To think Count Binface is doing a great job in the Clacton by-election?

Absolutely. There's no substitute for people actually getting out there and speaking to other people. No danger of algorithms feeding you only what you want to hear either! I think our new PM would do well to have a look at the whole system from start to finish, really strengthening and future proofing our democracy. Why shouldn't our politicians be accountable to the electorate, answer our questions instead of choosing whether and how they engage?

That's not how I see this thread. There have been some interesting contributions that have really made me think about things.

Erm...this is a discussion thread on a discussion forum. We're discussing.

I could do a lot of stuff, but none of it is compulsory.

There was no abuse. You could try engaging in a debate and tell me why you think I’m wrong instead of attempting to shut me down.

Well it isn't constructive is it?

These threads are all the same.
We just get all the Labour luvvies hurling abuse at various politicians because they don't like their outlook.
Really tiresome.

Well I do, and I doubt I'm alone. I'd like to hear what you have to say too, as long as we keep the discussion constructive.

Well yes and no... It's all become very muddied as a result of populist rhetoric. Trump's tactics are to tell enough lies so that the truth becomes irrelevant. Farage et al aim to portray anyone who doesn't agree with them as out of touch, elitist, lacking authenticity, which makes it really difficult to express an opinion because it's always painted as evidence of belief in your own moral and intellectual superiority. Realistically, a vote for Farage in Clapton was not sensible - he's proved that he's uninterested in serving his constituents and that he's dishonest. Clacton residents gain nothing from having him as his MP. But what would happen if I started a thread saying so? It's almost worth a try, just to prove my point!

Ultimately I guess what I'm trying to say is that the new hard right movement is about anti intellectualism and disingenuity, serving nobody but an actual elite. The clever trick they've played is to get us to believe that we - left and right - are on completely discrete sides instead of all being affected by the same issues (which in my view represent the natural consequences of late stage capitalism!).

So this is where we’re at with Reform voters. How dare you express an opinion on them on a relevant thread on a public forum? Thanks @MyKittyKatty, you’ve inadvertently told me a lot.

It's incredibly rude.

It's a fair question.

Wow.

What makes you think people want to know what you think about Reform ?

The police didn't take the attack on Farage's home seriously at first.

If you have an issue with what people up thread said, maybe take it up with them - they are nothing to do with me.

I think he’s between a rock and a hard place. I don’t think he wants to be an MP, he can’t get away with the lack of scrutiny and bone idleness he got away with as an MEP. He’s too exposed. But if he’s not an MP Reform’s a spent force because none of his potential successors could begin to inspire the same popularity. Tice, Jenrick and Yusuf are so unlikeable. As for Anderson …

I did wonder whether he was keen to lose. He could have cut out three years of the boring work of pretending to represent his constituents and then made a stellar comeback near the time of the next election.

I've heard rumours he's not all that well, that his helicopter crash left lasting health problems and he's struggling. I'm also unconvinced that he wants to be a politician; he was happy being a disruptor and coining it in from the sidelines. Whatever he was hoping to achieve from this by election seems to have misfired for him.

Same could be said for Trump.

I think that there are many people who simply feel that the main political parties are not representing them, and look to Nige because he gives the impression that he understands them and has the will and the capability to 'do something about it'.

The remainer/lefty camp (which includes me) often make the mistake of treating people who don't agree with them as stupid or uninformed or 'ist'.

Except the people up thread who did. And the others who keep saying things like - after what happened to Anne Widdecombe it’s disgraceful that Farage’s security isn’t being taken seriously. Including representatives from his own party. (Who are ignoring the fact that his security has been taken as seriously as the leaders of all the other parties)

I am sure Led By Donkeys and others have saved down his stupid comment about nobodies for future use. It will be replayed again and again the next time Farage is up for election.

Though I'm wondering if Farage can really be bothered with being an MP.

I think you get to a point where you're almost saturated with the awfulness of Farage, his hypocrisy, his grifting, his dishonesty, his divisive and hateful rhetoric. And then it's interesting to ask why he invokes such undying loyalty in some, why people are prepared not just to defend him but to endlessly promote him when, to so many, he's utterly unjustifiable.

I'm not sure we'll ever get an answer but in some ways, the fact that he achieves such polarity works in the favour of the 70 odd per cent who don't want hard right populist government because I've never in my life seen tactical voting used to such effect. People who don't like him and his company/"party" really don't like them.

There is no reason to believe that the police would not have been taking Farage's security extremely seriously given the recent horrific murder of Ann Widdecombe.

Appearing at a pop-up festival would have posed a greater risk, I would think, for someone so concerned.

And its insulting to the constituents that he doesn't give surgeries because of the 'security risk', yet he lays this on for his supporters.

Amongst the far right elements, comedy candidates, single issue and frankly eccentric, there were a few local people standing as independents who seemed serious about representing their town. You calling them 'nobodies' says a good deal about you, as it does Farage.

Also, decent politicians are aware they represent their whole constituency, not just the people who voted for them.

We're not talking about manifestos. We're discussing the binaries that Mr Farage has himself introduced between nobodies/some bodies and the establishment/the people. There seems to be contradictions in his rhetoric - what do you think this suggests?

Yes. As the facts stand, an incendiary device was pushed through the letterbox of Mr Farage's home. He was away at the time and the device burned itself out in the porch.

I'm not suggesting that's not a serious matter. We have to ask, however, why you are exaggerating so strongly. Claiming Farage's house was "fire bombed" is not only untrue, it's incredibly emotive. What reaction are you attempting to elicit and to what ends? These are interesting questions.