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AIBU?

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Original poster

Pro Reform or not?

171 replies

WTAFMF · 01/10/2025 11:40

My husband thinks way more people are 'Reform' than you'd think and many keep it quiet.

I disagreed but lately, with the flags and recent march and conversations at school gates, etc. I'm starting to think he may be right.

Pro Reform = You are being unreasonable
Other Party/None = You are NOT being unreasonable

Wondering what the consensus is on Mumsnet..

OP posts:
JHound · 01/10/2025 18:24

persephonia · 01/10/2025 18:22

The fact they were in the running at all is concerning.
But, thats with a really strong wind behind them. Massive support from Elon Musk, huge public dissatisfaction, issues going back to the fall of the Berlin Wall, line wolf style terrorist attacks right before the election.
And it's similar in this country. I think if we had an election at this exact moment in time Reform might be in with a chance. But it's a single moment in time. Hopefully their conference (and the ideas the mainstreamed) and SYLs parade will be a high water mark. I don't think complacency is a good idea.

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The public support from Musk and Commander Waterford appeared to be their undoing as they did less well than expected.

Trodincatsickagain · 01/10/2025 18:23

JHound · 01/10/2025 18:17

Isn’t losing their most recent election the opposite of gaining ground?

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Yeah apologies - I skim read the post but currently the AfD are certainly not doing badly.

JHound · 01/10/2025 18:23

Uggbootsforever · 01/10/2025 18:21

Reform have attracted a young crowd. As have MAGA

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Do you have a source for the age profile.

persephonia · 01/10/2025 18:22

JHound · 01/10/2025 18:17

Isn’t losing their most recent election the opposite of gaining ground?

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The fact they were in the running at all is concerning.
But, thats with a really strong wind behind them. Massive support from Elon Musk, huge public dissatisfaction, issues going back to the fall of the Berlin Wall, line wolf style terrorist attacks right before the election.
And it's similar in this country. I think if we had an election at this exact moment in time Reform might be in with a chance. But it's a single moment in time. Hopefully their conference (and the ideas the mainstreamed) and SYLs parade will be a high water mark. I don't think complacency is a good idea.

Uggbootsforever · 01/10/2025 18:21

BIossomtoes · 01/10/2025 17:54

You mean the ones who aren’t dead? I reckon a fair percentage of leave voters won’t be voting again.

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Reform have attracted a young crowd. As have MAGA

Uggbootsforever · 01/10/2025 18:20

HedwigEliza · 01/10/2025 18:19

MN is a largely middle class, leftist echo chamber and not representative of the populace at large.

Everyone here was absolutely convinced Brexit would never happen… look how that turned out 😄

Yep 😒

Uggbootsforever · 01/10/2025 18:20

LittleMG · 01/10/2025 15:45

No to reform thank you. The only time I see anyone from reform in my area they are a thug.

How do you know they’re ’from Reform’?

HedwigEliza · 01/10/2025 18:19

MN is a largely middle class, leftist echo chamber and not representative of the populace at large.

Everyone here was absolutely convinced Brexit would never happen… look how that turned out 😄

Eviebeans · 01/10/2025 18:19

I’m anti reform and wish labour would get their act together so people stop thinking reform is a good idea

JHound · 01/10/2025 18:17

Trodincatsickagain · 01/10/2025 18:11

And didn’t the Afd lost their most recent election this year?

yep, the far right are gaining ground all across Europe- it’s not just here.

Isn’t losing their most recent election the opposite of gaining ground?

Goldenbear · 01/10/2025 18:15

BIossomtoes · 01/10/2025 17:54

You mean the ones who aren’t dead? I reckon a fair percentage of leave voters won’t be voting again.

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😆

Goldenbear · 01/10/2025 18:15

Er, let me think ....No!

Trodincatsickagain · 01/10/2025 18:11

And didn’t the Afd lost their most recent election this year?

yep, the far right are gaining ground all across Europe- it’s not just here.

JHound · 01/10/2025 18:08

SpottyAardvark · 01/10/2025 17:27

When the public decide that mainstream politicians are unable or unwilling to do whatever it takes to end uncontrolled mass immigration and stop the resulting transformation of society which nobody voted for, they will elect radical politicians who will.

This isn’t unique to the U.K. Most obviously, America elected Trump twice. But the same issues are producing the same outcomes in Germany with the AFD, France with Le Pen, the Netherlands with Wilders etc.

America elected Trump once.

The American electoral system elected him the first time.

And didn’t the Afd lost their most recent election this year?

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 01/10/2025 17:55

Most people are intelligent enough to see what Reform stands for. And most people aren't racist.

BIossomtoes · 01/10/2025 17:54

Tigerthatcametobrunch · 01/10/2025 15:55

It used to be known by pollsters as the shy Tory factor. Reform will see something very similar, working class people, frustrated with labour not representing their interests, but not wanting to admit outloud where they are putting their vote. So they'll just tell you their undecided.

If I tell you I'm voting reform your going to tell me I'm racist or fascist rather than saying "why", so I'm not going to tell you I'm voting reform.

52% of people voting voted for Brexit. Id put money on the vast majority at the very least to be seriously considering voting reform.

You mean the ones who aren’t dead? I reckon a fair percentage of leave voters won’t be voting again.

LizzieSiddal · 01/10/2025 17:49

The only reform people I know are either racists or the type of people who are not very curious about politics. That’s a polite way of saying they aren’t interested in reading a wide range of sources, having discussions or being challenged with actual facts. I’ve tried to keep an open mind about Reform lovers but I haven’t been proved wrong yet.

LadyMacbethssweetArabianhand · 01/10/2025 17:44

JurassicPark4Eva · 01/10/2025 17:35

Who is "They"?

Almost every supporter I see on local social media are adults well over the age of 25....

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A large number of those I see protesting are young. Boys, carrying sticks and wearing black masks. The other majority are youngish women.

Topseyt123 · 01/10/2025 17:39

I am absolutely not pro Reform. They are a bunch of racist thugs. They'll never get my vote but I live in a constituency where they might expect to do well.

I'm a bit worried that your DH might have a point.

Trodincatsickagain · 01/10/2025 17:36

Maddy70 · 01/10/2025 16:10

I think the opposite. I think that people are beginning to see through the reform lies and see them for what they really are

I wish I was as hopeful as you. The reform voters I know, don’t understand or particularly care about anything other than immigration. Things like the economy, growth, climate change, investing in sciences etc doesn’t even come into their thinking.

JurassicPark4Eva · 01/10/2025 17:35

LadyoftheMercians · 01/10/2025 17:30

Pretty much it.

That and they seem quite young. Easily led.

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Who is "They"?

Almost every supporter I see on local social media are adults well over the age of 25....

Zanatdy · 01/10/2025 17:32

If I ever become reform i’ll be getting checked out. Anyone who thinks Farage’s idea’s would stack up into policy is mad IMO. Ok to make up what you’d do when it’s a pie in the sky idea.

LadyoftheMercians · 01/10/2025 17:30

LadyMacbethssweetArabianhand · 01/10/2025 15:43

No, I'm not pro reform. The media has hyped them up and those people who aren't very bright have been sucked in. Nothing they say makes economic sense and they have five MPs, no more. I live near a town which is now a seat of protest about immigration and the majority of those who rock up share a brain cell between them and aren't from the area. Rent a gob

Pretty much it.

That and they seem quite young. Easily led.

vivi45 · 01/10/2025 17:29

No im not and they disgust me. A very small part of me would like to see them get in just so the mindless idiots who buy into all the sensationalism get a taste of how shit they actually are. But not at the expense of the rest of the population I suppose.

CandleMug · 01/10/2025 17:28

Push people to their limits and this is what happens. People are that fed up of what appears to be open borders in our country. They’ve been fed up for years (hence voted Brexit ) and it’s just got worse and worse with more people coming here. No government had stopped it or reduced it or built more houses to help accommodate everyone. People are struggling and they have no shits left to give. All they want is a decent life for their children’s future and right now everything looks grim.

The public don’t feel listened to and they’re sick to the back teeth, so much so that they will be willing to push aside the negative aspects of reform. I genuinely think if there was a general election tomorrow they would win.

No party can will be able to stay in charge if they fail to listen to their electorate. That’s called democracy!