Page 8 | If you voted Reform, I would love to know why?

AplineDaisies · 2026-05-08T23:58:14+00:00

I am not here to judge so would just like to hear from Reform voters for their reasoning.

Peekingovertheparapet · 09/05/2026 08:09

I voted Green, first time in my life. I suspect we are seeing the fallout from disillusionment with the two horse race. Most of the Reform voters will have defected their Tory vote, and my vote has traditionally been red/orange depending on constituency norms. What we are seeing is the same polarisation that has driven a generally right swing in other countries (namely Europe and America).

You only have to look at Sarah Vine in the Mail this morning to see how worried the establishment are about the Greens. The attacks on Polanski are personal (when he wasn’t even up for election), and yet Reform have done measurable damage in councils already.

In some ways, Greens is a safe vote because they are unlikely to be able to form a government, only a coalition, so Polanski’s lack of economic grounding is less of an issue than it appears. And in any case, the CS is full of clever economists who support decision making at that scale.

Like Trump, Reform have jumped on the general sense of disillusionment in the working class population and promised them things that aren’t achievable. Stopping the small boats being one of them.

RedRiverShore6 · 09/05/2026 08:10

LondonBlueTopaz · 09/05/2026 07:44

Who is and who isn't 'ordinary folk'? This baffles me.

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Does me as well, it's like when a MNer posts about the general public when they are also the general public, what else do they think they are.

DoYouLikeYourNaneFred · 09/05/2026 08:10

Theraffarian · 09/05/2026 05:56

This question has been asked copious amounts of times on our local Facebook pages. The only answers given have been based on national issues , not a single one on the local issues we were actually voting for .

I'm not convinced that many of the people who voted reform have any ideas what their local policies are.

I wouldn't vote Reform. As a disabled person it's like turkeys voting for Christmas.

Here we didn't get any information from any parties other than Lib Dems & Conservative. Not a thing.

traditionally no other party would get a look in here, all other parties together getting less than.. 20% if the vote.

this result shocked me. Lib Dem got in, but reform was not many votes behind.

obviously people were not voting on local issues,

my neighbours (who are friends) have gone full on reform & im very surprised. A good friend has also swallowed their nonsense has also voted reform)

Im hoping it's a wake up call before the GE.

Animatic · 09/05/2026 08:11

caringcarer · 09/05/2026 02:26

The UK has almost open borders policy. We cannot afford to pay for the people who already live here and yet almost everyday between 100-200 more illegal immigrants come. To process each on cost £12k. They all need accomodation on average costing taxpayer £41k each per year. They need feeding, healthcare, the children need education and elders need care. These people have paid nothing into the UK economy they just want to take. Meanwhile people who have paid into UK econyall their working lives wait over a year for a much needed operation. Our schools are in desperate need of equipment and old buildings upgrading and modernised. We don't have enough houses for people already living here. We need to accommodate those people who have paid into the UK through taxes ffirst. We need to put a freeze on all immigration for a year whilst we sort the country out. Our country can no longer defend itself. Far more budget should go to defence also boosting our economy as our armed forces buy new British made equipment. We don't have the funding for this whilst 25 percent of the country is disabled according to the Disability Alliance using DWP figures for 2024. Disability benefits should be scaled back and those with mild anxiety, depression or ADHD should not get benefits for disability. UC claimants got an above inflationn rise this year in benefits. I think too many people only work 2 or 3 days a week because they think I'll just stay home and claim UC top up rather than working full time. I think if people choose to work part time instead of full time they should not be given UC top ups. The tax payer should not be funding a lifestyle choice. As a nation we need to get more young people in the workplace. UC as an out of work benefit should have an expiry date of 6-12 months. If people don't even apply for jobs they should lose their benefits. We need to build more houses for social housing boosting our economy and the money saved from UC could be used to restock social housing for hardworking families who may be on minimum wage but often working 60 hours a week. At the moment tax is taken away from these hard working people to fund those choosing to only work 2-3 days a week. I think ex service employees who leave the forces should be given more support to find a job and social housing if they need it. I'm hoping we come out of ECHR and instead create a UK bill of rights that gives same protections but does not recognise rights of immigrants to stay. Especially those already convicted of crimes in their own countries. Honestly they pretend to be gay and persecuted in their own country just so they can stay, yet often have wives and children. Once in the UK having asylum there should be no being allowed to bring across wives, children, parents or siblings. Overseas students should not be able to get money from SLC because so many go back home and never repay this money. If they want to study in UK there own countries should lend them money and get it back after graduation. There are too many EDI people employed at huge expense in public services like the NHS. There is already diversity there.NHS money should go to employing more nurses and doctors, more equipment, to get through waiting lists more quickly. Peywho do not attend appointments should be fined £100 for each missed appointment. If they don't pay the fine on installments if necessary they should go to the bottom of the appointment queue. A missed GP appointment should carry a £50 fine for time wasted. These fines money could fund more NHS dental appointments so every child can have a NHS dentist. Tax bands should start at £15k to encourage more people back into workplace. Stupid tax on farmers should be reversed, as should additional tax on LL's as this tax increase is just passed in to tenants anyway. Nigel won't shy away from making tough decisions.

The one point you made well here is that public education is truly crumbing, just by the look at the style grammar and reasoning.

Shudacudawuda · 09/05/2026 08:11

I voted Reform because in my area it was a two horse race - it was going to be either Green or Reform.
The Greens are dangerous.... antisemitism, misogyny and intolerance is rife in their ranks, a far worse and scary prospect than Reform.
The Reform candidate also knocked on our door, the only candidate we had round, no team with him he was completely on his own. Had a really nice chat with him, genuine decent guy who lives locally and cares about the area. That swung it.
I'm glad I voted for him, he beat the Green candidate by a couple of hundred votes.
I'm neither racist or stupid, I'm just awake to what's happening in our country and not so narrow minded as just to dismiss a person as 'thick' based on their politics and concerns. The left (where I used to sit) should really try it.

EasternStandard · 09/05/2026 08:12

hairbearbunches · 09/05/2026 08:09

Just to point out that the boats started once the lorries were no longer being waved through at the border and had to face proper customs checks once we left the EU. Illegal immigration did not start after Brexit, all it did was change the modus operandi,

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Yep that post re the increase below is misinformation. And lorries changed to boats after suffocation deaths shocked the public and there was a crackdown.

Peekingovertheparapet · 09/05/2026 08:13

Oh and I voted Green on local policies. I live in a city that has an air pollution problem, and previous councils have consistently failed to address this

ilovesleep6 · 09/05/2026 08:13

Peekingovertheparapet · 09/05/2026 08:09

I voted Green, first time in my life. I suspect we are seeing the fallout from disillusionment with the two horse race. Most of the Reform voters will have defected their Tory vote, and my vote has traditionally been red/orange depending on constituency norms. What we are seeing is the same polarisation that has driven a generally right swing in other countries (namely Europe and America).

You only have to look at Sarah Vine in the Mail this morning to see how worried the establishment are about the Greens. The attacks on Polanski are personal (when he wasn’t even up for election), and yet Reform have done measurable damage in councils already.

In some ways, Greens is a safe vote because they are unlikely to be able to form a government, only a coalition, so Polanski’s lack of economic grounding is less of an issue than it appears. And in any case, the CS is full of clever economists who support decision making at that scale.

Like Trump, Reform have jumped on the general sense of disillusionment in the working class population and promised them things that aren’t achievable. Stopping the small boats being one of them.

Sorry, but that is ridiculous logic. If everyone voted Green because it’s a ‘safe vote and they’ll never get in’ …. they WOULD get in.

hairbearbunches · 09/05/2026 08:14

@BigYellowBus foreign students owe £5bn in unpaid student loans, allegedly.

ilovesleep6 · 09/05/2026 08:14

Peekingovertheparapet · 09/05/2026 08:13

Oh and I voted Green on local policies. I live in a city that has an air pollution problem, and previous councils have consistently failed to address this

I assume you never travel on an airplane?

ilovesleep6 · 09/05/2026 08:15

Shudacudawuda · 09/05/2026 08:11

I voted Reform because in my area it was a two horse race - it was going to be either Green or Reform.
The Greens are dangerous.... antisemitism, misogyny and intolerance is rife in their ranks, a far worse and scary prospect than Reform.
The Reform candidate also knocked on our door, the only candidate we had round, no team with him he was completely on his own. Had a really nice chat with him, genuine decent guy who lives locally and cares about the area. That swung it.
I'm glad I voted for him, he beat the Green candidate by a couple of hundred votes.
I'm neither racist or stupid, I'm just awake to what's happening in our country and not so narrow minded as just to dismiss a person as 'thick' based on their politics and concerns. The left (where I used to sit) should really try it.

I agree, people have no idea how dangerous the Greens are and yet vote for them as they think it’s a safe vote. The Greens these days are about everything BUT the environment.

Dogstar78 · 09/05/2026 08:15

WheretheFishesareFrightening · 09/05/2026 04:35

How exactly? The only link I can see is people have stupidly and erroneously voted for national issues in a local election. I truly despair for the general public.

And I’m a right wing voter.

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Exactly what I was thinking. This is the scary thing about letting people vote when they don't really understand what they are voting for. This influences the lives of others significantly. We have the right to vote, but also a responsibility to have a basic understanding of the voting system and how your vote will influence your local area, in a LOCAL election.

DoYouLikeYourNaneFred · 09/05/2026 08:16

Peekingovertheparapet · 09/05/2026 08:13

Oh and I voted Green on local policies. I live in a city that has an air pollution problem, and previous councils have consistently failed to address this

and what have they said they will do about it?

Sonato · 09/05/2026 08:17

MaryBeardsShoes · 09/05/2026 07:17

🤷🏻‍♀️ In my view our problems aren’t actually due to immigrants.

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Ok, but you engaged initially to tell me my point around immigration vs resources was wrong, so, again

Are we adequately equipped resource wise for the number of immigrants arriving here daily?

EasternStandard · 09/05/2026 08:17

Dogstar78 · 09/05/2026 08:15

Exactly what I was thinking. This is the scary thing about letting people vote when they don't really understand what they are voting for. This influences the lives of others significantly. We have the right to vote, but also a responsibility to have a basic understanding of the voting system and how your vote will influence your local area, in a LOCAL election.

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People do understand, they get that local elections are the most impactful way to send feedback to the gov.

Parky04 · 09/05/2026 08:18

Love this thread. It reminds me of the bun fights we all had during Brexit! Roll on the general election.

justinhawkinsnavalfluff · 09/05/2026 08:19

ThatNattyPlayer · 09/05/2026 07:58

I voted reform based on local issues, the current council has run it into the ground and the reform candidates promised better things
It seems a lot of people agreed as they got the majority easily, with the rest being split between a few others.
if I was asked in real life who I voted for I would be honest.
I was shouted down on another thread which didn’t surprise me, yet in real life when I told several people at work, family members etc I was met with the news they was also voting reform.
i am sure someone will be along soon to tell me how thick I am, but there you go.

I don't think your thick but I doubt you could find a reform council that has done anything positive for its constituents...unless you count putting up flags.

cloudtreecarpet · 09/05/2026 08:21

I think Reform gaining more councils could actually be a good thing to happen this long before another General Election because they will demonstrate their incompetency and failure to deliver and then people might start to realise they really AREN'T a viable option to run the country.

ITMA2000 · 09/05/2026 08:22

caringcarer · 09/05/2026 02:26

The UK has almost open borders policy. We cannot afford to pay for the people who already live here and yet almost everyday between 100-200 more illegal immigrants come. To process each on cost £12k. They all need accomodation on average costing taxpayer £41k each per year. They need feeding, healthcare, the children need education and elders need care. These people have paid nothing into the UK economy they just want to take. Meanwhile people who have paid into UK econyall their working lives wait over a year for a much needed operation. Our schools are in desperate need of equipment and old buildings upgrading and modernised. We don't have enough houses for people already living here. We need to accommodate those people who have paid into the UK through taxes ffirst. We need to put a freeze on all immigration for a year whilst we sort the country out. Our country can no longer defend itself. Far more budget should go to defence also boosting our economy as our armed forces buy new British made equipment. We don't have the funding for this whilst 25 percent of the country is disabled according to the Disability Alliance using DWP figures for 2024. Disability benefits should be scaled back and those with mild anxiety, depression or ADHD should not get benefits for disability. UC claimants got an above inflationn rise this year in benefits. I think too many people only work 2 or 3 days a week because they think I'll just stay home and claim UC top up rather than working full time. I think if people choose to work part time instead of full time they should not be given UC top ups. The tax payer should not be funding a lifestyle choice. As a nation we need to get more young people in the workplace. UC as an out of work benefit should have an expiry date of 6-12 months. If people don't even apply for jobs they should lose their benefits. We need to build more houses for social housing boosting our economy and the money saved from UC could be used to restock social housing for hardworking families who may be on minimum wage but often working 60 hours a week. At the moment tax is taken away from these hard working people to fund those choosing to only work 2-3 days a week. I think ex service employees who leave the forces should be given more support to find a job and social housing if they need it. I'm hoping we come out of ECHR and instead create a UK bill of rights that gives same protections but does not recognise rights of immigrants to stay. Especially those already convicted of crimes in their own countries. Honestly they pretend to be gay and persecuted in their own country just so they can stay, yet often have wives and children. Once in the UK having asylum there should be no being allowed to bring across wives, children, parents or siblings. Overseas students should not be able to get money from SLC because so many go back home and never repay this money. If they want to study in UK there own countries should lend them money and get it back after graduation. There are too many EDI people employed at huge expense in public services like the NHS. There is already diversity there.NHS money should go to employing more nurses and doctors, more equipment, to get through waiting lists more quickly. Peywho do not attend appointments should be fined £100 for each missed appointment. If they don't pay the fine on installments if necessary they should go to the bottom of the appointment queue. A missed GP appointment should carry a £50 fine for time wasted. These fines money could fund more NHS dental appointments so every child can have a NHS dentist. Tax bands should start at £15k to encourage more people back into workplace. Stupid tax on farmers should be reversed, as should additional tax on LL's as this tax increase is just passed in to tenants anyway. Nigel won't shy away from making tough decisions.

Farage is the one person most responsible for the increase in legal and illegal immigration with the Brexit changes he pushed for. He has publicly stated many times he wants the NHS abolished and to privatize health and social care. His Party is funded by billionaires, and he is currently a millionaire himself, but on track to increase his wealth.
People who support Farage are very, very wealthy people who do not care about the UK. Good luck to you if you fall in this category, but please don't encourage poorer people to support him!

catspyjamas1 · 09/05/2026 08:22

OP - I voted Conservative this week but was mightily tempted to vote for Reform. I will likely vote for them in the next GE.

I am an ex card carrying Labour member and voter. I did not vote for them in the last GE and spoilt my ballot.
The writing was on the wall that Labour would be abysmal and anyone who thought otherwise wasn't paying attention imo. It was evident a long time before the GE who Starmer and his allies are (see "The Labour Files" investigation).

My immediate family voted Reform this week, some of whom are mixed race, some like myself, are immigrants to the UK. All of us are tired of being told we are racist for having legitimate concerns about immigration levels and the cost to taxpayers. We are tired of being labelled far right racists. I am currently between jobs and cannot claim a cent to help me in any small way, yet, down the road from my house are two hotels housing hundreds of male asylum seekers getting food, housing, etc etc etc. My neighbour has been evicted from her private rental (landlord is selling) with her two toddlers and she is still waiting for proper housing - this comes after the Labour Council removed THOUSANDS of local residents from the housing list, including her.

This town is creaking under the decisions the Labour led Council and successive governments have taken over the last 20 years. Getting a GP appointment is nearly impossible, our roads are a fucking mess, the Council wants to pedestrianise the high street against the wishes of the businesses operating on it, there are tons of dodgy Turkish barbers, the town centre is rapidly declining in favour of high rise flats to appeal to Londoners, spunking money to graffiti cycle track underpasses because there is nothing else that money could be used for, a shockingly bad train service made worse by govt. decision to allow a state own and operated train company to cut stops impacting commuters to London, locals teaming up to do litter picking and tidying up of public areas because the Council doesn't do it, extortionate parking fees set by the Council in car parks, their obsession with net zero impacting town design and parking decisions (we have thousands of new houses and flats being built in the countryside around and in the town, many with no parking because "reasons"), poor to no maintenence of an extensive cycle track network. I could go on and on about local issues before I even start on the policies this government has taken since coming into power.

I can completely understand why people are sick of the status quo (Conservatives and Labour) and are willing to take a bet on something radically different, be it Reform or Green (who are batshit imo). People are frustrated and have had enough. IMO, this week was a 'fuck you' to Labour and voters, including those that voted for Labour, telling the government you are on the wrong track and need to course correct, fast.

LoveHearts69 · 09/05/2026 08:22

I’m honestly baffled that anyone could think Reform would be of any benefit to us. Farage is all for the 1% rich. He gets more donations than any other party and is bought out by oil and gas companies etc. He is so far removed from being for the working class and would sell off and privatise absolutely everything!

I also don’t think anyone voting understands the devastating impact a USA based healthcare system would have on us. Insurance does NOT pay out for everything. Even after insurance payments, people are still having to pay out £10,000 for giving birth for example. I’m a member of a homebirth group and there’s so many women from the US on there opting for a free birth (no midwife present) because they physically can’t afford the costs. People are losing their homes and going into horrendous debt.

If anyone really thinks that immigration is impacting them more on a daily basis than a Farage government would then I don’t know what more to say tbh. I’m just devastated so many people have lost their minds.

RedTagAlan · 09/05/2026 08:23

LondonBlueTopaz · 09/05/2026 07:44

Who is and who isn't 'ordinary folk'? This baffles me.

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Not me apparently.

I must be some sort of elite because I can see a pattern when every one of these Reform threads ends up an insult fest.

Maybe it's my paranoia. But nah. Surely there can't be any organisation to this constant derailment. Derailment from talking about their policies that is.

Peekingovertheparapet · 09/05/2026 08:23

ilovesleep6 · 09/05/2026 08:13

Sorry, but that is ridiculous logic. If everyone voted Green because it’s a ‘safe vote and they’ll never get in’ …. they WOULD get in.

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True, but the UK doesn’t run a presidential election, even during a GE. For my ward at this time the Green candidate was the best for local people. The Zack Polanski bashing in the media is unhelpful, other than showing how worried the right wing press are.

ilovesleep6 · 09/05/2026 08:23

DoYouLikeYourNaneFred · 09/05/2026 08:16

and what have they said they will do about it?

Edited

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Well the Greens want to abolish most air travel, so there’s that.

I’m sure that’s not quite what the poster wants though. People who complain about this usually want the planes to fly over somewhere else and be someone’s problem.

Shudacudawuda · 09/05/2026 08:24

Seen a couple of posts from anti Reform types suggesting that people shouldn't be allowed to vote if they're stupid enough to vote Reform.
I'll assume comments like this are unserious.....but, do you have any awareness of how this come across? The arrogance of assuming people have voted without fully considering what they're doing!
The turnout in my area was 38%!! Reform won by a couple of hundred votes, Green coming a close second. Previously the council has been Labour controlled for nearly 50 years.
Do you really think that the 38% that bothered to vote hadn't thought it through? The people who didn't vote at all where the ones who didn't think it through. The minority that actually bothered are the only ones that took it seriously. To just write those people off as thick people who shouldn't be allowed a vote.....for goodness sake. You are the problem. Pay attention to what the electorate are saying.
Democracy is important and should be valued.