Is Reform done for?

[anotherside]

The last several recent national polls indicate that the election of Burnham as leader has seen Labour retake the lead and would probably form a minority government (or better) if an election was held tomorrow. Reform meanwhile is in the low 20s, while they’re were averaging low 30s just six months ago. Do you think it’s game over for Reform in terms of the next election? Is Burnham enough to secure the next election for Labour? Or could Reform claw it back still?

You are misinformed. Reform is not allowed to foot the bill. That was clarified weeks ago.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/aug/14/clacton-byelection-result-nigel-farage-binface-parliamentary-inquiry-analysis

Well, I didn't see that.😳

At least they offered !

Unlike all the shenanigans with Makerfield and Air Miles Andy, which was a slap in the face for those voters who had voted in good faith for Josh Simons

I don't think Clacton has gained anything out of it? All the footage I saw made it look like an awful place to visit. They say all publicity is good publicity but I'm not sure that holds if you're trying to be tourist destination and the publicity says its a shithole.

I don't need to demonstrate anything. Its all excuses. Both Farage and Burnham forced expensive by elections for their own ends. Two, in Burnham's case.

Yep. I'm glad its over for the people of Clacton. Just look at some of the name calling on this thread.

Reform has already said it will foot the bill for this by-election

Oh please! It’s been known for weeks that Reform cannot pay for the by election. Is it that people simply are not interested in listening to anything outside their bubble? or that everything Reform says must be true? Or is it deliberately not understanding?

This is one of many, many sources:

“The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has told LBC that such a move would be illegal after the party offered to pay for the poll following Mr Farage's announcement that he would stand down on Tuesday.

“An MHCLG spokesperson told LBC: "To maintain the independence and impartiality of the electoral process, the law is clear that the cost of running elections must be met from public funds, and not by candidates or political parties.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/reform-uk-clacton-pay-by-election-nigel-farage-5HjddKK_2/

The whole thing is an expensive sham that nobody is going to face up to. It’s the equivalent of supporting Trump in the teeth of the evidence. I suppose you think that Trump won in 2020?

What name-calling on this thread? I am sure the people of Clacton will be glad it is over. But awful that they might have to go through it all again if Farage is recalled.

You are putting forward the argument that Makerfield and Clacton are equal. I've put forward an argument that they are not. Generally in light of a counter argument people either concede or demonstrate why they were right.
You don't 'have' to, obviously. But that is how debates work. Simply saying something you think then shutting down any discussion by accusing people of making excuses isn't how debates work. But if you're not here for discussion, and just want to plop and run, I'll leave you to it.

Eh? Can you evidence your accusation of 'plop and run' please? I'll wait.

Burnham forced two by-elections - fact. Its not 'what I think', its what happened. Sorry if that doesn't suit your narrative.

They may have offered but it shows they know little - or care little - about democracy.

They are the same though, both by-elections for someone to try and gain politically.

Well, Nigel did very well. And Burnham is doing badly. So I guess Reform is still in the running.

What has Farage gained? He just got something he already had. For now at least.

I think you need to explain how you have measured 'well' and 'badly'

Polling published yesterday

Picking and choosing your polls there! Here are a few more for context. Reform lead in one, Labour in the other two.

Picking and choosing the most recent one. My bad 😂

The polls I posted are only a day or two earlier🙂. But I suppose you would pick the one you like best. I have been more even handed 😇

In what world is Burnham doing badly? He’s the most popular leader in every poll and Labour is outdoing every other party in most of them. If that’s doing badly, may he do much worse.

Err no, just picked the most recent for accuracy. Glad to hear that you've turned over a new leaf.

Well unless Burnham comes up with something quickly, which is very unlikely, his cunning stunt will also be pointless.

There is very little in politics that doesn't have an element of personal gain for someone in it, otherwise why would people become politicians? Who else is expected to manage their career from pure altruism?
Where Clacton differs from Makerfield, is that it's only purpose was Farage's attempt to avoid accountability. There was not a single benefit to anyone other than Farage, and it was pretty obvious that nothing would change remotely because of it. Before he resigned he was MP for Clacton facing an investigation. £250k later, he is still MP for Clacton facing an investigation.
The Makerfield by election undoubtedly served Burnham's ambition, but since when was wanting to be PM a crime? More importantly though, it didn't just serve Burnham's ambition, it provided us with a new PM that the majority of people are happier with. So there was an outcome.
I get for people who hate Labour and/or Burnham they don't like the outcome, but a lot of people do. You'd be hard pushed to find a single person who feels the Clacton debacle has achieved anything, positive or otherwise. Because it objectively hasn't. This is the important difference.

I see you haven't. The usual double-standards 😁

It’s not about hating AB. I‘m glad Burnham got rid of Starmer. Tg someone did.

I think you see it as different due to being a Labour supporter. But it was the same thing. Two politicians using a by-election to gain politically. And people did want Farage / Reform in Clacton hence the result.

You think middle class areas are currently feeling happy with Andy?