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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be really worried about Reform?

1000 replies

FiveHorse · 29/04/2025 13:09

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?

OP posts:
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23
JHound · 30/04/2025 14:06

I am not worried. I mean I am, as it would mean I live in a country of racists and would mean I have no values in common with a significant proportion of my fellow country men and women but at this point I think “let it happen”. It will show British people for who the truly are. It will also show that Reform can make all kinds of promises when out of power but demonstrate what a shit show they will be in power.

And if actually they turn out to make things better well everybody benefits.

Notonthestairs · 30/04/2025 14:07

GlobeTrotter2000 · 30/04/2025 14:03

@User135644 and @EasternStandard

Best posts by far.

Australia not in the ECHR explains why they can deport/tow people back, etc.

ECHR protects the criminals more than the victims.

It’s actually to do with maritime legislation.
There are no international waters in the Channel. The UK navy rightly have rejected intruding into French waters without explicit consent.

GlobeTrotter2000 · 30/04/2025 14:09

@DuncinToffee

Do you want to the UK to leaave the ECHR?

I do.

EasternStandard · 30/04/2025 14:10

DuncinToffee · 30/04/2025 14:06

You are at pains not to answer the question.

Do you want to the UK to leaave the ECHR?

I’ll see what is proposed, I’m not committing to anything now even if you need an answer for some reason. The GE is a while off.

I’m not as opposed to it as you I expect.

DuncinToffee · 30/04/2025 14:10

GlobeTrotter2000 · 30/04/2025 14:09

@DuncinToffee

Do you want to the UK to leaave the ECHR?

I do.

I know, but you will remain to be protected by it

CautiousLurker01 · 30/04/2025 14:11

PandoraSocks · 30/04/2025 11:37

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

But we’re talking about UK council elections, not european elections? Historically council elections that fall between general elections are not predictive of subsequent GE results. They tend to be a wake up/rallying call rather than an indicator of actual party affiliation.

FlameGrilledSquirrel · 30/04/2025 14:11

A protest vote at local level, nothing more. People will risk a vote as there is only so much twattery a couple of councillors can do across the board but far less will risk putting one of these people into Parliament.

Problem like with the Brexit vote is that when a viewpoint is demonised by the major parties it just doesn't go away. Weeds find a way.

Goldenbear · 30/04/2025 14:11

Clavinova · 30/04/2025 13:22

And I remember reading several studies/reports regarding Ebbw Vale, the South Wales Valleys and Brexit. Despite receiving EU funding, Ebbw Vale still had one of the highest unemployment rates in the UK and the second-lowest median salary. The town lost its steel works in 2002 and manufacturing jobs had moved from the area to Central and Eastern Europe - partly blamed on EU membership and EU grants to those lower wage areas.

One of the studies claimed that the South Wales Valleys had been artificially kept as a low economic area to attract EU funding. Another noted that the universities in Wales were the most to benefit. They all reported that EU funding was a drop in the ocean of what was needed, funding was inflexible, spread too thinly or spent on 'white elephant' or 'vanity projects' that made little difference to employment and prosperity. I remember examples such as a construction worker who was employed on a 2-year EU funded project saying that he and 60 other workers were promptly laid off again after the 2 years.

So you say those voters 'shot themselves in the foot' but how were they really benefitting from EU membership?

In my post that you quoted, I literally stated how they benefitted - in Wales, benefits from the EU worked out at $107 per resident in 2014, that's $107 they don't have post Brexit, weren't there promises of levelling up, how has that gone?

Notonthestairs · 30/04/2025 14:12

GlobeTrotter2000 · 30/04/2025 14:09

@DuncinToffee

Do you want to the UK to leaave the ECHR?

I do.

So what do you propose to do about the GFA and the UKEU trading agreement?

PandoraSocks · 30/04/2025 14:14

CautiousLurker01 · 30/04/2025 14:11

But we’re talking about UK council elections, not european elections? Historically council elections that fall between general elections are not predictive of subsequent GE results. They tend to be a wake up/rallying call rather than an indicator of actual party affiliation.

That was exactly my point!

I was drawing a comparison between UKIP's success in the European elections and its subsequent (non) performance with what I think will happen with Reform at the local elections.

GlobeTrotter2000 · 30/04/2025 14:17

@Notonthestairs

The French navy escorted a boat of migrants across the channel.

source telegraph 27 April 2025

CautiousLurker01 · 30/04/2025 14:17

PandoraSocks · 30/04/2025 14:14

That was exactly my point!

I was drawing a comparison between UKIP's success in the European elections and its subsequent (non) performance with what I think will happen with Reform at the local elections.

Sorry - misunderstood.

Goldenbear · 30/04/2025 14:21

User135644 · 30/04/2025 13:51

You need a mix. The Tories were took over by 'progresssive' liberals under David Cameron and Labour under Tony Blair. Too much liberalism (or too much anything) ruins the equilibrium.

Yes, I mean too much democratic freedom is never a good thing is it! 🙄

GlobeTrotter2000 · 30/04/2025 14:21

So what do you propose to do about the GFA and the UKEU trading agreement?

Nothing. ECHR is controlled by neither

Notonthestairs · 30/04/2025 14:22

GlobeTrotter2000 · 30/04/2025 14:17

@Notonthestairs

The French navy escorted a boat of migrants across the channel.

source telegraph 27 April 2025

I can’t read the article- please link to it.

My search engine just showed that a British vessel escorted it to Dover.

Notonthestairs · 30/04/2025 14:23

GlobeTrotter2000 · 30/04/2025 14:21

So what do you propose to do about the GFA and the UKEU trading agreement?

Nothing. ECHR is controlled by neither

It’s embedded in both treaties.

Maitri108 · 30/04/2025 14:23

GlobeTrotter2000 · 30/04/2025 14:17

@Notonthestairs

The French navy escorted a boat of migrants across the channel.

source telegraph 27 April 2025

They did. They won't take them back to France. How is Farage going to force France to do that?

Maitri108 · 30/04/2025 14:24

Notonthestairs · 30/04/2025 14:22

I can’t read the article- please link to it.

My search engine just showed that a British vessel escorted it to Dover.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/27/french-navy-accompanies-migrants-across-the-channel/

EasternStandard · 30/04/2025 14:24

Goldenbear · 30/04/2025 14:21

Yes, I mean too much democratic freedom is never a good thing is it! 🙄

This is what I mean below. Aus has more democratic freedom to determine its own policies and still scores highly on rights and freedoms.

Notonthestairs · 30/04/2025 14:25

Sorry but that link doesnt allow me to read the article.

DuncinToffee · 30/04/2025 14:28

Notonthestairs · 30/04/2025 14:25

Sorry but that link doesnt allow me to read the article.

I don't think Globe read beyond the headline either

DuncinToffee · 30/04/2025 14:30

What's wrong with having these protections?

To be really worried about Reform?
GlobeTrotter2000 · 30/04/2025 14:31

@EasternStandard

This is what I mean below. Aus has more democratic freedom to determine its own policies and still scores highly on rights and freedoms

You’re leading the way on this thread by a massive margin.

EU is trying to develop a set of rules that captures all scenarios for 27 different countries. All with different languages, cultures, …….

Impossible of course

Notonthestairs · 30/04/2025 14:32

And the GFA and UKEU trading agreement?

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