Good on Kemi!

I can’t believe that is a serious post. Stockholm syndrome on steroids.

Totally agree. If it wasn't already in the bag for Reform, it is now.

Why? inflation and interest rates down, NHS waiting lists lowest for years, FTSE record highs, gilts yields lowest for 14months and lower than they were for much of Sunaks tenure.

Economy has grown more in the last 18m than it did in the 18m prior to the General Election...Immigration down to levels not seen in a decade....

I'm no fan of Starmer but he is considerably better than the 5 PM's the Tories gave us...

But at least the Tories are becoming a non party, a few more defections and they'll be gone for good, not just decades but forever😎

Haigh told Starmer what she'd done and resigned the same night.... and Rayner resigned after due process, by the ethics advisor.

Do you think due process shouldn't happen?

He is someone who knows his way around parliament - you can’t sweep into power without a few of them - apparently next week it’s a Labour MP!

I’ve considered that even though reform seem like they’re signing a death warrant by accepting defections from the worst of the Tories and you’d think people wouldn’t want to vote for them because of this, the Tories are haemorrhaging their MP’s and, come 2029, there will be no Tory party to vote for, so conservative voters will vote reform. I suspect that’s been the plan all along.

Maybe because Farage is at the helm and the old Tories will be expected to toe the line, that’s all the change some will need to justify the vote.

That only works if there is a relatively strong Conservative option otherwise Reform will be virtually impossible to stop.

In the same way Labour only won last time because Reform took a huge chunk of the right of centre vote, they would only have a chance in 2029 if the Conservatives did the same and took a huge chunk of the potential Reform vote.

Personally I think another term of Labour will be a disaster for the country but the vagaries of FPTP means like we experienced last time you can end up with a strange result. Where else in the world would you end up with a landslide victory despite 80% of the eligible electorate not voting for you?

I was convinced that Farage was a shoe in for the next GE given the mood of ordinary people right now, but if Reform keep taking on any old ‘giz a job’ Tory rejects the public will soon lose trust in them. The public want a strong leader with vision who will inspire hope, not a rag tag bunch of wannabes hanging on the coat tales of a snake oil salesman.

It really doesn’t matter. Labour has to be removed and hopefully not sighted again for decades if ever at all.

Reform has now so many ex-Tories. To vote for them would be like voting Conservatives who failed all the way

People just want to see the end of this awful Labour government.

As with so many elections in the UK, the outcome will most likely revolve around votes against a particular party as opposed to votes in favour of another.

I will vote in whichever way is best to remove Labour. That means my vote would be different depending which constituency I live in. I am far from alone with that approach.

I think Kemi Badenoch made the right decision.

Rayner resigned eight days after the investigation began, hardly endless.

I imagine it really hurt Badenoch given that she’s got so few MPs left. Nonetheless it was a good call.

I recall the Louise Haigh and Angela Rayner debacles dragging on endlessly so we have very different memories. Both perfect examples of Starmer's weak, ineffective leadership.

What else could she do? keep in him position? get down on her knees and beg him to stay?

Badenoch now saying she had no choice....

"Strong & Decisive" would have been if she'd sacked him months ago, she also sat on this for 24hrs....

On Starmer, he has been very quick to get rid of people who have broken the rules.

Very strong, decisive leadership from Badenoch. Weak, spineless Starmer would do well to take lessons from someone who has a backbone like her.

Are you an expat?

Kemi could hardly do anything else. She did the only thing she could have.

I suspect Jenrick will have the last laugh. Unfortunately some people will now believe reform is more electable given the growing number of “experienced” Tory MPs who have defected.

Bad news for the tories, probably good news for Reform

You’re brave stating that on this forum .

@MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack

It's a long time before the next election, and the polls may change a lot between now and then!

Sounds like your nerves have changed to panic. I would vote Reform tomorrow if there was general election. However, if necessary, I can wait till 2029.

"YouGov poll puts Nigel Farage’s party on 24%, down two points on the previous week. That represents its weakest showing for several months and comes amid a modest recovery for the Conservatives and a slight uptick for Labour."

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/uks-far-right-reform-party-hits-its-lowest-poll-rating-since-april-last-year/3798346#