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Mumsnetters voting Reform

1000 replies

Illjustplayostrich · 04/01/2026 08:02

Mumsnet mothers have always leaned Labour. Now Reform is ahead

https://www.thetimes.com/article/dbd39087-465c-4587-9eaa-292606ffb775?shareToken=a99daa444e8bc0f9444cca2bf01f3851

I'm slightly startled by this. I'm a centrist, slightly more right leaning perhaps but frankly I'm open to any government who will get a firm grip on the public finances and go about growing the economy in a sustainable way. My impression of this site is that it's definitely more left leaning and and Reform enthusiasts tend to get shouted down. Personally, I think we should be talking about them a lot more as it's highly likely they will form part of the next government.

My impression is that they are promising the earth but don't have people with the necessary skill set to make that happen. I really worry that they will get voted in and find out that they can't fix all the problems within 18 months, leading to yet more disillusionment amongst voters.

Mumsnet mothers have always leaned Labour. Now Reform is ahead

Rising support for Nigel Farage’s party — if not the man himself — may worry the government

https://www.thetimes.com/article/dbd39087-465c-4587-9eaa-292606ffb775?shareToken=a99daa444e8bc0f9444cca2bf01f3851

OP posts:
Thread gallery
15
Dollyfloss · 04/01/2026 20:26

TakeItUpWithTheAnteater · 04/01/2026 08:16

The user demographic has definitely changed.

Maybe it’s that people’s opinions have changed?🤔

PandoraSocks · 04/01/2026 20:30

TheNuthatch · 04/01/2026 20:07

How was the phone in, did you listen?
I hope it was genuine MNers who gave opinions.

I did listen to it as I was cooking, so may have missed some of it, but a few of the callers were men. Both Reform and non-Reform supporters. I don't think they were Mumsneters. You should be able to listen on catch-up.

Dollyfloss · 04/01/2026 20:30

Illjustplayostrich · 04/01/2026 20:24

I am a genuine Mumsnetter(frequent name changes) but a couple of those are new to me! What's this about naice ham and can I buy it in Aldi?

ALDI?? Eurghhh!

Do you not have a nice Waitrose near you? At the very least an M&S simply food? Those are the only places for naice ham, that or the artisan butcher.

Mrsknowitall · 04/01/2026 20:35

CurlewKate · 04/01/2026 08:11

Also- I genuinely don’t understand how
anyone gets “shouted down” on an internet forum. Disagreed with or expected to provide supporting facts, of course. But shouted down? How does that work?

They absolutely do get shouted down/ shut down, as soon as someone on the right mentions they watch fb news or will be voting for reform, we get called racist and all sorts

Dollyfloss · 04/01/2026 20:40

Mrsknowitall · 04/01/2026 20:35

They absolutely do get shouted down/ shut down, as soon as someone on the right mentions they watch fb news or will be voting for reform, we get called racist and all sorts

It’s true. I’m politically stranded and have no idea who I’ll vote for but middle to right leaning MN-ers always get hounded off threads and very rarely even bother starting them or commenting.

The left often tend to be very vocal and aggressive and I think people just can’t be arsed arguing with slightly deranged people.

TakeItUpWithTheAnteater · 04/01/2026 20:44

Dollyfloss · 04/01/2026 20:26

Maybe it’s that people’s opinions have changed?🤔

Well yes, of course some may have. But there are lots of signs in speech and discussions that point to different demographics.

TakeItUpWithTheAnteater · 04/01/2026 20:45

Dollyfloss · 04/01/2026 20:40

It’s true. I’m politically stranded and have no idea who I’ll vote for but middle to right leaning MN-ers always get hounded off threads and very rarely even bother starting them or commenting.

The left often tend to be very vocal and aggressive and I think people just can’t be arsed arguing with slightly deranged people.

Yet we’re all here commenting.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 04/01/2026 20:48

Illjustplayostrich · 04/01/2026 20:24

I am a genuine Mumsnetter(frequent name changes) but a couple of those are new to me! What's this about naice ham and can I buy it in Aldi?

Perish the thought!

It wouldn't be naice ham then now, would it? Only Waitrose will do.

Legolava · 04/01/2026 20:50

TakeItUpWithTheAnteater · 04/01/2026 20:45

Yet we’re all here commenting.

It’s changed now for the better. I think people are more self aware they did it and there is a lot less Labour support here. Plus MN did start clamping down on all the bot accusations.

However, start a thread to discuss welfare reform. Or ask genuine questions about the cost of living or something else if you’re in a mid to high earning household. Or start a thread which dares to question the Labour government. You’ll soon see!

Dollyfloss · 04/01/2026 20:54

Legolava · 04/01/2026 20:50

It’s changed now for the better. I think people are more self aware they did it and there is a lot less Labour support here. Plus MN did start clamping down on all the bot accusations.

However, start a thread to discuss welfare reform. Or ask genuine questions about the cost of living or something else if you’re in a mid to high earning household. Or start a thread which dares to question the Labour government. You’ll soon see!

Yes, people aren’t really caring so much any more - this is also why Reform is getting so much support. It’s becoming trendy now to be right-wing!

TakeItUpWithTheAnteater · 04/01/2026 21:01

Legolava · 04/01/2026 20:50

It’s changed now for the better. I think people are more self aware they did it and there is a lot less Labour support here. Plus MN did start clamping down on all the bot accusations.

However, start a thread to discuss welfare reform. Or ask genuine questions about the cost of living or something else if you’re in a mid to high earning household. Or start a thread which dares to question the Labour government. You’ll soon see!

Oh I 100% think you have to have a hide of steel on here to ask a question about money, should you have any at all. I’ve pointed that out before.

Illjustplayostrich · 04/01/2026 21:17

Dollyfloss · 04/01/2026 20:30

ALDI?? Eurghhh!

Do you not have a nice Waitrose near you? At the very least an M&S simply food? Those are the only places for naice ham, that or the artisan butcher.

I'll have the butler take a gander next time he goes out to stock the fridge.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 04/01/2026 22:46

SayItLikeItIsLetsKeepItReal · 04/01/2026 19:03

Reform are pro-SAHPs, which makes a very refreshing change. They also appear to be able to decisively define what a woman is. Also a refreshing change!

I don't think Reform would be likely to be positive for women.

Nevermind17 · 04/01/2026 23:10

Illjustplayostrich · 04/01/2026 18:54

It's better we have them than not (I obviously don't mean I think it's great to have foodbanks at all) Before there were foodbanks, people went hungry and were too ashamed to ask for help. But the need has always been there.

No, before we had food banks people could apply for a loan from DWP which was repaid from their benefits. The Tories stopped that about 15 years ago, and so the need for food banks arose.

peacefulpeach · 04/01/2026 23:53

Nevermind17 · 04/01/2026 23:10

No, before we had food banks people could apply for a loan from DWP which was repaid from their benefits. The Tories stopped that about 15 years ago, and so the need for food banks arose.

No. The biggest network of food banks was introduced in 2004, when Labour were in power. The aim of them being to act as a welfare safety net.

1984Now · 04/01/2026 23:55

I guess it was straightforward to be left leaning/feminist/the majority on MN over a decade ago.
I mean, Labour would always be the party of women's and minority's (reasonable) rights.
Unfortunately that ship has sailed.
Labour offer only platitudes to women, a great example being Starmer's bold pronouncement he'd reduce VAWG by 50%. Not only was this never practical as an aim, thus unethical to promote it, but he's taking no steps at all, save for the photo op/click bait "policy" of anti misogyny classes in schools.
All the while, school kids are left alone to deal with the untested social experiment that is mixed toilets and showers.
His proud claim to reduce poverty by 450k re ending the 2-child benefit cap...truthfully, he never wanted to do this, sure it's a good fit on principle for him, but he had to be dragged to it by his ever burgeoning recalcitrant backbenchers.
And now, the most visible things that show he's no friend of women and kids, Phillipson tedious dragging of heels on enacting the ECHR advice for rolling out the SC ruling, and the Streeting PB Trial.
I totally get why any politically aware, especially left leaning woman on here, in the UK generally, would feel hugely unsure voting for Farage, and also see the Tories as no friend of women (food banks, 14 years of avoiding sorting old age care, no house building for young Brits becoming adults, the two years of total inaction from the Sunak govt in absolutely not nailing the gender law shortfall).
Despite Badenoch's apparent GC TERFery credentials, she was ok to go along, indeed encouraged DEI in the NHS and schools by her refusal to step on Peak Woke influence throughout the Civil Service and relevant Quangos.
But as usual, when talking the relative merits of Tories v Labour on what matters to women, the Tories are guilty of omission (lack of interest, zero resistance to woke overreach, lack of prioritisation)...Labour actively carry out policies that they believe will teach citizens to be better.
Reform and women's rights, what advantages them and their kids?
I know one thing...someone in govt has to finally stand up and look the Lanyard Class/Blob in the eye, and say things are going to revert to biological women being both the default, and the A to Z of public policy.
10k per week Gen Z/young Millennials cast to a lifetime of mental health diagnoses and dislocation from the world of work, to add to the 500k already claiming, just cannot continue, especially the cursory examinations and lack of interviews that are leading to this
...in the 70s we were close to rioting when the dole queues spiked 500k-1m, yet today these figures on ADHD etc permanent sick notes raises just a murmur in the media.
How many foreign criminals are we keeping, how many asylum hotels are staying, how much new council housing for migrants is going to carry on when virtually every young Brit cannot easily, or ever, get a place of their own, not forgetting our absolute poor on waiting lists for years?
So, it's all very well Starmer saying a vote for Reform is Route One to a fascist state, he still offers nothing as an alternative, 18 months into power, happier in a plane going to a G7 meet, or a Ukraine conference, or a sit down with Trump, rather than brainstorming the solutions .
Remember when he said "the Labour Party last, the British people first"...well, in 18 months, his allegiance is still in hock to Labour class politics, his selfish backbenchers, and his union overlords.

Friendlygingercat · 05/01/2026 01:34

Im a lifelong conservative voter and always strongly to the right of the party. I believe in the "small state" low taxation and people looking after themselves. So I dont believe benefits should be too easy to get or for life.

I voted Reform in the GE because of the way the conservatives have made a mess of things. I dont like Farage but I agree with many of his views on immigratuion. I dont like scroungers and believe we should adopt a very harsh policy to defer illegal entrants. When we allowed in large ethnic groups (Beginning with Windrush) it should only have been as guest workers.

Onceuponatimethen · 05/01/2026 07:25

The US and Australia were built on mass migration and don’t seem to have done too badly. I personally feel that our different in migrating populations add a lot to the UK.

When everyone who voted for Brexit, as suggested by Reform, did so, I think a lot of them were looking for an improvement to things in their lives. Most people polled don’t seem to feel they got that.

I’m not sure any changes that Reform are proposing now are going to benefit anyone any more than Brexit actually has done.

Alexandra2001 · 05/01/2026 07:42

Illjustplayostrich · 04/01/2026 08:15

@CurlewKate I've seen it many times. Someone expresses concern about immigration and there's promptly a string of comments calling them racist/bigoted/disgraceful.

Not seen that for a while, maybe a few years ago.

Plus the rise in immigration from SE Asia and Africa is as a direct result of Brexit, supported by the 'right and driven over the line by Farage, so its v odd he is now seen as the solution.

I don't know why Labour don't make more of this.

On your OP... people are free to vote for who ever they want, i'm just looking forward for some Reform voters, after 2 years of failure, asking for "more time" to fix the issues & blaming Labour...

Whilst everyone else demands a fresh election/Farage to stand down... because they were "lied too" 😂

Alexandra2001 · 05/01/2026 07:46

Friendlygingercat · 05/01/2026 01:34

Im a lifelong conservative voter and always strongly to the right of the party. I believe in the "small state" low taxation and people looking after themselves. So I dont believe benefits should be too easy to get or for life.

I voted Reform in the GE because of the way the conservatives have made a mess of things. I dont like Farage but I agree with many of his views on immigratuion. I dont like scroungers and believe we should adopt a very harsh policy to defer illegal entrants. When we allowed in large ethnic groups (Beginning with Windrush) it should only have been as guest workers.

The issues with benefits and immigration are as a result of policies pushed by Farage and the Tories.

The Tories had 10 years before Covid struck to show us what their low tax small state ideas would give us.....

They almost doubled the national debt and gave us welfare dependence.

redwinecheeseandothersnacks · 05/01/2026 07:46

All these posters going to vote Reform without any idea of their intended policies. Just that it will be 'better' - a meeting of the poorly informed. Also all the Reform activists trying to get traction on MN (congratulations its working) and getting people to participate in phone ins.

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 05/01/2026 07:49

Alexandra2001 · 05/01/2026 07:42

Not seen that for a while, maybe a few years ago.

Plus the rise in immigration from SE Asia and Africa is as a direct result of Brexit, supported by the 'right and driven over the line by Farage, so its v odd he is now seen as the solution.

I don't know why Labour don't make more of this.

On your OP... people are free to vote for who ever they want, i'm just looking forward for some Reform voters, after 2 years of failure, asking for "more time" to fix the issues & blaming Labour...

Whilst everyone else demands a fresh election/Farage to stand down... because they were "lied too" 😂

I’m not sure. Trump was popular because he said things that other politicians wouldn’t say and Farage is similar. Starmer appears weak as he is always bumbling and prevaricating around difficult issues which makes him look shady and two faced. I will be voting for Kemi as she seems to be successfully finding the middle ground of saying the difficult things without beating around the bush with word salad.

EasternStandard · 05/01/2026 07:51

redwinecheeseandothersnacks · 05/01/2026 07:46

All these posters going to vote Reform without any idea of their intended policies. Just that it will be 'better' - a meeting of the poorly informed. Also all the Reform activists trying to get traction on MN (congratulations its working) and getting people to participate in phone ins.

Mnhq put out press release and got the traction from the media. Justine was on the radio. It’s their choice to do PR, people can stay or go based on that.

Sherbs12 · 05/01/2026 08:28

Farage has indeed made a very successful career as an outspoken and controversial media personality - being media savvy and giving good social media spin are one thing, his political track record is another. Look at his history of leaving previous political parties under drama and his poor record as an MEP - he was 748th out of 751 for lowest attendance (he’ll still be taking the pension though, at a cost to the taxpayer). He flounders under scrutiny and he is a lazy public servant. Even though he had one of the worst voting records in the European Parliament, he somehow managed to find the time to vote against countering Russian propaganda…just like his colleague and former leader of Reform in Wales Nathan Gill, who pleaded guilty to pro-Russian bribery: now that is what I would call shady.

I’m baffled by the idea that Reform will
be good for women. They’ve already started making murmurings about abortion rights and the preference for a traditional family unit (ironic given Farage’s own personal life). Farage has been photographed with both Connor Macgregor and Andrew Tate, who he described as an ‘important voice for young men.’ He also supported his MP at the time James McMurdock when revelations of his criminal conviction for viciously attacking a previous girlfriend came to light - Richard Tice said we should ‘forgive him’ as we’re a Christian country.

PandoraSocks · 05/01/2026 08:41

If last night's LBC phone on Mumsnetters turning to Reform was anything to go by the PR was for Reform not MN. There were plenty of men calling in to sing Reform's praises. Other men were explaining why mumsnetters might be turning to Reform.

One reason given was that women are only really concerned with politics which affect their domestic lives and not wider and world politics. Even if true, I am not sure how that squares with Farage's approach to the NHS.

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