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

[richie_spur]

Call the likes of Reform racist as much as you want, but, like Trump’s two victories, I see the rise of Reform and populist movements like Trump’s as a failure on the part of Labour, the Conservatives and the Democrats to come up with a credible plan for dealing with immigration.

Maybe it's because there isn't an easy quick fix answer.

Reform don't have any answers either, they just bang on about it and say they will do something. When pushed for what, they just do on about people having 'had enough'.

I don't know why people are so worried about immigration in the first place. I'd be really surprised if the vast majority of people voting Reform have ever met a recent immigrant, so I don't see how it is a bigger issue for them than the economy, cost of living, potholes, jobs, etc etc

 

[Glenda's Legs]

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The irony is off the scale.

 

[Jurgen the German]

I have asked several times on here why and what policies and what people would do to stop the boats etc and beyond an inflatable barrier no one can tell me, let alone tell me what policies that Reform offer that they love, there are rarely if any clear points.

Surely a party has to earn your vote also? I was sick and tired of Labour for years and didn't vote in two elections, I didn't just jump to a party I didn't trust

Immigration is the obvious answer. But I did google it and found the below from a YouGov poll:

1. Immigration — by far the biggest issue
2. Frustration with the established parties — "none of them are listening"
3. Desire for political change — Reform presents itself as an outsider movement
4. Cost of living/economic dissatisfaction
5. Crime, law and order and national identity
6. A more culturally conservative outlook

“There is also a genuinely harder-right element to the electorate. An earlier YouGov study found very strong socially conservative views among Reform voters: 86% supported removing Channel migrants, 78% thought multiculturalism had made Britain worse and 85% thought court sentences were too lenient.”

So essentially it’s a protest vote.

 

[Jurgen the German]

Maybe it's because there isn't an easy quick fix answer.

Reform don't have any answers either, they just bang on about it and say they will do something. When pushed for what, they just do on about people having 'had enough'.

I don't know why people are so worried about immigration in the first place. I'd be really surprised if the vast majority of people voting Reform have ever met a recent immigrant, so I don't see how it is a bigger issue for them than the economy, cost of living, potholes, jobs, etc etc

I don’t think they necessarily have the answers either. But people seem to be willing to roll the dice.

Personally I think it’s very naive to say people shouldn’t worry about immigration. We need some immigration but we’ve not got the balance right.

 

[MartyFunkhouser]

Immigration is the obvious answer. But I did google it and found the below from a YouGov poll:

1. Immigration — by far the biggest issue
2. Frustration with the established parties — "none of them are listening"
3. Desire for political change — Reform presents itself as an outsider movement
4. Cost of living/economic dissatisfaction
5. Crime, law and order and national identity
6. A more culturally conservative outlook

“There is also a genuinely harder-right element to the electorate. An earlier YouGov study found very strong socially conservative views among Reform voters: 86% supported removing Channel migrants, 78% thought multiculturalism had made Britain worse and 85% thought court sentences were too lenient.”

So essentially it’s a protest vote.

So that essentially proves my point. No policies that Reform have which are attractive.

 

[Jurgen the German]

So that essentially proves my point. No policies that Reform have which are attractive.

What percentage of people do you think vote for parties because of policy? Also, I think it partly proves my point, people are tired of the established parties but there’s not conversation about that.

 

[MartyFunkhouser]

What percentage of people do you think vote for parties because of policy? Also, I think it partly proves my point, people are tired of the established parties but there’s not conversation talk about that.

I think a large portion TBH, I dont think its outrageous to expect a new party to be judged on them or provide substance.

Ultimately its all well and good aligning with a party thats mirroring your own fears (cleverly) but I have a bridge to sell you if you or their supporters believe they have the answers for them aka Immigration.

Given Labour have only been in a year I think its a stroke to say they have failed on immigration policy. On many metrics they are making inroads

 

[Jurgen the German]

I think a large portion TBH, I dont think its outrageous to expect a new party to be judged on them or provide substance.

Ultimately its all well and good aligning with a party thats mirroring your own fears (cleverly) but I have a bridge to sell you if you or their supporters believe they have the answers for them aka Immigration.

Given Labour have only been in a year I think its a stroke to say they have failed on immigration policy. On many metrics they are making inroads

I would say they are failing so far. The Tories definitely failed on immigration. Net migration was 171,000 in 2025 according to ONS. We need time to build and improve schools, houses, GP surgeries and infrastructure. Even if you don’t agree with people who vote for them, you’re genuinely saying you can’t understand why people vote for them and are fed up of the two main parties?

 

[MartyFunkhouser]

I would say they are failing so far. The Tories definitely failed on immigration. Net migration was 171,000 in 2025 according to ONS. We need time to build and improve schools, houses, GP surgeries and infrastructure. Even if you don’t agree with why people vote for them, you’re genuinely saying you can’t understand why people vote for them and are fed up of the two main parties?

I can understand why people vote reform, as I say I think they are playing up to a rhetoric and holding up a mirror to people who are taking thr bait. As I say they dont have a credible plan for it, but they can damn sure sell the idea they do......Farage has history with it.

I don't doubt that people are fed up with traditional politics and there is an element of protest vote, but without labeling people stupid, to claim you are against the norm or establishment yet vote for an ex city trader to life politician and a bunch of ex Tories who were massively responsible for the mess.....thats a head scratcher.

I also think there is a large element of bigotry in the support base and as proven within their own ranks, not saying everyone is, but its clearly an element

I find it incredible that people seemingly get more upset being associated with racists than calling them out themselves. Thats hugely telling IMO

 

[Jurgen the German]

I can understand why people vote reform, as I say I think they are playing up to a rhetoric and holding up a mirror to people who are taking thr bait. As I say they dont have a credible plan for it, but they can damn sure sell the idea they do......Farage has history with it.

I don't doubt that people are fed up with traditional politics and there is an element of protest vote, but without labeling people stupid, to claim you are against the norm or establishment yet vote for an ex city trader to life politician and a bunch of ex Tories who were massively responsible for the mess.....thats a head scratcher.

I also think there is a large element of bigotry in the support base and as proven within their own ranks, not saying everyone is, but its clearly an element

I find it incredible that people seemingly get more upset being associated with racists than calling them out themselves. Thats hugely telling IMO

On the last point, I think the logic cuts both ways. If there is racism or bigotry within Reform’s support base, it should absolutely be called out. But being concerned about being labelled racist isn’t the same as being unwilling to call out racism. You can oppose racism while also objecting to the idea that everyone who votes Reform should be treated as morally suspect by association.

Like you, I’d be more interested in challenging the policies.