[News] Nigel Farage and Reform

[A1X]

Staffordshire very high for Brexit. Not sure about Durham.

Majority Leave 58%

https://www.durham.gov.uk/media/10281/EU-Referendum-declaration-of-count-totals-24-June-2016/pdf/EU_Ref_Declaration_of_Count_Totals_-_DURHAM_1.pdf?m=1524051263343

 

[Berty23]

Reform are going to be the biggest party in Warwickshire and not impossible they take control. The difference between the wealthy south of the county with Nuneaton and Bedworth is startling. I really hope someone can explain what these voters think will happen. What are they voting for?

 

[chip]

What are these reasons? Please share. I have not seen anyone able to explain yet. What is it people think Reform will deliver in these local areas? (Bear in mind that Runcorn and Lincolnshire have basically sod all muslims).

That's a very interesting question. About the best I could find was this: https://www.prosperity.com/wp-conte...VOTING-REFORM-25.03.24.pdf?ref=compactmag.com and it's probably out of date now.

The rise of Reform UK represents the most serious challenge to the United Kingdom’s established
parties since the rise of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the Brexit Party. But, until now,
little if anything has been known about what drives public support for Reform UK. Who is voting
for it and why? And what issues are Reform supporters most concerned about?

Drawing on a unique survey of more than 3,400 self-identified supporters of Reform UK, the
largest poll of the party’s supporters so far, this Legatum Institute briefing paper throws light,
for the first time, on their social and political backgrounds and overriding concerns.
Support for Reform UK has a very distinctive social and political profile, with the party appealing
most strongly to middle-aged and older people who live outside London, used to vote for the
Conservative Party, and who strongly believe life in the UK today is much worse than it used to
be.

Supporters of Reform UK are overwhelmingly concerned about illegal and legal immigration,
which they perceive to be out-of-control and damaging Britain, though they also hold negative
views of globalisation, Net Zero, and big business. Reform UK supporters are united by a general
feeling of discontent with the UK’s current economic model, though their concerns about legal
and illegal immigration are paramount.

In conclusion, we suggest that unless these strong concerns about both illegal and legal
immigration are addressed, concerns which are shared by much of the rest of the population,
then there will remain ample space for Reform UK, or a party like it, in the years and decades
ahead.

 

[drew]

someone who is perceived as overly sensitive, easily offended, or focused on political correctness.

 

[TomandJerry]

One takeaway from this is that if Reform and Conservatives merge Labour are toast come the next general election

 

[TomandJerry]

Reform tipped to win the Hull and East Yorkshire mayoral contest.

 

[Berty23]

That's a very interesting question. About the best I could find was this: https://www.prosperity.com/wp-conte...VOTING-REFORM-25.03.24.pdf?ref=compactmag.com and it's probably out of date now.

The rise of Reform UK represents the most serious challenge to the United Kingdom’s established
parties since the rise of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the Brexit Party. But, until now,
little if anything has been known about what drives public support for Reform UK. Who is voting
for it and why? And what issues are Reform supporters most concerned about?

Drawing on a unique survey of more than 3,400 self-identified supporters of Reform UK, the
largest poll of the party’s supporters so far, this Legatum Institute briefing paper throws light,
for the first time, on their social and political backgrounds and overriding concerns.
Support for Reform UK has a very distinctive social and political profile, with the party appealing
most strongly to middle-aged and older people who live outside London, used to vote for the
Conservative Party, and who strongly believe life in the UK today is much worse than it used to
be.

Supporters of Reform UK are overwhelmingly concerned about illegal and legal immigration,
which they perceive to be out-of-control and damaging Britain, though they also hold negative
views of globalisation, Net Zero, and big business. Reform UK supporters are united by a general
feeling of discontent with the UK’s current economic model, though their concerns about legal
and illegal immigration are paramount.

In conclusion, we suggest that unless these strong concerns about both illegal and legal
immigration are addressed, concerns which are shared by much of the rest of the population,
then there will remain ample space for Reform UK, or a party like it, in the years and decades
ahead.

In which case it feels it might be time for politicians to encourage more people to have babies because with our historically low birth rate we are going to need even more immigrants. Unfortunately for years people have said “if you can’t afford babies then don’t have them” - now they are not. So who the heck are going to be the workers when current 45 year olds reach retirement age?

Who are going to be the carers? We won’t have people to do the caring jobs and when grown up children can look after elderly parents they won’t be able to because they could not afford to have kids.

Lincolnshire is an interesting example. My cousin now runs the family farm on the fens. He could not get local people to work the land despite paying good wages - people just dossed about and expected to be paid. He ended up having to get Europeans in. Since Brexit he has gone 100% combinable because now he has no one to work on the farm. Locals didn’t want the jobs. A classic example of people just running along with the pied piper telling them it is someone else taking their jobs. Scary times

I really wish people would learn the difference between illegal migration and asylum seekers entering the country. I expect the well informed reform voters could explain to us all.

One more point - this all reminds me of my old man ranting about how he went to hospital and all the staff who helped him were all from different countries. He could not answer when I said who would be helping him if it was not immigrants. Mad.

 

[Bodian]

Reform have also gained control over Durham council.

I have a couple of long-standing colleagues working for Durham. I suspect they will be speeding up their retirement plans rather than be associated with the councillors.

 

[KZNSeagull]

The 2 Independents in our ward (Weardale) won, so we cannot be blamed for Reform winning Durham CC. I wonder if we can secede?

 

[Guinness Boy]

I really wish people would learn the difference between illegal migration and asylum seekers entering the country. I expect the well informed reform voters could explain to us all.

Well none of them seem to be willing and able to explain Andrea Jenkins' speech so I wouldn't hold out any hopes.

Perhaps wrestling with the conundrum that, if Reform take us back to an England that's pre Social Media, the back to fronts will cease to exist and we'll be back to Kilroy-Silk embarrassing himself on BBC2.

 

[A1X]

One takeaway from this is that if Reform and Conservatives merge Labour are toast come the next general election

This assumes that both parties would take all their supporters with them in such a scenario, many Reform voters have no love for the Tories and many Tories will be horrified by Reform

 

[drew]

I neither live in the UK or have retired yet.

But it's interesting that this information has not been included in the reporting of this issue.

It was widely reported about the increases pensioners would get at the time of the WFA issues.

 

[Guinness Boy]

This assumes that both parties would take all their supporters with them in such a scenario, many Reform voters have no love for the Tories and many Tories will be horrified by Reform

And it also assumes it based on areas that voted Brexit having a local election with a tiny turnout.

You might as well say that Labour and the Greens should join forces because of Brighton and Hove City Council.

 

[drew]

I am a massive remainer, but I think it is far too soon to enact a rejoin process.
The main reason for this is that it is not unequivocally clear in the minds of voters that all the UK's ails are due to Brexit.
This leaves Labour open to being accused of betraying the will of the people by seeking to rejoin.
And the process itself would take a few years. Let's be incredibly optimistic and say 2 years.
After that, do you really think everything would suddenly improve?
Would the things that are driving folk to Reform suddenly vanish?
Would the NHS 'crisis' end?
Would the boats 'stop'?
(Would brown people vanish?)
I suspect the impact would be small, so Labour (the party of the Great Betrayal) would be finished.
For the record, I am a Labour party member, and think we must rejoin the EU, and the sooner the better.

As much as I would love to rejoin, I think Labour's approach will be slow and steady integration. Starting with the Youth Mobility Scheme. What the Ukraine war has shown us is that we should have closer ties with our near neighbours than a narcissist led bunch of morons across the pond!

 

[drew]

I have to congratulate all who have excelled themselves this morning. The response to last night has been exceptional. Its like a greatest hits of cliches which I've thoroughly enjoyed.
1. Its like the start of Nazi Germany in the 30's
2. Its because of the "right wing media" (apart from the Daily Mail & Express which hardly anyone reads theses days I'm not sure who that is)
3. Those Reform voters are thick / brainwashed (or any of several sneering insults that suggest inferior intellect to those on the left)
4. Brexit is the cause of everything negative to the economy (while totally ignoring the COVID lockdown & the Ukraine war & the state of other European economies)
5. Liberal use of the word racist
Maybe just maybe the fact that Labour have proved to be even worse than the last shower might have something to do with why people have voted Reform? Throwing insults at everyone you disagree with isn't a good look. Try debating without the condescending attitude perhaps?

Was going to post something but can see many have and yet morons like you can't debate. Presumably the tik tok videos you watch don't teach that!!

 

[Bodian]

Lancashire County Council gone racist as well. More long-term colleagues will be retiring......

 

[drew]

It’s not so much the not fixing the economy in 9 months really, I don’t think. I thinks it’s more the sectors of society they targeted.

There are billion pound corporations paying zero tax in the U.K.

There are millionaires avoiding all sorts of tax.

But they are never going to go after their own, are they.

Reform are most definitely not the answer. Farage specialises in feathering his own nest.

But Farage is good at fooling the Northerners with his flat cap and pint of mild.

In a world where you need to be able to convey your message in one Instagram post, Labour are failing miserably.

Out of interest which billion pound corporations are paying no tax? I'm aware some are paying little (which needs to be addressed) but which are paying zero?

 

[drew]

But labelling all reform voters dimwits, knuckle draggers, poor, politically illiterate, cranks, racists & delusional crackpots is fine then. That's only 4m people+ that so many on here are smearing instantly. Is that not patronising and condescending ?

That's a reasonable comment but does raise the question as to whether you have evidence to the contrary?

 

[Thunder Bolt]

The 2 Independents in our ward (Weardale) won, so we cannot be blamed for Reform winning Durham CC. I wonder if we can secede?

Oh dear, you managed to cop for Darren Grimes in Durham. Do they really not know what he is like? Even GB news sacked him.

 

[Giraffe]

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?