A casual friend has just told me she's standing as a Reform candidate

I disagree, it’s not about narrow minded mindset it’s about trust and values. I wouldn’t trust a reform activist as we would have very different values.
But of course it depends whom you count as a friend if it’s someone you go to the same yoga group with once a week and go for a coffee after - it’s fine. If it’s about real close friendship - values do matter.

Take the opportunity to talk to someone with opposing views. Say Really? I’d like to explain why my husband and I can’t support you in that, if you’re interested in hearing.
Then invite her round and lobby her!

I'm sure it's true that not all Reform parties are actively racist. But in supporting Reform, they are at the very least demonstrating a willingness to tolerate racism. And as far as I'm concerned, that makes them part of the problem.

Yeah right 😂

Reform are owned by Nigel Farage who has dodged every single opportunity he has been given (which is hundreds more than most) to simply say that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was illegal and that Russia must withdraw and cannot be allowed to profit from it's aggression.

The only conclusion anyone (including AI if that is the new divine utterance) can draw is that Farage and Reform are backed by Putin.

At that point I don't give two shits about their policies (such as they are). I don't like political parties that are backed by foreign dictators of any stripe. Call me a stick in the mud if you like.

I'm sorry if that offends any fascists out there.

Bullshit. That would mean there were no racists at all voting Labour or Conservative which there so clearly are.
Probably a lot fewer now they have Reform to switch to but many people are tribal voters who never change.

Urgh, I don't know. I can't be doing with humourless political purists. But I certainly think a lot less of someone I used to like in the school gate days now that I know she's a bit of a Reform, pro Trump, pro Putin nutjob, full of conspiracy theories and the like.

Yes, nice people can be vegans or meat eaters, Palestinian or Israeli, black or white.

But as far as I'm concerned, nice people don't support far right parties.

We can agree to differ on this one.

It's not extreme.

I'm not saying she's entirely bad or good, I'm saying that I wouldn't speak to, or socialise with, someone who's politics were actively against my personal situation, let alone someone who was standing for the party.

I would expect to be treated as such as well.

I would not give a hoot
I have friends are are very left wing which is something I am most certainly not
Some who are more centre
and some who are more right
I have mates who are atheist
Sikh
Jewish
Buddhist
What is more important to me is that we support each other and trust each other and are close
If you only have friends in your own narrow mindset be that left right or anything else its very narrow minded and inward looking
of course anyone who does that will say that their friend is narrow minded an not see the contradiction

I would ignore the message (or thumbs-up respond if you must), but avoid her in future.

Aren't you the problem with extremists though? People are "all bad or all good"?

Understanding that nice people can be vegans or meat eaters, Palestinian or Israeli, black or white is the key.
Humour and a bit of treating people as you would like go along way.

I guess that's the thing. I don't believe that anyone who is a decent human being would vote for Reform. So if someone told me that they were standing as a Reform candidate, I would understand that their values were much too far removed from mine for us to ever be friends.

I wouldn’t respond at all. It’ll make no difference and at the rate they lose candidates maybe she won’t last long. Keep your distance if you see her, she’ll get the message.

This. I too believe 'not all reform voters are racist but all racists vote reform' but we're not talking about who someone votes for here, which is entirely up to them. We're talking about standing for a party and attracting votes on the basis of racist policies which candidates must agree with and support in office. Fuck that.

I would respond with “thanks for letting me know” because I love when people show me who they are without much effort on my side. Then I would socialise even less with her but I wouldn’t block.
A person in my wider circle was their candidate on local election. I put them on the list “not a friend” mentally and that’s it. I was always civil and polite when saw them, the same as to others, but our conversations were never political, think a parent at the school gate.

Honestly? In real life I'd thumbs up it and move on. She's not someone you see 1:1.

In my head, I'm composing an answer along the lines of 'thanks for letting me know. Obviously I won't be voting for you as I find your party's policies to be racist/not thought through/batshit crazy (delete as appropriate) but always great to see more women participating in politics.'

She may not be racist but she's aligned herself with a party that is clearly racist. That would enough for me. I would block her (and I've never blocked anyone on any platform ever!), and hopefully she's smart enough to get the message.

I’d take the opportunity to find out what she thinks the party stands for.

If the conversation goes well, point out they have a major image problem and have failed to adequately distance themselves from racism.

I don’t hold the party responsible for the views of people they kick out. However I think years ago they kept in someone who said something along the lines of prem babies were growing into disabled adults that were expensive to keep. 😱

I wouldn't personally vote Reform, but at the same time I am not totally opposed to them.

I wouldn't refuse to be friends with someone because of their political leanings if I found them to be a decent human being.

I wouldn’t say anything and would just carry on as normal. If she brings politics into your friendship then you can say you disagree but you don’t have to lose a friend because you don’t vote the same way.
i don’t vote reform btw but wouldn’t lose a friendship over differences of opinions

I certainly wouldn't want to talk politics with her. I'm presuming she's aware you're not that way inclined. So hopefully it won't come up.
She obviously has her (probably fairly selfish) reasons for believing in that. So I wouldn't try and change her mind.
She's still the same person though. So unless she rams it down your throat I wouldn't just terminate the friendship.

As you are not close, I would just let her get on with it and not respond one way or the other. It is very disappointing though.

Not all Reform voters are racist. But all racists vote.... Reform.

I would say “did you know I was married to a black man and my son was dual heritage? I ask because so many have been thrown out of the Reform party for being racist. It’s fine if you’re telling me this so I will know why you won’t talk to me in public anymore”.

😉