Reform are getting a shitload of voters

Really? With all this churn? And all this negative voting? God it's so depressing.

Why are you surprised??

The swing from Tory to Reform is massive and the polls were telling that for weeks. Its still a MASSIVE Labour landslide, bigger than Blairs based on the exit polls.

White working class voters who voted for Boris in 2019 are flocking to Farage, but the trouble for Farage (if he wants the keys to no 10) is to get Labour traditional voters and centre right middle class Tories to turn to him.

I was expecting Reform to pick up a popular vote , but our first past the post means Reform need to get the above to get to no 10.

SWINDON SOUTH LAB GAIN.

Reform 6000 votes, Tory 12,000 Labour 21000

Farage isn't going to get to number 10 if he can't turn places like this from the Tories like Starmer has.

the same could be said for people that vote for the other parties too, and how much they know about the policies etc

Look: people like right wing “populist “parties—they like them because they offer excitement, politics as spectacle , and a story of revenge against elites and foreigners. Its right here on this thread where several posters have implied that a vote for Reform is a just revenge for SE elite contempt and neglect. That is voting as psychodrama. That is spite voting. That is voting as a salve for wounded egos.

The fact that these votes are for a specific party with specific goals is utterly lost on these voters. They think they will get something they like—thats populism and demagoguery’s role it promises rewards to the formerly scorned silent or moral majority and punishment and shame for the hated elites (women, non whites, immigrants, the poor on benefits, the mentally ill, the autistic, the educated, the uneducated) its very flexible and the viter hears what he wants to hear. In the words of a Trump voter “he was supposed to hurt the right people.”

Here is a shocking thought:perhaps politics doesn’t have to be a war of all against all? Perhaps all the parties could try to work for the good of the entire country and all the citizens instead of trying to simply punish the enemy within?

It’s shocking but I think Neil Kinnock had it right. He said Reform offer simple solutions to complex problems. People who don’t want to think too deeply about politics are drawn in by the soundbites.

The only way to prove to people that parties of Reform's ilk don't have all the answers to improve their lives is to grant them power and watch them fail. Sadly they often destroy so much more than themselves in the process.

I really think a lot of it is a tactical demonstration of disgust. Punishing the big two and just expressing disenchantment. Not all of it, but a lot.

That’s pretty terrifying. I couldn’t stay with someone like that

I howled with laughter at Mandleson.

I enjoy living in interesting times.

I doubt people voting Reform think much further than their own front door though aye @cantgetmybreath

My partner voted reform. I'm actually peeved off with him. Called him and idiot, said they're racist and no women's rights and he just replied he's not a woman so doesn't matter.

Reform just came in third in Swindon South with 6000 and something.

It's protest.

I wonder how many reform voters have a single clue what they’ve voted for. I’m reminded of the spike of people googling “what is the EU?” After the Brexit vote.

That's mainly because Labour is, in fact, the party of the educated metropolitan professional class.

Reform have pledged to massively support fishing and farming communities so that will be a big reason in the 2 results in so far

Thanks @saythebellsofstclements

Makes sense.

I saw Gt Yarmouth & Hartlepool also predicted for Reform. Like a sprinkling of turquoise right up the eastern coast.

@saythebellsofstclements which will mean that cost will be passed on to the customer meaning the cost of living will be even worse than it already is

They cannot win the election at all due to our first past the post system..,

If we had proportional representation they still wouldn't get in power but it would generally mean nothing is agreed since would be chaotic with no clear majority!

I know but now they're saying they will ban EU boats from our waters and also force supermarkets to pay fair prices to British farmers

TBF the extremely accurate exit polling is slightly less reliable for the smaller parties, but yes I think Farage will get a seat.

We are cursed to live in interesting times.

Yes! Except surely 'rejoin' is the populist position now, so is that what Mr Farage will be backing?

Some poetry :)

Fascism: I sometimes fear...

I sometimes fear that
people think that fascism arrives in fancy dress
worn by grotesques and monsters
as played out in endless re-runs of the Nazis.

Fascism arrives as your friend.
It will restore your honour,
make you feel proud,
protect your house,
give you a job,
clean up the neighbourhood,
remind you of how great you once were,
clear out the venal and the corrupt,
remove anything you feel is unlike you...

It doesn't walk in saying,
"Our programme means militias, mass imprisonments, transportations, war and persecution."

Reform have pledged to massively support fishing and farming communities so that will be a big reason in the 2 results in so far

That’s pretty hilarious considering the fact that their leader played a huge part in pushing for Brexit, which has screwed farmers and fishermen.

Mandleson has been on BBC just explaining exactly why Reform are doing so well. There are young, working class people who feel disenfranchised. Reform is giving them a voice. While Labour is seen as a metropolitan, educated party.

well people want democracy, this is part and parcel

although i do wish the public would study as much as they do their football teams etc but instead with politics like they used to in ancient Greece when voting

3rd result in.
Labour win
Reform in 2nd place again!
Love it