Politics

[Sweep]

Just now, tomski said:

Just give up on them. I didn’t vote for years as I disliked both. Let’s be honest the singular vote isn’t worth shit. I only really voted last the way I have the last few times as I disliked both the other party far more. 

I still find it odd people ‘support’ parties and have allegiances. Should simply be who you think is best for you and yours for the next 5 years.
 

I've voted several different ways in the past, but I am naturally a centre right person. If somebody fills the void the Conservative Party have then I'd vote for them. As it is, like you, I'll probably just not bother. Or do a dirty protest. 

[BobyBrno]

33 minutes ago, Spider said:

Well I would certainly think Boris was influential.

Twitter and Facebook at the time of the last election but one were full of #voteBoris type posts. To suggest he had no influence on voters I’d say is way off. 

Of course. At the end of the day it’s mainly the party. Some will vote for ideological reasons, some for their policies and some for the leader. That’s why, of the two polls posted on here, it’ll be the party one that will give the best indication of an election result. Yours truly, John Curtice. 😊

[BobyBrno]

35 minutes ago, Sweep said:

 Or do a dirty protest. 

Just don’t admit it😉

[mickbrown]

1 hour ago, Spider said:

So you’re saying the leader of a party has no influence on how people vote?

 

Reform are nowt without Fagash (and Julie)

22

[Traf]

45 minutes ago, Sweep said:

 As it is, like you, I'll probably just not bother. Or do a dirty protest. 

You could do both

[BobyBrno]

Every serious opposition has to show they have a serious shadow cabinet ready to take over. Reform have 5 MP’s so that’s going to be difficult come election time. I see the polls as dissatisfaction at the current government rather than a future choice. 

[Sweep]

10 minutes ago, BobyBrno said:

Every serious opposition has to show they have a serious shadow cabinet ready to take over. Reform have 5 MP’s so that’s going to be difficult come election time. I see the polls as dissatisfaction at the current government rather than a future choice. 

Absolutely this

[kent_white]

8 hours ago, bolty58 said:

I genuinely worry if it isn't.

Really? For me it's a bit like Brexit with Reform. They've got an idea but no plan. I don't even understand what they've clearly spelled out what they would do to reduce immigration. Presumably they would cut ties with Europe? And go all on with Donald (if he's still in power that is). And what happens to the NHS? And social cohesion? And the economy?

It would be a mess. Another mess. And from the same people who have done nothing but cause mess for the best part of a decade. 

I really hope it doesn't happen. I don't want my son to grow up in that kind of country. But given the way the electorate seems to be nowadays - I wouldn't completely rule it out. I just hope that there are a less vocal majority with a bit of sense. But that's more hope than expectation, sadly. 

[Sweep]

8 minutes ago, kent_white said:

Really? For me it's a bit like Brexit with Reform. They've got an idea but no plan. I don't even understand what they've clearly spelled out what they would do to reduce immigration. Presumably they would cut ties with Europe? And go all on with Donald (if he's still in power that is). And what happens to the NHS? And social cohesion? And the economy?

It would be a mess. Another mess. And from the same people who have done nothing but cause mess for the best part of a decade. 

I really hope it doesn't happen. I don't want my son to grow up in that kind of country. But given the way the electorate seems to be nowadays - I wouldn't completely rule it out. I just hope that there are a less vocal majority with a bit of sense. But that's more hope than expectation, sadly. 

They don't have a plan, because they don't really want to be in power. They'd absolutely shit themselves if they got the gig, and if they did, they'll be turfed out very quickly

[Bertie]

8 hours ago, bolty58 said:

I think we all agree on that. What comes into question is the definition of 'full on'. Loons worshipping Hitler and having boozy sessions in swastika adorned garden sheds are definitely that.

Mums and dads worried about illegal immigrants form foreign cultures being thrust into their midst in hotels etc. are not.

Don’t faint, and I know you won’t care, but completely agree with you on this.

Was talking to a “normal/average” bloke yesterday who was so hacked off that his wife had had to wait 5 months for an urgent hospital appointment.  You can understand how this resentment/frustration about public services leads to the feeling that migration is making it worse, especially when Reform are blowing this dog whistle loudly. People will vote for the hope of change that by “stopping the boats” all will be well in their world. So simplistic and so dangerous.  Reform have yet to prove they can run a bath. Rhetoric aside, and Farage’s charisma aside, they have zero thought out policies and zero experience of doing anything. They undoubtedly still harbour some nefarious characters in their ranks.

Nope, the only hope imho of the country not going down the pan Trump style is for Starmer/Labour to deliver deliver deliver so that “normal/average” folks feel real change so they don’t feel compelled to take a punt on “our Nige”.

I’m by instinct centre right in voting habits, but after Johnson/Truss felt no option but to vote Labour last time.  I can see me reluctantly having to do so again in 4 years if it means keeping Reform out.

[kent_white]

2 minutes ago, Bertie said:

Nope, the only hope imho of the country not going down the pan Trump style is for Starmer/Labour to deliver deliver deliver so that “normal/average” folks feel real change so they don’t feel compelled to take a punt on “our Nige”.

👍👍👍

There's an awful lot riding on the next 4 years. But I think you've summed things up pretty well. 

If I thought for one moment Reform could make the country a better and more prosperous place, with much reduced immigration, in a planned way. I'd be tempted to vote for them myself. 

I've just seen absolutely nothing to convince me that that would be the case. Including going to a Reform UK rally in person to see what all the fuss was about. 

Not very much, was my conclusion. 

[bolty58]

2 hours ago, Sweep said:

 Or do a dirty protest. 

Could you go a chicken dinner?

[bolty58]

55 minutes ago, kent_white said:

Really? For me it's a bit like Brexit with Reform. They've got an idea but no plan. I don't even understand what they've clearly spelled out what they would do to reduce immigration. Presumably they would cut ties with Europe? And go all on with Donald (if he's still in power that is). And what happens to the NHS? And social cohesion? And the economy?

It would be a mess. Another mess. And from the same people who have done nothing but cause mess for the best part of a decade. 

I really hope it doesn't happen. I don't want my son to grow up in that kind of country. But given the way the electorate seems to be nowadays - I wouldn't completely rule it out. I just hope that there are a less vocal majority with a bit of sense. But that's more hope than expectation, sadly. 

Well emigrate then.

If it comes to pass, Bradshaw becomes suddenly attractive.

Somebody has to get a proper grip of immigration. The place is just too full and it's affecting your services.

Labour and the Cons will pay it lip service and make token efforts to try to convince people they have it sorted but there's only one party who will really get a grip of it.

Might not happen but if the Tories are still on the nose from the 14 year tenure and Labour plummeting in popularity as they are (check Starmers polling), Reform could well get in.

Social cohesion? Talk to the interlopers setting up their ghettoes about this.

Europe. Trade - nothing more.

The Don will be gone.

Social cohesion? What. like we have now? No thanks.

Economy? Take proper advantage of Brexit instead of conniving to stay 'half in'.

[mickbrown]

4 hours ago, BobyBrno said:

Unlike America, we vote for a party. 
That’s what the polls show. 

We vote for a local candidate actually. As your ‘not wasted at all’ vote showed 

[kent_white]

44 minutes ago, bolty58 said:

Well emigrate then.

If it comes to pass, Bradshaw becomes suddenly attractive.

Somebody has to get a proper grip of immigration. The place is just too full and it's affecting your services.

Labour and the Cons will pay it lip service and make token efforts to try to convince people they have it sorted but there's only one party who will really get a grip of it.

Might not happen but if the Tories are still on the nose from the 14 year tenure and Labour plummeting in popularity as they are (check Starmers polling), Reform could well get in.

Social cohesion? Talk to the interlopers setting up their ghettoes about this.

Europe. Trade - nothing more.

The Don will be gone.

Social cohesion? What. like we have now? No thanks.

Economy? Take proper advantage of Brexit instead of conniving to stay 'half in'.

I'm happy for them to 'get a grip of it'. They've just not articulated how they might practically do that yet. 

I don't want to emigrate. I like it here. 

I agree that Reform might get it though. Although I still believe people will see enough positive change in four years time to keep the faith and not plunge us into what I think would be chaos.

I reckon Reform will do really well on protest vote in council elections though. 

[RoadRunnerFan]

3 hours ago, Sweep said:

I've voted several different ways in the past, but I am naturally a centre right person. If somebody fills the void the Conservative Party have then I'd vote for them. As it is, like you, I'll probably just not bother. Or do a dirty protest. 

The selection is not 5 star but it's certainly competitive 

[Farrelli]

4 hours ago, BobyBrno said:

Every serious opposition has to show they have a serious shadow cabinet ready to take over. Reform have 5 MP’s so that’s going to be difficult come election time. I see the polls as dissatisfaction at the current government rather than a future choice. 

I think the dissatisfaction should be with the Tories for 14 years of shocking mis management and waste. They tripled the national debt, ran down all public services, built no new prisons, damaged business and trade through Brexit and water companies were not held accountable for all our rivers being polluted. That cannot be reversed in one year.

[BobyBrno]

4 minutes ago, Farrelli said:

I think the dissatisfaction should be with the Tories for 14 years of shocking mis management and waste. They tripled the national debt, ran down all public services, built no new prisons, damaged business and trade through Brexit and water companies were not held accountable for all our rivers being polluted. That cannot be reversed in one year.

Ok. Why are Labour only polling 21% ?

 

[Cheese]

3 minutes ago, Farrelli said:

I think the dissatisfaction should be with the Tories for 14 years of shocking mis management and waste. They tripled the national debt, ran down all public services, built no new prisons, damaged business and trade through Brexit and water companies were not held accountable for all our rivers being polluted. That cannot be reversed in one year.

It seems a massive proportion of our population want more of that, but on steroids. Which is what they'll get if/when Reform become our Government. If that comes to pass, we'll get what we deserve. Truss was just a taster.

[Cheese]

Just now, BobyBrno said:

Ok. Why are Labour only polling 21% ?

Because the country is utterly fucked after a decade and a half of Tory mismanagement and corruption, and lots of people are extremely thick and think everything should have been fixed within 12 months.

[Spider]

11 minutes ago, Cheese said:

Because the country is utterly fucked after a decade and a half of Tory mismanagement and corruption, and lots of people are extremely thick and think everything should have been fixed within 12 months.

Trump did it in Americoh wait hang on

[Farrelli]

31 minutes ago, BobyBrno said:

Ok. Why are Labour only polling 21% ?

 

I don’t know but it looks like Populism has taken over (see Trump).

[Not in Crawley]

11 hours ago, Sweep said:

I've voted several different ways in the past, but I am naturally a centre right person. If somebody fills the void the Conservative Party have then I'd vote for them. As it is, like you, I'll probably just not bother. Or do a dirty protest. 

Sweet moderation, heart of this nation

As someone once sang, we're not a nation that is given over to extremes generally, on the whole we're a centrist nation.

[Cheese]

Who would've bloody thunk it, eh?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/farage-reform-tax-starmer-labour-b2760738.html

Edited May 31, 2025 by Cheese

[Duck Egg]

2 hours ago, Not in Crawley said:

Sweet moderation, heart of this nation

As someone once sang, we're not a nation that is given over to extremes generally, on the whole we're a centrist nation.

Yep. Come the next GE, it'll still be between Tories & Labour.  Reform, if they still exist by then, will have won a few protest votes along the way but will be a distant 4th in England.