[News] Nigel Farage and Reform

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Sid and the Sharknados

Well-known member
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Sep 4, 2022
5,890
Darlington
Just to be pedantic, Reform won the vast majority of their seats from the Conservatives and Libs/Greens won the majority of their seats from Labour/independents

In summary Conservatives lost almost exactly what Reform gained 674/677, and Labour and Independents lost almost exactly what Libs and Greens gained 207/207.
I'd guess those numbers lining up so well is almost entirely coincidental, given that the party's respective gains were in different parts of the country (I'll concede that there are actual reasons why somebody in Cornwall is historically less likely to vote Labour than somebody in County Durham), and the vagaries of the voting system used at local elections.

If you have a source illustrating that the split in votes is that clean, I'm genuinely interested, because the same thought occurred to me and I couldn't easily find a breakdown of the votes as opposed to the seats won.
 


WATFORD zero

Well-known member
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Jul 10, 2003
29,072
Composition of those now considering voting for Reform who last year voted for another party:
66% Tory
18% Labour
16% LibDem

https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/51474-what-is-attracting-24-of-britons-to-reform-uk

That's the breakdown of the 10% who didn't vote Reform last year, so in actual figures voting Reform, it would be 90% Reform, 6.6% Tory, 1.8% Labour and 1.6% Libdem. We wouldn't want people to get confused by just reading a headline, as has happened in the past.

And obviously I'm not talking about you and me :wink:
 
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WATFORD zero

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 10, 2003
29,072
I'd guess those numbers lining up so well is almost entirely coincidental, given that the party's respective gains were in different parts of the country (I'll concede that there are actual reasons why somebody in Cornwall is historically less likely to vote Labour than somebody in County Durham), and the vagaries of the voting system used at local elections.

If you have a source illustrating that the split in votes is that clean, I'm genuinely interested, because the same thought occurred to me and I couldn't easily find a breakdown of the votes as opposed to the seats won.
No I don't have a breakdown, (I'm guessing it will be available in time and it will be interesting when they are), but I don't think it's pure coincidence.
 




Sid and the Sharknados

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Sep 4, 2022
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Darlington
No I don't have a breakdown, (I'm guessing it will be available in time and it will be interesting when they are), but I don't think it's pure coincidence.
You might be correct, but on the face of it, given the three councils the Lib Dems have taken overall control over were Shropshire (previously consistently Conservative), Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire, (mix of NoC and Conservative for decades), I'd be surprised if it were that simple.

The South West councils are different again because the Liberals/Lib Dems are historically the stronger left wing party in those areas, so even if they've gained at the expense of Labour in some seats it's not the same as them taking a seat off Labour in Barnard Castle or something (to be clear, I have looked but can't remember who actually won in Barney).
 


Bodian

Well-known member
May 3, 2012
16,449
Cumbria
No I don't have a breakdown, (I'm guessing it will be available in time and it will be interesting when they are), but I don't think it's pure coincidence.
It's not quite that clean though.

For instance - County Durham. 29 of Reform's seats came from Tories / Independents, and 38 from Labour.
1746283534145.png
 








Klaas

I've changed this
Nov 1, 2017
2,758
Just a thought, but some of the shock and horror expressed on this thread suggests that maybe Brighton and Hove and London is not very representative of the rest of England and Wales? You might want to start preparing yourselves for what is going to happen in 2029 or earlier or you may not cope very well. Perhaps stop watching the BBC and reading the Guardian as a starter for this therapy?
What was it you said about Trump winning again? Assume you’re enjoying it all and hoping for similar here in 2029.
 


Commander

Arrogant Prat
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Apr 28, 2004
14,130
London
You guys voted for Brexit, I not counting anything out.

The question for me is if anyone will be prepared to explain why they voted for them.
I f***ing did not vote for Brexit!! And I would never vote for that **** Farage!

But that doesn’t mean it isn’t going to happen. Look at Brexit / Trump (twice). The UK is heading in that direction, as much as lots of left-leaning people (like myself) pretend that it isn’t.
 




birthofanorange

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Aug 31, 2011
7,203
David Gilmour's armpit
I f***ing did not vote for Brexit!! And I would never vote for that **** Farage!

But that doesn’t mean it isn’t going to happen. Look at Brexit / Trump (twice). The UK is heading in that direction, as much as lots of left-leaning people (like myself) pretend that it isn’t.
Unfortunately, we do tend to follow in their footsteps in many, many things, which is a tad worrying, as in recent times they've become an utter basket case of a country.
 


Weststander

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Aug 25, 2011
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Withdean area
That's the breakdown of the 10% who didn't vote Reform last year, so in actual figures voting Reform, it would be 90% Reform, 6.6% Tory, 1.8% Labour and 1.6% Libdem. We wouldn't want people to get confused by just reading a headline, as has happened in the past.

And obviously I'm not talking about you and me :wink:

That was my point.

Regarding those who voted Reform last July, that inherently includes swathes of folk who were ex lifelong (well, half in the end :lol:) Labour. I know a few. In England and Wales as a whole, Reform were popular in working class seats where the Tories were generally for a century no hopers.

IMG_0997.png
 


Brian Munich

teH lulZ
Jul 7, 2008
875
That's the breakdown of the 10% who didn't vote Reform last year, so in actual figures voting Reform, it would be 90% Reform, 6.6% Tory, 1.8% Labour and 1.6% Libdem. We wouldn't want people to get confused by just reading a headline, as has happened in the past.

And obviously I'm not talking about you and me :wink:
Where does your 10% come from? It’s more like 40% of current potential Reform voters that have switched parties since last summer.
 




AstroSloth

Well-known member
Dec 29, 2020
1,750
Farage already planning his moves:

"Reform leader Nigel Farage says his party will be "radical, a breath of fresh air in county hall" after taking control of several local councils.

There is too much wasteful expenditure, and trying to do too many things, we want to try and change that," says Farage.

"If you work from home, forget it. If you're a DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] officer, I suggest you look for another job."
Following on from this, it's good to see that one of their newly elected's understands the staff they have and what the job entai-
Screenshot_20250503-181641.png

The incompetence is astounding.
 




Forster's Armband

Well-known member
Sep 23, 2008
2,623
London
Reform are going to have an issue as more and more attention is paid to them, they are some very dodgy characters in the party that they can't help attract. They are a dog whistle party who are happy to spout utter nonsense about diversity and blame foreigners for everything. They'll continue to make gains as the Tories die but I am not convinced they have enough to not eat themselves has the prize of power appears to move closer. Labour do need to put their proper centre left big boy pants on a be bolder, braver and faster though.
 


Littlemo

Well-known member
Aug 25, 2022
2,015
Trying to promote families to have more children isn't a bad idea

I don’t mind the government having initiatives to support married people and help with raising kids.

As someone who doesn’t want kids though, why should I be punished and have to pay more tax because I choose not to have any? People with kids tend to use the state more than those without, and that’s fine, but they shouldn’t be paying less for it and I shouldn’t have to pay more for it.
 




Commander

Arrogant Prat
NSC Patron
Apr 28, 2004
14,130
London
Reform are going to have an issue as more and more attention is paid to them, they are some very dodgy characters in the party that they can't help attract. They are a dog whistle party who are happy to spout utter nonsense about diversity and blame foreigners for everything. They'll continue to make gains as the Tories die but I am not convinced they have enough to not eat themselves has the prize of power appears to move closer. Labour do need to put their proper centre left big boy pants on a be bolder, braver and faster though.
I would agree in normal times. But in this weird time where people’s attention spans have been completely destroyed by smartphones and technology, this sort of politics works. Most people don’t take that much interest in it, and soundbites and nonsense that isn’t backed up with facts is enough to get people to vote if it resonates with them. The UK is not a great place to be at the moment for all sorts of reasons, and if you can tell people that it is somebody else’s fault and say you’ll fix it by getting rid of them without really saying how, that is enough for a decent percentage of the population. Sadly.
 




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