What is it that attracts racists, Islamaphobes, homophobes and general bigots to Nigel Farage?

Farage has been persistent, I'll give him that, but over the years there have been plenty of other Eurosceptics, from both the major parties. However, neither they, nor Farage, energised the electorate enough to take a great interest in the EU. There was a peak at the time of Masstricht and the Lisbon Treaty, when IpsosMori found that nearly 30% of people thought the EU was ,the most important issue facing Britain today, but the interest soon declined to less than 10%.

During the period prior to the referendum Ukip failed to attract more than 17% of the vote at a General 1election and Farage failed 7 times to become elected as an MP. All this time the regular polling registered fewer than 10% of people thinking that the EU was the most important issue facing Britain. Interest only soared once the referendum was announced.

But, by the time it came to campaigning for a Leave vote we had Big Dog Johnson, with his sidekick, Gove, joining the fray an the Leave side; a far more universally recognised figure with his regular TV appearances, regular Telegraph columns from Brussels and his high profile antics as London Mayor. I am still of the opinion that if anyone swung the referendum it was Johnson, not Farage. Though Farage did make a significant contribution with his infamous 'immigrants' poster.

It's interesting that Dr Richard North, a staunch anti EU campaigner and a founder member of UKIP. whose intelligent analysis and well thought out plan for actually leaving the EU was worth considering, had no time at all for Farage as being basically ignorant of the processes involved and being merely a determined self publicist.

For that is the one thing that the most prominent Brexiters, Johnson and Farage ignored. The very real complexity of what leaving the EU would involve. They were fine whipping up populist hate of the EU, but they had no plan for leaving. They denounced the experts who were all pointing out the complexities, yet, as was recently pointed out by a blogger, those who most supported Brexit had no idea how to undertake it, and it fell mainly to those who had opposed it to deliver it. That is, the Brexiters were dependent upon the very people they despised as the educated, professional elite, and at the very moment they were most vociferously denouncing them as such, to deliver the thing they most wanted.

And so it continues with Reform. They're fine at pointing out what they think is wrong with the UK (and are certainly not alone in doing so, all the other parties apart from the tories do it too) but they have no credible plan for rectifying it.

Chestnut

Just came across this post 2019 election comment that someone had written. I thought I'd throw it into the arena for consideration. It gives a different viewpoint from someone who recognises Farage as a person of political influence. That applies whether you like him or loathe him.

In all the post-election threads there has been no mention of Nigel Farage so I thought I would remedy that. If nothing else, it will give the remainers a chance to vent some more bile as I know they love to hate him. But before they start tearing him to shreds just consider this.
There were many pre-election comments accusing him of self-glorification and putting himself before the country. I can’t think of anyone less deserving of that allegation. Here we have a man who worked tirelessly for 25 years towards one goal, and who effectively fell on his sword for the sake of achieving that goal. In handing his voters to the Tories on a plate he sacrificed his political career, hardly the actions of a self-serving career politician. Over the last few years, other parties have consistently stolen his policies when they realized it was what voters wanted. Consequently, he has influenced the political landscape more than anyone else and without even entering Parliament. That is an amazing achievement. I heard someone describe him as ‘the most influential politician of the post-Blair era’.

^Whether you love him or hate him, that is a factual description, and I think history books of the future will probably recognize his achievements far more than we do.^

It may make him very influential, but surely history will judge him upon whether its been influential in a good way?

Wyllow3- love your clear analysis “totally off his trolley”

And yet another Reform Candidate shows true colours

www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2024/07/02/reform-candidate-linked-with-offensive-social-media-posts

"Reform’s candidate for Orkney and Shetland allegedly suggested former first minister Nicola Sturgeon should be shot and used a homophobic slur to describe people who took Covid vaccines, it has been reported"

" “Since the great David Attenborough legitimised calls for political leaders to be shot, why not start with this bitch?”"

Robert Smith is also accused, in a reference to the Royal family, of saying he would “prefer Fred and Rose [West] to any of these c***s”.

Reform has yet to react. tbh, sounds like he is totally off his trolley.

I don’t think that anyone has ever doubted his influence. But just because he has influence it doesn’t mean he uses it in a good way. He supports Trump for one thing. What does that say about the man and his vision for our country?

Just came across this post 2019 election comment that someone had written. I thought I'd throw it into the arena for consideration. It gives a different viewpoint from someone who recognises Farage as a person of political influence. That applies whether you like him or loathe him.

In all the post-election threads there has been no mention of Nigel Farage so I thought I would remedy that. If nothing else, it will give the remainers a chance to vent some more bile as I know they love to hate him. But before they start tearing him to shreds just consider this.
There were many pre-election comments accusing him of self-glorification and putting himself before the country. I can’t think of anyone less deserving of that allegation. Here we have a man who worked tirelessly for 25 years towards one goal, and who effectively fell on his sword for the sake of achieving that goal. In handing his voters to the Tories on a plate he sacrificed his political career, hardly the actions of a self-serving career politician. Over the last few years, other parties have consistently stolen his policies when they realized it was what voters wanted. Consequently, he has influenced the political landscape more than anyone else and without even entering Parliament. That is an amazing achievement. I heard someone describe him as ‘the most influential politician of the post-Blair era’.

Whether you love him or hate him, that is a factual description, and I think history books of the future will probably recognize his achievements far more than we do.

Wyllow3

For all the fine talk about values, Reform is essentially undemocratic. It's a registered company, and Farage has not been elected, in anyway, to his position.

And yet look how much publicity they’re getting. I can’t quite get my head around it. I bet so much focus as the results come through will be about them

Wyllow3

!! yes. It's just one of the things the BBC does really well as it verifies as it goes along.

Sounds like Georgie David, after actually meeting other candidates and no doubt supporters has seen the reality behind Farage's vacuous promises.

I found the transcript facility and what struck me is how yet again all the problems we face are listed, but instead of saying what Reform will actually do about them (literally nothing at all in the speech) we get the "vote for us we'll put it all right".

*How will Farage deliver "turn back the boats" "Zero waiting lists*

Exactly! It's not difficult to go through the headlines and list all the issues people are unhappy about, but finding solutions is another matter.

MaizieD

^Reform chairman Richard Tice accuses the Conservatives of "dirty tricks", saying they are offering candidates "jobs and safe seats" to defect.^

That's ridiculous. Tories can't offer 'safe seats' to anyone, it's far too late for new candidates to be registered. Ballot papers will have been printed by now with David on the paper as standing for Reform.

Tice is either very ignorant or is just intent on whipping up some more resentment in Reform followers.

I'm willing to bet that once the results come in on Friday Farage & Tice will be shrieking about 'Establishment stitch ups' if (as is probable) they get very few seats...

What else would you expect from the "Victims are us" party?

For all the fine talk about values, Reform is essentially undemocratic. It's a registered company, and Farage has not been elected, in anyway, to his position.

Dickens

Thank you for another thoughtful and informative post Merion.

Absolutely! This guy is an absolute gift to Reform. Wonder whats in it for him?

Reform chairman Richard Tice accuses the Conservatives of "dirty tricks", saying they are offering candidates "jobs and safe seats" to defect.

That's ridiculous. Tories can't offer 'safe seats' to anyone, it's far too late for new candidates to be registered. Ballot papers will have been printed by now with David on the paper as standing for Reform.

Tice is either very ignorant or is just intent on whipping up some more resentment in Reform followers.

I'm willing to bet that once the results come in on Friday Farage & Tice will be shrieking about 'Establishment stitch ups' if (as is probable) they get very few seats...

!! yes. It's just one of the things the BBC does really well as it verifies as it goes along.

Sounds like Georgie David, after actually meeting other candidates and no doubt supporters has seen the reality behind Farage's vacuous promises.

I found the transcript facility and what struck me is how yet again all the problems we face are listed, but instead of saying what Reform will actually do about them (literally nothing at all in the speech) we get the "vote for us we'll put it all right".

How will Farage deliver "turn back the boats" "Zero waiting lists

^ living where I do means that I am surrounded by medics - so average in the sense of commonplace.^

Commonplace for you, perhaps, ronib, but not for everyone. There are certainly few, if any, doctors living in my area. It's mostly former mining villages... not even 'pretty' ones that professional would particularly want to move to... But probably far more representative of the over all UK population.

Sorry, Wyllow. We've posted at about the same time 😀

A second Reform candidate has withdrawn from standing for Reform in the General Election

Georgie David, the Reform candidate for West Ham and Beckton, said she had been “frustrated and dismayed” by Nigel Farage’s failure to tackle concerns about Reform’s candidates, though she said she did not believe Reform’s “senior leadership” are racist.

It comes two days after Reform’s candidate in Erewash also defected to the Conservatives over racism concerns.

David said: “I am hereby announcing my decision to leave the Reform Party and stand down as their candidate for West Ham and Beckton, with immediate effect.

“I am in no doubt that the party and its senior leadership are not racist. However, as the vast majority of candidates are indeed racist, misogynistic, and bigoted, I do not wish to be directly associated with people who hold such views that are so vastly opposing to my own and what I stand for.

“I also have been significantly frustrated and dismayed by the failure of the Reform Party’s leadership to tackle this issue in any meaningful way, and their attempts to instead try to brush it under the carpet or cry foul play.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c7204p2r0dkt

Just caught up bon the news on the Live Feed on I player.

A second Reform UK candidate has defected to the Conservatives, saying the "vast majority" of Reform candidates are "racist, misogynistic and bigoted

Georgie David is standing in West Ham and Beckton - she has "no doubt" that Reform's senior leadership is not racist, but says she does not want to be "directly associated" with its candidates.

Reform chairman Richard Tice accuses the Conservatives of "dirty tricks", saying they are offering candidates "jobs and safe seats" to defect.

Nicenanny3

Chocolatelovinggran

Goodness, Nicenanny, I would look for more courtesy than accusing people of lying and telling them to " make your own mind up , if you have one".

Produce the transcript then if you can. Obviously people should make up their own minds but it seems on here they can't they just take another posters biased view and believe it. So yes I have doubts that some have a mind of their own. View the video and make up your own mind.

Some of us are perfectly capable of making up our minds - and we have. Shame you don't like it!

MaizieD

growstuff

Wyllow3

I can't find a written transcript of it.

YouTube has a written transcript of it (Click "show transcript") It's done by AI, so not particularly accurate.

I can't find 'show transcript'.

At the bottom (on PC).

ronib

growstuff Yusaf’s parents have medical backgrounds - a doctor and a nurse. Pretty average occupations?

I don’t know how you worked out that going to Hampton school means anything at all.

I don’t know how you worked out that going to Hampton school means anything at all.

It means his parents were in occupations which meant they could afford the fees, his father at least. They're about £25,000 pa.
Some of DS's friends went there, mine went to the comprehensive.

Dickens

Parsley3

I think regardless of content of any political speech, Yusaf makes connections with an audience Regardless of content? Are you saying that you can be mesmerised into believing anything if the speaker is charismatic? That's dangerous.

Are you saying that you can be mesmerised into believing anything if the speaker is charismatic?

Probably not Parsley3.

If Yusaf were to advocate an ideology that didn't fit with that of his audience, his eloquence would be interpreted as fanaticism.

I think one of the key requirements of being a good public-speaker is to tell your audience what they want to hear.

I would guess if you're speaking to a British audience, it makes sense to flatter them and claim they're somehow exceptional.

ronib

growstuff Yusaf’s parents have medical backgrounds - a doctor and a nurse. Pretty average occupations?

I don’t know how you worked out that going to Hampton school means anything at all.

It means his parents could afford the fees and that he would have been brought up with other people whose parents could afford the fees. He's not one of "the majority".

Thank you for another thoughtful and informative post Merion.

MaizieD Angela Rayner does like to emphasise her working class background. I think she needs to be careful that she doesn’t alienate voters who don’t emphasise social class in quite the same way.

Parsley3

^I think regardless of content of any political speech, Yusaf makes connections with an audience^ Regardless of content? Are you saying that you can be mesmerised into believing anything if the speaker is charismatic? That's dangerous.

Are you saying that you can be mesmerised into believing anything if the speaker is charismatic?

Probably not Parsley3.

If Yusaf were to advocate an ideology that didn't fit with that of his audience, his eloquence would be interpreted as fanaticism.

I think one of the key requirements of being a good public-speaker is to tell your audience what they want to hear.