If you were 'politically homeless' have you now found a home?

[kinkytoes]

I saw an interesting thread on Twitter that said Reform UK is now providing an option for those who previously felt they had nowhere to go.

Does this apply to you? Or have you decided to just 'hold your nose' and vote for someone you'd really rather not (best of a bad bunch)?

@SuePreemly im not saying that they aren't vile. Im saying that not every single person who is concerned about the huge levels of immigration and the societal consequences of that are concerned because they are racist! They have legitimate concerns and the only party that seems to listen is reform! That is why they will get the votes! When will the left realise that shutting down any debate by accusing people of racism is not helpful in the slightest?

I’ve had to dial down my idealism a bit 🤣

there’s no one party I could buy into 100% - I’m going for the one with the best fit on the most topics for me. It’s not a perfect set up but I would rather do that than not vote.

but Reform can get in the bin.

Farage is an actual racist though. He was quoted in the Guardian today as having defended the use of a racial slur against Chinese people. I don't suppose this is an isolated example.

Still politically homeless, would rather stick pins in my eyes than vote for Farage.

@Brexile he maybe so I don't know! However which of the parties available would you genuinely vote for if you had concerns about all the immigration and actually wanted something real done about it? Not conservatives, definitely not Labour, not Lib dem or green! What does that leave?

No, I always know who to vote for (it isn't Reform)

But Farage is an actual racist.

So voting for the Company (not party, it's all about the £) he owns is, in itself, showing your support for a known racist.

If people want to align themselves with that, then they probably should expect pushback. And if they don't like being called racist, then maybe they could have a look in the mirror and a bloody good think. It's like that Armstrong & Miller sketch with the two Nazi officers asking if they're the bad guys.....people need to think through the morals of the people they are voting for.

I think immigration system needs changing, but I think good old Jonathan Pie had it summed up: it's because immigration departments have been starved of funds for years we are in this mess. They physically cannot process and do the job they need to do. So the department needs proper funding, and the staff required to actually carry out an immigration policy be ause all the rhetoric in the world won't stop anything unless there's a properly functioning civil service department to actually carry out the policies.

I don't think most potential reform voters see themselves as fascists' at all.

Calling them that or rather their choice, will just make them double down.

Many people believe that immigration is at the cause of their problems, its down to the mainstream to counter this, if they don't, then the odious Farage will be the winner... instead we have our public broadcaster giving this man a platform, which he simply shouldn't be allowed to have.

He has lost 7 x, including on one occasion, his deposit, so there is no justification to have him on a leaders debate, might as well put Count Binface on there too.

A previous poster mentioned a similarity to 1933 Weimar Germany. This is referring to how the Nazis blamed all the problems of society on one set of people (Jews). The Jews were scapegoated as being the cause of all the problems by stealing all the good jobs, hoarding wealth, and being a general bad influence on the country.

The similarity is that this is happening here when people blame immigrants for all the problems in the U.K. They are being scapegoated and blamed for our underfunded public services and the decimation of our manufacturing industry which has led to loss of good employment options. It isn’t the fault of immigrants and refugees that we don’t train, employ, and retain enough workers in the NHS or build enough affordable, social housing.

Reform is a terrible option for government because they aren’t dealing with the real issues in society, or providing real solutions, they are simply scapegoating people who aren’t really to blame to shore up their own power and wealth.

No way I’m voting Reform. I’m in a Tory stronghold, with the only party having a vague chance of beating them being Lib Dems. I’ll either vote tactically for Lib Dem or vote for the independent - not sure yet

Every vote is meaningful in my opinion, even in a constituency with a certain outcome. The smaller the majority, the more chance of the elected MP not taking the area for granted. The more votes for smaller parties, the more chance some of their ideas gain traction.

I'm a liberal and always voted Lib Dem until they jumped the gender shark.

Now I don't have a political home.

There is no way in hell I would vote for reform because I'm not a racist fool. Farage and his ilk are horrific, trump wannabes who are taking U.K. politics down an even more dangerous path.

I see Reform as the real Tory party. I don't call them fascists because the odious people such as Mussolini were capable of organisation, which Reform and their supporters are not.

I agree to a certain extent with @lovelysunshine22 in that for example in last night's debate, nobody addressed the immigration concern with any seriousness with the exception of Reform. Maybe I see it too simplistically but for me it's not a race issue, but a numbers one. Too many of anything can be a problem and it certainly seems that overpopulation is causing problems for everyone living here. You can't expel those already living here so surely the only solution is to limit extra coming in. I hope that doesn't make me a racist? People are people in my book, but they all use resources and resources are finite.

Many of the politically homeless were I think Conservative voters who think they've done a shocking job over the last few years (mostly down to Boris Johnson during the pandemic imo). Reform seems like the nearest place to give a vote to.

@InWithPeaceOutWithStress im not talking about people blaming immigrants for social issues! Im talking about people who are being made to feel like outsiders in their own towns because of high immigration! People who see the areas they live in turned into what are effectively ghettos! I live just outside an area that has had massive amounts of immigrants from SE Asia, it is very unusual to see a female not covered from head to foot and you very rarely hear anyone talking English. The English children are in the minority in school and islam is very much the default religion! This should not be happening in the uk! Immigrants need to integrate and the government needs to ensure that happens!

Of the bit of the debate i saw yesterday, Daisy Cooper was the one i was most impressed with, their policies on the NHS& Social Care are just whats needed.

I'll see what their manifesto says on TWAW.

But for me, my vote will go to the candidate most likely to oust our awful Tory MP, that'll be Labour or LD.

Migrants from SE Asia covered head to foot??? are you sure about this?

Why should a devout Muslim change religion because he/she lives in the UK?

Sorry I can’t relate at all. I grew up in an area with a very high proportion of Asians / Muslims. White kids were about 50/50 at school or perhaps the minority. Those Asians / Muslims were my friends and I absolutely loved being invited into their homes, learning about their religion, and experiencing a different culture. I’m struggling to see what the issue is? My life has been broadened and richer thanks to spending time with people from different cultures.

You know where I posted about looking on the mirror and that Armstrong and Miller sketch.

Yeah.....maybe do a bit of reflection.

@Alexandra2001 they shouldn't change religion but islam is also not the default religion in the uk! When you move into a different society/culture its on YOU to adapt not on the country/ society to adapt to you ( and i say that as someone who has lived abroad). When i visit an islamic country for instance i am mindful of the way i dress and behave to make sure i am respectful at all times! There are areas of the UK where it feels uncomfortable to be a white British female and that is so so wrong! It simply shouldn't be happening! When people voice concerns such as this they are shouted down by screams of racism!

I'm leaning towards spoiling my ballot paper for the first time ever. I won't vote Tory, and the Labour candidate is anti women. Can't bring myself to vote Lib Dem or Green and the only other options here are Reform and two other dreadful right wingers. Would vote Labour if I had a decent Rosie Duffield type of candidate.

My vote or spoiling is pointless though, I'm in a classic permanent Tory area (they'd vote for a steaming pile of shit if it had a blue rosette on it etc).

@InWithPeaceOutWithStress and its comments like this that don't help! Yes your friends may have been wonderful but that doesn't mean that everyone has that experience!

I used to vote Conservative but I could never vote for Sunak. I'll be voting for Reform UK because actually they offer some sensible views on how the UK should move forward. Our infrastructure simply can't cope with more immigration. It can't cope with the immigrants we already have. We don't have enough houses, hospitals, prisons, GP or dentists appointments for the people already here. I don't want to spend billions on housing and supporting more immigrants whilst the money we do have should be spent on education, getting more teachers and classroom assistants in our classrooms, building more social housing and getting more nurses.

I live in a very white area of the country and whilst i agree, migrants shouldn't expect society to change for them, there are also plenty of white areas that are unsafe for anyone to walk into.

Maybe the real reason, isn't so much migrants but that we are no longer police our streets and rape has virtually been legalised.

Most people in the UK do not practise any sort of religion, so i really don't see whats the issue with Islam, which certainly doesn't condone attacking white british women.... thats criminality.

Where do you live? This is my reality too. No one is suggesting anyone should change their religion but integration is important for wider society too. It cuts both ways.

We have a candidate whose sole platform is justice for Gaza. While this may be a laudable aim, the candidate hasn't addressed a single domestic issue, despite the constituency having many serious problems. Nonetheless, he is likely to receive many thousands of votes judging by the recent mayoral election.