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.

Yes@NewNameNigel . He comes across as reasonable, and that is no doubt his appeal to some people. But as a black woman I hear loud, and clear what he is saying, and he is not someone I would want to see running this Country. We as black people will fare of worse. We should be concerned, especially the way he was barking about how he is coming for Labour next.

I believe when you segregate specific groups then that causes problems.

The problems, and you are a great example of it, came before this board was created not after. Shut the door on your way out.

It's ironic that the poster objecting to separate spaces to allow black people to talk about racism is exhibiting the exact behaviour that makes them necessary. One derailer can be ignored but when you have loads of people behaving like this, as on the other boards here discussion becomes impossible.

Thank you @Milsie892 for demonstrating so perfectly why we need our own separate space to discuss issues we face.

That poster should just be ignored going forward, if you ask me. They have added nothing to this thread, just the usual entitled attitude being displayed. It is not on, and is attempting to derail the thread. They have no concern for what is being discussed here, it is just wearing.

We need to tackle it by not lowering ourselves to their level. Reform thrive on hate, division and despair. They're like a cancer on politics but I do believe they can be overcome. Populism is always exposed as a sham in the end.

Do any of the black women here live anywhere where Reform got a lot of votes? I'm lucky in that they did really badly here. I'd be feeling very unsafe if I was in an area where 10s of thousands voted for them. My heart goes out to people of colour who live in those areas.

My area was a Labour hold at 42%, but Reform was second at 22% which is just shy of 10,000. When I went to vote, there was a queue and it definitely wasn't like that for the last election or Brexit.

I live not too far away from Harlow, it is under Labour, but the reform candidate did not do too shabbily. I cannot say I am too surprised to be fair. The areas that they have gained in, or got a lot of votes in, says a lot.

I can't imagine how black people who live in Clacton must feeling.

They must be feeling rather downhearted, I would have thought. I have been to Clacton in the past, for seaside day trips. I would not step foot there now, that is for sure.

Absolutely this. I completely agree

I can imagine that a certain type will make a point of visiting Clacton now, making it even worse!

True@NewNameNigel . I also stayed at a Hotel in Great Yarmouth, about 10 years ago. The beach was stunning, but the town center, I recall was quite run down, and grubby. Also we ended up driving around, as we got a bit lost, and not too far from the beach, some of the area was shocking. Really poor looking housing, and just a sense of decay. It would be much worse now, if no money was spent improving that part.

I am black and yes I'm very unhappy about the amount of Reform votes.
But look at this:

https://x.com/thiswillstick/status/1809158208390311974?t=m4nDtIyPskmpcqLFFwImUw&s=19

This is assuming that everyone who voted reform would have voted tory if reform didn't exist which I don't think it's true. It's also incorrectly conflating percentage of votes with seats won which doesn't work in a first past the post system.

Agreed.
This is a tiny sample, I know, but the C4 election night coverage had two habitual Labour voters who'd voted Reform.

*Mayhemmumma. *

So sorry to hear this. It makes my heart hurt.

https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/commentaries/net-migration-frequently-asked-questions/

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/bulletins/birthsummarytablesenglandandwales/2022refreshedpopulations

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-funds/public-funds-accessible

You see all the women on other boards talking about the importance of women-only spaces? This is a space for black mumsnetters, because unfortunately there is a need for such a thing in order for black women to feel safe to express themselves. So yes, the respectful thing to do is ask, because this is a space that has been created by and for a certain group.

The only benefit to Reform that I can see is that it's more obvious who some of the more closet racists are in our communities. <clutches at straws>.

I am not black so I won't hang about but will say I think it's terrifying that people like that are getting support.

I was horrified to find that Reform came third in my constituency despite not having a candidate. This was possible as it was only discovered after the ballot forms had been printed that the candidate did not exist. God knows who paid the deposit! This was widely publicised in the local media, and obviously there was no publicity material.

I've read about there being suspicion of Reform faking candidates but didn't know it had been confirmed. If this is the case then surely there would need to be some kind of reelection or something?

A few of my older relatives actually voted for them! My mum, didn’t vote but if she had done. She said she would have voted Reform 👎🏽

What was the draw for your family members, wanting to vote for them?