Is Reform as bad as the BNP?

[Silviasilvertoes]

Off the back of another thread, how does Reform compare to the BNP? I loathe Farage and haven’t taken much notice of his manifesto (contract!) as I don’t want his nonsense in my head, but DM keeps telling me what’s ‘good’ about him. She has previous form for voting UKIP and thinking Johnson was much maligned and a generally nice chap. She reads the Heil every day, so I generally let discussions about politics go over my head otherwise I’d lose my cool.

I can't bear to listen to Farage, my revulsion is even stronger than it was for Johnson. It annoys me that they keep showing him on the news as I just want to avoid him.

I haven't got over Brexit yet.

I used to work in government so I was pretty well informed a few years ago but two toddlers has seen to my political acumen for now.

Yes. Not an iota of difference between them.

Reform just hide their similar views much better.

That’s what I thought. Fortunately they’re no more than a protest vote in our constituency (rural Wales) but the idea of seeing them spouting in Parliament - ugh.

I think in a lot of ways they are more dangerous because they try to hide their nastiness and many people seem to be falling for it.

No of course it's not like the BNP but mumsnet will disagree because it is mostly left wing liberals who like an echo chamber. Reform has reasonable policies about limiting immigration. The BNP are far right racists.

Some of their candidates have expressed blatantly far right, racist and sexist opinions. Farage said he admires how Putin operates, which is ominous as Putin kills the opposition and has stamped out democracy. The deputy leader said in an interview that those in the small boats should suffer the consequences of their actions and drown. Farage has said he likes Enoch Powell.

They're not as far right as the BNP who are extremist but they are further right than any of the established parties and seem to have members that do have extreme views. The whole thing seems to have been set up as a grift for Tice and Farage.

Why did you lie about what Farage said about Putin? The full quote paints a very different picture:

How many years has he been in power? You know, he's he's gone from Prime Minister to President, he's a clever political operator.
He kills journalists. I said I didn't like him as a human being in any way at all. You can recognise the fact that some people are good at what they do, even if they have evil intent.

I think Farage was a great Euro MP. He stood up for British people including the appalling deal Britain had including UK fishermen (mocked by Geldof on The Thames). He is straightforward and doesn’t pretend to be anything other than he is (unlike Sunak’s ‘we couldn’t afford Sky’ or Starmer’s riches made on the immigration Legal Aid gravy train). British people are tired of the extreme liberalism that has led to people not feeling safe, including anti social behaviour, hijacking by Stonewall, and lack of immigration controls that have led to overcrowding on this small island. I doubt Farage has all the answers (and he is a bit Tory-light for my tastes), but the spectacle of what the Conservatives and Liberals, Greens and Libdems currently have to offer is so shockingly poor and childish they all deserve to do badly. But Labour will win anyway.

Asked which current world leader he most admired, Farage replied: "As an operator, but not as a human being, I would say Putin.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/mar/31/farage-i-admire-putin

Farage was an awful MEP. He had the second lowest attendance rate of all the MEPs. The only one with a worse attendance record was physically disabled and unable to attend.

He did not enter into any debate sensibly, and was a laughing stock. His final speech there was an embarrassment.

You are correct though, he doesn't pretend to be anything other than he is, which is a self centred disruptor.

That was in March 2014, not long after he predicted the war when he warned EU Parliament to stop pushing Russia's buttons after the coup in Ukraine.

Worth watching again:

He's said it a few times:

Nigel Farage has said he “admired” Vladmir Putin “as a political operator because he’s managed to take control of running Russia”.

Well if you refuse to read the manifestos then you are never going to know are you? How do you make an educated decision without educating yourself.
This is why we should need to sit an exam to vote

No of course not.

Yep. Bigotry for people that won't admit it...

he’s managed to take control of running Russia

Yeah, by killing all who oppose him. A shining example 🤦‍♂️

The Russian media are parroting Farage's comments blaming the West for starting the war and the British Ministry of Defence have been forced to issue a video providing facts about Russia's aggression.

Just imagine the danger Farage would put the country in if he ever got any real power.

Farage, who has been an MEP for 18 years, has one of the worst attendance records at the parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg. He is ranked 748 out of 751 MEPs and has taken part in only 37% of votes in the current parliamentary session, according to VoteWatch Europe.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jan/12/nigel-farage-eu-salary-docked-claim-misspent-public-funds

Really? I'd say recent evidence says it's mostly private school parents complaining about fees!

Not remotely comparable OP. I suspect you already knew that but just fancied starting a thread on it.

So not only ineffective, but a fraudulent thief to boot.

British National Party - Islamophobia. Economic protectionism, Euroscepticism, and a transformation away from liberal democracy. Oppose feminism, LGBT rights, and societal permissiveness.

Reform UK - See above.