Voting in an hour - tell me why I shouldn’t vote reform

[Wentie]

This isn’t a wind up. I’ve done countless different quiz type things and the policies I most align to come out strongly reform. I would previously have been a Tory voter. I don’t like farage and I do feel prejudiced against reform from what is portrayed in the media - but their policies appeal to me. Anyone have any actual facts or glaring holes that I might have missed?

Ian Gribbin said women are the “sponging gender”, Sam Wood-Brass shared a picture of a raw chicken and said it reminded him of a picture of his girlfriend, Emmett Jenner said (in response to PM saying I want women to know they can achieve anything they want) “like fertilising eggs and providing Y chromosomes”, Nigel Farage said women are “worth less” to city employers.

is that enough?

Bit like everyone else then?

This!

vm.tiktok.com/ZGesbuPUB/

I think you have to think beyond the policies. Some of them sound "okay".
However, they have absolutely no costings or idea of how they're actually going to enact these policies and, ultimately, the party is largely represented by racists, bigots, mysogonists and homophobes.
The policies might be great, but they're an outline of what they would like to do, not what they will do. Once they're in power they can largely do what they like.
So it's about voting for who you trust the most to make the best decision. If reform got into downing street, when things go wrong, who do you think is going to bear the brunt of it?

Plus the death penalty.

Imo yes. Several constituencies are predicted to elect a Reform candidate, and even if only Farage is elected I think he's dangerous, immoral charlatan who unfortunately is given enough airtime to do significant damage. I don't think he should be anywhere near government. Brexit was extremely divisive and he was a major reason it happened, and I think he'd be just as divisive as an MP.

He's already caused problems for the Conservatives (who I used to vote for, but no more) and I think by the NEXT general election he could cause massive problems for the country.

We don't want Farage as PM.

Have friends who live in Clacton and many are upset about Farage wanting to run for their seat. If he did door to door canvassing - many of the residents would be unkind.

The irony of British people complaining about foreigners rocking up on shores in boats and not speaking English.....remind me about how we took control of large quarters of the world and pillaged their resources again?

Oh and only 16% of Reform candidates are women.

So in any room in which they are discussing and confirming policies, 84% of people are male.

Policies affecting women and girls.

Is that a ratio you're comfortable with? Do you feel they would be able to be a voice for and understand the issues affecting you, your daughters and other women and girls in your life? Vulnerable women and girls in society?

There isn't gender parity in any party unfortunately (see below) but Reform's ratio is particularly troubling.

For the Conservatives, 34% of candidates selected are women. Labour almost achieve gender parity in their selection, with 47% of their candidates being women. The Greens also achieve a near equal split with 45%. Women make up 39% of the SNP’s candidates. Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats have selected 31% and 29% women candidates respectively.

It’s really easy to promise policies that you will never have to deliver on. Lib Dem’s are a perfect example of this. Reform will not be in government or the opposition party. Vote for the party that will most likely be able to implement the changes you want to see.

You should! I’m voting reform.

If any party has the policies you want you should vote for them.

Politics should reflect what the public want.

That's the point of democracy!

Wasted vote because they aren't going to get in.

Reform candidates are sexist and racist. They want women back in the kltchen, they would destroy employment rights and they have nothing on offer for young people at all.

Is that enough not to vote for them?

A lot of posts for you op related to your vote

Do as you wish but has it helped in any way?

Can I ask your genuine thoughts on the below?

A standing candidate (Ian Gribbin) said all of the below and was not booted out of the party.

You're voting for a party that wants the person who said the below to represent them in parliament. Where he would vote on policies including those specifically about the rights of women and girls.

His comments:

"Do you (women) think you could actually work and pay for it all too like good citizens?

"Men pay 80% of tax – women spend 80% of tax revenue. On aggregate as a group you only take from society.
"Less complaining please from the 'sponging gender'."

He added that women are "subsidised by men to merely breath (sic)".
In January 2022 he posted: "Men pay 80% of tax. Women take out 80% of expenditures.

"Square that inequality first by depriving women of healthcare until their life expectancies are the same as men, Fair’s fair."

In December 2021 he wrote female soldiers "almost made me wretch (sic)" and were a "total liability".'

What policies of their do you most align with?

Reform don't have a party whip so the MP you vote in for your constituency should listen and fight for your views and not for what their party tells them too.

I read their manifesto or “contract” and as a teacher I found the education pledges particularly detached from the current issues in education.

Out of all the aspects in education they could focus on they have chosen to focus on re designing the social history curriculum to reflect British culture. This isn’t a priority any teacher. If resources are channelled in that direction then they aren’t tacking the real issues- understaffing, class sizes, literacy & numeracy, ASD provision etc

If you have children I really wouldn’t vote for them.

Farage follows the money. His background is Privilege. He Is all talk and promises. He will never be in power. But he can hold a pint glass if that moves you - vote for him

Following the campaign of 1939 - 1945 that resulted in defeat, perhaps a few votes today will calm the soul of the racists.

That's not how voting works. You vote for who YOU feel is worthy or should get in based on their agenda and manifest. You don't vote based on who others are voting for, otherwise there's really no point in a voting system at all!

Please don't vote for Reform!

It's not a real party, but a private company.

The leader comes from privilege, and has never built anything to bring people together, or create lasting value.

There are many better parties! The three largest parties are quite broad churches and they seek to lead the whole country. While I don't myself feel particularly close to them, I can see that they are all trying to offer a positive vision of how this country can be - a better future.

Because Farage is a master of the language.

Describes his supporters as not being "political sophisticates". Sounds to me as though he's calling them stupid and trying to hide his contempt.

I don't look forward to a 'super majority'. Democracy needs an effective opposition, but I think the Europe-wide shift right is worrying.

Ignore the media and social media.
Labour are spending 2.7 times the advertising spend compared to the party with the second highest spend. The media and social media has a very uneven playing field at the moment. They are spending to get into power, rather than earning to get into power.
There are so many "influencers" who are spewing the same exact paragraph (pro-Labour) on their content, it's like they've all been paid to say the same thing.