Thread 23 Starmer - Reflux Remedy

[DuncinToffee]

Previous thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5319797-thread-22-starmer-running-up-to-local-elections?page=40&reply=144097823

I guess it feels a bit too personal to me.

mmmmm i can ony speak as i find, around me, its across all categories that are voting Reform... wealthy poor middle classes....

I'm in SE Cornwall, migrants don't feature, we don't have hotels etc yet i hear "No money for x y or z but plenty to send overseas and for x channel migrants"

Starmer & Reeves are seen as useless, we've always had a Labour councillor, now an 18yo Reform one, who didn't even campaign!

A good turn out, though had either Lab or the LDs stood aside, Reform would have lost.

I’m not saying that Reform don’t attract middle class Conservatives; but those people haven’t changed their views have they? They haven’t suffered bad jobs or insecure employment.

The people I think are a problem for Labour are in their heartlands in the North. Those people who have has a tougher time and always did. Labour needs to think about them, no

It's the language used that is the issue for me rather than the white paper itself

Remember the Secret Tory account?

There is now a Secret Reform MP account

https://bsky.app/profile/secret-reform-mp.bsky.social

Thanks!
Going to be tricky for them though. It’s hard to come up with something that Reform wouldn’t actually say…

I think it's a good idea. I'm still working part time and see no reason why I shouldn't pay NI. Given all the whining from comfortably off pensioners about the WFA it would be political suicide though.

I have to say I am done with Labour now. Starmer is trying to appeal to the Reformites, who are never going to vote Labour anyway.

It is bitterly disappointing.

Back to our newbie councillors, you will be glad to know that they are ready attending to the important issues and have replaced the Ukrainian flag with a second union flag. I was surprised to see a banner for Durham Pride on the railings, though. Then again, maybe the tugmeister Grimes insisted it stayed there.

Reform are all performative bollocks like flags and declarations. Their particular form of patriotism should be rejected. I am inclined to agree with the Lib Dem’s on ensuring that low paid workers in the UK need their circumstances addressing, as well as regulating immigration.

The amount of squealing from Farage and Badenoch should put off anyone moderate. If Starmer does get migration down to a figure closer to 250,000 a year then there will be some culture war bullshit instead from them. It’s all the enemy within rubbish they like

I didn't vote for Labour as Greens more likely to get in here so potentially wasted vote, my DH did though and this resonates with us, why is he doing this. They need to play them at their own game not, 'if you can't beat them, join them.'

The carers who looked after my mum were students, A level and some hoping to get into nursing. They were well trained, bright and young with a few older ones by probably just a few years supervising. The sister in charge did a check spot and had a few words but it was constructive.

This was in Northern Ireland. Personally as a former care worker, I couldn't fault them. It's hard work and long hours.

I agree with them on that, too. It's got to the point where it's all uphill battle, though. Insist that pay or conditions are improved and there will be loud whingeing about having to lay people off because employing them is too expensive and the press and other parties will make a big deal of labour being anti-business, just as with the NI hikes. Labour need to remember what they're supposed to stand for, though, and be realistic about who they want to piss off the most, here.

I'm quite horrified when former Labour supporters say they are voting Labour - the excuse being that asylum seekers are housed in a run down hotel near the town. The children are educated in the school I work in part-time. None of them are a bother. But a few dark skinned men walking around and OH THE HORROR.

The changeable positions are not winning anyone over so pointless in trying, a side needs to be picked and the values stuck to which TBF I think Starmer must have given his record. You just rick alienating everyone this way.

I find it flabbergasting that all the privilege exuding from the Reform leadership is not pounced upon, Farage, Tice and his Girlfriend, what do they know about hardships!

Risk not "rick".

I’m afraid this lifelong Labour voter will be thinking long and hard now. This Tory lite version of my party isn’t what I expected. I may vote Green next time as this part of the world remains resolutely Tory no matter how awful they are. I might as well vote for something I believe in.

"Island of strangers' is not a phrase I ever thought a Labour leader and Prime Minister say.

Nor me. To say I’m horrified is an understatement. They’re just trying to beat Reform at their own game and it won’t end well.

This country voted for Boris Johnson and his sunlit uplands. They were prepared to believe all that. Reform will do very well imo unless Labour can show it’s helping the ordinary working man in the UK. I don’t think asylum seekers in hotels are the point but it is visible. In the same way that asylum seekers hanging around in the streets is. It is easily used by political parties. Reform have no policies. They just grift along and can point to things people feel angry about. If those people felt like they had security and good prospects this stuff would go back to its minority appeal.

Btw unless we can have some more frank language I think
the whole situation stands to get much worse.

It's difficult decision though isn't it as personally I feel I could be splitting the vote doing that (I worried about it even in my Green constituency as I wanted the Tories out but my DS persuaded me that Labour would win enough seats and it was better to have more balance) and further increasing the chances of a Reform victory. DH has proposed leaving Britain if there is going to be a Reform government!

I've always been a swing voter. I'm still in the wait and see camp. We know parties like to get the unpopular decisions done early, I'm hoping that what they have planned is better, and will make improvements- the devil is in the detail.

I'm also obstinate, and the shit subtlety and overtly, thrown around about Labour bad, reform good is pissing me off. It feels as though someone is trying to push me towards anyone except Labour (preferably reform), who and why I ask myself.

Labour isn't all rainbows and unicorns, we knew that. They were also left a poisoned chalice which they are doing their best with.

I believe that we have good people doing their best for the country, which is a damn sight better than a year ago, and while I have no say in how things are being run, I will watch, wait and reserve judgement in lieu of more evidence over the next few years.

Reform may self combust by then. Right now, my anger is directed towards the media, including BBC, who despite seeing the shit showbin America, are pushing us into joining us. I won't be pushed into allow my home to be turned into a far right, facists wet dream.

This is true, they did, the micro targeting campaigns are so convincing that people start to turn on themselves. I think for many, politics is boring and Reform like Trump understand that about their voters, there is a shamelessness that is attractive, hence why in the U.S. have a president that was a reality TV star. Starmer was(is) good at substantial issues because he has integrity but people aren't interested in that as it is not exciting enough. I'm not sure how that can be reset tbh, maybe it's about working at it at a local level not online.

It’s not hard for me because this constituency is blue central. The Tory majority fell last year but we’ve still got a Tory MP. Since my vote achieves the square root of fuck all I may as well vote with my heart.

Yes, absolutely, the BBC has so much coverage on Reform news items, it is completely disproportionate to the seats they have. Richard Tice on breakfast news (I just use it for the visual clock for my DC to get to school, don't watch it), usually Reform on the Question Time panel and I think Any Questions last week.

Mumsnet itself is awash with Reform voices, you would literally think no other party existed. It's always the same old name calling if you object, Loony left, Woke Crowd, Liberal Elites or the faux concern for your welfare, "are you ok GB"🙄