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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

... to think that Nigel Farage will be our next PM?

817 replies

ohime · 06/07/2025 11:04

Or, more accurately: AIBU to be afraid that truly nasty piece of work Nigel Farage who has, by all accounts, always been utterly useless at (or at least completely uninterested in) the actual business end of governing will be our next PM because everyone is so fed up with all the other parties being, variously or all at once, so corrupt, incompetent and useless that we've collectively abandoned all hope? I will never vote for Farage, who is a horrible man, or any of his party which keeps having to fire people for being just a teensy bit too overtly racist - but it seems from the polls that for many people the choice against the status quo outweighs what we may be choosing. (For an example, I can't believe that Farage's stated position that DOGE in the US didn't go far enough with its swinging cuts to the social safety net would be popular with UK voters who recently elected a government on the basis that it would reverse years of Tory austerity... not that that's worked out so well...)

OP posts:
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Jennps · 06/07/2025 13:07

Namitynamename · 06/07/2025 13:04

But Labour MPs DID listen to their constituents/their own conscience and rebelled over the welfare reform bill
If you are the type of disenfranchised voter who thinks ordinary/poorer people are being left behind that's good but not enough. If you are the type of disenfranchised voter who thinks that the poor are sucking them dry it's yet another assault on the tax payer.

What people want is lower taxes, increased public spending and ideally for someone to do something about the huge debt Britain has currently. But while I can criticise the mainstream political parties for a lot, their failure to deliver those three things isn't a failure to listen to what people want. It's because it's not possible.

No they didn’t listen. PIP claimants are not the electorate. Granted, they are an ever growing part of the electorate. But that’s exactly the problem.

The handout culture has to end. The government were right on this one. The far left got this one wrong. And Labour will pay the price when they have to raise taxes on the middle as the rich are leaving the country in their hundred of thousands.

Flomingho · 06/07/2025 13:05

I sincerely hope not, although in all likelihood it is possible due to the atrocious failings of both the Conservative and Labour governments. A man with such right wing views and a Trump supporter is dangerous.

Jennps · 06/07/2025 13:04

This thread is bringing out all those, who at the time of Brexit, were either blinded by their hate for Farage or just in plain denial. And then they got the shock of their lives. It’ll be fun to watch then get another shock when Reform win power. Because it’s their moral superiority, insult of voters, and denial of real issues that are got us here.

Namitynamename · 06/07/2025 13:04

Downwiththmoonshine · 06/07/2025 11:18

Yep. @Screamingabdabz summarises it nicely. People won't necessarily vote because they really want Reform, but as a protest vote against the absolute mess Labour are making at the moment. People are angry, and rightly so. This always plays out at the ballot.

What I don't understand is why the Labour supporters can't appeal to their labour MPs to be better, rather than simply hand-wring and moan about Reform. This is absolutely playing into Reforms hands! I'm so disillusioned with politics I'll provide for them myself... They can't be any worse than Labour and I don't say that lightly.

But Labour MPs DID listen to their constituents/their own conscience and rebelled over the welfare reform bill
If you are the type of disenfranchised voter who thinks ordinary/poorer people are being left behind that's good but not enough. If you are the type of disenfranchised voter who thinks that the poor are sucking them dry it's yet another assault on the tax payer.

What people want is lower taxes, increased public spending and ideally for someone to do something about the huge debt Britain has currently. But while I can criticise the mainstream political parties for a lot, their failure to deliver those three things isn't a failure to listen to what people want. It's because it's not possible.

ohime · 06/07/2025 13:01

@bobby81 That's interesting - what kinds of things is the council doing?

OP posts:
JazzyJelly · 06/07/2025 13:00

Unless Labour (or the Tories, though it's tougher when not in government) get their act together in the next few years, and start appealing to ordinary WC people who feel left behind, fix the NHS, make it possible for young people to get on the property ladder, and lower the cost of living, I think you're right. God help us.

Jennps · 06/07/2025 12:59

StandFirm · 06/07/2025 12:52

He's a nativist. He has said openly that natives should breed more if immigrants are going to be thrown out. How do you think that's going to happen exactly? Do you think that's compatible with feminism?

Where and when has he said that natives should breed more in immigrants are going to be thrown out? Show the exact quote.

Namitynamename · 06/07/2025 12:58

Screamingabdabz · 06/07/2025 11:12

I agree he will be the next PM. The mainstream parties continue to ignore and dismiss the concerns of the working classes and their lives get poorer and more hopeless. Labour treat the poor as a problem to solve. Farage - whatever you think of him, snake oil salesman or not - is speaking to them directly. That’s very powerful politically. It’s what Trump did when everyone laughed at the mere idea he’d ever be president. It’ll happen here.

He's speaking directly to the poor who feel left behind
He's speaking directly to the middle classes who feel taken advantage of by a tax system which rewards the poor over themselves
He's speaking directly to young men who don't like the idea they can be considered guilty of crimes without being found guilty
He is speaking directly to people who think illegal immigrants suspected of crimes should be deported without trial like Trump is doing
He's speaking directly to people who feel Muslims are impacting culture/public policy too much
He's speaking directly to Muslims (and other religious minorities) who feel their beliefs are being trampled by the gay agenda

When a politician is speaking directly to you you should also evesdrop on what they are saying directly to other people.

GasPanic · 06/07/2025 12:58

He has some points.

However I don't think he will end up as PM. The Tories and Labour have a pretty good history of re-inventing themselves in order to get or hold onto power.

The real problem with reform is the quality of people it will be able to attract. These sorts of fringe parties tend to attract a few crazies that eventually make the whole thing split apart or lose under the weight of negative headlines, you can see that actually happening already.

The time to really worry if you dislike Reform is when they start attracting a significant number of politically experienced defectors who you could actually imagine running a government.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 06/07/2025 12:58

StandFirm · 06/07/2025 12:52

He's a nativist. He has said openly that natives should breed more if immigrants are going to be thrown out. How do you think that's going to happen exactly? Do you think that's compatible with feminism?

Hilarious statement really from a man whose second set of children were born to a German wife and now have Belgian passports. Oh and his now girlfriend is French (second wife didn't pan out for Mr Traditional Family Values).

StandFirm · 06/07/2025 12:57

Icecreamandcoffee · 06/07/2025 12:07

We probably will. Or a party of a very similar vein. The mainstream parties need to bang their heads together and start LISTENING to the everyday people and not just gaslighting or ignoring.

Lots of people are fed up, they voted for change and have seen very little and in some cases worsening of their circumstances. Reform are very good at talking about issues that are affecting "the common people". People want answers in and what the government are doing about certain key issues: housing, health (Drs/ dentists/ hospitals/ waiting lists), immigration (both legal and illegal), child/ elderly care, policing, taxation.

Lots of ordinary people are finding themselves taxed to the brink but seeing very little in terms of service improvements. Roads are a mess, bins not been emptied in certain parts of the country, schools are underfunded and falling to bits, adult social care doesn't work. People are seriously wondering what they are paying for and getting disenchanted. On some cases the new NI and tax proposals have seen normal people have their hours cut making them worse off.

High streets are decimated, empty shops everywhere and anti social behaviour, begging, shoplifting is on the rise. Almost every high street across the country is now made up of pound shops, Greggs, charity shops, vape shops, betting shops, and obvious money laundering fronts (dodgy nail bars, Turkish barbers who never have customers, "American sweet" shops, "desert shops" that open at random hours (usually between 7pm and 3am) and you have to WhatsApp/ order on Facebook, "junk" shops with no prices and no customers). There has been no investment for years. People are seeing blatant shoplifting happening and no repercussions. Everyone can identify at least 1 money laundering front on their high street and yet it's allowed to continue with no action.

Housing. So many issues with housing. Those in the private rental sector who are trapped with soaring rents, unable to move housing due to rent. The current government is going ahead with rental reform but it's driving landlords out and causing even greater problems for renters. They won't listen to the sector and renters are paying the price. Social and council housing is a complete mess and needs urgent action. House prices for those buying privately have spiralled out of control but are now slipping. People don't want to buy as they are scared of negative equity. Lots and flats are struggling to be sold due to issues with cladding that still hasn't been sorted out. Leasehold reform is not happening quick enough. New build estates are cropping up all over the country in huge amounts to detriment of the towns and villages they are shoehorned onto but the developers have got savvy to having to deliver the infrastructure and affordable housing element they promised which then causes issues with local services. A change in the law which forces developers to build and provide all the infrastructure and affordable elements FISRT would change this. As well as prohibiting the splitting up of a development into multiple small developments on one site so as to be under the S106 agreements.

Health is again a mess. People can't see their Drs. Getting a Drs appointment for many now involves either a lengthy queue or logging onto an app. No NHS dentists for miles and NHS dental appointments are like rocking horse poo. People are pulling their own teeth, putting into their own temporary fillings. Huge waiting lists for certain services, mental health is a mess. A+E swamped most days and corridor care brought in.

Immigration is frankly an absolute mess. There is visa abuse going on, abuse of the human rights arguments, abuse of the courts. Delays in processing. In terms of illegal immigration it is even more of a mess and there has been countless expensive solutions which have not worked and in some cases have made the situation even worse and people are fed up.

Reform are providing Answers to these issues, however distasteful they may be. People are fed up of been gaslit and ignored about issues that are affecting them day to day. Been called thick or racist or intolerant for having genuine concerns (both in regards to immigration but also the trans issues).

Concretely, what are those answers you talk about? I have read their manifesto and couldn't find anything workable in there.

Jennps · 06/07/2025 12:57

BlueJuniper94 · 06/07/2025 11:40

Because who on earth are the LibDems? What are they? Other than some vague safe protest vote for middle class people. They're nothing.

Lib dems are basically proof that even useless things can exist and take up oxygen because there’s a surplus of it. They have no point, purpose or use. Maybe other than opposing anything and everything the people try and build - a garden shed, a housing estate, roads, factories, you name it.

They should have been totally annihilated in 2015, shame they survived.

Cattenberg · 06/07/2025 12:56

noblegiraffe · 06/07/2025 11:29

I've been seeing posts on twitter from people saying 'I voted for Donald Trump to own the libs and now I'm losing my Medicaid and I'm scared'.

Perhaps a case of be careful what you wish for.

Hopefully, the screenshot will post this time.

... to think that Nigel Farage will be our next PM?
StandFirm · 06/07/2025 12:55

strawlight · 06/07/2025 12:42

Yes this is exactly what I’m saying. Surely they should be taking the opportunity to try and be something

They were utter idiots for refusing to form an alliance with Labour in 2019.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 06/07/2025 12:54

CyclingAddict · 06/07/2025 12:20

Well done @Icecreamandcoffee I have faith that Reform will do what the others can’t seem to manage

NF has old fashioned values - apart from some of the obvious changes he wants to make, he plans to allow new mums to stay at home longer by altering the Tax paid by the fathers. This is just one other thing which might be worth thinking about.

old fashioned values

divorced twice, with 4 children from those 2 broken marriages. Very old fashioned.

Viviennemary · 06/07/2025 12:54

It's possible but I don't think its very likely. No point in hand wringing blame Labour and Tories for messing up.

Cattenberg · 06/07/2025 12:53

ThejoyofNC · 06/07/2025 11:24

I certainly hope he is.

At this point just to upset the boring idiots who just keep saying "aaaah he's so racist" on repeat.

Deleted as image didn't post.

StandFirm · 06/07/2025 12:52

Jennps · 06/07/2025 12:50

Huh, are you this melodramatic in real life too?

He's a nativist. He has said openly that natives should breed more if immigrants are going to be thrown out. How do you think that's going to happen exactly? Do you think that's compatible with feminism?

CyclingAddict · 06/07/2025 12:51

If Pensions are this country’s biggest cost, I do hope that no Government means test future Pensions (as has been talked about). I’ve worked full time for 45 years and paid NI contributions during all of that time. It would be a real bummer if I don’t qualify for a state Pension. Not sure if Reform have any such plans…??

Jennps · 06/07/2025 12:50

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 06/07/2025 11:18

The country will be like A fucking Handmaids Tale in Farage gets in. 😱

Huh, are you this melodramatic in real life too?

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 06/07/2025 12:49

I am afraid you are right, @ohime, and I am sick to my stomach at the thought.

Jennps · 06/07/2025 12:49

Whether Farage can deliver anything is questionable but he’s not wrong about that fact that uncontrolled immigration and sky high public spending is unsustainable.

And calling the benefits system a safety net is just laughable. It’s not a safety net, it’s a lifestyle choice for millions. But now without the high earner to pay for it, as they leave the country, the freebies have to be pared back massively. Which this government is both unwilling and unable to do.

The Tories were diabolical and are finished forever if not a for a generation - hopefully forever. This government sinks to new unprotected depths of incompetence. So Farage it is in the future.

StandFirm · 06/07/2025 12:48

The problem is, the working class has been desperate for change for over a decade now and nothing seems to have worked. It's infuriating that someone who is directly responsible for the shit show that is Brexit - because it is an UTTER shit show - might get his big break by stepping in as the untried 'solution' to fix the crap that he's thrown us into.
But that is exactly what populist manipulation is about.
I don't blame the voters. I blame the political establishment that is making it happen. And it does so consistently- especially whenever more fringe parties gain popularity and eat into centrist votes. If the centre cannot hold, things do fall apart. Reform split votes on the right and pulled the Tories further to the right. Corbin is about to do the same on the left. And Corbin can always be trusted to fuck things up for centrist politics.
Voting for far right populists (or any populist with an authoritarian agenda) is giving democracy the rope to hang itself. It's not like we can't see what is going on in the US but too many people don't understand that the rule of law is not there to prevent shit getting done (that's the MAGA pitch).
Rule of law is there to keep rampant corruption in check and to prevent the economy from getting rigged even more than it already is, and to prevent our rights as individuals from getting utterly trampled on. You'd think it's enough to abide by the rules in an authoritarian state. Wrong. Because the definition of tyranny is that there is no rule apart from the moods and inscrutable agenda of the guy in charge, so you never actually know where you stand. That's why we need to elect politicians who value institutions and the rule of law. Not politicians who view any checks and balances as an inconvenience.

MasterBeth · 06/07/2025 12:43

BlueJuniper94 · 06/07/2025 12:00

Don't watch GB news

I didn’t say you do. I said you were regurgitating their right-wing playbook.

Alexandra2001 · 06/07/2025 12:42

NF has old fashioned values

True, shagging around behind his wife's back, claiming expenses he isn't entitled too... selecting fraudsters to be MPs.... maybe he should join the Tory Party?