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.

They are economic libertarians, which is correct for their party historically (they spring from the Whigs who let the Irish famine go to Hell in a basket because 'market forces' would correct it - I think they may have treated Northern England, which was also in severe famine in the 1840s like most of Europe, the same way). Unfortunately they are social liberals, particularly in relation to gender woo, too, which has not always been the case - they are also intolerant of views dissenting from theirs. I won't vote for them on all those counts.

This is good for the Tory party

I am sure a few more can jump on the bandwagon but then there can be a clearer distinction between the parties

I welcome a stronger Tory party its better for UK politics and better for the people

They way things are going, if Starmer keeps hammering nails into his own coffin, the Reform is likely to win the next election.
I wonder what Starmers next u-turn will be?

I think she’s been a slow burn. The leadership of the Cons party is, to use that horrible phrase, a poisoned chalice. Whatever she does positively is going to be viewed with disdain because of the dreadful legacy of more recent figures like Boris et al.

I think she is beginning to hold her own. Positive things - I admire her self confidence and the way she is prepared to take a view, however unpopular that might be.
And this, especially in the face of such Labour flip floppery and total lack of moral backbone.
Sticking your head above the parapet is no mean feat. I also think that she will inevitably get more flak as a woman - the self confidence won’t be interpreted as positively as that of say Rupert Low or Nigel Farage or even Wes Streeting or Andy Burnham.

I’m reluctant to dismiss her as just a caretaker leader until someone else comes along. I just want to see her surrounded with more positive and constructive minded people - yes, like Baroness Davidson.

I’m a big fan of The Rest is Politics podcast and I really hope that Rory and Alaister cover this new movement.

I really rate Ruth Davidson. It was a sad day for Scottish politics when she stood down.

Agree. She is great! I’m so pleased she’s back

Thanks yes I agree. I wanted her as leader but felt a bit unsure in first year but now I’m really pleased she is.

A rare politician who has a view and holds it regardless of focus groups or feedback. She’s strong, she’s going up against the old male variety and completely able to knock them back. It’s a tough gig though against Reform. I hope she can do it. If anyone can I think she’s it.

It would be pretty well aligned with Rory Stewart, I'd have thought.

Calling voters and fellow countrymen “nasty people” has done wonders for Hillary in 2016.

When will you learn? SMH 🤦‍♀️

I think a lot of MC or aspiring MC people feel very upset that the 'work hard and you too can enjoy the privileges of the better off' dream the Conservatives sold them has proved to be false. I suppose this goes one of two ways. Either you believe it's because the Conservatives weren't tough enough on those that 'drain the system', blame benefits claimants and immigrants and move further right; or you decide that all the hard work in the world is never going to be justly rewarded in a system stacked in favour of the already privileged, and move to the left.
Either way, there's some logic.
However, Reform supporters often do not come from the educated MC or aspiring MC. They have done exceptionally well in some of the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods characteristised by low levels of education and high rates of dependency on benefits. Its this I find unfathomable, because the policies of the far right include removing the basic support they are most likely to depend upon themselves. My conclusion is that they have become so fixated on immigration, that's all they can see. I genuinely fear for them as turkeys voting for Christmas.

I’m actually starting to think Farage has cooked up a scheme with the Tory grandees to lure away the basket case culture warriors in order to make the Conservative’s electable again. Farage doesn’t actually want to be PM, too much work, scrutiny and less pay as he won’t be able to continue his side hustles. Think about it:

1. Reform lure the trouble making noisy MPs away from Tory’s.
2. Tory’s replace them with more of the One Nation sensible Tory’s.
3. Farage knows it’s only a matter of weeks before his new MPs start plotting to replace him. He knows they didn’t burn bridges to play second fiddle.
4. When the plots are discovered plus the inevitable infighting between old school Reform such as Tice and Yusuf and the newbies, Farage does the ‘honorable thing’ and resigns the leadership. Closes his ltd company down after taking all of its money. Party sinks without a trace like UKIP.
5. Tory’s have stabilised, are detoxified and electable in time for next election.

It makes no sense to take all of these noisy, disloyal and transparently opportunistic people unless you’re trying to wreck your organisation.

Your ‘friend’ is gaslighting you and that’s a form of abuse - you need to rethink that friendship. The leech living with you needs to go now never mind the end of Feb. I know it will be difficult to think you might need to keep to your original deal but the sanity and safety of you and your daughter come first and you have the right to stand up and say when it isn’t working and that the situation has to change now. You don’t need to give any explanation.
It sounds like this has happened not long after your relationship ended and when things like this happen it can set you back emotionally. Would your ex help get him out? (Mine would but I’d hear about it for months after 😂)
You can take it to the police and don’t have to give him extra time to find somewhere. He can go to a housing association or shelter and claim homelessness - basically that isn’t your problem, it’s his.
Therr isn’t anything wrong with you, you’ve just been taken advantage of, gaslit and used. (I’ve been there too) x

What i would like is if all the sensible Tories and all the sensible Labour lot would get together and form one sensible party.
Sadly, that is not going to happen. It is just division and bull shit all round now.

That's a great theory! A bit far fetched perhaps, but I like it!

Yes, a sensible centre party focused on evidence based policies that actually deliver for people would probably do very well. But I agree that it probably won't happen.

The more far right Tories that go there the better.
There's definitely a place for a solid right wing party with traditional values and that could rise from the ashes.
I wouldn't vote for it, but I would prefer it to Reform so might be persuaded tactically to vote for it. We had a fairly decent Tory MP who lost his seat to Lib Dem in the last election.

I am sure some of these far right Tories would be hoping to challenge Farage for leadership. He might not like that.

I don't think Reform voters will be happy as I think the defectors will dilute Reform. Most of their voters want mass deportations (I think) and the tories didn't do that when they were in power.

Yes, in the same way I hoped the nastier antisemitic anti-West left would defect to Your Party. Sadly it hasn’t happened yet!

1. This is not the USA

1. That was 2016 - 10 years ago. It's now 2026

1. The Tories called themselves The Nasty Party

But, otherwise, what a great comment

🤨

I would like this too!

Leaving for a better job either means you think the other party will do better or simply that you have no chance in your current party. I actually think it will be a good thing for the Conservatives to let the disrupters go.

I also like Ihatethistimeline 's excellent theory.

But then if they manage to win a general election, which a lot of people aren’t ruling out…

There are another 2 years to go - Thats a long time in politics

No way I can vote Lib Dem’s again due to their gender woo stance.

People are flocking to Reform as they don’t think they are being listened to. Labour (as well as other parties) aren’t communicating well enough. They need to tell the country a few home truths about how skint we are, how they know life is bad but they’re going to do x y z to fix it. They’re not so people don’t believe change will happen so are looking elsewhere.