Why would mumsnet leftists vote Green over reform?

[Wizeman]

Now I have your attention

What are the substantive political reasons for voting for the Green Party over Reform UK?

Please avoid responses based on personality or tone (e.g., claims that one leader is “nicer” than the other). Instead, I am interested in clear policy-based arguments and ideological reasoning.
Reform UK is led by Nigel Farage, a businessman with a long-standing role in national politics. The Green Party is currently led by Zak Polanski, whose professional background includes work in theatre and as a hypnotist.

With that in mind, I would welcome serious explanations focused on policy positions, governance approach, economic strategy, and long-term outcomes, rather than personal character assessments.

I wouldn’t generally vote Green, but given the choice I would vote for anyone over Reform.
Their ideology is racist.
Their Britain is not one I want to live in.

One party is trying to make things better for everyone and the other is trying to make things better for themselves

Reform is led by Nigel farage who’s long standing background in politics includes shafting British fishermen because turning up to vote was too much like hard work

Are Reform still denying climate change exists and slagging net zero off at every opportunity?

Denying scientifically proven fact just isn't a good look.

Can you explain why their ideology is racist. Please back up your answer.

Surely brexit gives the uk control of itself? That was the point right? So Surely its the fault of the government for not taking advantage of their new found freedom and sovereignty?

What role exactly has Nigel Farage's role in national politics been, other than a disproportionate number of appearances on Question Time? He has only been an MP for 5 minutes, and doesn't even hold surgeries. As an MEP he had one of the lowest attendance rates.

A Reform politician was filmed locally to me denying the Holocaust.
They repeatedly refer to Islam as a threat.

Besides this, as a teacher and SEN parent, their attitude towards children with SEN worries me immensely.

1. Surely 1 bad egg doesn't make the whole party holocaust deniers? 2. Isn't Islam a religion?

Yes it is - and the party’s attitude towards it is not one I support.
No, 1 ‘bad egg’ doesn’t make the whole party Holocaust deniers. But the fact that they did nothing to remove him from the party, when the comments were made very publicly, suggest that they are not concerned at having those attitudes within the party, which to me speaks volumes.

I don't agree with Reform's plan to scrap net-zero targets, to reduce benefits by targeting the disabled or to stop welfare payments if a jobseeker doesn't find work within four months. There are more jobseekers than vacancies. It is impossible for everyone to be in work, and their plan to prop the NHS up using private firms reads like a plan to slowly privatise the NHS.

I wouldn't vote for them if someone paid me, and if they do get in I'll be doing everything I can to emigrate.

What is happening in the US right now should be taken as a warning by anyone considering voting Reform, that is what you are voting for.

Reform are very right wing, the Greens are very left wing. I don't see they have any overlap that would make leftists compare them with each other.

A more interesting question is why some Labour supporters are moving to Reform. It can't just be on the sex/gender issue.

BTW, I don't know what Reform's policies are. Or even that they had any, other than their self belief that they can miraculously fix everything.

Does this disprove your point? "In 2024, the party dropped or suspended over 100 candidates following revelations of offensive or racist social media comments." Surely this shows reform uk is against offensive comments or racism? One more question, what policies would make you want to vote Green or for another party?

I don’t know much but it seems an odd question to ask why environmentally aware and antiracist, pro supporting the disabled liberals on the left would vote for a far right party known for racist rhetoric, poor math skills, and a track record of lies instead of a moderate left party that aligns with left, liberal values?

Good answer, and you backed yourself up. Who do you think you would vote for then and why?

Reform want to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, which rings alarm bells for me and their fiscal policies don't add up.

The way they are running councils seems shambolic and they haven't delivered on their election promises.

They want to roll back net zero targets and renewable energy subsidies, which I think are important.

I think cutting foreign aid is short sighted and counterproductive.

They want to move us away from EU defence programmes, which I think would leave us alone and at the mercy of the US.

I worry about "British culture" as Reform see it and what it means for women and the.disabled.

No It doesn’t.
Whilst there is still clear evidence of bigotry within the party I will continue to believe that gestures like that are merely for show.
I would be unlikely to ever vote Green, I’m not in favour of very hardline climate policies. So, since this is unlikely to ever change, there is nothing they could introduce that would entice me to vote for them.

Richard Tice is a climate change denier. Usually if you’re considering voting green, care for the planet (our life support system and the originator of every input to our economy) is a factor.

news.sky.com/story/reform-uks-richard-tice-dismisses-man-made-climate-change-as-garbage-13311385

The further left and the further right the closer they get together in my opinion. I dont think reform is far left and I dont think green is quiet far left yet.

Probably because labour back in the day was for working class people and the poorest people, most reform voters are working class and in the lower classes. I imagine they would defect to reform because they believe it is best for the working class.

Check the 2 biggest parties policies going into the election, dont listen to the news or social media, make your own opinion.

I'm not sure who I'd vote for. I usually swing between Labour and Lib Dems, and I'm not impressed with Labour so far, but it needs to be taken into account that they inherited a hell of a mess; things were never going to be easy.

My town, despite having high-poverty rates, low employment and opportunity, and poor health tend do the turkeys voting for Christmas thing and vote right, so I'd probably vote tactically to keep Reform out, even if that meant having to soil myself by voting Tory.

This all reads like you have been told to write policies that will make Reform 🤢 appeal to the “Mumsnet crowd”. How about you do your own homework? Also, if you are going to be so shameless maybe be less head-pattingly patronising about it.

I wouldn’t vote for either. I’d spoil my ballot if those were the only two choices.

Because I want to know people's opinions? Also how is reform racist, bad at maths, anti disabled and have a track record of lying? Also I'm pretty sure the left Also has a habit of lying e.g labour e.g Zak Polanski telling women he can make their tits bigger and taking there money.

One more thing, do you know why you would vote Green?

I've done my homework and Im doing more homework by asking for people's opinions. Lol

Someone on X the other day called the Greens the Islamo-trans clown alliance which I thought was rather brilliant. Not that Reform are much better.

Reform set up these threads to endlessly debate their politics and to drag people over to their viewpoint.