Reform

[beak]

Saw a programme about the new party. Sultana was in discussions with Corbyn about him leading it and he told her he would think about it and she and her mates, on social media, just bounced him into it. I felt sorry for him.

She sounds like a basket case so not good omens for those that would be interested in joining.

Getting rid of the nutters will make Labour more appealing.

 

[Hrolf The Ganger]

That may happen if the exodus of the swiveled-eyed turns from a trickle to a deluge to Reform.

What remains of the Tories will be that party despised on here for its pragmatism, economic prudence and respected statesmanlike presence that has been absent for a very long time.

Too small to take on the populist, bloated behemoth that Reform will briefly become, it will coalesce with the Libs and the Greens and possibly take jumpers from the Labour right.

The problem for them as I see it is that the trend of politics will continue. The dimming of the land will descend further as people source their only information from social media or platforms that emit only their already held view.

Moreover, if Reform come to power, they have promised everything with little budget to back it up. The first thing they must do to survive will be to control the narrative. And one way will be by closing the OBR, NAO and any other body that provides empirical data to assess their "progress". The BBC and Ch4 will have their funding stopped. Meanwhile, soundbite soma will be fed to the masses through X etc.

Of course, Reform will be an irreversible catastrophe. But we will never know.

What on earth have I just read?
Are you OK Silvertop?

 

[Wisbech Eagle]

What on earth have I just read?
Are you OK Silvertop?

Rather more ok than many of the deluded posts that suggest Reform is the answer.

There is a ceiling to how many can be conned into joining their hard core supporters. I think that’s already been reached.

 

[Stirlingsays]

That may happen if the exodus of the swiveled-eyed turns from a trickle to a deluge to Reform.

What remains of the Tories will be that party despised on here for its pragmatism, economic prudence and respected statesmanlike presence that has been absent for a very long time.

Too small to take on the populist, bloated behemoth that Reform will briefly become, it will coalesce with the Libs and the Greens and possibly take jumpers from the Labour right.

The problem for them as I see it is that the trend of politics will continue. The dimming of the land will descend further as people source their only information from social media or platforms that emit only their already held view.

Moreover, if Reform come to power, they have promised everything with little budget to back it up. The first thing they must do to survive will be to control the narrative. And one way will be by closing the OBR, NAO and any other body that provides empirical data to assess their "progress". The BBC and Ch4 will have their funding stopped. Meanwhile, soundbite soma will be fed to the masses through X etc.

Of course, Reform will be an irreversible catastrophe. But we will never know.

While I'd agree with the idea that Reform won't be able to turn the country around....because the chances of that have been wrecked by both mainstream parties over decades.....This doesn't mean that they don't deserve the chance of governance. Rewarding the Labour or Tory party with government is like providing the 72 virgins to the terrorist for their crimes....especially so after finding out what the Tories have done with importing Afghans.

Regardless, I enjoyed reading the well written post.

 

[silvertop]

Rather more ok than many of the deluded posts that suggest Reform is the answer.

There is a ceiling to how many can be conned into joining their hard core supporters. I think that’s already been reached.

I don't.

My concern is Reform is not the cliche gammon-faced, frothing, old folk who want the death sentence (especially for immigrants), national service, the return of bent cucumbers etc. It is becoming increasingly attractive to young voters fed by populist social media one liners (the only language they understand).

Ironically, it is the tory media (and the BBC!) who are attacking Labour (of course), but causing the hmm??? vote to swing not to the traditional well of Tory - they will remain unelectable for some time - but to the only other reservoir of right wing votes.

Reform are gaining traction, not losing it.

 

[Wisbech Eagle]

I don't.

My concern is Reform is not the cliche gammon-faced, frothing, old folk who want the death sentence (especially for immigrants), national service, the return of bent cucumbers etc. It is becoming increasingly attractive to young voters fed by populist social media one liners (the only language they understand).

Ironically, it is the tory media (and the BBC!) who are attacking Labour (of course), but causing the hmm??? vote to swing not to the traditional well of Tory - they will remain unelectable for some time - but to the only other reservoir of right wing votes.

Reform are gaining traction, not losing it.

You could be right. I have no connection to the culture of today’s youth so nothing to base an opinion on. Are they significant though? Will they vote?

I fully understand the danger of populism driven by social media and regard it as the biggest danger to democracy that we face. Reform being the current embodiment of it.

 

[silvertop]

What on earth have I just read?
Are you OK Silvertop?

The zombie march towards populist politics of either end of the spectrum concerns me. Am I the only one who sees parallels with Weimar?

Reform are not the NAZIs. However, they present a diluted version of them. And not just the party that built the roads.

I don't think Reform will ban opposition parties and elections, lock up and murder "seditious elements", immigrants and intellectuals, or annex Ireland etc. However, I do think they have little respect for our form of democracy and will shave away centuries of hard fought rights that threaten their control.

Reform seem destined to win the next election. I hope they are just another inept, reactionary troupe of misfits who cause this country to fall into further relative decline but are hoofed out 5 years later. I really hope that is as bad as we get.

 

[Hrolf The Ganger]

The zombie march towards populist politics of either end of the spectrum concerns me. Am I the only one who sees parallels with Weimar?

Reform are not the NAZIs. However, they present a diluted version of them. And not just the party that built the roads.

I don't think Reform will ban opposition parties and elections, lock up and murder "seditious elements", immigrants and intellectuals, or annex Ireland etc. However, I do think they have little respect for our form of democracy and will shave away centuries of hard fought rights that threaten their control.

Reform seem destined to win the next election. I hope they are just another inept, reactionary troupe of misfits who cause this country to fall into further relative decline but are hoofed out 5 years later. I really hope that is as bad as we get.

Using the words Reform and Nazi in the same post just trashes your credibility. The only parties acting anything like 'Nazis' are Labour and some of the lunatics who infest our institutions.

This country needs a reversal. We have to try and undo some of the damage of the last 30 years.

If Reform can't do that, then who can? It certainly won't be any of the other three parties.

 

[Willo]

Reform have only gained popularity due to a combination of a failing Labour government and a Conservative Party in a 'Reset' following a crushing electoral defeat.

Nigel Farage is trying to be all things to all people, with a plethora of announcements and no thinking behind how he’s going to pay for any of these things. He will play whatever tune he thinks appeals to the people he’s playing the tune too, but that’s not serious grown-up politics.
What he is doing is just simply running around saying that everybody can have whatever they want, including a host of tax cuts. If he gets into government with that approach, the markets are going to run a 'Country mile'.
None of this is thought through. It is all fantasy economics, and it’s really dangerous for our economy.
Apropos "Reform are destined to win the election", it is 4 years away and as they say a "Week is a long time in politics" !

I repeat, Reform, have done well out of the fact that this is a deeply unpopular Labour government. They’ve done well out of the fact that we Conservatives have had a crushing general election defeat.

 

[Teddy Eagle]

Reform have only gained popularity due to a combination of a failing Labour government and a Conservative Party in a 'Reset' following a crushing electoral defeat.

Nigel Farage is trying to be all things to all people, with a plethora of announcements and no thinking behind how he’s going to pay for any of these things. He will play whatever tune he thinks appeals to the people he’s playing the tune too, but that’s not serious grown-up politics.
What he is doing is just simply running around saying that everybody can have whatever they want, including a host of tax cuts. If he gets into government with that approach, the markets are going to run a 'Country mile'.
None of this is thought through. It is all fantasy economics, and it’s really dangerous for our economy.
Apropos "Reform are destined to win the election", it is 4 years away and as they say a "Week is a long time in politics" !

I repeat, Reform, have done well out of the fact that this is a deeply unpopular Labour government. They’ve done well out of the fact that we Conservatives have had a crushing general election defeat.

If Ed Davey was concentrating on some policies instead of turning cartwheels, climbing trees and dressing up the Lib Dems might have made some gains too.

 

[cryrst]

Reform have only gained popularity due to a combination of a failing Labour government and a Conservative Party in a 'Reset' following a crushing electoral defeat.

Nigel Farage is trying to be all things to all people, with a plethora of announcements and no thinking behind how he’s going to pay for any of these things. He will play whatever tune he thinks appeals to the people he’s playing the tune too, but that’s not serious grown-up politics.
What he is doing is just simply running around saying that everybody can have whatever they want, including a host of tax cuts. If he gets into government with that approach, the markets are going to run a 'Country mile'.
None of this is thought through. It is all fantasy economics, and it’s really dangerous for our economy.
Apropos "Reform are destined to win the election", it is 4 years away and as they say a "Week is a long time in politics" !

I repeat, Reform, have done well out of the fact that this is a deeply unpopular Labour government. They’ve done well out of the fact that we Conservatives have had a crushing general election defeat.

Reset! They need to turn off and turn on again. They are past reset Willo and I voted for them up to the last election.

 

[Willo]

Reset! They need to turn off and turn on again. They are past reset Willo and I voted for them up to the last election.

We are in the midst of a 'Policy Renewal Programme' and I am one of the many who provided contributions covering Economy,Housing, Education, Defence etc etc.

 There have also been Problem Diagnosis submissions, from those with deep knowledge and expertise in relevant fields, which explore the problems at the core of these areas.

The Conservatives are building our policy prospectus in Opposition.

 

[Stirlingsays]

The zombie march towards populist politics of either end of the spectrum concerns me. Am I the only one who sees parallels with Weimar?

Reform are not the NAZIs. However, they present a diluted version of them. And not just the party that built the roads.

I don't think Reform will ban opposition parties and elections, lock up and murder "seditious elements", immigrants and intellectuals, or annex Ireland etc. However, I do think they have little respect for our form of democracy and will shave away centuries of hard fought rights that threaten their control.

Reform seem destined to win the next election. I hope they are just another inept, reactionary troupe of misfits who cause this country to fall into further relative decline but are hoofed out 5 years later. I really hope that is as bad as we get.

Oh well, that's my vote wasted then. (joke)

In truth your last paragraph will be far more accurate.

However, that doesn't mean Farage doesn't deserve his time in the sun.

Maybe if Corbyn had balls with a new party he'd actually have a chance to 'do a Reform' and take over from Reform after they continue the rot.

Because to be honest, it doesn't really matter which set of dancing monkeys you get in there.

The only difference is in the social policies.....and being on the right I'll have whoever is the least woke and is prepared to vote Blair's laws away.