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?

Why do you think people don't know the difference? When it comes down to it, it's just semantics. People may be linguistically lazy for using the words interchangeably, but I take issue with implying people are thick. It's this kind of sneery, better-than-you attitude which permeates the new leftie elite.

@RatalieTatalie

There is absolutely no requirement for a refugee to claim asylum in the first safe country they come to. This type of misinformation is exactly why there is so much hatred.

So, why do they risk their lives crossing the channel if being in the EU is better than not being in the EU?

What would you change about asylum policies while in the EU?

Asylum seekers don't get benefits.

Rwanda was found to be illegal.

Going by that article below Labour are briefing with ‘illegal migrants’ now anyway

Why are you retiring to an EU country when you voted leave and think the EU is terrible?

They are seeking safety.

Council elections are often more a protest vote than anything else - any local level councillors have very little real power and there is often not much difference between what a Tory-led or labour-led council will deliver. Therefore it is low risk if you want to make a point and register discontent with an incumbent govt. Even if Reform won every seat it would very unlikely lead to major Reform gains at national level in 4 years.

So just a different flavour of lying, gaslighting lunatics then?

Why are you voting Reform? Which of its local policies attract you?

If you're talking about France, France won't take them back. If it was that simple, we'd already be doing it.

It isn't semantics. Migrant means anyone moving countries. So the wife of Nigel Farage, the doctor that performs your life saving surgery or someone that's hopped on a rubber boat and snuck in across the channel to work in the black market. An asylum seeker is someone who comes for safety, an illegal immigrant is someone who has no right to be here - either because theyve snuck in undeclared, overstayed a visa or had an asylum application refused. They aren't interchangeable.

There's nothing sneery about knowing terminology. It is the constant interchanging by people like Farage, who know full well what they mean and make deliberate choices not to be clear in order to hoodwink people who aren't as switched on as he is, that cause problems.

I don't think that's true. UKIP did really well in the European elections and look how big it is now...🤭

@DuncinToffee

They are seeking safety.

There were already in a safe country - France.

To risk their lives by crossing the channel, there must be a benefit over remaining in France.

I suppose people can rely on emojis etc

Reform doing well in local elections will shift politics.

Like you, they have a choice of country.

Time for something different. Tories have had their time and Labour are not fit to run a bath

Yes, for them there clearly is a benefit. Such as meeting family or being able to speak the language. France provide benefits to asylum seekers too, so I'm not sure the argument that risking your life for £49 a week holds much weight.

domasile.info/en/what-social-rights-do-i-have-as-an-asylum-seeker-in-france/

There is a lot of talk in my local area about the "illegals" (what an awful dehumanising word) who are being housed in a local hotel. This is clearly incorrect and damaging terminology - they are asylum seekers, their cases are yet to be heard, so they are not "illegally". The only legal way to claim asylum here is to set foot in the country (except for those on limited schemes such as the Ukraine scheme), those who are having their claims assessed are following the only process available to them. To call them illegals or "illegal.immigrants" isn't true but also is divisive and inflammatory.

I understand that you are unhappy with the current goverment. However, given thst there are many alternative options why are you choosing reform? Many within reform are on record espousing very unpleasant views including views thst are mysognistic. A vote against labour doesnt have to be a vote for reform.

@Maitri108

If you're talking about France, France won't take them back

And why is that? Could it be that they have realised that uncontrolled immigration is damaging to their country?

Why does something different need to be reform? There are a number of options that arent labour or tory.

Okay, so if you were in the situation where your country was dangerous for you, would you want to be somewhere you can speak the language? Where you have family, friends or a community?

No one says this about Ukrainian refugees do they? "Why didn't they stay in Poland?" Why are different groups treated differently? What makes a "good immigrant"? (We know...)

There's an agreement with Albania to return nationals. They were economic migrants, not asylum seekers.

France already takes in hundreds of thousands more refugees than the UK. It us only fair for the UK to take those who decide to come here and process their claims accordingly

Well 1. They aren't French, so they have no more reason to take them than anyone else thats signed up to the Refugee convention and 2. They already take far far more asylum seekers than the UK

This is the list of candidates in Runcorn & Helsby. There may not be so much choice in local elections, but there will be a range. No one needs to vote Reform because they hate labour and the tories. Consider the other options

The 15 candidates, listed alphabetically, are as follows:
Catherine Anne Blaiklock (English Democrats)
Dan Clarke (Liberal Party)
Chris Copeman (Green Party)
Paul Duffy (Liberal Democrats)
Peter Ford (Workers Party)
Howling Laud Hope (Monster Raving Loony Party)
Sean Houlston (Conservatives)
Jason Philip Hughes (Volt UK)
Alan McKie (independent)
Graham Harry Moore (English Constitution Party)
Paul Andrew Murphy (Social Democratic Party)
Sarah Pochin (Reform)
Karen Shore (Labour)
John Stevens (Rejoin EU)
Michael Williams (independent)

Plus how would it work if all refugees claimed asylum in their nearest country? That country wouldn't cope.

We shouldn't side-step our responsibilities to the international community just because we happen to be an island in the North Sea. What we should do is have better ways for people to claim asylum so no one needs to submit themselves to people traffickers and get in a dinghy in order to set foot in the country and therefore cousin asylum.