cases, never came home.

As the number of surviving veterans dwindles, remembrance becomes more important, not less. Local newspapers have a responsibility to help preserve these stories and ensure future generations understand the price that was paid for our freedom.

Yet while this anniversary passed, the Blackpool Gazette found no space on its social media channels to mark the courage of the D-Day generation. No tribute. No reflection. No recognition.

Those young men who landed on the beaches of Normandy displayed a level of bravery that most of us can scarcely imagine. They deserve our gratitude, our respect and our remembrance.

Shame on the Gazette.

06/06/2026

On this day, 6 June 1944 — H-Hour.
At the breaking of dawn, British troops of the 6th Airborne, the beaches of Gold, Juno, and Sword, and countless others stepped off landing craft into hell. Machine-gun fire raked the surf. Mines and obstacles tore through steel and flesh. Yet they rose, they charged, they held the line.

These were ordinary men — fathers, sons, brothers — who summoned extraordinary courage on the turning point of history’s darkest hour. They knew the odds. They felt the cost. And still they went, because the freedom of the world hung in the balance.

D-Day was not the end of the war, but it was the beginning of the end. Without their sacrifice, tyranny might have prevailed. Because of them, Europe was eventually liberated.

We must never forget. Not just the victory, but the price paid on those Normandy beaches. Their courage demands our remembrance, our gratitude, and our vigilance — so that such darkness never falls again.

Lest we forget.

28/05/2026

🚨 Blackpool is being overburdened while our own people are pushed to the back of the queue.
Today I’ve demanded that Blackpool Council immediately calls for a pause to the Home Office’s asylum dispersal programme.

Serco, the company housing asylum seekers, is actively recruiting more landlords for five-year contracts — offering guaranteed above-market rents, paid by the taxpayer, plus full property refurbishments at the end. This comes right after the Government stopped using the Metropole hotel. As I said: “When one door closes, another opens.”

I’ve spoken directly with Blackpool South MP, who was also surprised by this and is now seeking urgent answers from the Home Office.

Blackpool is the most deprived area in England. We already carry nearly three times the national average share of asylum seekers on support— in a town that can least afford it.

This isn’t about genuine refugees fleeing persecution. It’s about fairness. Our veterans, care leavers and pensioners are left waiting, while others jump the queue for hotels and taxpayer-funded housing.
I’m calling on the Council Leader to write to the Home Secretary this week demanding:

✅ Pause the dispersal contract for Blackpool

✅ Publish a full capacity assessment

✅ Put Blackpool people first in Blackpool services

Enough is enough. Our town and our residents must come first.

24/05/2026

A truly uplifting morning at Marton United Reformed Church today. Pentecost — often described as the “birthday of the Church” — reminds us of the moment the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples and the Christian community came alive. It was wonderful to see so many people at the service, especially the younger ones, whose presence gives real hope for the future.

After the service, I spoke with several of the church elders. We shared our sadness about the number of church closures in recent years, but also celebrated the strength, warmth, and resilience of the community here at Marton URC. Their commitment shows what the Church is really about: people gathering, worshipping, supporting one another, and renewing their faith together.

With that in mind, the recent debates around disused church buildings need a bit of perspective. Some of these buildings haven’t had active congregations for many years. While it’s natural to feel a sense of history and attachment, Christianity has never placed the building above the worship. A church is not defined by bricks and mortar — it is defined by the people who gather within it.

And I want to be clear: I’m not trying to force religion on anyone. Faith is a personal journey, and everyone must walk it in their own way. But it’s also true that our culture isn’t protected by preserving empty structures — it’s protected by living out the values those structures were built to represent. That means attending services, meeting as a community, and renewing our faith regularly.

Because attending church doesn’t just bring communities closer — it is genuinely transformational for the soul. It strengthens us, grounds us, and reminds us of who we are and what we stand for. No empty building can do that. Only people, gathered in faith, can.

If we are serious about protecting our culture, our heritage, and the values we claim to cherish, then the answer isn’t found in abandoned buildings. The real threat to our culture isn’t the demolition of disused churches — it’s the dwindling number of churchgoers. Culture survives when people show up, participate, and keep their faith alive in community.

Today’s service was a powerful reminder of what truly matters: faith lived together, not empty buildings left behind.

18/05/2026

17/05/2026

Does Labour have a problem with U-Turns?

The irony writes itself. Labour have a long history of U‑turns — and now we’ve discovered even large vehicles can’t manage one on the very road this council insisted was “fit for purpose.” It’s almost poetic that their political habits have been matched by their highways planning.

So it’s acceptable in Blackpool for Labour to U-turn, but not lorries!

The reality, though, is far from amusing. This failure will mean more work, more disruption, and inevitably more cost. This Labour‑run council should be embarrassed. It’s easy to make light of the situation, but the truth is that the extra time and money needed to fix their mistakes won’t be paid by them — it will be borne by residents.

People deserve competence, not another expensive U‑turn, literal or otherwise.

Feel free to let the world know of Labour’s incompetence, give it a share!

Credit to "A Walk on the Wild Side" for footage and commentary on the vehicles

17/05/2026

Cognitive dissonance incoming…this will doubtless upset some, but here you have it! It’s official Reform UK are doing a fantastic job running Lancashire County Council.

Well done LCC! 🩵🇬🇧🩵

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