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To reckon that Reform will win the next election, and to be utterly terrified about it? 😪

584 replies

mumofoneAloneandwell · 26/01/2026 14:33

i am a leftie

I think they’ll win

If don’t, they’ll have the majority in a hung parliament and govern as a minority party before joining with the Tories.

i’m going to tighten my belt re running my home and prepare for onslaught as the country becomes unrecognisable

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
Talkinpeace · 26/01/2026 19:04

ExtraOnions · 26/01/2026 18:03

We have greater checks & balances in this country than in the USA. There is no equivalent (good) of thier Presidential/Executive orders .. we have The Commons, The Lords, an independent Judiciary etc. This is why our Prime Minister can’t just say “we are doing that” and it happens. People seem to forget this, when slating Keir.
Reform are unlikely to get a majority big enough to just sweep whatever they want through… I’m much more concerned about his much money they will siphon off

I thought that the US checks and balances were around 70% resilient.
They turned out to be 10%

I rate the UK governance at around 85%
so we have a high risk of damage if bad actors got into the top jobs.

Underthinker · 26/01/2026 19:04

My long shot prediction I've been making since the last GE, is that both Labour and Reform fail to form the predicted left / right coalitions and we end up with a centrist lab/con one instead.

Shakeoffyourchains · 26/01/2026 19:02

Reform are done, they just don't know it yet.

They might've stood an outside chance if they'd stuck to their anti-immigration / anti-establishment "roots" but they're now just a dumping for dregs of the worst government this country has ever seen and would be better off rebranding as Conform at this point.

Talkinpeace · 26/01/2026 19:00

ExtraOnions · 26/01/2026 16:59

The took over our local council, claiming there would be cost-cutting by getting rid of waste, getting rid of EDI roles, not putting council tax etc

Got in, realised there was no waste to cut, no full time EDI roles, that they HAD to provide statutory services, that there was no spare money .. now putting up Council Tax, Closing Care Homes, and massively in-fighting. The only thing they seem to have succeeded on is flying the Union Jack from council buildings.

Imagine that on a National Scale ..

And repainting the "School" markings on the road outside a school that had closed six years before
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7v8p42rm25o

The image shows repainted yellow zigzags and 'School Keep Clear' warnings outside the former site of Halfway Houses Primary School in Sheerness, Kent. A small section of a red car can be seen in the image, and a small section of a separate blue car can...

Council led by Reform UK apologises for Kent road painting error

Kent County Council repainted zigzags and warnings outside an Isle of Sheppey school that closed in 2016.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7v8p42rm25o

AlviarinAesSedai · 26/01/2026 18:53

I live in a working class area (ex mining village) . They elected two Reform councillors!!
But I will say the labour and Lib Dem rang a very poor campaign.
So I’m torn between hoping Reform council do rubbish and not wanting my local area to be a shit storm!
But at least the city MP seems to have woken up.

SunnySideDeepDown · 26/01/2026 18:13

I think Trump is currently doing a fantastic job at showing what the future has in store for us if we vote in Reform. For that reason I’m less confident than ever that Reform will win.

There are lots of uneducated hooligans and lots of educated idiots. But there are more kind, considerate, balanced people out there (I hope).

dizzydizzydizzy · 26/01/2026 18:12

frozendaisy · 26/01/2026 14:43

Why don’t you wait until they produce their manifesto first. They will be scrutinised by the top political journalists, they will be forced to cost their policies, they will be held to account.

A UK prime minister does not have the same authoritive power as a president does.

What are you scared about exactly?

(I am the most left in this house, I think if Reform get in it will be x3 years of nothing getting done just scandal over ineptitude and text messages).

I don't think their voters give a toss about the manifesto. I feel that most Reform voters are following their gut rather than their head.

Their policies will be to do stuff that makes Farage and his friends rich, kick brown or black-skinned foreigners out, slash benefits and send disabled people to work, trash any environmental targets and make the car king.

The idea of a Farage government is utterly frightening.

Goldenbear · 26/01/2026 18:10

Nesbi · 26/01/2026 16:54

I don’t know. We clearly do follow political trends in the US. Throughout most of my life, the Democrats and Republicans represented different takes on the world, they had different worldviews, but they did not represent an insurmountable schism in the electorate - there was both some level of mutual respect, an acknowledgment of the need to at least try to govern on behalf of all, along with a respect for democracy itself.

I would say the same played out largely between Conservatives and Labour in the UK.

Trumpism effectively replaced Republicanism in the US - it is a personality cult that has been exploited as a means to achieve power and wealth, and it has ridden roughshod over ideas like civility and democratic norms whilst driving the US further to the right than at any point in living memory.

I think Farage is an eager student of Trumpism. We see a similar focus on crafting an “everyman” persona in spite of his wealth and background. We see the same focus on issues like immigration, including blatant use of racist tropes to provoke fear and anger. We see the lack of respect for the norms of behaviour that used to be expected of our politicians (never apologise, never appear to feel shame).

To the extent that Reform represents the UK’s first tentative steps down a path that is currently seeing innocent people murdered by armed, paramilitary style immigration enforcers on the streets of Minneapolis…I don’t think it is unreasonable to at least feel sick in your stomach (if not terrified) that where the US leads, the UK might follow.

Sadly, I agree with your analysis but I'm wondering if the British disposition can stomach the reality of an extreme right wing government. Equally, it didn't happen in Canada, Carney's victory over Pierre Poilievre, he lost his seat as well as his chance of PM. You could say thw sea change was down to the threats from the U.S. And this isn't relevant here but much worse has played out before our eyes and populism may turn out to be a temporary surge rather than a permanent realignment.

Andouillette · 26/01/2026 18:04

rafeal · 26/01/2026 17:50

I’m a soft lefty centrist but despair of the way Labour are forced into so many u turns by backbenchers. I feel politically homeless but would never ever vote for reform. Braverman and Jenrick are not popular at all and totally linked with the failures of the last government. Both Labour and Tories can benefit from that.

For Labour these defections could make people feel that voting for reform is becoming no different to voting for the old Tory government. They may protect against some leaching from their base.

Conservatives should claim a new dawn and make it clear they are glad to have lost these particular MPs (and should encourage any of the old guard who want to go). They could then come off looking more centrist and reasonable and maintain more of their base than expected. Labour could therefore scrape another win - I’m not actually sure how I feel about that, despite being a Labour voter.

Farage is now talking about negotiating Labour defections whilst sitting next to Braverman. This could create very uneasy bedfellows for the electorate.

A great post, very well said. I am a just (an inch or so!) right of centre Tory and signs are that this is exactly what is happening to us. Not one person who has defected has left me anything but pleased.

ExtraOnions · 26/01/2026 18:03

We have greater checks & balances in this country than in the USA. There is no equivalent (good) of thier Presidential/Executive orders .. we have The Commons, The Lords, an independent Judiciary etc. This is why our Prime Minister can’t just say “we are doing that” and it happens. People seem to forget this, when slating Keir.
Reform are unlikely to get a majority big enough to just sweep whatever they want through… I’m much more concerned about his much money they will siphon off

Andouillette · 26/01/2026 18:00

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 26/01/2026 15:27

It can.
For a start does it not give you pause that the absolute worst of the Tories are defecting to them?

As a Tory I am delighted that all the shites and malcontents have taken themselves off to Reform. I was particularly pleased to see that the ghastly Braverman went today!
Don't be too worried folks, The Times runs a 'popularity of the leaders' thing on their website, Farage is not exactly popular at -17, six points lower than Kemi and lower still than the Green bloke and that Lib dem clown.

ghostyslovesheets · 26/01/2026 18:00

ArtichokesBloom · 26/01/2026 17:55

Reform win....which county would be the UK Minneapolis?

Liverpool

Lightingfail · 26/01/2026 17:58

I intend to vote tactically for whoever is likely to defeat Reform in my area- probably our current Labour MP, even though Labour would not be my first choice. I suspect many will do this.

TattiePants · 26/01/2026 17:55

I live in an area that’s always been Labour. I know a lot of Labour councillors and they’re expecting to lose their seats and the council to be Reform this year. My hope is Reform take control of a number of councils and do such a shit job over the next couple of years that the party either implodes or their performance will scare off voters at the next GE. Unfortunately, those of us living in areas with a Reform council are going to have a tough few years.

ArtichokesBloom · 26/01/2026 17:55

Reform win....which county would be the UK Minneapolis?

rafeal · 26/01/2026 17:50

I’m a soft lefty centrist but despair of the way Labour are forced into so many u turns by backbenchers. I feel politically homeless but would never ever vote for reform. Braverman and Jenrick are not popular at all and totally linked with the failures of the last government. Both Labour and Tories can benefit from that.

For Labour these defections could make people feel that voting for reform is becoming no different to voting for the old Tory government. They may protect against some leaching from their base.

Conservatives should claim a new dawn and make it clear they are glad to have lost these particular MPs (and should encourage any of the old guard who want to go). They could then come off looking more centrist and reasonable and maintain more of their base than expected. Labour could therefore scrape another win - I’m not actually sure how I feel about that, despite being a Labour voter.

Farage is now talking about negotiating Labour defections whilst sitting next to Braverman. This could create very uneasy bedfellows for the electorate.

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 26/01/2026 17:50

frozendaisy · 26/01/2026 14:43

Why don’t you wait until they produce their manifesto first. They will be scrutinised by the top political journalists, they will be forced to cost their policies, they will be held to account.

A UK prime minister does not have the same authoritive power as a president does.

What are you scared about exactly?

(I am the most left in this house, I think if Reform get in it will be x3 years of nothing getting done just scandal over ineptitude and text messages).

Well, I've just watched a room full of journalists fall about laughing at one of Farage's crap jokes. They give him far too much airtime and don't hold him to account, especially about the amount of corruption and incompetence in his party.

DaisyDukesAuntie · 26/01/2026 17:49

Talkinpeace · 26/01/2026 14:44

Just wait till one of the Tories with Cabinet experience challenges for a top post.

Nige will flounce out to form a new party
and the whole thing will collapse

I agree and think this is what will happen. Well….hoping that’s what happens anyway

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 26/01/2026 17:48

Farage and his lot won't get in here In Scotland i'm more terrified of the SNP being in power for another term 😱

WildLeader · 26/01/2026 17:47

BeFairOliveBear · 26/01/2026 14:47

You'd imagine we would have learned something after Brexit, his would be much much worse 😢

Sadly the uk electorate are beyond moronic.

people are seeing the mess Brexit has made, the mess in USA and STILL stupid enough to think it’s a good idea.

im terrified

Minutewaltz · 26/01/2026 17:46

Scrapped the wasteful Rwanda scheme and launched a Border Security Command to smash the criminal smuggling gangs and improve the UK's border security.
Have any criminal smuggling gangs been smashed?

Announced a new deal for farmers, which will go further to support farmers
Are farmers happy with this?

ilovesooty · 26/01/2026 17:45

tobee · 26/01/2026 17:38

Oh look it's another one post and done op.

The OP is a regular poster. Perhaps she's busy.

Boomer55 · 26/01/2026 17:43

Miranda65 · 26/01/2026 16:37

"Utterly terrified"? I mean, I don't think that I'd ever vote Reform either - and I certainly didn't vote Labour last time. But we live in a fairly bland democracy, I can't imagine that any party's policies could ever be "terrifying" - this isn't Iran or Russia, FFS. Why not just say that it is a bit concerning, OP, because being over-dramatic won't get you anywhere.

This. We’ve had poor governance for years, including this one. None are terrifying. Exaggerated hyperbole.

ChurchWindows · 26/01/2026 17:41

tobee · 26/01/2026 17:38

Oh look it's another one post and done op.

Strange that. Not.

StandFirm · 26/01/2026 17:39

Monty34 · 26/01/2026 17:38

How on earth you interpreted my post as some sort cheerleading for Reform I have no idea.

You misunderstood my tone! I was echoing your sentiment and going a little further with it...