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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to feel so weary of labour voters going on

210 replies

livingonstrawbs · 09/05/2026 15:01

I think if people in real life knew I was saying this, they would be shocked or maybe not.

Reform are not my politics but I'm honestly so fed up of labour voting friends lamenting the rise of reform and blaming it all the greens and declaring everyone voting reform to be racist, stupid, ignorant.

Reform absolutely have some racist nutters but I do not believe that councils that were labour for more than 50 years turned reform because everyone became a racist overnight or is ok about racism.

Even saying yesterday that the rise of reform was down to failure of lab/conservative to do do anything other than maintain the status quo for many working class communities, let alone others, and the media to properly question, inform and hold to account farage was met with a barrage of hostility and false accusations. one person genuinely thinks this is all down to zack polanski and that farage has been questioned as hard as he has. Really?!?!

I should say by the way that I am a person of colour, was on free school meals, ended up going to Oxbridge and doing professionally well even if it's not lucrative. that's fine - those are all my choices. I'm miles better off than many other people and I know that. But i'm still very connected to the community i grew up in and see how working class people of all races etc without the same chances are living in immense poverty and the grind that is going on for them. Meanwhile, my very affluent labour voting friends seem to repeat 'labour is the best of a bad bunch.' for who, i say?? maybe for you. but honestly, when life is continualy shit, people do vote for change and will vote for reform or greens.

i'm just sick of being patronised and told i'm stupid, ignorant etc etc.

OP posts:
Nat6999 · 09/05/2026 20:13

ProudAmberTurtle · 09/05/2026 17:53

Sounds like Louise Haigh is also preparing a leadership challenge for next week

https://x.com/i/status/2053148171832901739

Most of the Sheffield Labour MP's have spoken out against Keir Starmer telling him it's time to go.

Dymaxion · 09/05/2026 20:11

The local council elections, where the council has very little or no influence on national policy. I wonder how many candidates have broadly canvassed on national issues, such as immigration ?

When people talk about 'change', what are the changes that local councils can make, that will facilitate this 'change' ?

People saying they want Starmer out, which is fair enough, everyone is entitled to an opinion, but how will that effect what happens at your local council level ?

Original poster
livingonstrawbs · 09/05/2026 20:10

just catching up on all the posts - and I think what I am really struggling with is although I've done pretty well on paper, I can't forget what it was like growing up. I was on free school meals etc. I have never had an issue with well off people voting labour. I do have an issue with well off people who will never have to struggle and who are actually leading extremely privileged lives, using private healthcare to jump the waiting list, family money to buy lovely homes in lovely areas, hefty pensions, inherited income streams to supplement their wealth telling everyone else to be patient with labour and not vote green or reform and then adding insult injury labelling people who do as anti semites and racists.

at this point, I feel like a hefty dose of wealth redistrubition would make things fairer and even out the load people are bearing a bit - but funnily enough, that's one thing they don't want.

OP posts:
Hallowedturf · 09/05/2026 20:06

livingonstrawbs · 09/05/2026 19:54

This is exactly what I think - things are so shit and have been for so long for so many people working, on the breadline etc and people are desperate for change from the status quo regardless of whether it will be delivered or not and to a certain extent they know what they will get from conservative/labour so they are moving to reform or green.

I am surrounded by affluent well off north london and west london labour friends who decry this move and are denouncing people leaving as being either thick or racist and saying the greens are 'opportunistic grifters' handing nigel farage a gift on a plate by further splitting the vote.

the issue is I see why they like labour for all its faults and go with the line 'best of a bad bunch.' for them it is the best of a bad bunch because theyre not really weathering the hard edge of life at the moment. for those who are, frankly well I can see why they would take a leap into the unknown for a pocketful of promises at this point. I cant sit and judge them for that.

Show quote history

Agree with much of this, too.

I frequently ask antagonists - why do you think voters are drawn to Reform? And, what does it say about Labour?

These questions are often either met with silence, or that Reform voters are stupid/are former Brexiteers, or prejudiced.

None of which explains Reform’s rise and popularity - permanent or temporary.

As to Reform’s ability to govern - presumably the councils will prove a litmus test.

Original poster
livingonstrawbs · 09/05/2026 19:54

Bushmillsbabe · 09/05/2026 18:13

I don't think all Reform voters are stupid, or racist. To write them off like this is very dangerous as it doesn't address the root issues.

I think many of them are desperate - for change, for hope, for more money in their pocket after working hard, for a better education for their children, better healthcare etc

Of course, Reform aren't going to deliver any of the above, but I don't blame people for feeling frustrated and disillusioned and trying to find another option.

It makes me think of Hitler Germany. The people who voted him in democratically were struggling and he promised them food and houses and tvs and cars. They were not all stupid, or mean, they were struggling to feed their children and were desperate, and later scared. Fear and hope are the 2 most powerful drivers in making choices - most major decisions are led by one or both of these.

If Reform gets in, Starmer and Co are to blame for letting down those who voted for and put their trust in them.

This is exactly what I think - things are so shit and have been for so long for so many people working, on the breadline etc and people are desperate for change from the status quo regardless of whether it will be delivered or not and to a certain extent they know what they will get from conservative/labour so they are moving to reform or green.

I am surrounded by affluent well off north london and west london labour friends who decry this move and are denouncing people leaving as being either thick or racist and saying the greens are 'opportunistic grifters' handing nigel farage a gift on a plate by further splitting the vote.

the issue is I see why they like labour for all its faults and go with the line 'best of a bad bunch.' for them it is the best of a bad bunch because theyre not really weathering the hard edge of life at the moment. for those who are, frankly well I can see why they would take a leap into the unknown for a pocketful of promises at this point. I cant sit and judge them for that.

OP posts:
Hallowedturf · 09/05/2026 19:46

OneTealShaker · 09/05/2026 19:40

Thanks for reporting. This blanket aggression has to have some consequence. Calling 8 million voters racist just won’t do anymore.

Show quote history

Thanks - I am keen to de-escalate this thread, but I believe you are right, and I would speculate that a significant number of those 8 million would agree with you, too.

Original poster
livingonstrawbs · 09/05/2026 19:45

unistress · 09/05/2026 17:04

I don't quite understand your post - your Labour voting friends are saying they believe Farage has been held to account and it's all Polanksi's fault? That's not a take I've heard.

I'm not massively well off - I'm not in some bubble just supporting Labour as I'm alright jack. I'm doing ok and was doing ok under the Tories. So what? Reform will do absolutely nothing for those who are not well off and voting for them to do something about it.

Yes. it sounds unbelievabe but this is literally what one said to me yesterday!

OP posts:
SmugglersHaunt · 09/05/2026 19:41

I agree to a large extent - labelling a group of people who vote a certain way doesn’t work for anyone. Of course Reform voters aren’t all racist - but the sad thing about the left now is that they are stuck in a purity spiral so anyone who doesn’t vote a particular way is ‘thick’ or ‘easily led’. It was exactly the same with Brexit - I voted to remain but hated the way Leave voters were patronised and demonised, especially after the result

OneTealShaker · 09/05/2026 19:40

Hallowedturf · 09/05/2026 19:21

As a courtesy to you, I have reported this to MN.

The blanket accusation that all Reform supporters are either racists, or ‘racism fellow travellers’, whatever that means.

This labelling is completely unacceptable, and needs to be addressed.

For the avoidance of doubt, I am not a racist.

Show quote history

Thanks for reporting. This blanket aggression has to have some consequence. Calling 8 million voters racist just won’t do anymore.

Agrumpyknitter · 09/05/2026 19:38

Look I go by Nigel Farage’s voting record which are a matter of public record.
He always votes against policies that would protect women from harm, from upskirting, from harassment from having their drinks spiked.

Farage also always votes against policies that will strengthen workers rights.

i am a women who works so the above doesn’t sit well with me so I would never vote for him.

If I were Labour I would really go all out and start taxing the billionaires. Because it doesn’t seem to matter that Farage received £5 million and has only just declared it or that no one can explain how his fiancé could afford to buy the Clacton house, how his party has been linked to Russian money (for which Nathan Gill is in prison for) because the man is like Teflon nothing sticks. and the media all turn a blind eye.

Hallowedturf · 09/05/2026 19:35

CurlewKate · 09/05/2026 19:29

In order to vote Reform you have to be prepared to overlook the overt racism of some senior party officials. Hence “fellow traveller”. As in not personally a racist but prepared to ignore racism in others.

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All of us, and I do mean all of us, have our cross to bear.

What I am never going to accept, however, is to be called racist, because I happen to vote for Reform.

Just as I would not label all Green supporters as anti-Semitic.

EasternStandard · 09/05/2026 19:33

CurlewKate · 09/05/2026 19:29

In order to vote Reform you have to be prepared to overlook the overt racism of some senior party officials. Hence “fellow traveller”. As in not personally a racist but prepared to ignore racism in others.

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You’ve just done what the op said, to which you claimed wasn’t happening anywhere.

CurlewKate · 09/05/2026 19:29

Hallowedturf · 09/05/2026 19:21

As a courtesy to you, I have reported this to MN.

The blanket accusation that all Reform supporters are either racists, or ‘racism fellow travellers’, whatever that means.

This labelling is completely unacceptable, and needs to be addressed.

For the avoidance of doubt, I am not a racist.

Show quote history

In order to vote Reform you have to be prepared to overlook the overt racism of some senior party officials. Hence “fellow traveller”. As in not personally a racist but prepared to ignore racism in others.

Hallowedturf · 09/05/2026 19:25

hedgeknight · 09/05/2026 19:23

Not everyone who votes Reform is racist but racists will vote Reform

It's who you align yourself with.

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The first part of your statement is accurate, but the second part clearly cannot be.

Logically, there are racists in every party. Are there more within Reform? Entirely possible.

OneTealShaker · 09/05/2026 19:25

Hallowedturf · 09/05/2026 18:30

Continually trying to play the ‘R’ care inappropriately is just one of the reasons you had yesterday’s results. It’s cheap and has lost its power.

People have had enough of being accused of racism.

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And if this person really is a teacher, then it proves how our institutions have been captured by the far left. Indoctrinating children.

hedgeknight · 09/05/2026 19:23

Hallowedturf · 09/05/2026 18:52

That’s an awful lot of people you have labelled - judging by yesterday’s results.

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Not everyone who votes Reform is racist but racists will vote Reform

It's who you align yourself with.

Hallowedturf · 09/05/2026 19:21

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

As a courtesy to you, I have reported this to MN.

The blanket accusation that all Reform supporters are either racists, or ‘racism fellow travellers’, whatever that means.

This labelling is completely unacceptable, and needs to be addressed.

For the avoidance of doubt, I am not a racist.

EasternStandard · 09/05/2026 19:18

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Isn’t this what some are saying doesn’t happen.

CurlewKate · 09/05/2026 19:16

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Hallowedturf · 09/05/2026 19:11

ExperiencedTeacher · 09/05/2026 19:09

Do you agree with racist policies? If so, you are racist. If not, don’t vote for them.

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Please be clear.

I voted for Reform on Thursday.

Am I a racist in your view - a straight yes/no will suffice.

Pricelessadvice · 09/05/2026 19:10

Ive always found labour voters to be very sore losers who throw big tantrums when they don’t get their way and just start slagging everyone else off 😂It’s certainly not a new thing.

I don’t vote reform, but I think we need to realise that a lot of people are and there must be a reason for that. People are desperately unhappy with the way Labour and the Tories have behaved in recent years. People want change.
Whether reform is the party to do that, well, that remains to be seen.

ExperiencedTeacher · 09/05/2026 19:09

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Do you agree with racist policies? If so, you are racist. If not, don’t vote for them.

Hallowedturf · 09/05/2026 19:07

This reply has been deleted

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ExperiencedTeacher · 09/05/2026 19:05

Hallowedturf · 09/05/2026 19:04

Just so we are clear - are you saying I am a racist?

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I am saying the politics of the Regotm party are racist politics and reminiscent of 1930s Germany.

Hallowedturf · 09/05/2026 19:04

This reply has been deleted

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Just so we are clear - are you saying I am a racist?

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