shocked my best friend voted Reform

[clearmoon]

Long standing close friend came round for dinner and we were nattering away, and she just mentioned off hand in the conversation that she had voted Reform. i am really shocked. We don't discuss politics much. But I would have guessed lib dems or labour. I love her dearly. But I do wonder if I should think about her differently now, or just carry on as before

YANBU - She is not such a good person as I thought all these years
YABU-its all fine

The thing about Reform as a protest vote is true and in that sense it is “safe”. But probably it is the same reasoning as Brexit. Vote and then get on with your life because most people don’t have time for politics. However we can see that this worked very badly for the Conservatives. Giving a message, taking the vote and then really playing games with their messaging to try and not make hard decisions. A lot of Conservative voters felt betrayed. I didn’t share their views on Brexit but it was terrible what they did. Particularly on immigration where they acted to increase it year on year. How could any of these voters be pleased with that? I imagine they are extremely bitter along with the living standards decline.

I get that. I am a bit suspicious of your more well to do Reform voter because truthfully not sure what’s in it for them.

If this country was under populated it would make sense to welcome more people coming in. But it isn't its overpopulated and services are struggling. NHS and education. So it makes no sense whatsoever to accept more people.

I haven't dug into the Reform policies (😱) but I think it's the lure of Fairyland that makes people vote for them. A functioning NHS, get rid of the pesky migrants and people with the 'wrong' religion etc. The fact that there are no functioning policies doesn't seem to deter people.
I'm pretty sure my lovely older neighbours would vote for them. My neighbours are the kind of people who volunteered to walk my dog for weeks and weeks when I was ill. They are good but blinkered people.

Wouldn't bother me. I don't choose my friends because of their political views.

It would change my opinion of her. I don't think I'd end the friendship but I'd always see her differently. At the least she's ignorant.

I have. But I’m still confused. In what way are these riots being caused by a government which has held power for less than a a month?

Yep. Politics is just opinions, and everyone is entitled to their own views. Thats democracy. 🤷‍♀️

Interesting that 3/4 voted you are unreasonable. The posters who were outraged, couldn't be friends with these people,you see the same thing with some partners and husbands. Do people give potential partners or friends a checklist,of political intent,views on sex, religion and money, morals, abortion?

So everyone who votes Conservative or Reform is now a Nazi to you?

Why are people equating democracy with friendships? Freedom to vote for whomever you choose does not mean you have to be friends with anyone and everyone.

But your political views reflect your whole world view. If someone seemingly believes the rhetoric of the liar and racist, Nigel Farage, then yes, I'd see them less favourably. It's not arrogance at all, it's a natural reaction for some of us.

Erm, voting, however, is an action that has an enormous effect on other people's lives. Casting a vote is not the same as expressing an opinion: it's giving a mandate to allow someone to act on your behalf, according to your opinion.

Gosh, a lot of people here who don't take responsibility for their actions!

Sure so op can drop a bf of 30 years or the bf can do the same due to op’s intolerance

Well yes, obviously!! Why on earth would you enter a partnership with someone who didn't share your values?

EasternStandard
Have a read of the news reports including from last night

I have. But I’m still confused. In what way are these riots being caused by a government which has held power for less than a a month?

They are caused by people looking to sow division. Not the new government.

Well that's the great thing about freedom. You don't have to hang out with people you don't like.

I agree with this. Some of us remember the scenes in Zimbabwe of the Mugabe supporters physically attacking the opposition, their families and anyone who dared to vote for them. Every time you say you are repulsed or disappointed by someone voting a different way to you is a step you take further away from democracy.

Our NHS is staffed largely my immigrants. We need them. We are also an aging population and we need more young people.

Education certainly needs sorting out. Judging by the ridiculous levels of ignorance and capacity to believe in the bullshit spewed by Farage.

Labour will face these growing issues if they can’t deal with trafficking. You’ll see that kind of demand in reported from last night. I think what they’re planning won’t do much and anger will grow but we’ll see what happens

Meant to quote pp who asked

@CocoDolphin

Reform, yes, practically, Conservative no (so far).

THE majority of Reform UK’s General Election candidates are “not political sophisticates”, Nigel Farage has insisted amid a car crash interview on Good Morning Britain.

The Reform leader struggled as he was challenged on reports that 41 of his party’s candidates were “friends” on Facebook with British neo-fascist leader Gary Raikes, the founder of the New British Union.

Farage repeatedly insisted that his candidates are not politically savvy [!] and when “they see a comment on Facebook, they like it”.

But Reform isnt racist. They may have selected some dodgy candidates but it's not like the Labour party and Tories haven't either!

It's not racist to question immigration.

If you are focused on the views of individual candidates who were removed from their party then you are wilfully ignoring the same mistakes that Labour have made with their candidates.

Id suggest your views aren't based on fact but on perception rather than evidence and demonstrates the prejudice you hold against certain groups of people in the UK.

I’ve put YABU but that’s because my very dear, longest time friend did the same and despite my shock she is still the lovely person I’ve known all my life. She voted Brexit which shocked me, then doubled down on Reform and I just can’t understand why. She’s one of the nicest people you could meet, literally does not have a bad bone in her body. I’ve never even known her to be political in the nearly sixty years I’ve known her, never once has she talked politics (these were on her FB).

What I have never understood with Farage is how he made plenty of money himself working for the EU and his wife is a European. Do as I say not as I do.

Agreed . It never ends well .

I totally fail to understand who she voted for is anything to do with you.