Politics, politics, politics (so long and thanks for all the fish)

[Grays_1890]

Agreed, although I’m not sure the local election results are the “political earthquake” Farage is pushing them as.

Council elections are almost always taken as a chance to kick the governing party. And they are well-timed, as plenty of voters now have four years prior to the next GE to see that Reform have a lot of complaints but absolutely no solutions.

Exactly this. At the end of the day we will see if they are empty vessels or if they have some political verve about them

 

[scaramanga]

Agreed, although I’m not sure the local election results are the “political earthquake” Farage is pushing them as.

Council elections are almost always taken as a chance to kick the governing party. And they are well-timed, as plenty of voters now have four years prior to the next GE to see that Reform have a lot of complaints but absolutely no solutions.

Or it could be worse.

These are rhebelctions Labour allowed to happen, they stopped plenty under the guise of boundary changes, etc. Those will be the ones they were most certain of losing.

 

[Silly McSilly Face]

Agreed, although I’m not sure the local election results are the “political earthquake” Farage is pushing them as.

Council elections are almost always taken as a chance to kick the governing party. And they are well-timed, as plenty of voters now have four years prior to the next GE to see that Reform have a lot of complaints but absolutely no solutions.

I think they are undoubtedly a political earth quake. Yes, local elections are often where people register a protest vote, but that protest vote has not generally gone to new or fringe parties. UKIP, nor the Brexit Party never got near what Reform just got. For the first time Reform actually have real power and influence, for example. Yes, only over local authorities, but this isn't a protest vote, this is handing Reform the keys to local decision making over signifant parts of the country. It reminds me of how the SNP's rise from a fringe political party to the dominant force in Scottish politics occurred. Started odd by them winning significantly in local elections then in Hollyrood and then winning consistently or competing for every Westminster seat in Scotland.

The key difference between Reform and Farage's previous parties is the level of backing he has. Theyve seen significant defections from the tories both in terms of political candidates and donors.

The significance of the Reform results wasn't reflected just in the seats and mayoralities they won, but the fact that they were inevitably the closest challenger in the seats the other parties won.

And its building upon a significant vote share in the 2024 GE and first WM seats, which certainly were not protest votes. This is an absolute earth quake occurring at an almost unprecedented pace. They are a serious political force with more support, and importantly far broader support and appeal and significantly more financial backing than any of Farage's previous parties.

 

[Gutter Boy]

I think they are undoubtedly a political earth quake. Yes, local elections are often where people register a protest vote, but that protest vote has not generally gone to new or fringe parties. UKIP, nor the Brexit Party never got near what Reform just got. For the first time Reform actually have real power and influence, for example. Yes, only over local authorities, but this isn't a protest vote, this is handing Reform the keys to local decision making over signifant parts of the country. It reminds me of how the SNP's rise from a fringe political party to the dominant force in Scottish politics occurred. Started odd by them winning significantly in local elections then in Hollyrood and then winning consistently or competing for every Westminster seat in Scotland.

The key difference between Reform and Farage's previous parties is the level of backing he has. Theyve seen significant defections from the tories both in terms of political candidates and donors.

The significance of the Reform results wasn't reflected just in the seats and mayoralities they won, but the fact that they were inevitably the closest challenger in the seats the other parties won.

And its building upon a significant vote share in the 2024 GE and first WM seats, which certainly were not protest votes. This is an absolute earth quake occurring at an almost unprecedented pace. They are a serious political force with more support, and importantly far broader support and appeal and significantly more financial backing than any of Farage's previous parties.

Reform will never have appeal beyond the decaying seaside towns of the East coast. They wont ever be able to crossover beyond that

 

[Danishfurniturelover]

Reform will never have appeal beyond the decaying seaside towns of the East coast. They wont ever be able to crossover beyond that

The are 3 people on this board who in our "truth searcher" WhatsApp group have said they will vote for them.

I'm waiting to see what Labour do with the water companies. If they make a decent fist of it they can keep my vote. If they don't I will put a line through the ballot at the next election. Wanted to vote for Corbyn till he flopped on the EU.

 

[Grays_1890]

Reform will never have appeal beyond the decaying seaside towns of the East coast. They wont ever be able to crossover beyond that

There are rumours that parties will do what America decided not to do with Trump and that was attack and expose the lies. So as an example they will pick up on people like Lee Anderson and things like when he posted the pic of the MMA fighter post fight bashed up and said it was a local who was attacked by ethnics, which was a lie or when Farage said Hoyle advised him not to sit in local clinics for safety only for him to later admit it was a lie........

Its a ballsy move and you have to make sure you have your own party in check

 

[Silly McSilly Face]

There are rumours that parties will do what America decided not to do with Trump and that was attack and expose the lies. So as an example they will pick up on people like Lee Anderson and things like when he posted the pic of the MMA fighter post fight bashed up and said it was a local who was attacked by ethnics, which was a lie or when Farage said Hoyle advised him not to sit in local clinics for safety only for him to later admit it was a lie........

Its a ballsy move and you have to make sure you have your own party in check

I guarantee you that what you've mentioned there is wholly insignificant compared to the utter pit of cess surrounding the main parties. Context: there's an arrest warrant out for a Labour MP related to an investigation into a huge international corruption investigation involving the Russians. The MP in question was a minister until the investigation broke into the news. Don't even need to go into the pig trough of tory shenanigans and the SNP chairman is charged with offences relating to one of the biggest financial investigations in Police Scotland's history.....they really don't have a leg to stand on and the public are sick of the holier than thou gonads....

On Farage's security, he's pretty much been attacked every time he's done public campaigning. Yes, its so far been throwing milkshakes and food at him, but I'm pretty certain he'll have been given advice on personal safety in terms of limiting interactions with the public. He's certainly had far more violence directed at him than other politicians other than those that have actually been killed. I know all MPs have been told the threat of holding public surgeries is extremely high and their safety cannot be guaranteed.

 

[Grays_1890]

I guarantee you that what you've mentioned there is wholly insignificant compared to the utter pit of cess surrounding the main parties. Context: there's an arrest warrant out for a Labour MP related to an investigation into a huge international corruption investigation involving the Russians. The MP in question was a minister until the investigation broke into the news. Don't even need to go into the pig trough of tory shenanigans and the SNP chairman is charged with offences relating to one of the biggest financial investigations in Police Scotland's history.....they really don't have a leg to stand on and the public are sick of the holier than thou gonads....

Hence my last paragraph

 

[Baleforce]

Reform had a stall at our village fair yesterday.

Spent the afternoon walking up and down the car park removing and binning all the flyers they kept leaving under wiper blades.

fudging scum.

 

[Gutter Boy]

There are rumours that parties will do what America decided not to do with Trump and that was attack and expose the lies. So as an example they will pick up on people like Lee Anderson and things like when he posted the pic of the MMA fighter post fight bashed up and said it was a local who was attacked by ethnics, which was a lie or when Farage said Hoyle advised him not to sit in local clinics for safety only for him to later admit it was a lie........

Its a ballsy move and you have to make sure you have your own party in check

Better to starve them of oxygen whilst quietly dealing with the root of their voters' grievances (extreme neo-liberalism)