Today's by-election... how do you think it will go?

[Westfacing]

A few months back according to the media it was Reform's for the taking - now it's a three-way bet between Labour, Greens and Reform

Because it was a UK by election, where UK centric matters should (in theory) take priority.

Otherwise you would get people basing their votes on say controversial pension reforms in France.

But when one starts smearing an entire religious group, the topic starts ranging more widely.

Of course it's also morally wrong for Tories to try to tie Labour to Paedophilia.

This election should not be about Gaza at all. In a UK election people should vote on issues that affect them locally and as a UK citizen.

Reform are questionable too yes, in my opinion.

I don't like parties that are extreme left wing or extreme right wing.

I suppose you could say that at least Reform are focusing on a problem in the UK (illegal immigration) rather than an issue somewhere else entirely (Gaza).

It's not smearing an entire religious group, it's factually accurate to state that in the last 25 years the majority of successful terrorist attacks in the UK were committed by Islamic extremists and that Islamist extremism continues to represent the "foremost" threat, making up roughly 75% of MI5’s live caseload.

Now if this was say Hindu or Sikh extremists in the UK making up the majority of terrorist attacks in the UK or being M15's foremost threat then I would say it's not smearing UK Hindus or Sikhs to raise a concern that there is a problem with Hinduism or Sikhism in the UK.

I don't understand what those attacks have to do with the people in Gorton & Denton.

It becomes a smear when you treat an entire religious group as a homogenous bloc of people who all think and believe the same things - which is what you have been doing on this thread. It becomes a smear when you speak as if a single group of people (in this case Muslims) are responsible for all the woes in a country (which is what Reform are doing). The UK is hideously polarised politically, and it behoves all of us to speak with more nuance.

As it turns out, I don't need to report it because there is plenty of discussion taking place today in various places.

Which is a relief, because in MN world, somehow Pakistan vs India is an entirely appropriate topic to feature in a Manchester by-election.

Homophobia exists everywhere, no one denying that, its just bit sad that so many are such terrible losers.

As i said, around 50% of Tory MPs voted against Cameron's Same sex marriage bill, the only reason to do so would be Homophobia.

I doubt very much, if Muslims are such a backward lot as you and others are trying to paint them as, then its highly unlikely they'd be voting for a Party led by a Gay Jew & represented by a white self employed woman.

As I said upthread, useful idiots.

Tactical voting, much easier and cheaper to gain influence over an existing party than start another from scratch. Greens have already done a u-turn on ritual slaughter and I find that jaw-dropping in a party that is meant to care for animal welfare.

Useful idiots for what, exactly?

In a Venn diagram with Muslim voters on one side and the Greens on the other, there would be precisely one issue in the overlapping zone. Gaza.

I present you: Google. The Muslim Vote has a website.

You think Muslim voters only care about Gaza and have no other political concerns?

That settles it.

Muslims voting in a female MP from a party led by a gay Jewish man

Google it

Is that what I said?

But this wasn’t a poll of orthodox Muslims, it was a poll of typical British Muslims.

personally I would be surprised if typical Christians or Muslims polled as high as 50% wanting homosexuality to be illegal.

the mental contortions required to believe that Islam doesn’t have an issue with homosexuality are absolutely mind boggling. The evidence is right there. It’s not legal in any Muslim country and in several (including Gaza) the state can and will execute you for it.

And people fleeing from those countries for these reasons are not welcome in the UK, 'stop the boats'

Well there is also an overlap on anti Westernism, immigration, anti capitalism and anti globalisation.

But I agree that Islamo leftism is a fragile tactical alliance with each side using the other for its own advantage.

Where would the Venn diagram with white voters and Reform overlap?

That's a rubbish Venn diagram. Need to try harder.

It doesn't suit your narrative?

I don't have a 'narrative'.