The most pernicious secret about Reform

[SeriousFaffing]

The results from a YouGov poll in December show quite a large difference between men and women of those who would vote Reform at the beginning of 2026.

This has got me thinking about the split and women’s awareness of Reform.

Agree or not, I’m sure that everyone is aware of the links made between Reform and racism… However, I think that a just as big elephant in the room is what appears as pernicious and deep rooted misogyny… I think that the YouGov poll appears to show that women are subliminally - or very - aware of this fact.

When I think of Reform, I see images of white men chanting “we want our country back”. I think of Farage cosying up to the anti abortionists in the USA (many news articles on this) and I think of Reform’s policies to boost the birth rate.

I wonder about wanting ‘our country back’ being as much about harking back to a time when women were not out at work (taking up jobs) and expecting dinner to be on the table when he comes home. No answering back at home or in the work place. And, you know, ‘Protecting our women’ as though a commodity or object… But only when it suits.

What do you think? Am I unreasonable as a woman to worry about Reform getting into Government?

You are unreasonable - no, as a woman, I am not worried about Reform getting into Government.

You are not being unreasonable - I am worried too.

It's interesting how few Reform candidates are women. At the last election only 16% of their candidates were women. That's half the average number of female candidates across the board.

If all Reform council candidates had been elected it would have widened the gender gap in our councils. That can't be said about Green, Labour or Tory candidates.

Look at photos of Reform meetings and you see that less than 1 in 4 are women and it's an even smaller number if you look at the platform. It's a sea of men with grey hair.

You can see why these men want to keep what they have to themselves. Never has the phrase "when you're accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression" been more appropriate.

I'm deeply disappointed by the failure of most political parties to give a clear statement of intent of protecting single sex spaces for women. However, I haven't yet reached the stage where if they pinned a rosette on a pig and called it GC it'd get my vote.

We have a Reform Council. Only 12% of the Reform Councillors are women.

They aren't all old men though. There are a few young incel types.

I would suggest that by the standard of calling Reform ‘far right’, then the policies of the Greens are pretty far left and Labour seems to be aspiring to that too.

But maybe PPs can stop calling Reform ‘far right’ and everyone can have a more productive conversation.

I agree. They want to erase women entirely.

Another of Farage's pals.

"You've got to deny, deny, deny and push back on these women. If you admit to anything and any culpability, then you're dead. … You've got to be strong. You've got to be aggressive. You've got to push back hard. You've got to deny anything that's said about you. Never admit." Trump.

"You know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything ... Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything." Also Trump.

Vote Farage. Get a man in a Trump hat.

I call a spade a spade. I'm not going to stop calling Reform far right simply to make you feel better about your voting intentions. If you want to vote for a far right party, why not just own it? Presumably you don't think there is any shame in it?

If anything, Starmer's labour government has moved farther right and become more centrist - their tightening of the immigration rules being a case in point.

What’s the secret? Personally I think I the Greens are a bigger threat to biological women. 🤷‍♀️

"Reform UK and its leader Farage fit comfortably within the definition of the far-right.

Key reasons include:

• Undermining democracy: Farage has repeatedly questioned election results in Peterborough (2019), Rochdale (2024) and Oldham (2015), where he said that the electoral process was “dead” due to “ethnic changes in the way people are voting”.
• Attacks on human rights: Farage has called for the UK to withdraw from the ECHR rejecting key principles of liberal democracy.
• Racist and xenophobic rhetoric: Farage has a history of racism, xenophobia, and misogyny, with Reform UK’s current focus being on portraying asylum seekers and Muslims as threats to the nation.
• Populism and elite conspiracy: Farage frames himself as a defender of “the people” against a sinister “elite,” fueling distrust in politicians and institutions.

https://bylinetimes.com/2024/10/07/why-reform-uk-is-far-right/

I'd like to know what his definition of 'the elites' actually is, given he was privately educated and earns £millions per year.

@MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack this is my view at this point too. I’m not mincing my words and I’m calling it out. If people want to sympathise with fascists, they can start owning it.

@HangingOutAtTheRialto if you consider how much Labour is spending on welfare without any intention to decrease that spending, there is no way it could be described as centrist. It is a left wing party and they make no apologies for that. If just isn’t far left.

@HangingOutAtTheRialto when he’s earning at least £1million a year through private appointments, I do wonder when he’s finding time to serve his constituents.

Not to mention his pre-political career as a City trader and membership of an exclusive London men's only (of course) club.

You're quite right. See also the fact that it is now becoming clear that Farage was way too close to Epstein.

You don't think all women will be rather more seriously threatened by the privatisation of the NHS and the removal of rights to autonomy over their own bodies?

@Fulmine Precisely.

He's rarely in the HoC (look at his voting history) and never in his constituency, so make of that what you will.

I think Starmer and Labour are closer and more implicated on that one.

Immigration did not improve after Brexit like Farage promised. The economy, NHS got worse (even though he said it would get better). If reform got in we would be following in the same path as America. I understand people might be disillusioned with the current government but make no mistake Farage does not want to make your life better.

@EasternStandard Starmer has literally never met Jeffrey Epstein.

Farage is best mates (or at least, is desperate to be) with a man who was VERY implicated… 🤷‍♀️

Sorry for taking over the thread 🫣.

Labour are still left, I agree but they've definitely made some decidedly centrist policy decisions in recent months.

Starmer appointed Mandelson to a major ambassadorial role, that man is currently having his properties searched for evidence re Epstein.

I think your attempts to defend Starmer won’t wash with many. But it’s not worth trying to convince you as it’s serious enough to take out Starmer and I suspect you’ll still say look over there.

Reform's treasurer was also a chum of Epstein.

No doubt Mandelson is a piece of shit, though.