Farage receives second £36m donation in two days for Reform

Because we originally voted for a "common market" not a political union and we are one of the largest economies in the world, if Germany (3rd or 4th largest in the world) leaves there is no more EU. Tariffs worked out so well for that other great global businessman didn"t they?

There's been a fair few surveys of why people vote Reform. Basically it comes down to believing immigration is the root of all our problems and stopping the boats is the solution; thinking 'the other two' are rubbish and they may as well give someone else a chance; and the performative anti establishment nonsense of Reform attracting people who feel (correctly) the establishment is overlooking them.
A big chunk tend to be socially conservative, suspicious of woke, liberal lefties, but haven't done too well themselves under a long Conservative administration because they are poorer, with fewer opportunities and their neighbourhoods are neglected.

Reform want an independent sovereign nation with controlled borders, a lot of voters also want that, the two main parties didn"t want that, it is really that simple I think, the term "protest vote" is best kept for the Greens, or probably the Tories now because you are not voting for anything sensible just making a statement that is basically pointless anyway in our voting system.

You didn’t bother to read the article did you? Or any other information.

The shortages have been going on for years. The EU is not stalling anything. This is part of sovereignty, self determination and independence. We don’t pay in to be a member, why do you think we should get the benefits of frictionless trade?

Polling consistently shows that the majority of the electorate think Brexit was a mistake.

As for how people have been affected by the Brexit, the economic impact affects all of us in many ways. The consensus among economists is that our economy is considerably smaller now than it would have been if we had stayed in the EU. There is some disagreement amount the scale of the damage - estimates generally seem to vary between around 2-8%. I think the OBR's estimate is around 4%. But there is general agreement amongst the vast majority of economists that there has been a negative affect.

Of course, many people might not necessarily understand that Brexit is a significant factor in some of the economic pain that they are experiencing. But failing to recognise the impact of Brexit doesn't mean that they aren't directly affected by it.

If we accept the OBR figure of 4%, then that is going to have a very significant impact on all of us - this is just basic economics.

I don’t ‘want’ any particular answer. I’m interested in what you think because you initially said

‘Can’t you otherwise just accept that people vote for Reform because of their stated policies?’

which is fairly binary. You said I diminished the electorate by thinking they mostly don’t pay attention to policy. And now you say many vote for Reform in protest. I happen to agree on that, as it happens. People are not voting for Reform because they think they are any good. But protest votes only go so far, they’re a bit student politics and can have unintended consequences. I definitely wouldn’t applaud people for doing that.

Well you can"t fake the conditions you describe by throwing your documentation into the sea, and the EU doesn"t need to take care of anyone, just drop the red tape dummy spit over Brexit that is stalling supplies of certain medications as you claim. Where are people getting the medication from over the last ten years?

If you want it why don"t you just buy it?

You don’t want the UK to take care of asylum seekers but you want the EU to take care of British citizens?

That makes a lot of sense?

I'm not obsessed with Reform, but I'm very interested and do follow their antics. As a Labour voter I'd like to see Reform achieve a sweet spot, of not enough support for a majority (which isnt really on the cards) but just enough to keep them chugging away, spiltting the right wing vote.
I'd be very rattled indeed if I thought there was a genuine threat they'd form an administration. Because my concerns go beyond their ideology to their fitness to govern. They have shown themselves disproportionately idle, corrupt and incompetent by comparison with any other party, and those traits can only make our situation worse. And that was before learning that it wouldn't even be those chosen by the electorate who would actually be in charge, but the two billionaires who have bought them.
Anyone who wasnt rattled at the thought of such a threat to our democracy would be foolish.

I hoped SKS Labour government would be better than the Tory government they replaced. They have not been better, IMO. Where next? I struggle with the answer, so I shall probably vote Conservative.

I'm alright thanks, not at all bothered by overused phrases... it's others on here getting their knickers in a twist...

Step away if you want.

@KeepPumping ... I think you need a name change. You are not going to make property prices more rational. People will pay for the property they want.
I like an apartment in a Midland city right now. It ticks all my boxes. But until we have a buyer for our house there's no movement.

Exactly, Labour were the tool to rid us of the Tories, no one really thinks KS could have been elected otherwise do they!

Who cares? Not me - if people are so fragile they need to step away from this forum.

It’s so overused and as said typically by Labour.

TB started the housing bubble we have now, the push to get BTL loans out there started under him, a Reform government with less people in the country pushes down housing costs.

Yes, and that vote switches to Reform at the next GE

Give your head a wobble! You don’t seriously think a Reform govt. will be interested in doing anything useful for the ordinary British person?

Personally, I don't think any government since Tony Blair has done a good job for the UK. But your view of a good job probably depends on whether you pay tax or receive benefits. I am 70 and I pay tax on everything over £12570, which is half my son's NMW apprenticeship wage, and we still need to subsidise his accommodation every month.