Reform party seems to be ahead in my area.

Here’s why we’ve got this problem of right wing groups! People like you.

I agree, totally. Useful idiot is a good description too.

Farage now thinks the Russians were justified in Ukraine.

It’s not letting me edit my post but to clarify I mean to say more that Farage is a useful idiot rather than being directly controlled by Russia or anything like that. But I do believe each vote for reform would make Putin happy.

It's very important. Russia is a big threat.

It’s Russian influence that concerns me too. We have to self research for this election. We can’t rely on sound bites from the media and social media. There is too much at stake.

If you care for our national security at all do not vote Reform. Farage is a sock puppet for Putin, evidenced by his parroting of Kremlin lies about the Ukraine war. Everyone now knows Russia pushed for Brexit, it worked. They are now pushing Reform. The aim is to destabilise our democracy. Farage is telling you what he thinks you want to hear, he doesn’t mean a word of it (except for his misogyny and racism, I do believe that’s genuine.) Aside from anything else their promises are completely & utterly uncosted and would bankrupt the country.

I’m really saddened by the number of misinformed views in this thread. Things clearly gleaned from social media without a critical eye.

We are in a very dangerous phase of history. Climate change, start of WWIII, people struggling to feed and house themselves, public services crumbling. Now, more than ever, we need a grown up at the helm. Someone sensible and not hyperbolic.

It’s been widely reported that Russian bots are on all types of social media trying to create division and fuel instability.

PLEASE DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH before you vote. Read the manifestos. Watch the candidates in full. If you read something or hear something that sounds too good to be true or tries to create strong feelings in you, fact check it. Go to several sources. Don’t rely on social media or one news source. I’ve read several news sites over the last few years and none of them give you the full picture.

This is a democracy so it’s great that we all have different views and can exercise our right to have our voice heard BUT it’s a responsibility and we owe it to each other to really think about our decision and ensure we are as fully informed as possible. We are heading for stormy seas and who is at the helm will matter. A LOT.

Do you think they have any individual candidates who would be capable of taking on big jobs in government? I mean, following after the Tories the bar is low, but I wonder if you think they have people capable of making the changes they say they will make?

I think they’ll do better than predicted in terms of vote share even though I wouldn’t expect more than a few seats. I think the risk is that once they get a toehold, that legitimacy will help them recruit some more credible candidates- i’m thinking Jordan Bardello types. I don't think it’s unfathomable that they become the main opposition party within two elections. What is worrying is that I know people who are voting reform and not who people think of - youngish, well educated, highish income people. I haven’t really discussed it with them but I was surprised. Mind you I know someone who voted for Trump despite being gay and married to an immigrant, so go figure.

How do you think they will do that?

If you seriously care about women’s rights then you really should know about Andrew Tate. Farage has basically said he supports his views and talked about blokes being able to be blokes. Basically supporting the promotion of a very extreme form of toxic masculinity.

Tate is being investigated for people trafficking and rape amongst other things. Has boasted about assaulting women. Thinks they should be kept at home without possessions and are the property of men.

He’s also close to Trump and said he thinks the West is a fault for Putins invasion of Ukraine.

He is not a feminist or an ally to women. He’s the antithesis of that.

It may very well do I'm afraid.

In some cases it might even encourage them I suppose.

The danger is young people want change and Starmer isn't offering a lot (he is being practical and realistic which is needed though).

Farage/Reform would just be more of the same but with more Braverman type rhetoric on immigration. Easy to make all kinds of promises when you won't have to deliver them.

Farage tonight on BBC says he’s had “an awful lot of candidates being stitched up in the most extraordinary way with quotes being taken out of context”.

He's just like his squirming, hard done by friend Trump isn't he.

Here's what some of theReform candidates said - one called immigrants “a plague”, another who said Muslims should be removed from the UK, and a third that claimed Africans “have a low IQ”

That won't put Reform voters off.

https://hyphenonline.com/2024/06/20/farages-party-defends-reform-uk-candidate-who-describes-himself-as-proud-islamophobe-charles-bunker-hitchin-uk-election/

If you want Luz truss economics and a Putin sympathiser vote Reform.

Farage is a very effective dissident but he has no practical answers to problems. He's the right wing Corbyn.

I'm just not a fan of apologism for Russia. In no way were they justified in invading Ukraine.

OK, ok, forgive me. Geopolitics is actually 😉entirely simplistic and should be accurately covered by twitter/x sound bites. Go you.

No they didn't. Russia are paranoid. If they were not so aggressive with their neighbours (e.g. "annexing" Crimea) their neighbours wouldn't want to join Nato.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-reform-candidate-hitler-neutrality-nazi-b2559954.html

Ian Gribbin (Reform), who is standing in Bexhill and Battle, also wrote online that women were the “sponging gender” and should be “deprived of health care

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/reform-candidate-rants-that-islam-and-nazis-are-the-same-thing/

Reform candidate rants that ‘Islam and Nazis are the same thing’ in unearthed footage

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/reform-uk-candidates-facebook-friends-fascist-leader-gary-raikes-b1163853.html

Gary Raikes is a fascist who thinks we should live in a dictatorship.

Anyone voting for Reform really is a turkey voting for Christmas.

Sounds well informed and sensible.

I am likely not voting for Reform, although I can’t find any genuine enthusiasm for any of the parties but…

The West DID provoke Russia. Nothing is ever purely black and white and believing it is is naive and simplistic. Russia was wrong in invading Ukraine imo, but I think most in depth analysis would point to Russia being backed into a corner somewhat and if you poke a Bear enough he’ll bite. Ukraine has borne the brunt of the West’s hubris very sadly, and I think we should fully back them now though!