AIBU to think that Reform pose a real threat to UK democracy?

[Sherbs12]

Reform’s unelected chairman, Zia Yusuf, has announced that Reform will build detention centres housing immigrants waiting for deportation in areas which vote Green (or rather those which don’t Reform). They call this ‘an exercise in democratic consent’ and it’s been - rightfully - condemned by all other parties.

Last week he was threatening to ‘carpet bomb’ areas in which their MP had voted a certain way in parliament.

Obviously, this is detracting from the discovery that Farage received a £5million donation in 2024 when he seemingly changed his mind and decided to run as an MP.

So, while politics can be heated, all parties are open to criticism, we can debate the reasons behind the rise of Reform, AIBU to say that this approach from Reform is unacceptable in a democracy and an alarming indicator of how they would be in government?

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/entry/zia-yusuf-reform-uk-migration_uk_69f8483de4b06e9242f51ba4/

I’m pretty sure Green voters aren’t keen on detention centres that are pretty much containment camps. On another site the Reformers were ‘joking’ about putting them in striped pyjamas.

It’s not workable so it won’t happen - but it’s just another example of Reform showing you who they are. A party of divisiveness. If they were really about ‘making the UK great again’ they’d be wanting to show those who voted Green (or any other party) that in fact Reform can run a coherent and successful and uniting government for the people. Not just play for laughs in the pubs. It’s disgusting

Reform won't do anything.
Reform are too stupid, incompetent and fighty to get anything done.

@Flowersdie right?
Put them in those areas and you'll be inundated with protesters shouting about how inhumane it is. And probably staff helping them escape.

It's incompetent madness

it must be a weird joke right?

The Green Party don't endorse detention camps as far as I am aware.

Whipping the Labour MPs wasn’t democratic as most people polled didn’t agree with Starmer’s use of control.

Bit harsh on the Reform voters in that area, though?

Yusuf is an arse who thinks he's important. His made up job title is cringe -worthy.

Oh give over - Starmer wasn’t threatening the electorate about which way they should vote in an election, and even Badenoch has retweeted condemnation of it. This isn’t about petty party politics, there should be cross-party unity on this type of thing.

You are not wrong to worry. Look at the US! Story after story in the papers of Trump voters who didn’t take Trump’s threats or history as a serious warning and who have gone under as a result. It will take the US decades to dig out of the harm Trump has done economically and as for the political and reputational harm? We will never recover.

He threatened to remove the whip so you can ‘give over’. The point of MPs is to listen to their constituents and 61% wanted him to face scrutiny.

This is absurd.

We have a parliamentary democracy. Whichever party wins the most votes of those cast for Westminster is in power. I don't see any party greeting 100% of the votes cast. Any legislation any government proposed at Westminster goes through the house of Lords and ultimately the monarch before it gets approved. This would not happen.

Also, this is a council election in England - I don't see a victory for any one party even in a majority of council seats meaning a guaranteed shoe in for Westminster in three or so years.

All parties whip to their advantage. The public wanted Johnson to face the standards committee. The Tories tried to whip against him being referred but failed due to lack of party discipline.

The idea that the whip should be applied/not applied in line with public opinion at every vote is somewhat at odds with how Parliament functions and completely unworkable.

An extra 4 or 5 million are voting on Thursday, against Labour’s wishes. Good thing too, however people vote. Democracy is people voting. Whether it’s to show Labour how they feel or the same to whoever is in next.

I think it is just a pathetic attempt to win a few more votes on Thursday. Some people might be persuaded by the idea.

I wonder if Reform is worried it is going to do less well than predicted?

Are you talking about the Reform UK party that took court action to ensure local elections actually took place?

I don't think the threat to democracy is coming from Reform UK.

That was for a small number of the elections. And those elections will have to run again in a few months or so at more cost to the taxpayer.

Yep, not a single one of them has the country's best interests at heart. Blows my mind that people can't see that.

It's a nonsense to detract from their real policies which will be for the benefit of their donors only - deregulating crapto and privatising the NHS among them...

Thankfully the votes were reinstated. Labour won’t like it due to polling predictions.

Yusuf will be straight out of the door with the jackboots on his neck when Reform get into power and can give unfettered rein to their racism. The useful idiot.

The entire purpose of Reform is to erode UK Democracy to the point whereby we have a US system of politicians being up for sale, and policy being determined by the highest bidder. So yes, it goes without saying they are a "threat to UK Democracy".

How is it a problem? They have to go somewhere, the green party have made it clear they're pro illegals so I don't see why this isn't welcomed from both sides?

In that case, maybe all immigrants, detained or not, should be moved to areas with liberal voting records? Reform voting areas can have hospitals, care homes, etc staffed solely by Brits - I’m sure they’ll welcome that even if it means they’re understaffed.

I’m sure there was another party leader in the not too distant past that kept people in detention camps, damned if I can remember his name although I believe the daily mail heralded them as much as the do Farrige

I’d forgotten that, it’s a good point

Agree, utterly terrible state this country is in. The election process is really just theatre now.