Reform/Farage - economic policies don’t add up.

David49

Posted too soon

20 yrs ago borrowing was below 40% of GDP now it’s close to 100%, it was 80% before Brexit. I would like to think growth does happen but it’s going to be an uphill battle. Finding the money in addition to the infrastructure improvements we need is going to be a challenge.

You clearly haven't read the many posts concerning the borrowing. it has gone up and down since the end of the 17th C and has on occasion been repaid.

Judybloom, I so agree with everything you have said. Well done for expressing it so well!

Readymeals, it will be a lot more tax and will it be spent on improvements in services etc?

undines

Who funds the Institute of Fiscal Studies Think Tank? Beware, oh! beware of vested interests.
Not saying I support Reform, just saying....

FYI

How we are funded. IFS is non-profit and non-political and receives funding from a range of sources, including the Economic and Social Research Council, UK government departments, foundations, the European Research Council, international organisations, companies and other non-profit organisations.

MaizieD

I agree, MayBee. But have they achieved peak division yet? Do you think there is more to come?

I hope not. But Farage gets so much exposure. Far too much imo.

I agree, MayBee. But have they achieved peak division yet? Do you think there is more to come?

Not being in government still doesn’t mean they won’t be dangerous because they get inside peoples minds and cause division.

cc

Germanshepherdsmum

They won’t be in government anyway.

My only concern is that is they do have MP's elected they may form part of a government in the event of some kind of coalition of our current opposition parties. Hopefully their number of members will be small enough to avoid them having any influence on policy.

I don't think that any of the current parties not in power would have anything to do with Reform. Apart, perhaps, from the DUP, who also want to turn the clock back to a non existent golden age...

Germanshepherdsmum

They won’t be in government anyway.

My only concern is that is they do have MP's elected they may form part of a government in the event of some kind of coalition of our current opposition parties. Hopefully their number of members will be small enough to avoid them having any influence on policy.

Plunger

No parties promises add up. Where are these dentists, doctors, nurses, teachers, houses etc going to magically appear from. Who ever forms a government will quickly back track and blame the proceeding one. It won't be just this time but happens with every change of party in power.

Actually there was a news item on Ch4 news last night that said there were many (I can’t remember the exact figure) locum doctors who are desperate to work but can’t find employment. And my daughter wants to get back into teaching if schools have proper funding again. Class sizes, lack of resources etc drove her out of teaching a few years ago. Of course, we did lose a lot of NHS staff from the EU because of the elephant in the room that is Brexit but a better working relationship with our closest neighbours will help that.

We have a Reform and Brexit supporting 'friend' who thinks Rishi is a socialist and proudly announced that he will be helping Reform distribute leaflets, etc. Quite frankly, neither of us want to be anywhere near him at the moment. Is Farage's aim to split the Tory vote, help Labour to a landslide and then offer himself as the saviour of the Conservatives? Any mention of Farage and Reform depresses me.

Who funds the Institute of Fiscal Studies Think Tank? Beware, oh! beware of vested interests.
Not saying I support Reform, just saying....

No parties promises add up. Where are these dentists, doctors, nurses, teachers, houses etc going to magically appear from. Who ever forms a government will quickly back track and blame the proceeding one. It won't be just this time but happens with every change of party in power.

Of course Reform policies don’t add up, the party exists to put a spanner in the works and sew dissent and hate.The BBC and right wing press made Farage and his Nazi mates seem respectable.He is constantly on television and when properly challenged on any issue it comes down to immigration every time.It is astounding that so many people are taken in by his awful policies.My husband was in hospital recently and a good proportion ofthe medical staff were from abroad, and they were great.The NHS would collapse without these people..

Can’t believe anyone with a caring attitude would vote for this Gammon. He supports Andrew Tate for one. Please don’t associate yourself with Farage until you’ve done your research.

Just ‘a little more’, ReadyMeals? More like a lot more I think.

MaizieD

It's my impression, Amalegra that Farage created that anger way back during his anti EU days and is now feeding it for all that it's worth. He sets up straw men to feed the anger. Straw men like this 'neoliberal establishment' . What on earth is that when it's at home?

Yes, what on earth is this "neoliberal establishment?" please?

For the past several years I have been in despair at the push to cut taxes. I want our country to have a good health service, good state schools and plenty of social housing for those who need it. And I want well resourced armed forces. I want everyone over a reasonable income level to pay a little more to create a country we can all be proud of.

It's my impression, Amalegra that Farage created that anger way back during his anti EU days and is now feeding it for all that it's worth. He sets up straw men to feed the anger. Straw men like this 'neoliberal establishment' . What on earth is that when it's at home?

Like Reform or not, they are tapping into a stream of anger in the electorate that is not being addressed by any of the other parties. Of course they will not form a government and it is unlikely that they will get many MPs due to our electoral system. What they are doing is shaking up the neo liberal establishment which, let’s face it, hasn’t brought this country to a very good place. It will be interesting to see what happens. The political landscape is certainly overdue for change, isn’t it?

MaizieD

petra

Sorry, that link isn’t the one, either.

Thanks for trying, petra Your first link sort of worked on my laptop, but I couldn't find the video. However, I found some of his earlier views of the BoE and they agreed more or less with people I follow.

I thought they would. I always read your posts relating to finance. Your replies are written in words of one syllable that I can understand.
Im not very good at numbers but I know how many beans make 5.

Hard to trust Farage with the economy when he stated on Twitter/X that Liz Truss’s budget was the best Conservative budget since 1986.

x.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1573278502790791168?lang=en

ronib

Monica interesting concept. However what is the point of Reform if no one votes for them? Reform has a strong attraction for some and has positioned itself to appeal to a broad group of interest groups. Unlike Labour who revisit class warfare and unlike the Conservatives who seem to have given up.
Ben Habib is a member of Reform and he actually makes sense some of the time! I do think we have reached a new low in British politics though and I shall be glad when the election is over.

Oh so will I and I didn’t think I’d say that as I’m quite a political animal.

Amazingly this is one of the shortest lead up to a GE, and already it feels like a lifetime.

Bring on July 5th and whatever we end up with we will all have to make the best of it

I just hope for a good turn out of voters.

pPersonally, I would say that Reform only appeal is to a very narrow group of interest groups. Mainly those who are conservative (with a small 'c') and have been, in the past, in the past on the right within the Conservative party. In the same way that Jeremy Corbyn drave out many people on the centrist-right of the Labour party.

NoraBone

Agree with many comments above (not the obvious one). The likes of the convicted criminal Tommy Robinson, and that foul Laurence Fox, standing shoulder to shoulder with Reform UK - that is enough to persuade me this is not a Party (Company) I want to be associated with, is not a party that will get my vote.

Nor I.