African neighbour voted Reform

[WhatShoes4me]

I was talking to one of my neighbours over the garden fence today. I wasn't sure if they had voted as didn't know their rights and I don't know how long they've been in the country. They've lived there over a year. They're African.
I said I was glad our local councillor had kept their seat. Labour. They do a lot for us. I've had a fair bit of contact and they do what they say.
Neighbour said they'd voted Reform. They're from an African country and are black. I was so shocked I couldn't hide it. I hadn't asked they just said. I thought they were joking at first but no.
Dh said why was I surprised? I thought that was obvious?

Racism isn't an exclusively white issue. Plenty of African people hate those from other African countries.

Basically, pulling up the drawbridge!

Humans are truly baffling.

This family are lovely. That's what shocked me.
I might ask a bit more about why next time I see them? They can choose to answer or not? I won't be nasty just am so baffled.
Dh would have voted Reform if he didn't like our councillor so much. Maybe he did? Said not.

More fool them, frankly.

Wow are you so shocked? I always find it baffling when people assume that people from ethnic minority backgrounds vote left. People from African and Asian countries are frequently more conservative in their beliefs and outlooks.

Racism is everywhere. It is not confined to white people. Racism exists all over the world between ethnicities that are not white.

Some people think immigration was ok for them, but is not ok for other people. They are typical reform voters.

Well, white men don't have the monopoly of mental stupidity.

Perhaps people are voting for Reform for more complicated reasons that you’ve explored?
it’s not vote Reform = racist
This is exactly the closed box thinking that has led us to Brexit and now, a Reform take over in some areas, quite possibly in Parliament if the other parties do not start engaging in the issues that the public wish to see addressed.

Your presumption that a black person shouldn't vote Reform is racist. You wouldn't post this if it was your white neighbour.

Yep the posts today are very mn. This thread very much so.

This just shows your ignorance and that you’ve been brainwashed!

I always find this argument aligns very closely with, she made me assault her by wearing such a short dress. If she didn't want to be assaulted, she should have listened to her friend's concern about her dress length. She forced me to assault her.

Having concerns about issues does not in any way excuse a vote for a political party (and I use that term loosely as it's actually more like profit-generating-enterprise) whose entire manifesto is essentially, we are racist.

Africa’s a big place, you know. A continent, in fact. But you know so little about your neighbour that you don’t even know his nationality and yet you’re judging who he votes for???

They were 'African' were they? You realise that's nearly 60 different countries covering 2 hemispheres? The fact you stereotype 'Africans' as immigrants that should vote a certain way suggests it's you that is the racist one. You imply that 'Africans' (many of whom live in the UK as highly skilled immigrants) should have a natural affinity with illegal immigrants.

What is the specific issue you have with them voting Reform? I'm really not clear what your issue is? I personally would never vote Reform because they are too small state for my tastes and most of them are blatantly incompetent and ill fitted to public office - but to be fair that applies to a lot of Greens and Lib Dems too.

I think hes pulling your leg hun 😏

That’s a false equivalence and quite an abhorrent analogy to make.
What is racist about having a public conversation about immigration?
At what point do people like you say there is too much immigration @user499978802 ?

The facts are if we continue to import a million people a year into this country there will be/are implications. At what point will people like you feel comfortable having that discussion? In 10 years time when there’s 10 million more people here and still not enough housing? Calling it racist is the easy way out of having difficult conversations.

Think you may have not been listening when Priti Patel was ever speaking!
There's hierarchies and racists in every colour of skin.
Catholic and 1 Irish heritage parent speaking here. Other parent whiter than white complete English Protestant.
Brownies made all the Catholics step aside and "you may not walk in the procession"
That's just being the wrong white!!

Have you considered that it might be a wind up? Maybe they get a kick out of saying that and watching people’s awkward reaction 😬

You have made assumptions about your neighbours based on their skin colour. That In its self is bordering on racist.

I know which country they're from. They have dcs so could be on mn. I didn't want to be too outing.

I wouldn't say I was a racist but if posters say I am then OK.

Yep and a lot of African people don’t like people from the Caribbean (even if they’re 2nd, 3rd gen Brits).

Bordering on?

Well said. And it’s a point that needs to be made consistently.

I think you need to research unconscious bias as you have assumed the thoughts and behaviours of a non white British person. This is not ok.

No they aren't the type at all. Possibly but highly doubt it?
I'm sure they have their reasons. Hopefully next time we chat I'll find out more?
Where we live is populated by lots of 'send them back' people. That's why I was so surprised.