I know a fair few Reform voters and they would love nothig more than to see NF as the next PM because they've become so disillusioned by what they see in the country and they think that NF is the only one who 'gets it' or sees the 'real problems' and root causes. Ultimately, they are mostly scared.
The day after Brexit (and NF's rhetoric did a lot to secure that vote), the biggest Google search was "What is the EU?" Many people voted in anger, in fear and out of a need for "Britian to be great again," without having a clue what they were actually voting for or what policies were in place, what could happen and what would work. Remain failed because the rest of the country thought Brexit was such a ridiculous idea that no one would ever vote for it (including the politicians who didn't want to leave and which was why there was no equivalent Remain campaign which stated the benefits of EU membership.) I remember my fb feed being full of confusion that politicians resigned in the days following Brexit because they'd brought in the referendum and so surely they thought it was a good idea too? "I don't understand. This was what they wanted. So why are they all resigning?" was the general theme.
If Reform win the next GE, it will be for similar reasons.
Over the last few years, the main things I've personally heard people discussing were the issues around women's rights, and the threat to that of gender self ID, and immigration and the perceived threat to crime, public safety and the economy.
While the other parties were pretending that no one could tell the difference ehetween men and women and stating that some women do have penises, Reform were stating that there are two sexes. Some Reform voters will have mistaken that for NF being a friend to women and the rest just saw it as common sense and someone not being afraid to stand up for the truth. And they liked that.
And whilst the other parties refuse to be seen to be taking action (in the eyes of many) against mass immigration whilst also announcing cuts to disability finding and threatening the security of council housing, NF's pledge to stop the 'boat people' gives confidence to some that those changes to benefits and working class rights will be protected because some people see them as linked.
It's easy (for those who do) to belittle Reform voters as 'not very bright' or racist or whatever but those 'not very bright', racist people feel very strongly and are voting.
Over the last 20 years, mainstream politicians have lost public trust and confidence. People feel they are feathering their own nests, lying to the general public and too keen to he seen as being on 'the right side of history' and anyone who has disagreed has been removed and lost their voice. While the mainstream parties are regarded in this way, it always leaves room for fringe parties to rise.
People voted for Labour expecting to get a Blair or whatever style government. The Labour of old. Investment in public services, support for the most vulnerable, schools, families etc and what we're seeing is the opposite to that.
People are scared and that is why Reform are achieving successes. Not because they are right or the best but because people are scared or voting in protest. And the main parties need to recognise that and address it.
The bottom line is that when people can't afford to put a roof over their children's heads, feed their families and their cost of living increasing exponentially, they don't care about GDP. They don't see any evidence of a 'trickle down economy' and they don't see 'ordinary people' being protected.
And it doesn't matter if you personally can see the flawed logic in their thinking.