Is anyone else terrified by the popularity of Reform UK?

[NewNameNigel]

I am. I feel like it's indicative of sentiment that is really bad for me and my family.

I know that they are unlikely to win many seats but the fact that so many people will consider voting for racists is not a good sign.

I'm very uneasy indeed. I'm mixed and so are my children. I really worry that abuse in the streets is going to get back to 1960s level like it was for my mother when she arrived. I simply can't understand why the media give Farage so much attention. Did they not see what happened in the US? I appreciate they want to sell papers but surely there should be some responsibility for preventing the possible rise of fascism through popularism.

Politically I'm stuck as I will not vote tory but Labour are in the wings waiting to throw all women under the bus regardless of skin colour.

Yes, I've had a conversation with a friend who will vote Reform. I've always thought he's a decent enough bloke, although a bit "I don't understand politics" and I disagree with him on most things current affairs. He's a working class, not well educated man and a guess a product of that.

He still believes in all the things that made him vote Leave, but is disappointed in the way it's been implemented and feels Reform is the answer. There's no way he'd vote Labour because "they'll put up taxes to pay more benefits to people who don't contribute". This view is going to be an enduring problem for Labour, and I don't think their landslide will be as big as predicted.

He'd say he's not racist, and he's not in his everyday life, he's lots of minority friends and will do anything for anyone, but he still feels immigration is the biggest issue the country is facing. It's certainly true, it's not being managed well currently and will be a big factor in the election result.

Exactly this. The fact that they are able to dupe so many people, and have them truly believe that the problems that we are having in this Country are mostly down to immigration is staggering. But it is obviously working.

Hope you don’t mind me posting, to give you the perspective of someone who’s dh considered voting reform.

He considered voting reform out of sheer anger and frustration with the main parties, rather than anything to do with racism or immigration or anything like that. He’s done his postal vote and has voted Lib Dem anyway now. My ds has also voted libdem by post.

Personally, I don’t know whether to vote at all. I have my postal vote and may not use it. I just don’t think any of them deserve to be voted for.

I think a lot of people will vote reform as a fuck you to the main parties. Unfortunately, Reform does make a good home for racists though so there will be plenty of those. But plenty of con/lab voters will also be racist.

Farage can come across extremely well. He can be funny and at times, have good ideas that would benefit everyone (eg hospital car parking should be free). There are YouTube videos composed solely of Farage comedy.

The rise of the far right, in so many countries, is often propelled by very poor alternative options.

Safety first always mental and physical 🧡 in a workplace/ at a business an email or complaint is the way to be anti-racist 💯
in the wild most of the time it’s not worth engaging with people

agreed - we have been let down by government and that is where the blame lies

While I think the government bears a lot of responsibility I think it speaks to your husband's character that his idea of a protest is to vote along with racists.

I guess I feel like it seems like people get frustrated and anyone who isn't white British is seen as collateral damage. Can any other black women relate to this feeling?

(I'm not black, but white)

I don't like them. They have a flavour of UKIP, and before that, the BNP. All gammon-y men trying to take the country backwards. They appeal to older voters who call all ideas woke because they aren't allowed to treat women like chattels or use racist language anymore.

I was very pleased when Rishi Sunak called the election - finally the chance to get rid of the Tories once and for all. But then when Reform and particularly Farage reared his ugly head again, it did make me quite concerned. I think they will get a lot of votes, almost enough to cause real nervousness, but will never have a real political impact in government. But, and this is the main but, they have allowed too many people to voice their bigoted opinions and not be afraid to upset anyone of ethnicities other than White British in their communities. The Tories in recent years have been experts in deflecting blame and pointing at immigrants as the cause of poor services etc. And now Reform and their supporters feel legitimised in having these views and jump on it to attract more votes. This has all stemmed from the Brexit referendum, unleashing horrible behaviour from some. My friend had just celebrated getting her British citizenship the week before the referendum, and then had her bins set on fire and had graffiti scrawled on her door telling her to 'go home.' Not that she was anything to do with the EU, she is African, but still they attack her because they feel it's ok to do this now. At the same time, a lovely Polish mum from my son's nursery was in tears telling me that her neighbours had also told her she could go home now. Both of these women are hard working people, paying taxes, getting involved in their communities as a small business owner and a school governor respectively, yet they are attacked by angry white people content to spend all day in their pyjamas and claim benefits. I hesitate to generalise, but this is what I see day to day. I was recently on public transport and there was a mix of nationalities and ethnicities, and those who would be lumped together as 'immigrants' were the ones quietly going about their business, while the white locals were the ones acting like idiots. It was a quick snapshot of everyday life, and very dispiriting. I can't imagine how it feels to be walking around worried that you are a potential target for abuse. It is so very unfair. I do hope that Reform comes to nothing and that good people will win out. I'm hopeful that it's a case of a noisy minority out-shouting those with good hearts. Still worrying how many people are taken in by it. Including my DH, but that's another matter.

Tbf he did vote Lib Dem, I think that poster said. But yes lots of people will be voting reform as a protest vote. The crux of it is, that they can, because there will be no consequences for them, that they can see, if they were actually to get in. I, as a black woman, would be very concerned, as should all poc.

I'm not so worried about this election but the next one tbh, Farage is good at the long game 😞

Not really, we already know there are loads of racist people in this country, it's just now become more acceptable to use the same sorts of language as they were back in the 70's.

If it was anyone but Rishi in the Leaders seat, the conservatives would probably have got back in. Most of the country can't stomach voting for a brown leader, so will take Labour instead.

Pockets of people will definitely vote for Reform, although I'm not sure if Farage's numbers will be high enough to get him into Parliament; he was only ever an MEP previously.

I can't recall being openly racially abused since I was small. The unspoken stuff is what I really dislike; the crossing the road as you walk towards people, the moving away from you on public transport, the shopkeepers putting your money on the counter instead of back in your hand, the security staff following you round the shop. Endless "microaggressions". There'll be someone along to say I've imagined it shortly lol

The undercover video showing reform canvassers is sickening. The way they were talking about people was disgraceful. I cannot say that I am easily shocked, but what that man said to the paramedic was chilling.

https://www.channel4.com/news/exclusive-undercover-inside-reforms-campaign-evidence-of-homophobia-and-canvassers-racism

NF’s view is that some of the language is just the way people speak. Sadly this echoes the view of many who are increasingly being given a voice even while they don’t openly express it themselves.

I’m white so obviously not directly threatened by the racism, but disgusted by it.

It’s absolutely no surprise to me that the Reform team include those who are so racist they want immigrants shot, and want to deny oxygen to people on basis of their race. I watched the Channel 4 news last night and worried that there will be a lot of people out there heartened by those comments, who will support this party even more now.

We’ve had a government in power now who have sought to blame every problem in this country at the feet of immigration for fourteen years. Is it any wonder that racists are emboldened? So whilst Reform are disgusting, I’m also furious at the Conservatives for encouraging this to flourish rather than deal with their own government shortcomings.

Utterly sick at the use of division in politics. This reminds me of when the Trump government deported Mexicans, only for various Trump supporters to get upset and say ‘I didn’t mean him, he was my neighbour and friend’. The right use this dehumanising language which people fall for, when the people being talked about are just people, good, bad and everything in between.

Its a big worry as to how far this goes, I really feel for anyone on the receiving end of all this hate.

I'm white and horrified that people seem to think Farage is a bumbling nice fool. He is a dangerous man. The Reform party are the BNP in a dinner jacket.

The rise of the far right in Europe terrifies me. Like we are doomed to repeat mistakes of the past.

Sorry - I hope I am ok to post on this due to being white. Apologies if not

Read the manifesto. Nothing racist in it

I don’t think they’re racist, it’s not about skin colour.

And you don't think they're keeping it clean until they get some power when their true colours emerge? They are full of abhorrent views, a tiny glimpse of which has been exposed by the c4 undercover filming.

https://www.channel4.com/news/exclusive-undercover-inside-reforms-campaign-evidence-of-homophobia-and-canvassers-racism

I agree Reform and Farage are heinous but we don't seem to be able to lay out the facts about immigration. Why can't we spresd correct information rather than misinformation. How many people come into the UK each year? How many leave? How much has the population increased/decreased. How has our birth rate changed? What 'benefits' do 'immigrants' get. My aunt is one of the people who blame immigrants and I try and counter her comments but I don't have any concrete information to do that.

Yes, I am. Especially by people who are "not racist, but..." and don't see Reform as racist.

At least if someone admits to being racist (e.g., EDL, BNP, BF) it's easier to deal with (I think).

Can you explain to me what about it is racist? The person saying racist things undercover as reform was said to be an actor who had nothing to do with them.