Why on earth are Farage and Reform so popular ?

[Nonamenoblame]

Their ideology is essentially heated up Thatcherism, more deregulation (if that’s possible) and laissez faire light touch for businesses, more cuts to public services because they love an even smaller state, cuts to benefits apart from those for pensioners, no real solution to the immigration issue apart from sinking the small boats.
So why isn’t Farage being challenged ? Everywhere you read that Farage is the next PM in waiting but his policies are a rerun of the last 14 years but worse, they haven’t worked so far, why would they work with a Reform government ? What’s an even worse thought is a Tory/Reform coalition, are we as country daft enough to fall for it ?
And how long would we give a Reform government to turn things around ? 6 months, a year ?

I think that people feel that they have been let down by the two main parties. Ultimately until immigration numbers become more sustainable things will get worse - there are not enough houses, doctors or general infrastructure to support the numbers of new people arriving. I think it is a knee-jerk reaction but (like other people have said) Reform was awful. I would never vote for Reform though. I am pro-immigration generally and think that it has been good for the UK in many ways.

And what about the doctors, nurses and trained people arriving?

There are not enough people arriving to fill in specific jobs so for example there are £1m new arrivals but still there are not enough teachers,nurses etc... and vacancies remain unfilled. The vast majority of us take more in terms in tax vrevenue than we put in so it means that unless you only let in 'net contributors' the burden on the state becomes greater in terms of burden on the NHS, schools etc... as people are 'taking out' more than they are 'putting in' in terms of money in tax revenue. At the same time our population is getting older which leads to even more stress on the essential services like hospitals and social care so the problem gets worse. We do not have enough high earners in the UK to generate enough income which is why Rachel Reeves has softened her stance to the non-doms. The only other options are to tax everyone more which would be hugely unpopular and would lead to Labour losing the next election (and Reform could win) or finding another way to generate income which I guess is what Rachel Reeves is doing by increasing Employer's NI.

I think that people feel that they have been let down by the two main parties.

You mean fucking idiots ?

The LibDems gained 10 times as many seats as the Putin Apology Party - sorry "Reform".

In what universe, where the rankings went 411 Labour, 212 Tory and 72 LibDems can anyone claim that Reform are somehow breaking the 2-party choice ?

All I can see is that the LibDems aren't overly racists and - more importantly - aren't going around saying when Putin calls, you need to surrender immediately.

By all means, support whoever you want. But don't pretend it's because of some weird "tired with 2 parties" bollocks. I am really sick of the 2-party duopoly that has dogged my half century on earth. However I'm managing to deal with it without supporting a party happy to have a women beater as MP.

I wouldn't vote for them in a million years but they are doing well in the polls and the OP asked why they are popular.

I felt the same about Comrade Corbyn and his communications director Seumas Milne.

You will have to post a link to where Corbyn said hat Ukraine needs to roll over to Putin as I missed that story. There's a help page on "Site Stuff" that tells you how to paste links if you need help.

Some links here that might help. Corbyn and Seumas Milne - who was Labour's
Executive Director of Strategy and Communications 2015 - 2020:

Jeremy Corbyn urges west to stop arming Ukraine;
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/aug/02/jeremy-corbyn-urges-west-to-stop-arming-ukraine
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11388081/Ukraine-brands-Jeremy-Corbyn-one-Putins-useful-idiots-hes-set-speak-propaganda-event.html
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/18/jeremy-corbyn-sergei-skripal-attack-putin
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/04/demonisation-russia-risks-paving-way-for-war
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/05/clash-crimea-western-expansion-ukraine-fascists
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3298550/Red-handed-Photograph-shows-Jeremy-Corbyn-s-pro-Kremlin-spin-chief-held-Putin-s-iron-grip-propaganda-summit.html

Wow, thanks for that. You're a quicker learner.

Remind me never to vote for Jeremy Corbyn. Even if that were official Labour party policy. Which it isn't.

Whereas at least 20% of Reform MPs were in favour of doing whatever Putin says.

I think I know where the rot is. And it's not JC (not that one) but NF (yes, that one)

I thought Corbyn was no longer a member of the LP ? Why is he of concern ? The question is that Farage /Trump/ Aaron Banks have had and still have very close ties to Putin now.

All those issues are a direct result of Tory and UKIP policy - yet Reform supporters are absolutely slating Labour and more often than not quoting Tory policies as Labour ones.

Housing shortage - especially social housing. Right to buy - Thatcher.

Lack of medical staff - Brexit and failure to invest in more courses at Unis. Nursing training should be free and shouldn't need a degree.

In all honesty are most of the arrivals going to be net contributors.

They need social housing and they do bring their families and children in. They may receive free school meals which is the tip of the iceberg

I thought these days were long over.

Apparently one in ten Reform voters support Putin. They should move to Russia, it would free up housing stock for asylum seekers.

Brilliant

SerendipityJane
However I'm managing to deal with it without supporting a party happy to have a women beater as MP.

The Reform MP was convicted nearly 20 years ago as a teenager? Do you believe in rehabilitation? How did you feel about a convicted arsonist serving as Keir Starmer's Shadow Education Minister in the Lords? He was appointed by Corbyn, but served two full years under Starmer as well. (Incidentally the Labour fire raiser was released from prison the same year the Reform MP was sent to a YOI - 2006).

A Labour Party spokesman said: "Lord Watson was readmitted to the Labour Party in 2012 and following his rehabilitation it is right he should be allowed to play a full part in public life."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Watson,_Baron_Watson_of_Invergowrie

https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/13770612.disgraced-peer-lord-mike-watson-appointed-to-corbyns-labour-front-bench/

Says who?

BurntBroccoli
*Housing shortage - especially social housing. Right to buy - Thatcher.^

Angela Rayner bought her council house in 2007 - Margaret Thatcher retired from the Commons in 1992.

Here

Tell this Labour MP to stop bothering him;

Joani Reid MP
@ JoaniReid

Feb 20 2025
Jeremy Corbyn must decide. Does he back the UK standing with Ukraine against Russian aggression, or does he align with Trump's isolationist appeasement of Putin? There is no sitting on the fence.

The fairies at the bottom of the garden,😁

There were 7 council elections this week, how many reform councillors were voted in and what councils do they now control?

What’s your purpose. Just tit for tat point scoring.
What we go off is a party’s record in power and the Tories record was still shite however you deflect. Absolutely no getting away from it and obvious to the whole country just by looking at the state of it.

Lol..the Guardian. Definitely true then.

I know right. It's not like that bastion of truth The Mail.