... to think that Nigel Farage will be our next PM?

[ohime]

Or, more accurately: AIBU to be afraid that truly nasty piece of work Nigel Farage who has, by all accounts, always been utterly useless at (or at least completely uninterested in) the actual business end of governing will be our next PM because everyone is so fed up with all the other parties being, variously or all at once, so corrupt, incompetent and useless that we've collectively abandoned all hope? I will never vote for Farage, who is a horrible man, or any of his party which keeps having to fire people for being just a teensy bit too overtly racist - but it seems from the polls that for many people the choice against the status quo outweighs what we may be choosing. (For an example, I can't believe that Farage's stated position that DOGE in the US didn't go far enough with its swinging cuts to the social safety net would be popular with UK voters who recently elected a government on the basis that it would reverse years of Tory austerity... not that that's worked out so well...)

Relax.
Are you ok

Can anyone else contribute to my list of phrases people can use when they really want to join in the debate but can't actually engage with the topic?

I think you’re contributing quite well on that score.

I have a few:
prejudiced
stupid
racist
ignorant
intollerant
nazi

I'm going to back away from the posts where posters are not actually making a point.
If you have any points to raise on the topic of the thread, about the possibility of NF becoming PM I'll gladly join in.

I’m not a Trump or Farage fan but I don’t agree with the way people are accused of “being stupid” because they vote a different way to you. And all politicians lie but they just call it “spin”.

Writing people of as dumb/stupid only pisses them off and plays right into Reform’s agenda.

We need to engage with all voters and acknowledge their genuine concerns about race, culture wars, migration etc. people are feeling really worried about the costs of people arriving on small boats, 100s of young men with different cultural values being housed near them, the burden on councils/services etc. Calling them stupid will not solve anything.

I think you're very much a fan of Labour. You're defending them on your posts to the point it actually feels like you're a Labour 'bot'. And there's nothing wrong with that, but you seem to have a problem accepting that other people do actually hold a different opinion to yourself. We all have different priorities, and my priorities don't align with the Labour government.

People won't necessarily vote because they really want Reform, but as a protest vote against the absolute mess Labour are making at the moment

This is true, @Downwiththmoonshine, but what people will say in a poll and where they'll put their cross on the day can be very different, and the many who'd vote for a turd if it had the right roseete on will take a lot of convincing in order for Labour's 170+ majority to be overturned

As for why the MPs can't be prevailed upon to "be better", many are of such low calibre that I'm not sure they'd even know what better looked like ... not unlike the last Tory lot in fact

I don't think I have seen anyone say that someone is stupid because of how they vote.

Only when they make claims they can't back up, or refuse to engage when questioned on the points they make.

This. @CleverButScatty please take note. Your posts are becoming ever more superior and patronising.

Jennps said "Labour did a terrible job of education."

Here's what Labour achieved in education the last time they were last in power :-

Over 36,000 more teachers in England and 274,000 more support staff and teaching assistants.
Record levels of literacy and numeracy in schools.
young people achieving some of the best ever results at 14, 16, and 18.
Funding for every pupil in England doubled.
Set up 2,200 Sure Start Children’s Centres.
More than doubled the number of apprenticeships.
Free entry to national museums and galleries.
Free nursery places for every three and four-year-olds.
Free fruit for most four to six-year-olds at school.

Reforms 'plans for education': -
a “patriotic school curriculum” and a review of the content of history lessons to ensure pupils are 'proud' of Britain. Smashing.

A bot. Okay...

I was very much in favour of labour in the past and a party member etc, but their current policies don't align with my values now.

However they are still the closest of the parties that I can vote for and I certainly will tactically to block reform or conservative.

My main issue with Labour is their foreign policy, and support for Israel and that is seeping into domestic politics, for example anti genocide feeling being misrepresented as antisemitism.

I also think Starmer is too keen on power for its own sake and not principled enough. However he is far more principled that either Farage or Badenoch and so they remain the only option for me to vote for.

In my sector of education, with school age children, Tony Blair's government were excellent... I repeat... For their education policies. They had a real understanding of what we on the ground needed to make things better for the most vulnerable kids.

Do you not have any nuance in your views or do you just feel the Reform and Farage are perfect in every way?

They also pledged to reverse the education tax, that’s put them ahead of Labour on education by a country mile.

As someone who has worked in education for many years that government's policies made schools a good place for children to be and ensured that most children had a good education. Not perfect, nothing is. but we were equipped to do a good job in schools

Do you mean on private schools? I'm one of the 93% of people whose children are or were in state education.

Do you think that classing exclusive education settings accessed by only 7% as charities for a tax perk, whilst leaving everyone else to rot, aligns with the view that Farage is for the working class, you know who are being patronised by everyone else?

You mean the private education tax that benefits a minority of children's parents.

Do you mean on private schools?

No I mean on education services.

Do you think that classing exclusive education settings accessed by only 7% as charities for a tax perk,

Are you under the impression something has changed regarding the charity status of independent schools?

For someone who has worked in education for over 20 years defending Labours education policies, you don’t seem to have first clue about their education policies in the last 7 months.

I don’t think the tax benefits anybody, but I agree if it does then it’s definitely a very small minority.

@Youdontseehow agree and how do the people feel who voted for labour then got their winter fuel removed and will pay more tax on their pension.

I bet they don't feel too good about themselves.

Today there was a poll that farage could have a majority.

This is the beginning of a new party and hopefully it will morph and grow and change into something different

I have never had any involvement or interest in private schools. However the wording of your post led most people to assume to were referring the newly introduced VAT on fees.

If you are referring to something else please clarify...

I have issues with lots of labour policies but feel that those who are retired with taxable income of 35k upwards can pay their own electricity bill, just like the many working people who earn less than that do.

It's about fairness and equality. Even if it only brings a small amount of money back into the system (which isn't entirely the case) it should.

The reason they didn't used to charge it was because, I understand, of charitable business relief (not an expert on this happy to be corrected). And I am sorry but an exclusive school that you can only go to if you are wealthy, were you will have a much nicer experience than in the state, is a business not a charity.

Helloooo, come back and clarify.....

@CleverButScatty it's been raised now hasn't it. .how many older people suffered last year panicking and terrified about food or heat.?
It's the first thing they did to show the world and the markets they meant business

Why wasn't it high to begin with?

Yes, the education and vocational tax. You claim it is a tax on private schools and removal of charitable status, neither of which are true. You might not have an interest in private schools but as a self appointed education expert and advocate of Labour education policies, I would have expected you to at least have a vague understanding.

@CleverButScatty sorry are you literally addressing yourself there or was that meant for another poster?

Are you ok?