Darren Grimes refuses to attend council training sessions that don’t exist

Reform with their f-ing MAGA handbook. They’re even more stupid than I thought if that’s possible

DEI is a waste of time, so I don’t blame him for asserting his opinion, regardless of whether the council offers this course or not.

It projects highly divisive social narratives based on subjective falsehoods.

Everyone has the capacity to assume victimhood status because our minds operationally function through biases.

So, there’ll always be that person who says, “I’m the victim of racism etc. in the face of ambiguity, when, in fact, more plausible explanations are available.

We really do need to get back to an objective evidence-base discussion on the topic of DEI.

—–‐———————————————————————————-

Edit: I’m getting a lot of attention on this post, so will use this as an opportunity to promote my position further.

The field of psychology has long discussed ‘cognitive biases’ before it was co-opted by pop science and popularised ‘unconscious bias’. Our brains are hard-wired to make sense of messy information, such that it relies on quick and dirty tricks (‘biases’) to predict the outcome of an ambiguous situation. These biases are learned from our experiences but also the knowledge shared to us by others.

As an example, if one receives what they perceive to be a ‘dirty’ look, they may interpret this to be an act of racism (I.e., ‘microaggression). When other plausible explanations exist, maybe the person was having a really bad day.

The problem is on a group level: what Jung termed called “collective consciousness” can emerge. I call this a social narrative and believe that people conform to ideologies based on the views of the majority. So, in some sense, biases are contagious and will emerge within an echochamber.

This implies if enough people state there is ‘systemic racism’ when in fact objective evidence can show this to be a falsehood, the social narrative will take a life of it’s own. People will really believe it, they’ll perceive it, they feel it, it’s very real to them.

This is what’s happened in contemporary Britain. The culture war isn’t a war based on left vs right. It’s based on objectivity vs. subjectivity. It should transcend political orientation, though the narratives are becoming politicised, and people are only sourcing their beliefs from within their own groups/echochambers.

If you look at many objective metrics of inequality, etc., you’ll often find a lack of empirical evidence to justify policies such as DEI. So, the people critical of DEI are tapping into reality, though they may struggle to articulate their arguments well.

The irony is that Redditors on the left often call others ‘stupid’ but fail to realise how their own biasss have been formed by the groups and spaces they occupy.

>Reform leader Nigel Farage saying that anybody working on climate change initiatives or DEI at the council should “be seeking alternative employment very, very quickly.”

Well worth considering that DEI is supposed to be an efficiency initiative that consolidates everything related to diversity, equity and inclusion into one department. That includes everything from disability access to services to providing social mobility services to disadvantaged areas and people.

I wish people could equate politicians attacking DEI as trying to get rid of wherlchair ramps and destroy job opportunities in hard hit areas including poor white areas. Because that’s what it will do.

Genuinely the biggest problem with Reforms rise is we will be putting the absolute least competent people in the most important roles. It’s bloody tragic.

Plus, when you look at the staggering levels of corruption Trump has brought into government, it’s very predictable the same thing will happen here.

I really hope he gets a role like the councillor responsible for highways. And he gets hauled over the coals by a bunch of angry locals as he explains that woke DEI policies are stopping him from filling in potholes. And I hope it gets broadcast, live.

This guy is about to get the full force of democracy directly in the face and he is not going to like it.

I had to check the article for what that meant. For a second I imagined the whole council aside from this guy attending an empty room where nothing happens then saying they completed training.

Is a Reform a whole party of online grifters or am I reading too much into a few instances?

So this whole articles evidence is that an MP says so? Did the journalists consider just going to Durham councils website and doing some research?

https://www.durham.gov.uk/media/24896/Councillor-compact/pdf/CouncillorCompact.pdf

Section 8 says very clearly

“It is essential that councillors have an understanding of equalities
and diversity issues and training will be offered to you in these areas which
you must undertake.”

with must in bold text

Bunch of lying idiots. Those who elected them deserve the mess they’ve got. Wtf are the rest of their constituents meant to do?

While these tits are making waves over fucking nonsense, real people will continue to suffer real issues with no support or hope for change. It’s hideous.

Isn’t this the guy who tried a crafty wank at school and was caught?

a man who only cares about misinformation and causing division in society. Absolutely despise him

I bet he wouldn’t turn down putting his togger in a dead pig

The man is also openly gay. The diversity equity and inclusion initiatives explicitly cover LGBTQ+.
Does he not agree with having a protected characteristic?
Some people who work for the council would have been alive when homosexuality was illegal in this country. It’s taken acts/laws to protect people of all demographics.

When people say the country is fucked this is what they mean. Absolutely embarrassing