Have the Conservatives signed their own death warrant?

BevSec and JudyBloom I don’t understand your assertion that there is a ‘silenced majority’ in the UK. Could you explain what you actually mean by that?

This has been puzzling me too. It feels like a revival of the manufactured "Reds under the beds" scares of the McCarthy era.

Wyllow3

My grandchildren are being brought up in a situation where they regularly interact with people of different cultural backgrounds - school, doctors, people in the supermarket...both mum and dad work in multicultural situations -
As they grow up I hope they will stand firmly against extreme views wherever they come from, but seek in humanity what we have in common and stand up to hate-mongering, tarring all people in certain ethnic groups with the worst demonising brush.

I don't have any grandchildren, but if I do, their ancestry will be half Arab. I would hope that they will be able to relate to the background of both their parents.

LizzieDrip

BevSec and JudyBloom I don’t understand your assertion that there is a ‘silenced majority’ in the UK. Could you explain what you actually mean by that?

I think they're the ones with (ironically) loud mouths, who shout about everybody else being like them, in the hope it justifies them.

… so possibly more of a ‘vocal minority’ then!

I think it's more an assumption that your own views politically are the only "decent and reasonable" ones, and then apply it to a "silent majority".

I think there can be politically a variety of "decent and reasonable views" but they differ greatly - and we can't attribute our views to others we simply don't know.

LizzieDrip

… so possibly more of a ‘vocal minority’ then!

That sounds much more accurate.

I don’t actually know anyone who voted Reform but I do know that over 5000 did vote for them in my constituency. Personally I would take a lot of convincing that it is NOT an anti immigrant vote, across Europe politics is moving to the right and I expect that to continue.

For what my opinions worth I think that there is definitely a percentage of the U.K. population who feel that their voices are not heard, that politicians are for others and not them.

On the rare occasion I go into work (#lazygran I have been taking lessons from another GN poster) if I am in hearing distance of our Trade Counter, the moans and comments of the Labour Government are no different to what they were regarding the Conservatives.

A few examples, snouts in troughs, they know nothing about what it’s like for the workers , cannot get a GP appointment, taxes, i.e. they are quick enough to tax us, but not Amazon, Starbucks etc. The withdrawal of the WFA seams to be linked to paying for the boat people , along with the fear that we are allowing what amounts to an invasion of fighting age males

I appreciate that this is hearsay but it is a mindset that the Government of the day has to contend with an acknowledge. I have no idea what the solution is, far above my paygrade

Fleurpepper

JudyBloom

Reform are not hard right, nor are they racist, they are on the side of the 'Silen(ced) Majority' of this country who just want to preserve our values and put British people first, whatever their creed or colour. The media and other parties want you to believe that Reform are hard right because they fear their popularity.

And how do you describe 'British' - who is 'British' in your terminology?

It would be really interesting to know the answer JudyBloom.

My England born children and grandchildren are white and no-one would ever guess that they are so so mixed nationalities and massively mixed race, from all over the world, and every possible colour, race and creed. They will never encounter racism or prejudice, because it just does not 'show' - and their parents and grand-parents are 'middle class' with excellent education and valued professions.

I have asked before, and never got an answer. Is someone only 'mixed race' if it shows in the colour of their skin. In our family, it was a lottery. My lot are white, the English, Scottish and irish genes somehow 'won'. But many of our family members are olive skinned ot brown to very brown, and of many religions, Christian or not.

David49

I don’t actually know anyone who voted Reform but I do know that over 5000 did vote for them in my constituency. Personally I would take a lot of convincing that it is NOT an anti immigrant vote, across Europe politics is moving to the right and I expect that to continue.

I don't know anybody personally who voted for Reform, but I've met quite a few who did. I didn't go out canvassing during this election, but I have done in the past and I've come across many Reform voters. I can't convince you David because the majority of them did mention immigrants in their opening one or two sentences. One of them even blamed immigrants for potholes!

In the most recent general election, the Reform candidate in this constituency was still on the ballot papers and people voted for him, even though he'd been forced to resign from Reform for supporting the BNP in the past and making racist comments. He lived in Turkey for at least a decade, as an immigrant.

GrannyGravy13

For what my opinions worth I think that there is definitely a percentage of the U.K. population who feel that their voices are not heard, that politicians are for others and not them.

On the rare occasion I go into work (#lazygran I have been taking lessons from another GN poster) if I am in hearing distance of our Trade Counter, the moans and comments of the Labour Government are no different to what they were regarding the Conservatives.

A few examples, snouts in troughs, they know nothing about what it’s like for the workers , cannot get a GP appointment, taxes, i.e. they are quick enough to tax us, but not Amazon, Starbucks etc. The withdrawal of the WFA seams to be linked to paying for the boat people , along with the fear that we are allowing what amounts to an invasion of fighting age males

I appreciate that this is hearsay but it is a mindset that the Government of the day has to contend with an acknowledge. I have no idea what the solution is, far above my paygrade

So it's disaffected people feeling the squeeze, feeling that "others" have a better deal with less effort.
Buoyed up by work mates who are an echo chamber and emboldened by a few drinks and SM.

I don't think the term " invasion" helps anybody.

Fleurpepper

Fleurpepper

JudyBloom

Reform are not hard right, nor are they racist, they are on the side of the 'Silen(ced) Majority' of this country who just want to preserve our values and put British people first, whatever their creed or colour. The media and other parties want you to believe that Reform are hard right because they fear their popularity.

And how do you describe 'British' - who is 'British' in your terminology?

It would be really interesting to know the answer JudyBloom.

My England born children and grandchildren are white and no-one would ever guess that they are so so mixed nationalities and massively mixed race, from all over the world, and every possible colour, race and creed. They will never encounter racism or prejudice, because it just does not 'show' - and their parents and grand-parents are 'middle class' with excellent education and valued professions.

I have asked before, and never got an answer. Is someone only 'mixed race' if it shows in the colour of their skin. In our family, it was a lottery. My lot are white, the English, Scottish and irish genes somehow 'won'. But many of our family members are olive skinned ot brown to very brown, and of many religions, Christian or not.

Given that there is only one race - the human race (homo sapiens) - it's complete nonsense and if we're not purely African, we have some Neanderthal DNA anyway, which I suppose does make us 'mixed race'.

I don't think the term " invasion" helps anybody.

I disagree. It helps the grifters who exploit such fears and are looking for scapegoats.

eggplant

My post is a true representation of what I have seen and heard.

No alcohol involved.

invasion was used more than once by different people.

Being buoyed up by work mates? is discussing one’s views at work any different to discussing on GN, or are you stereotyping what/who you imagine these people are?

I like to think that you realise that my last two posts are my observations as opposed to my personal opinions.

Australian Aboriginal people have no Neanderthal DNA although they may have Denisovan DNA.

GrannyGravy13

eggplant

My post is a true representation of what I have seen and heard.

No alcohol involved.

invasion was used more than once by different people.

Being buoyed up by work mates? is discussing one’s views at work any different to discussing on GN, or are you stereotyping what/who you imagine these people are?

I suppose people do tend to operate in a group and back each other up maybe?

GrannyGravy13

I like to think that you realise that my last two posts are my observations as opposed to my personal opinions.

Of course. Thank You.

Its instructive, if we are to regard "us" as the ones with "decent UK values", to watch a few reality TV police shows dealing night in night with "whites" out in homegrown packs at night who attack the police, at the huge number of domestic abuse call outs, to review the stats on abuse and violence against women

before we start demonising another culture by tarring all with the extremes in a few.

Wyllow3 I am beginning to think that it is part of human nature to demonise the so called extremes of any race or culture.

It is just baseline stereotyping.

Galaxy

Lots of people hold a different view on The Guardian to you, many once loyal readers, feel it has deteriorated beyond recognition, it's ok for people to hold that view.

It doesn't mean to say, though, that it isn't accurate in its reporting.

I see a lot of moaning about the Guardian on twitter. It seems mostly because they think it is too centrist and supports the current government.

OTOH, some guardian writers have been quite critical of the government, especially its stance on the economy.

growstuff

*I don't think the term " invasion" helps anybody.*

I disagree. It helps the grifters who exploit such fears and are looking for scapegoats.

It’s not just grifters who dislike immigrants I hear plenty of comments from well off individuals, women are just as bad as men. A lot are disaffected by politics in general, reading the popular press that’s hardly surprising

Allira

Australian Aboriginal people have no Neanderthal DNA although they may have Denisovan DNA.

Hmm ... they do, according to some of the latest research.

www.scimex.org/newsfeed/neanderthal-blood-genetically-linked-to-aboriginal-aussies

David49

growstuff

I don't think the term " invasion" helps anybody.

I disagree. It helps the grifters who exploit such fears and are looking for scapegoats.

It’s not just grifters who dislike immigrants I hear plenty of comments from well off individuals, women are just as bad as men. A lot are disaffected by politics in general, reading the popular press that’s hardly surprising

I agree with you, but I was referring to people whom talk of invasion actually helps.