Good on Kemi!

[MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack]

I'm no fan of Kemi Badenoch, but I'm even less of a fan of Robert Jenrick, and I'm rather delighted to see that she has sacked him and withdrawn the whip before he could jump to Reform.

She has definitely had the last laugh here. He must be spitting bullets!!

I was convinced that Farage was a shoe in for the next GE given the mood of ordinary people right now, but if Reform keep taking on any old ‘giz a job’ Tory rejects the public will soon lose trust in them. The public want a strong leader with vision who will inspire hope, not a rag tag bunch of wannabes hanging on the coat tales of a snake oil salesman.

I agree that votes will probably be focused on keeping parties out rather than voting them in.

That's why I'm optimistic. The coalition against Reform is likely to be stronger than the coalition against Labour. Because most people realise that, however crap this current Labour government is, things would be infinitely worse under Reform.

That's what I'm hoping.

That only works if there is a relatively strong Conservative option otherwise Reform will be virtually impossible to stop.

In the same way Labour only won last time because Reform took a huge chunk of the right of centre vote, they would only have a chance in 2029 if the Conservatives did the same and took a huge chunk of the potential Reform vote.

Personally I think another term of Labour will be a disaster for the country but the vagaries of FPTP means like we experienced last time you can end up with a strange result. Where else in the world would you end up with a landslide victory despite 80% of the eligible electorate not voting for you?

I’ve considered that even though reform seem like they’re signing a death warrant by accepting defections from the worst of the Tories and you’d think people wouldn’t want to vote for them because of this, the Tories are haemorrhaging their MP’s and, come 2029, there will be no Tory party to vote for, so conservative voters will vote reform. I suspect that’s been the plan all along.

Maybe because Farage is at the helm and the old Tories will be expected to toe the line, that’s all the change some will need to justify the vote.

He is someone who knows his way around parliament - you can’t sweep into power without a few of them - apparently next week it’s a Labour MP!

Haigh told Starmer what she'd done and resigned the same night.... and Rayner resigned after due process, by the ethics advisor.

Do you think due process shouldn't happen?

Why? inflation and interest rates down, NHS waiting lists lowest for years, FTSE record highs, gilts yields lowest for 14months and lower than they were for much of Sunaks tenure.

Economy has grown more in the last 18m than it did in the 18m prior to the General Election...Immigration down to levels not seen in a decade....

I'm no fan of Starmer but he is considerably better than the 5 PM's the Tories gave us...

But at least the Tories are becoming a non party, a few more defections and they'll be gone for good, not just decades but forever😎

Totally agree. If it wasn't already in the bag for Reform, it is now.

I can’t believe that is a serious post. Stockholm syndrome on steroids.

Please don’t vote for Reform.

I’m right of centre, I’m a conservative with a small ‘c’, but truly, Reform are snake oils salesmen and frankly traitors.

They have a cosy relationship with Russia, Farage refuses to acknowledge the mess Brexit has caused, they’ve backtracked on their sensible positions while going full throttle on their ludicrous ones. I don’t trust them at all, I think they’re a national security risk and would just preside over further carnage and corruption.

I’m going to vote Conservative probably.

Yep! I'm not a fan of her or her politics but she played it well today. Keir Starmer needs to be reminded about being decisive and flip flopping less

Have you not seen the newspapers - mumsnet is now very pro reform.

Please don't vote Conservative!

We have had years to see how shit they are in Government.

I dont think they can be described as awful. Disappointing and visionless but not awful. Truss and Johnson were awful.

Haha - 20% of 1,000 members surveyed does not equal ‘’very pro reform’’ in my world. It has been framed that way to make people think a lot of people think that way so it must be the right choice.

I will link this thread for your perusal. This is what mumsnet thinks of reform 🤣

www.mumsnet.com/talk/media_requests/5470768-media-request-has-your-political-allegiance-shifted-to-reform?latest=1

I’m astonished that anyone doesn’t consider this current government as by far the worst in living memory.

For the first time ever I feel the government is my enemy. I never thought I’d ever feel anything remotely like that.

Quite simply they are a destructive force. It is possibly made worse because they know they are already living on borrowed time so are adopting a scorched earth policy.

It feels like we are being punished for something we didn’t do. Left wing ideology is poisonous.

Reform UK have just gained their first wannabe minister for petty cruelty against children.

They're welcome to Robert Jenrick.

I don't think putting Jenrick in Reform will do Reform any favours. Apparently, the majority of 'faces' in Reform don't like him, and the people who would vote Reform as an alternative to the main parties don't want another Tory party. Yes, Reform need some big hitters with cabinet experience to make themselves more credible, but the current crop of Tony defectors are not the answer to Reforms problems. They're seen as troughers, ditching their previous party for a whiff of continual trough access. I predict Jenrick won't last long with them. Gone by summer, I reckon. He's not a 'company man'. He won't lick enough boots with the right degree of fervour unless there's something big in it for him, and the way they've structured their party means that the voters whims count for nowt. The next GE result will be a coalition, most likely, without Reform. (If anyone is taking bets).

I was hoping Farage was going to shaft Jenrick, but, alas.

Oh don't be silly. They've raised taxes a bit and had a few scandals - no worse and no better than any other recent government. All this bollocks online about Starmer bring the worst PM ever is just hyperbole attempting to shift public opinion. Most people think he's dull but capable. Made a few bad decisions. Hardly the enemy 🙄

And Farage won't be leading Reform by the next election. He doesn't want to be PM - far too much like hard work. He'll be living in Dubai, funded by his Russian mates.

Im a tory voter and Kemi is doing great. This is another example of its her house, she is in charge. Get in line or get out. Jenrick cant be trusted, he was a remainer until he changed his mind, he supported the echr until he changed his mind, he didnt like farage until he changed his mind, he wanted to be party leader until he changed him mind. He stood by Kemi when polls were against her thinking he may have a chance to take her role, now she is climbing the polls, he builds his profile and then plots to leave. He cant be trusted. Good ridence

If you look at those that have jumped ship, one basically avoided paying tax, another wants to be PM....long list of the worst type of MPs.....and reform are just full of odious liars and a history of changing their skins when it suits them.

Reform should be barred from elections on the basis they pose a security threat. Aligned with Putin....

Then what was Badenoch doing having this man in her shadow cabinet in the first place?

But i do agree, Good Riddance!

Austeeriry rujned the public sector. Cameron and Johnson ruined the economy for the longterm throuhh Brexit. Truss's budget of doom has screwed us with the worst inflation for 40 years. Johnson ruined any trust in politicians. The millions he and his friends stole during the pandemic is a travesty. Created divisions in the country and ruined our reputation abroad.
I don't like Labour, theyfucked up on the Winter Fuel allowance, not helped business and have flipped flopped all over the place and have been ineffective but not the worst. No way. Explain to me what they've done thats worse than the Tories?

They are clearing up the mess left by people like Jenrick and Badenoch

How about taking some responsibility for your politics that have wrecked the country?