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Original poster

shocked my best friend voted Reform

734 replies

clearmoon · 31/07/2024 23:42

Long standing close friend came round for dinner and we were nattering away, and she just mentioned off hand in the conversation that she had voted Reform. i am really shocked. We don't discuss politics much. But I would have guessed lib dems or labour. I love her dearly. But I do wonder if I should think about her differently now, or just carry on as before

YANBU - She is not such a good person as I thought all these years
YABU-its all fine

OP posts:
Luddite26 · 01/08/2024 21:05

2dogsandabudgie · 01/08/2024 18:04

That should say £17 billion for the NHS!

Yes but in reality it would probably have been £17 . Money for the NHS was last seen on the Brexit bus it must be parked up somewhere now.

FayeGreener · 01/08/2024 20:57

Acapulco12 · 01/08/2024 20:21

What do you mean by ‘woke’ here? Isn’t it enough to write ‘liberal’? Why add ‘woke’?

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Because they mean two different things.

Acapulco12 · 01/08/2024 20:21

FayeGreener · 01/08/2024 18:56

Ha ha ha!

At my friend’s son’s very woke and liberal secondary school they held mock elections this year. Reform came second! It caused a HUGE stir.

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What do you mean by ‘woke’ here? Isn’t it enough to write ‘liberal’? Why add ‘woke’?

Elbone · 01/08/2024 19:40

kirbykirby · 01/08/2024 19:17

Which thugs are you referring to? The ones in Southport or the ones in Leeds/Manchester/Southend or all of them?

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They’re all the same. Violent and opportunistic men.

kirbykirby · 01/08/2024 19:17

calimali · 01/08/2024 07:22

I am a left wing liberal. I could not be friends with someone who votes for Reform.

This is not a contradiction. I believe that people have the right to an opinion and I know that will not always be the same as mine. But being liberal does not mean that it I think it's ok to support a party that has openly racist policies.

Being liberal does not mean any or all behaviour or views are ok. I cannot 'tolerate' the behaviour of thugs of the last few days who have been rioting and looting using terrible tragedy to justify their behavior. I cannot 'tolerate' the things that Trump does and says.

Your friend can vote for who she wants - it's a democracy and that is her choice. It would be my choice to step back from this friendship.

Which thugs are you referring to? The ones in Southport or the ones in Leeds/Manchester/Southend or all of them?

VerySadCase · 01/08/2024 19:02

FayeGreener · 01/08/2024 19:00

Yes this is true. It’s coeducational though.

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I'm betting it was mostly boys voting for Reform though. Research has shown a massive gender divide on this for Gen Z. Much less pronounced amongst older voters.

FayeGreener · 01/08/2024 19:00

VerySadCase · 01/08/2024 18:58

It's a well known problem that a lot of teenage boys are attracted to the far right. Goes along with all of the incel/Andrew Tate stuff.

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Yes this is true. It’s coeducational though.

VerySadCase · 01/08/2024 18:58

FayeGreener · 01/08/2024 18:56

Ha ha ha!

At my friend’s son’s very woke and liberal secondary school they held mock elections this year. Reform came second! It caused a HUGE stir.

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It's a well known problem that a lot of teenage boys are attracted to the far right. Goes along with all of the incel/Andrew Tate stuff.

KTheGrey · 01/08/2024 18:58

RosaRoja · 01/08/2024 00:37

Oh, come on. Depends how important it is for you. Would you feel the same way about a friend who is a paedo? For some people the revulsion is very strong. It’s not whether you like Taylor Swift or Rammstein. That would be silly at this age. Surely, if it’s something very different to who you thought they were it does make you look differently at them. They’re not your child to love them unconditionally. Relationships change.

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Paedophiles are a present threat to children so if you found out someone was one and you still wanted to be their mate you would be an idiot. How you vote is a step away from being a criminal or a pervert, even if it is for Reform.

FayeGreener · 01/08/2024 18:56

Alainlechat · 01/08/2024 17:55

Friends of ours who are very left wing found out their best friends voted Reform and were seriously considering distancing themselves. Then they found tbeir eldest son also voted Reform. Seems like it's not been discussed since.

Beats me why people disclose this. DH and I don't even know who the other voted for.

Ha ha ha!

At my friend’s son’s very woke and liberal secondary school they held mock elections this year. Reform came second! It caused a HUGE stir.

pinacollateral · 01/08/2024 18:52

Another2Cats · 01/08/2024 08:34

With all the problems Labour have had with antisemitism and looking to destroy women's rights your description pretty much fits the Labour party as well.

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My point was not about Labour or Reform or any other party specifically - please don't put words into my mouth.

My point was that we should all be interested in how others are voting and pay attention whether they might be being blinded by propaganda and hate.

Devilsadvocat · 01/08/2024 18:33

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Oh my goodness im surprise you didnt tar and feather too. Never heard anything so ridiculous and nasty.

EasternStandard · 01/08/2024 18:28

Acapulco12 · 01/08/2024 18:27

I think one of you needs to learn how to be tolerant (and it’s not your sister).

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Same. How sad to ostracise a sibling over voting

Acapulco12 · 01/08/2024 18:27

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I think one of you needs to learn how to be tolerant (and it’s not your sister).

Bellatrixpure · 01/08/2024 18:23

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Have you asked her reasons for voting for them? Disowning a child doesn’t sound hateful at all does it

2dogsandabudgie · 01/08/2024 18:23

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Who has she said she hates? And did she actually use those words?

RedJenny · 01/08/2024 18:20

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Acapulco12 · 01/08/2024 18:17

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Wow 😂😂😂 your poor sister.

Flowers4me · 01/08/2024 18:16

kirbykirby · 01/08/2024 17:56

I know lots of people who watch BBC news and believe everything it reports. I'm still friends with them though. That's what's great about this country - freedom of belief and expression...for now.

😂😂😂

Acapulco12 · 01/08/2024 18:15

AvrielFinch · 01/08/2024 01:08

@Acapulco12 do you understand what an underlying principle is? In other words I am using that example to illustrate that who people vote for can matter in some circumstances when it comes to friendship.

@AvrielFinch yes, I do know what an underlying principle is. Thank you for clarifying what you meant in your post above. I didn’t understand the point you were making. Others may have understood your point differently, but I thought the main point you were making is comparing voting for Reform to voting for Hitler.

2dogsandabudgie · 01/08/2024 18:04

That should say £17 billion for the NHS!

2dogsandabudgie · 01/08/2024 18:02

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I have just quickly googled some of Reform's Manifesto. They said they would
Freeze non-essential migration
Tax cuts for small businesses
National plan for a sustainable system to support people who are older and disabled in the community
Scrap net zero target
Ban transgender ideology in schools
Tax relief in school fees
An extra £17 for NHS
Scrap TV licence fee

Now I don't know whether Reform would actually have done any of that or if their sums add up but I certainly wouldn't be bothered by anyone voting for the above.

kirbykirby · 01/08/2024 17:56

I know lots of people who watch BBC news and believe everything it reports. I'm still friends with them though. That's what's great about this country - freedom of belief and expression...for now.

Alainlechat · 01/08/2024 17:55

Friends of ours who are very left wing found out their best friends voted Reform and were seriously considering distancing themselves. Then they found tbeir eldest son also voted Reform. Seems like it's not been discussed since.

Beats me why people disclose this. DH and I don't even know who the other voted for.

StaunchMomma · 01/08/2024 17:48

Kitkat189 · 01/08/2024 15:33

Because? Please be specific. For the record I didn’t vote reform, I’m just wondering why people are having such a strong reaction to the point of changing their entire opinion of a friend

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I consider it beyond an opinion to back a party with a hateful, blatantly racist, egotistical, opportunistic scumbag like Farage at it's hilt.

We were asked how we'd feel and that's how I'd feel.