Mumsnetters voting Reform

[Illjustplayostrich]

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.

July 2024 was also when Reform first won MP seats (they only had Anderson as a defector before then) - it makes sense that they would have grown since then.

Yes, there are voters disillusioned by Labour and Tories, but what about that other group I referred to earlier? Any thoughts on those and why Reform appeals to them?

Exactly. When a party has no policies it is little difficult to critique in those terms.

@Sherbs12 It's not the 'other group' who will put Farage in No.10. They have always been around, but they used to vote for parties like the BNP in my constituency. I don't doubt that many of them will now vote Reform.
With respect, I think you're focusing on the wrong people. It's the millions who have turned their backs on the main parties who will make the difference at elections. They are voting against Labour and Cons.

Or maybe they would drift to the Reform splinter parties? Are there two? I think Tice turns some people right off.

There have been announcements on that though I don’t follow it closely but Ik they’ve said a collection of policies they’d probably do, it’s more that people run on other things as below.

Possibly yes. I don't know who or what the splinter groups are. I think Rupert Lowe could scoop many of the disillusioned up if Farage was taken out of play.
This is what worries me. There are worse than Farage out there. Attacking him seems to help him. Better to beat Reform by winning back those voters imo.

It's the millions who have turned their backs on the main parties who will make the difference at elections. They are voting against Labour and Cons

That is true. But I think come the UK GE there will be tactical voting amongst many of those people to keep Reform out. As we saw happen in Caerphilly when all the polls, pundits and even bookies expected Reform to win. As did Farage.

Not everyone disillusioned with Labour and Tories is turning to Reform.

Absolutely. We've also seen a surge for parties like Plaid Cymru for the same reasons. SNP doing well in Scotland.
Agree that elections in the near future will see mainly tactical votes, right and the left.

I agree with you, but please don’t think I’m focusing only on them - I’m just alarmed and frustrated at how empowered they now feel and I’m not sure that’s cutting through to people not on these groups in social
media. I think we need to focus on it all - including those who are just voting for ‘a change or it can’t be any worse’ and the group that rarely gets mentioned, but those who don’t vote because they feel apathy at the prospect that any party could make a difference to them or totally disillusioned with politics in general, or something else - and I mean that totally without judgement, it’s understandable.

I am not convinced that those groups hugely matter, given they are fringe. I certainly don’t recognise them.

When all is said and done I Really hope that otherwise sensible and good people, don’t turn to the Green Party.

Respectfully, I would say lucky you if they’re not on your radar - although, I agree they they’re predominantly on the fringes (for now, at least).

Leaving immigration to one side to address the economy for a moment.

The compound effects of high taxation, poor incentives to work or assume risk, high welfare, excessive employment regulation and poor productivity growth led by the public sector are proving catastrophic for the UK economy - this is why there will be a reckoning for Labour.

Respectfully, I would say lucky you if they’re not on your radar

Very true.

The thing is, you're probably right, reform will make a dogs breakfast of it not least because they will have a grand total of 2 MPs who have had any experience of actually being in government.

My fear is that people will
have given all main parties a try, been disappointed and will
lose all trust in the democratic process full stop. I don't know what will come after that.

After watching Phillipson and Streeting, under the direct complicity of Starmer, totally spit in the face of women re their fears of gender ideology under a Labour govt, and the total refusal of this govt to try and solve our productivity and growth issues, enabling an exponential rise in young people on benefits, presiding over terrible youth unemployment, nowhere near targets set for house building, impeding jobs red tape and destruction with the Rayner Unemployment Bill, and Starmer's inability to somehow work the system of govt to in any way create motion, while predictably succumb to typical Labour groupthink, their vested interests re unions...I know I'll vote in any way possible to stop them at one term, either to a direct Reform majority or Reform Tory alliance.

I agree with you on that.

Although it also depends on things like the price of oil and Trump might do them a favour if it gets cheaper. As much as supporters won’t want that from him and loathe Maduro removal, lower oil price could change things.

By how much idk

I think that is a bit gloomy. I doubt we are in for some sort of revolution or civil war (as some like to predict). Anyway, things could look very different in three years' time.

TBF i never made mention of MNetters, though once you ve been on here a while, its quite plain

Labour have had made little difference to my life, my taxes haven't changed but we have had considerably more road repairs done.... in-fact for my DD, its been a huge improvement, those tax rises everyone is so negative about, helped reduce her waiting lists from 22weeks to just over 2 weeks & with 52 new ambulances commissioned, her stroke patients will get care and to Hospital faster.

Also, i welcome more defence spend, thats particularly of benefit to Plymouth nr me and the Dockyard there... the Cons went into the GE promising further cuts.

There are now a variety of variously qualified people indicating that the UK will have a civil war. I thought this extremely odd and yet revealing. Apparently this will be three groups;

a) Muslims
b) Far right white vigilantes
c) The state

I know that may sound completely mad to some, but it tells you how divided the UK has become that there are relatively mainstream media and politicians mentioning it.

Labour appealing to a few steadfast on here won’t do it.

Obviously many people have been impacted by their policies. It’s not just about a few of the most loyal.

There was a pub owner who voted Labour last time who has now barred MPs. The left / right thing people go on about is nonsense a lot of the time. It’s just people impacted by Labour.

Remember that the lower the price of feedstock (crude prices), the higher the percentage which is made up of taxation (65-75%).

Civil War?

The British stand around and moan, they didn't even get irate when the pension age went up.

The talk of Civil War is done to try and associate that with the Labour Govt.

Thanks Rachel Reeves - it’s growth growth growth with your extended tax thresholds.

https://archive.ph/sz8ds - accessible article link

Pubs? approx 2300 have closed since 2020, over 5 years.. in 2025 - estimates are 400 will close (206 in the first 6months of 2025)
404 closed in 2024.

So pretty much on trend with previous years, in fact its down, between 550 and 700 closed in 2023.

No one on here shouting about it then.....