What can an individual do to keep Reform out?

[Thepoliticsofchaos]

I have a young friend (a university student) who is getting depressed about the prospect of Reform getting in next election. He thinks that the UK is fucked, basically. He's left-leaning, I assume a Labour voter. I've advised him to get politically engaged (so that in the future he'll at least be able to feel that he did what he could). He's not the most outgoing of people, though is interested in politics. Can anyone suggest how he could become usefully politically engaged to try to reduce the Reform vote? Not just joining a party and turning up to meetings, but actually doing something?

The best way for an individual to keep Reform out is to vote for the current shit show again.

You won’t get many takers.

We won't make any difference whatesoever. Although we will become even poorer in our pathetic efforts.

I see Norway are going to become even richer than they already are from North Sea oil. Good on them. They know how to run things.

The best way to keep them out is to research which candidate has the best chance of beating them and vote for them. Hence my going against every instinct and principle I possess and probably voting Tory in 2029. And trust me that will really hurt.

I think this will also have to apply to voting to keep Labour out too. I really don't usually approve of tactical voting (for my own vote only of course) but unfortunately things are desperate. So Conservative or Reform for me. Definitely not the Greens. Women died for us to be able to vote but probably not for a breast-hypnotiser.

Yes it could swing against Labour to get them out.

I so don’t want to vote reform and I’m so pissed off with Labour at the moment, the Tories are starting to look like a happy medium option. I agree with pp that Sunak and Hunt were starting to turn things around and I’d be relieved to see them back in government at this stage. I voted Labour in the last election and they’re useless.

They need to add a penny on to income tax for everyone and raise VAT by 1 or 2 % and stop dicking around with weird taxes to try to keep a manifesto promise they were too fiscally ignorant to realise they couldn’t keep.

I think that Starkey’s proposals in the hands of a party such as Reform are deeply concerning, it risks undermining core democratic principles like checks and balances, minority rights protection, and the rule of law. Reform UK is structured as a limited company with Farage as majority shareholder, giving him veto power over decisions and limiting member accountability which frankly is already problematic and questionable in terms of upholding democracy.
They could use it to further erode democracy by concentrating power in the executive and legislature with the strong risk of it leading to authoritarianism. Restoring a politically fused Lord Chancellor and limiting judicial review would let Farage as Prime Minister, influence appointments and override court decisions more easily. It could allow Farage to pack courts with allies similar to the situation that was seen in Poland under PiS or in Hungary. Starkey’s plans risk eroding democracy by letting governments bypass oversight and stifling dissent. Reform's manifesto already pledges to leave the ECHR and reform the HRAhbb which Starkey's ideas would supercharge by subordinating the judiciary to Parliament (dominated by a Reform majority).
This could enable unchecked actions like declaring a "state of emergency" emulating Donald Trump's style. Frankly, I find the idea of “rule by Farage” a deplorable idea for the UK. I don’t honestly believe that Farage has Britain’s best interests at heart. I think he is deeply unethical and I very much dislike his attitude towards women. His links to Russia/Trumps administration are very concerning.
Starkey wants a "Restoration" like 1660 to basically rewind to absolute parliamentary power under the monarchy and wants to ditch devolved powers. However modern Britain is diverse. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own voices for a reason. Yanking devolution back would inflame tensions and I’m certainly not keen on more Brexit-style chaos.

httpsHttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/05/17/david-starkey-holocaust-left-wing-activists-critical-race/
https://www.jns.org/british-historian-under-fire-for-saying-left-to-replace-holocaust-with-slavery/
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/13/david-starkey-claims-whites-black

“Reform-led Nottinghamshire County Council is to spend £75,000 installing new flags”

All whilst vulnerable services (SEND and Social care and adult services) are facing reviews and cuts. Reforms “Musk style” DODGE are truly cutting through the wasteful spending. 😬

They’re treading on plenty of big banana skins. Long may it continue!

I liked Farage's presentation on the Rotherham rape gangs. He gets it. He's got some good ideas. I just hope Labour implements his suggestion. They won't of course because it doesn't fit their agenda.

Some of us aren’t taken in by Farage’s exploitation of rape gang survivors for political point scoring.

What did you think of his idea though? Or were you too blinded by tribalism that you couldn't judge it on its own merits?

I don't care who Ellie-Ann Reynolds shares a stage with, as long as her voice is heard. She clearly feels very let down by Labour.

That's exactly what she said. I thought she was amazing actually.

Me too. I can't imagine how much courage it takes to do that.

She was so eloquent as well. Perfectly able to say what she thought.

Farage will jump on any bandwagon simply to further his own agenda. How anyone can’t see that is beyond me.

Spot on.

You're in danger of throwing the baby out with the bath water here. But I suppose most politicians especially those on the left don't want the voices of the Rotherham victims to be properly heard. It's so transparent. And very sad for them that they have been so corrupted.

Are you calling the Pakistani rape gangs a "bandwagon"? Perhaps a "far right bandwagon "? Don't hold back. Say what you mean.

I most definitely want those women to be heard. There needs to be a thorough inquiry led by an impartial chair - that excludes former police officers, social workers and - given Reynolds clearly stating that ministers aren’t trusted - politicians. A highly respected former judge would work. My choice, if she’d do it, would be Baroness Hale. It needs to be a million miles away from parliament and politics.

The current issue is over Jess Philips - five of the survivors won’t participate unless she resigns while another five won’t participate IF she resigns. It’s a bloody mess and Farage isn’t helping.

Precisely. That’s exactly how I feel. It is so important that these women are heard and that they have their own untainted platform.

As do all politicians, of every stripe. This is not unique to Farage.
Would you say the same if one of the victims shared a stage with Starmer or Davey?

Baroness Hale showed during Brexit that she was unable to be politically impartial. You need a judge that doesn't get seduced by the limelight. Or someone from another country.

Ellie-Ann Reynolds was asked the question about why sit with Farage on the podium. She is perfectly able to articulate why she had decided to do so. And anyone with any perception or ability to see in a non tribal way would understand why she had. She wanted to speak and she felt only Reform allowed her to do so. That's how low Labour have sunk.