To think Count Binface is doing a great job in the Clacton by-election?

[Darker]

Count down to Bin Day!

Count Binface has been out bigging-up Clacton and drawing attention to its potential.

It’s a really positive campaign.

I don’t think he’ll win but I’d love it if he did. I think he’d be brilliant.

And if he doesn’t, I think other candidates could learn a lot from his approach.

Well yes and no... It's all become very muddied as a result of populist rhetoric. Trump's tactics are to tell enough lies so that the truth becomes irrelevant. Farage et al aim to portray anyone who doesn't agree with them as out of touch, elitist, lacking authenticity, which makes it really difficult to express an opinion because it's always painted as evidence of belief in your own moral and intellectual superiority. Realistically, a vote for Farage in Clapton was not sensible - he's proved that he's uninterested in serving his constituents and that he's dishonest. Clacton residents gain nothing from having him as his MP. But what would happen if I started a thread saying so? It's almost worth a try, just to prove my point!

Ultimately I guess what I'm trying to say is that the new hard right movement is about anti intellectualism and disingenuity, serving nobody but an actual elite. The clever trick they've played is to get us to believe that we - left and right - are on completely discrete sides instead of all being affected by the same issues (which in my view represent the natural consequences of late stage capitalism!).

Well I do, and I doubt I'm alone. I'd like to hear what you have to say too, as long as we keep the discussion constructive.

Well it isn't constructive is it?

These threads are all the same.
We just get all the Labour luvvies hurling abuse at various politicians because they don't like their outlook.
Really tiresome.

There was no abuse. You could try engaging in a debate and tell me why you think I’m wrong instead of attempting to shut me down.

Good post.

I think we lack forums for deeper, informed debate.

The hustings have been replaced by social
media echo chambers.

The media are mostly hopeless… debates are set up with people who have strong views and make entertaining content rather than making the issues clearer. And don’t get me started on the presenters that cut everyone off after 20 seconds.

People’s Assembly, anyone?

I could do a lot of stuff, but none of it is compulsory.

Erm...this is a discussion thread on a discussion forum. We're discussing.

That's not how I see this thread. There have been some interesting contributions that have really made me think about things.

Absolutely. There's no substitute for people actually getting out there and speaking to other people. No danger of algorithms feeding you only what you want to hear either! I think our new PM would do well to have a look at the whole system from start to finish, really strengthening and future proofing our democracy. Why shouldn't our politicians be accountable to the electorate, answer our questions instead of choosing whether and how they engage?

There have been plenty of threads with Tories and Reform types 'hurling abuse' at Starmer, Burnham et al, so please don't try for the high moral ground on this.

Is trying to silence people who don’t share your views compulsory? Surely the sensible thing is to present a counter argument if you believe me to be wrong?

Please stop tagging me. This is getting tedious

I’m not tagging you. I’m replying to your posts. That’s kind of the purpose of a discussion forum. If you hadn’t basically told me to shut up because you didn’t like what I said we wouldn’t be here.

He didn’t report it at first-only some time after it happened, so the Police can be forgiven for lack of urgency.
I’ve no issue with anyone up thread or with you-you said no one had used Anne Widdecombe’s murder to make a point about Farage’s security not being taken seriously. I was just pointing out that they have.

I never said that, stop making stuff up.

What did this mean then? This is getting nobody anywhere and it’s just derailing the thread.

What makes you think people want to know what you think about Reform ?

So stop talking about it then ! Simple !

The irony.

It’s a shame when threads go this way.

I started it to celebrate Count Binface, and how he has handled the one-in-a-lifetime opportunity Farage, and subsequently the main parties, created.

He could have played it very differently but he stayed his own man (as far as I can see) and has brought a lot of fun as well as satirical insights.

I agree @Darker. We had a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. Thank you for starting it.

Up the Bin!

Yes, thanks indeed @Darker It's been (very largely) good humoured, entertaining and informative.

3 resounding cheers for the Count from his Earthling friends and supporters!

Well Myli1 you're an angry soul.
You make the mistake of thinking only people with the same opinion as you are correct. 'Fair and decent' you say.
Lots of fair and decent have alternative opinions.

But they're not racists though. And they don't vote Reform.

Do you vote for Reform? I've only ever voted Tory, my dad was a Labourite. We had the best discussions ever.

This has been a really good thread.
Darker you have kept it moving along nicely.
It's made me think and I agree wholeheartedly about the algorithms which steer us along until our views are stuck on one path.
Sometimes we have to look up and clear our heads and step away from the bias of the newspapers and the TV news channels, all trying to influence us, keep us quite, keep us in line.