To be completely shocked about someone I used to know

[EWAB]

When my youngest was at primary school I really liked this woman who had kids either side of mine.

She was in the PTA equivalent and was just a nice woman. There was no drama around her.

I remember having a day off and went into the local cafe, and she invited me to sit with her friends. She was funny, warm and witty.

Significantly, she had friends of all ethnicities and her best friend was Asian.

Everybody will relate to being busy but I think if it was a different time in my life or we had kids in same year we would have been mates.

I am absolutely shocked that she is a member of a right wing political party and has a presence in that party, utterly and completely shocked.

I know it’s not illegal but God.

All three of my siblings are Tories, I’m not someone who thinks everyone has to think like me but I am stunned.

Mumsnet hates this, but I have had a physical reaction to the news. I am just Gobsmacked and weirdly let down and I do know that’s a stupid, irrational thing to say.

I defaced the placard outside his house before feeling I could spend the weekend there.

Genuinely made me lol. Are you Rik from The Young Ones?

You might not want to look at other countries with similar to Reform increase, granted our electoral system gives different results but the U.K. is not that different

Having a different view doesn't mean that you don't get on with them - I have friends who have views across the whole of the political spectrum and I think that is healthy

So extreme! 😅

So true. Journalists in the Spectator are being branded far-right.

Hugosmaid · Today 14:27
How far is the far right? What does it even mean nowadays?

I’ve been called far right for not wanting men in women’s showers.

I’ve been called far right because I have children in private school - do the many many Chinese, African and Indian families that go there too get called far right?

The Reform party is a far right populist party. Nigel Farage has used racist rhetoric on several occasions. Don't normalise parties that are racist. It's not a trait of "good people".

Well said.

The BNP definitely are, I believe the National Front still are and, as I suggested upthread, Reform are of similar ilk but with better presentation and manners, and less criminality.

And then you have the delightful English Freedom League and League of St George, both of which I believe still exist, but keep a low profile.

Someone's political view point absolutely defines them as a good or bad person.

The more we normalise the othering of people, the worse and worse our society gets.

Irony

Plenty of Asians I know are right wing. You can’t get more right wing than the BJP in India at the moment. The rise of Hindu Nationalism and the hatred/violence against Muslims and Sikhs is on the frightening in India. So her having an Asian friend probably isn’t overly telling.

That's the concept. However, politics is often run by individuals with little experience or qualifications. As a result, politics becomes subjective and influenced by personal interests or nimbyists. Look at HS2 for example.
Look at the state of the roads for example. They know nothing of economics and how their imbecilic policy and ideas ruin the basic functions of cities or towns.
Well-meaning but definitely thick.

Get a grip

Bemused by your “good people” comment. Do you not think that the evaluation of goodness is a subjective activity and I might regard your version of good as being self-righteous, worthless, and misjudged?

Common sense Lee Anderson, Nigel Farage and Richard Tice?
Is common sense another term for far right now?

And who says what is the criteria for being a "decent" person?!?

The certainty of the left that they are someone in the moral correct sphere is nuts. These things are generally so subjective. It should be possible to assess and empathise with different viewpoints, but, ironically, the left has 0 capacity to tolerate or understand.

Do you understand what “far right”
means?!

What 'hateful' views do you think she holds OP?

There are no decent people in the BNP.

Surely that's not hard to fathom?

Somehow long established parties such as Conservatives, Labour and Liberal/Libdems which each have a range of policies seem to be more defined or identified over a very few of those. Or is it the media only magnifying one or two to get customers or 'likes'?

Beliefs mean something in my world.

It's not just words or a light-hearted hobby.

Reform! 😂😂😂 Thought it was going to be the BUF!

You can pretty much guarantee that "common sense" means right wing, when used in political rhetoric.

That's because the right like to imply that anyone who disagrees with them is not just holding a different view, but actually crazy.

You're applying your own criteria of what's "decent".

There are many "decent" people in the BNP including doctors, solicitors, and all manner of white collar, and also blue collar workers.

We have political freedom in this country, and people have a right to exercise it, and be a member of whatever one they prefer.

I'm sure there's nothing lighthearted about you at all...