To hope that all the really nasty, hard core right wingers defect to Reform….

[Nomdemare]

question prompted by Suella Braverman’s defection to Reform today

Feeling utterly disenfranchised and disappointed by all political parties.
Perhaps in another time, I might have described myself as a small ‘c’ one nation, remain voting centre conservative.

I just wish all the really nasty elements would scoot off to Reform where they can keep their hate filled invective to themselves.

Except they probably won’t keep it to themselves. They are defecting because they want a chance of power again and see Farage as their ticket to the next ministerial job.

Which ones? Give us some names to work with.......

It really worries me, precisely because they won't keep it to themselves. The only reason these senior tories would defect to Reform is that they see it as a better career prospect than the Conservative party. They may well not be wrong, and that's terrifying to me.

What kind of country are we living in that Nigel Farage is actually looking like a serious contender for PM?! How can people see what's happening right now in America and think the way forward is to be more right wing?!

Reform is going to be like the paramilitary wing of the Tory party 😆 it’s gradually absorbing all the absolute dregs. The ones who didn’t have a problem with being called the Nasty Party.

Perhaps if the whole Conservative Party defects to Reform, people will see it for what it is - the Conservative Party under a different banner, and realise they’re not voting for reform but for more of the same from privileged, rich politicians who dgaf about the 99%.

It worries me far more that the disadvantaged, underprivileged and desperate are seeing the far right as a better answer to the Conservative party that (obviously!) failed to improve their lives, than the left.
I too wonder what the country has come to when people who have failed to thrive under moderate right wing government appear to think its because they weren't right enough.
The defection of career politicians is just a symptom of this, as they see where the land lies and where they're better off. But its not the disease.

Fully agree with you. I have a tiny glimmer of hope that the new movement headed by Ruth Davidson and Andy Street may guide some people abck towards a centre right POV, but I do not think Kemi is the right person to lead it. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93v7nnk3vlo

But who would that leave in the Tories? 😄

Well; ERG members (if any are still elected MPs). They can all sod off too.

If all these Reform bods want to fight under the nasty party banner, that’s fine by me. I won’t be voting for them.

As a Centre voter, I’m not happy with Labour as is (and I voted for them). The tax burden is unsustainable and their backbenchers unwillingness to address this will be the end of them. I also am really annoyed about their confused and disingenuous gender ideology.

Conservatives - still tainted by Brexit, Boris, Covid cronyism and the disastrous aftermath.

I’m 50, I’m tired of all this. I voted Blair in 97 and Cons during the Cameron years.
I’m a centre voter and utterly disenfranchised by everything.

From what I've heard from some 'reformers' I know they think Reform is becoming too 'soft' and conservative, they are all about Rupert Lowe rather than Farage. I'd be more worried about him actually forming a party and rabble rousing them.

Did not know this! Huge amount of respect for Baroness Davidson x

@Nomdemare - I like her too. I hope this is the start of a ground swell against the far left/far right dichotomy that leaves so many of us politically homeless. But I do not think Kemi will work.

It’s like watching evil play out in real time.

God I miss Ken Clarke and the ‘normal’ conservatives.

Just saying the same thing. Braverman's views are horrible so she's no loss to the Tories.

Maybe a new, younger Tory party will emerge, having offloaded all the extremists to Reform.

Then when Labour lose the next election, they will have an equal weed-out, and we will end up with two more modern centrist parties with younger MPs and new ideas.

Yes I was pleased about this too. Sadly Johnson cleared out a lot of this side of the party (due to their worries about his terrible Brexit deal) so what was once the mainstream of the Conservative Party is now more of a centrist fringe. Perhaps if the trash takes itself out the MPs further to the right all move to Reform, there will be scope to rebuild the Conservative Party as a socially and fiscally responsible centre-right party. I fear it's going to take a while though.

I agree. I’m not clever or articulate enough to voice this in anything other than my own words. But it’s the absence of hope. Housing is just not affordable. It’s not the amount of housing being built - but the affordability.

I left university in 1997 and even then, on a tiny (non graduate) starting salary, I could still have the dream of affording my own home.
I was the penultimate year of no tuition fees and although I worked every holiday in a factory or temped in a local hotel, it meant I could graduate without debt.

Now; I see my nephew and nieces at university, saddled by enormous debts. Despite studying for postgrad degrees, neither will likely own their own homes. There is no lumpy inheritance on the cards; they are from ‘ordinary, working families’.

It feels utterly hopeless.

this.

anyway the lib dems are pretty right wing economically, or is it the social conservstism you want? there are often christian type independents to vote for if so.

I know!!!!! Whenever I hear him on John Major on R4 they sound like grown ups in a world of toddlers!

What do you think of Kemi? I hope you’ll answer this op, not dedicated Labour voters

I really don’t have a positive opinion of the Lib Dem’s (though on a personal level have a positive view of Daisy Cooper MP). Also exacerbated by their gender ideology stance.

I vote Tory and think she’s brilliant.

I think they are wrong. And Farage has no idea how to either run a country or manage cabinet government afaik.

I wish the lot of them would grow up and focus on their jobs rather than their personal ambition. I include Andy Burnham.in that as well!

That's interesting re Ruth Davidson and Andy Street. I'm too left leaning to ever be their target market, but I do have a lot of time for both of them and would like to see their initiative succeed.

Though honestly, they might need to think about starting a new party as the Tory brand is so damaged.

one where the other parties have utterly failed us