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?

Oh don’t be so ridiculous. The fact that you think you might identify a Nigerian man’s kids on MN if you mention your neighbour is Nigerian (for example) is mad.

@Ddakji no it's more the conversation today etc. Plus saying the country adds information. I thought that'd be obvious? That's why people are vague.

It is non of your business how they vote, do you realise how condescending “Hopefully next time we chat I'll find out more?” sounds, as in explaining themselves to you.

I know lots of non white people who voted Reform. They’re not even racist. Maybe look into the detail and stop making simplistic assumptions based on left = good, right = evil eh.

Maybe they worked hard to come to this country legally and are fed up with those who do it illegally.

People have lots of different reasons for voting for reform and many of them not racists.

the presumption that they are is
bigotry in itself.

And being baffled by someone voting reform based on their skin colour is racist

Do you honestly think doing well in local elections will give Reform the power to deport black Africans (even those that voted Reform)? Maybe take a deep breath and stop assuming everyone agrees with your politics.

It's actually quite racist of you to assume you know the politics of someone based on their skin colour.

I wouldn't vote reform but I wouldn't assume someone is a bad person for voting for them.

That's like the brexit nonsense, the leave people were racist or remain people were snowflakes. Just lazy insults thrown around when people have many different reasons to vote for what they did. I don't know where this vapid style of black and white thinking started but it lacks critical thinking skills.
It's one entirely different thing to vote for the likes of the BNP. I don't think reform is exactly on that level but neither of them are my thing.

The world isn't one way or another.
People will vote and can vote for what they like. Again, with many different reasons. You have no idea why your neighbour chose reform and frankly her skin or race or where she came from, should not come into it.

It does seem ridiculous but they probably are racist against others who aren't like them or aren't from a culture they want to integrate with.
Or maybe just believe that it makes them seem more British?!
Or they've studied politics in detail and assessed the good and bad of each party and concluded that Reform sounds amazing for the positive progress of mankind at large?

Did you ask them the reasons why they support it? I guess it's not their obligation to explain their reasoning. But yeah, to me I'd find it a bit off.

Though I'd find it hard to comprehend someone of any race or background voting Reform.

It’s hilarious that someone would think that all black people should vote labour. It’s like saying all French men are very sexy.

This^
people who came here already don’t want more people coming here.

This. It is lazy thinking to assume all non white people are Labour and Reform really isn't inherently racist.

The only thing that surprises me is that you're surprised. Why shouldn't they vote Reform?! Mass immigration affects everyone. My home town has changed enormously over the last ten or twenty years. For a start, there are just too many people crammed into what is basically a small market town. Everywhere I go developers are wrecking the countryside. My local woods have been hacked down to make way for two new estates, a second massive estate is being built at the other end of the village, and now we've been told the fields in the centre of the village have got to go as well. You know, maybe, just maybe, some African people like fields and trees and peace and quiet as well!! Ever consider that? The traffic is unbelievable. Much of the town is simply a no-go area. Even setting out on a three or four mile journey is like a flippin expedition. Guess what, African people get stuck in traffic too.

Any sane, rational person knows that many of these so-called refugees are really economic migrants. In the middle of a week day I constantly see groups of young immigrant men wandering around my home town, many of them barely able to speak English. Alex Phillips, a female presenter on Talk TV, described the fear she feels as a young woman in modern London – how it's difficult for her to walk down the street without being followed or leered at. She also speaks of having been followed home and of being genuinely scared. Well maybe your African neighbours have a daughter or niece or family friend who's experienced the same thing.

And what makes you think they consider themselves African? Maybe they think of themselves as British. Maybe they feel a deep affection for British history and literature. Maybe they read Dickens and Shakepeare and Jane Austen and resent the way this island's history and culture is being constantly sneered at ridiculed by the smug, bullying Left. Maybe they also resent the constant demonisation of British heroes. In other words, maybe they can think for themselves and don't subscribe to the leftist woke cult.

I live in a very diverse and quite under privileged area. Most of my neighbours are either immigrants or their parents were. Many of them have told me they would be voting Reform. They are scared of the number of illegal immigrants and the fact that they mainly seem to be single young men. They are deeply worried about stretched resources (housing in particular) and the safety of their daughters. Is that racist?

As DH would say - he is posting dogshit through his own letterbox

My parents, expats! (immigrants) in Spain after my DF’s career in Germany, voted for Brexit.

No accounting for stupid.

I can only talk about the country I live in but most of the people who manage to emigrate are from the upper echelons of society and don't necessarily have any empathy for those who are less privileged

I get the impression the OP is just interested in understanding more about their choice of vote.

They volunteered the information, OP didn’t ask who they voted for.

Hmmm OP
Africa is a big place you know. Can you be bit more specific?

Agree, maybe he thinks you’re a bit uptight op.
He probably had a good laugh afterwards at your reaction.
You have judged him on his skin colour. Do you really think he won’t be well aware of that. Not nice!!.

The assumption you make that anyone who voted for Reform is racist is simply wrong and flawed.

It doesn’t say “racism” on the ballot paper.

People will have voted reform for all manner of reasons - it might be a protest vote, they might think Farage is a strong leader, if they don’t know much about politics they might think the name itself is worth voting for, and yes, they might be hardened right wing racists…

But lazily calling people racists when you don’t actually know the reasons just disenfranchises people even more and they’re more likely to vote for extreme parties. You think you’re morally superior but actually you become part of the problem.

Judging by the level of support Reform got last night, I think you have your answer.

Nobody's voting for Reform for intelligent reasons.

But I can see some immigrants wanting less immigration. E.g. they're trying hard to integrate and it bothers them that other people aren't. Or they've put in a lot of work to enter by legal routes (which are not at all favourable to most Africans) and are annoyed by a perception that plenty of others are here illegally.