Why aren’t the Tories attacking Reform UK ?

[Karlmayforpresident]

Why no attacks on Farage and his party which are realistically the biggest drain on Tory votes ?
The manifesto is a joke and will not survive scrutiny, some of their candidates have associated themselves with unsavoury individuals and have pretty out there beliefs, and yet the Conservative Party is haemorrhaging votes to them. I don’t know any Tory voters swinging to Labour but I know plenty who will vote reform (or not vote).
Why are they holding back criticism ?
Apparently some cabinet ministers are suggesting to Sunak that he ‘goes low’ and starts to make personal attacks on KS. But why are they so reluctant to call out Reform UK who let’s be honest are an easy target ?

Tories know they are going to lose badly. The likelihood is that they will form a coalition with Reform after the election- in fact, my money is on Farage as the next Conservative leader (or next but one, if Rishi steps down immediately and they have a caretaker). They're therefore unlikely to say anything they can't row back from. They also know that a lot of their voters are voting Reform this time but still consider themselves Conservatives in the longer term, and they do not want to alienate these people further by implying they are a bunch of thick racists.

wait until the possibility of Labour slipping in via the back door with coalition partner/s

Oh, it’s you again.

I presume by ‘slipping in
via the back door with coalition partners’ you actually mean, ‘voted in’?

wait until the possibility of Labour slipping in via the back door with coalition

There really isn’t much likelihood, or need for Lab to “slip in via the back door” with a coalition.

They will march into the front door with a decent majority, that’s what it’s looking like, at least at this moment.

Coalitions are mainly formed when there is no overall majority. Not many are predicting that.

edit to add: I wouldn’t actually be against a “repair the damage” coalition between Lab/Lib/Grn, voluntarily from Labours perspective, as the last 14 years have wreaked an unprecedented amount of damage on the country and urgent action needs taking now.

I have heard this theory too. IMO it's very important Farage doesn't get a seat. He wants to turn the NHS into an American type insurance based system. He thrives on hate and division. The UK will be a far far worse place if he gets into a position of influence.
Hoping the good people of Clacton help us out here by voting tactically against Farage. It's the only seat I wouldn't mind the Tories winning!

I wouldn’t actually be against a “repair the damage” coalition between Lab/Lib/Grn, voluntarily from Labours perspective, as the last 14 years have wreaked an unprecedented amount of damage on the country and urgent action needs taking now.

That would work for me if push came to shove.

Christ knows,, there’s enough damage to repair, Blossom😫

Isn’t there just? I could never understand why Johnson didn’t form a national government during covid. Surely you’d want to pull in all the talent going?

The electoral system (that I want to change) is such that only perhaps at most half a dozen Reform MPs will be elected. The Tories need to focus more on stopping Labour or Lib Dems gaining seats from them.

The number of current Tory MPs who have views similar to Reform is very few, in that respect Nigel Farage is right. Just as a broken watch is right twice a day.

Boris Johnson would have had to remove himself and all bar two of the government in that case.

The partying options would be severely curtailed with all those pesky responsible people around number 10…

Well, if we did end up with a coalition government, that would of course be a completely legitimate outcome of the democratic process. Coalition governments happen when the electorate do not want to give one party a mandate to govern. They are very common in many countries which have proportional representation, which is arguably more democratic than our FPTP system. However, if we do end up with a coalition government despite FPTP, there would be nothing shady about that at all, and to suggest that it would be 'via the back door' is to show a fundamental disrespect to British democracy and British values. Are you opposed to democracy?

And don't worry, it won't happen.

Do you have any evidence for that?

On current polling it is not looking at all likely there will be a hung parliament.

Yes, you’re both right @LlynTegid and @Lonelycrab. Silly me.

The manifesto was only announced at lunchtime. They'll be deciding on what they perceive is the most effective line of attack/defence. They won't be thinking about coalition as Reform are only likely to win a couple of seats at best.

Fortunately as someone on an above average wage, I will not be stuffed by Labour getting in by the back door, as they will have won so big they will proudly walk though the front door and I will benefit from that hugely, not least in the area of women's rights.

Johnson like many others who lack talent are scared by those who are talented and so do not want to work with them.

LOL. That was exactly the reason. He did not have a cabinet of all the talents.

It was the cabinet of gargoyles

Because Nigel has been around for years, any dirt that could be found, would have been found years ago. Reform are attracting a lot of interest, like it or loathe it, just look at the betting odds.

There is literally no polling suggesting this. Where did you get this idea?

@KnickerlessParsons I'm just going to repeat the question asked by pp, because I find your statement strange. Why do you think there will be a hung Parliament?

"Evidence" - its not fixed, i hope its not!!😂

The only evidence I can suggest is, liste/watch the media and look at historical facts re pre GE polls.

If it was not for that clown, Truss that has messed up the whole of England, the Tories would have still got in with a small majority!!

If you believe that, it is your perogative and one I'm not going to dispute as the point you made about "women's rights" is the only accurate bit IMHO!!

And everyone who has looked at opinion polls and understands the history of them has reached the same conclusion, and that is that a hung parliament is a hugely unlikely result.

Labour will proudly walk though the front door of Downing Street on 5th July.

Even Sunak believes it, which is why is campaigning to come 2nd. He has said as much.