To be really worried about Reform?

[FiveHorse]

Just that really. They’re predicted to gain the most from the upcoming elections, if this carries on could we see a reform government at the next general elections? Or is it press scaremongering as usual?

I’m going to vote Reform . Writing ‘none of the above’ just means your vote is discarded. I don’t want to vote for the Uniparty anymore.

I understand why you feel this way but this misunderstanding of people’s motives is one of the reasons people vote Reform. I live in a very diverse and poor borough (one of the poorest). We mostly all co exist happily and have a long established South Asian communities who have been here a long time. Most people interact happily at school, work etc. I would not describe the white people who live here as racist.

In recent years the community has drastically changed due to recent immigration. We have “Turkish Barbers” galore on the high street (they are not Barbers but fronts for money laundering) groups of young men congregating in the high street intimidating girls, aggressive begging.

Not all immigration is managed well or works well. If you raise any frustration with it you are called racist. Despite this issue affecting people British people of all ethnic backgrounds. People have got fed up with this so will probably vote Reform. It’s not about wanting to go back to the 1950s it’s about the intense negative impact that recent high immigration has on areas.

Do you not have decent councillors where you are?
Do you think the Reform candidates would be better?

Where I am there are several parties where the candidates are known about town, even those not elected - Reform is not one of those parties.

Nah, they don't have chance. People have had enough with Loony Farage and his antics.

You're right to be concerned.

The wind in the UK is blowing the same way it did in the US, and we're not taking it seriously enough.

How is Reform planning to tackle this?

We have 2 main parties where power swaps between them. You can't really count the lib dems or greens as credible political parties for all sort of reasons (and I've voted for them both, many times in the past).

Fair point and I do sort of agree. Just could not vote for the Grifting Farage.

I'm from a multicultural family, a single mum and have children with additional needs. The prospect of a reform government is scary, especially if you read their intentions but most people, locally at least, will just get on the 'no more brown people' bandwagon and vote them in. They have no critical thinking skills because the university of life didn't need those.

We recently watched Schindler’s list and are now watching band of brothers with our dc as a family. They’re teens. We’ve talked about what’s going on in the world and political blame games meaning when people are feeling poor or there’s unrest they lean to the right. We wanted them to understand the consequences and learn from the past. It’s terrifying how right wing things are right now. The hatred of Jewish people, Muslim people and general anger alongside more homophobia and misogyny than I saw in the own youth. We’ve learned nothing from history!

Are you looking forward to far fewer protections for workers? The NHS being replaced by an insurance based model?

The Tories and Labour will render them redundant by moving their policies to the right and stealing their more moderate ideas.

It is already happening. The current Labour government are the most right wing Labour government we have had in years. They are arguably more to the right than the Tories that preceded them.

I think the media have mostly contributed to this. Every other story seems to be about Reform taking over, it's almost like they want it to happen.
I'm in a poor Northern city and I'm just flabbergasted at the amount of love for Reform. A lot of people here are very working class or, on benefits, and just can't see that Reform won't serve them. They're too busy hating on the "boat people".
Another thing is that every news story, however irrelevant, ends in a Facebook battle blaming immigrants. For example, we had one of the highest rates of stalking and harassment crimes in the whole country and people kept blaming immigrants and hotels! It made no sense because every day that week had been a picture of a white man coming out of the local court for DA offences!
Sometimes I just think, people deserve what they vote for so let them have it.

I agree with you it’s scary but we are in this place because we shut down any conversation about immigration. If you dare suggest that some young men who arrive on the boats are not here because they are refugees people call you racist. Modern slavery in my area is rife but everyone is too scared to tackle it. We need the mainstream parties to be honest about the difference between people seeking asylum and economic immigration. They won’t do it and then people move to the extreme option. It’s so frustrating. We need to let people discuss immigration without being called far right.

They're expected to gain the most because they have such low numbers. 4 extra seats gets them a 100% gain. If labour got 4 more seats they would only increase by 1%. It's statistics, and abusing them is how media make headlines like that.

Maybe. Or further legitimise. I agree it’s causing a shift.

It will be interesting to see how well they do and what the people voted in are able to achieve, once in place. They can promise the moon and stars but will be limited by finances, government policy and law, and the general run of the mill politics of any locality.
How many of the reform candidates are ex conservative ?

I totally agree with you. I work in an nhs trust. We need immigration. But, pil live in Hythe and can’t sit on the beach by their house as it’s terrifying having the boats arrive and men run up the beach to the stade court hotel… previously a nice wedding venue but now immigrant accommodation so they aim for it and over fill the rooms. You say that and you’re called racist. So, you go unheard and vote reform. I can see how it’s happening.

I also think we need a more open discussion about cultural differences. The “we’re all the same” is not accurate. That doesn’t mean we need to be negative but understanding cultural differences and beliefs would be much more positive rather than denying these.

That status quo doesn’t seem to be working for many. The so called working classes are disillusioned with labour and Centrist Tory policies. They are hammered by taxes (the thresholds haven’t changed for years) and are voting for change. The comfortable middle and lower middle bosses are worried but they aren’t. They are fed up.

It basically does though. Lib Dems are worse than useless - more a protest party these days.

@tramtracks I'm one of the working classes. I also have a child with DS. I'd be extremely worried if Reform got in. Farage may shake things up, but it won't benefit me.
I'm also sick and tired of the status quo, but I don't want it replaced by someone who pretends to actually give a shit.

It’s really frustrating, there is no room for critical thinking or a sensible discourse. Then people move to the more extreme option out of anger. It’s so sad to see it happening.

You actually believe that men are jumping off boats and booking themselves into a hotel?

My neighbour is very interested in politics so went to a local open meeting reform held the other day and was absolutely horrified, he said it resembled a British version of a MAGA rally and one candidate actually said in his speech that he didn’t want his kids growing up “in a country full of Pakistani rapists”. There were 5 local candidates there together, he wasn’t just one bad apple.

That’s not the detail to side track on. I believe that some men are arriving by boats for reason of economic immigration not asylum.