“I think this is a really interesting overlap (probably not that unusual but is very marked in many of these areas). It really is turkeys voting for Christmas, and if I was a Labour SpAd I’d have been furiously arguing for massive resource allocation in those at risk areas. The public health and health inequalities are massive. I don’t want to malign any particular of the areas that voted in reform (not least because I live in one!) but some of the northern midlands and northern constituencies are shocking places to wander around and see some of the least healthy people you can imagine. It’s so fucking tragic that they’re voting for what is effectively managed decline but by a bloke they think is their friend. I’ve worked in social policy all my life (after law) and it’s frustrating that politicians don’t always use the evidence we present to them, but this has been predictable for 20 odd years at least. It’s also plain as day when you go to these places that the problems are not about immigration , so I have to say my sympathy for the residents is waning. Should have gone into corporate law instead!”
@Allisnotlost1 - well if you have already hit rock bottom then why not? Is that not the thinking? They are willing to give someone like Farage a chance because everyone else has failed them? It is really not that complicated.
As regards “health” inequality - well it is all in the diet and exercise. Some people read to their children and feed them healthy food from conception in the womb (many even before that), others don’t. Many who don’t, simply were not parented that way either themselves. None of it is that complicated.
Some British culture around food and drink and alcohol is very poor for heart health and diabetes. A lot of seasonal food can be prepared quite cheaply and well. The nanny state does not necessarily help all that much with these things, same applies to teeth etc.
If people do not respect themselves and their area and are not valued either by their own parents or society, they are more likely to have bad physical and mental health right from the get go. I think what Farage is trying to give them is self respect and a voice. I am trying to listen, others should too.
Even the “manosphere”, it is easy to try and dismiss it but some of it is not just chaining women to the kitchen sink, but also about being a protector etc. and looking out for a woman and there are women chasing the trad wife role. Or so my children tell me.
Also the left need to understand that that is it. There is no more taxation of the middle class left to give, we are at the limit. It is unproductive. Need to come up with other strategies, more intelligent ones. Just spending other people’s is not going to work as those who are being taxed have choices.