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Bring it on Elon!

(536 Posts)
FriedGreenTomatoes2 Tue 17-Dec-24 19:10:59

The world’s most successful business man wants to support Reform. The Tories and Labour will be bricking it.

love0c Wed 18-Dec-24 08:07:49

GG13 It happens on many posts. i notice it is always the same people too.

Grammaretto Wed 18-Dec-24 08:23:37

Maybe you are right Dickens. What most scares me is that we are so polarised in our views.
Even in my own family, one DS called his brother woke recently which wasn't meant kindly but it shouldn't be a reason to condemn him as a lost cause.
I like to hear all sides of a debate.
As for this thread:
I'll bet FGT is chuckling after lighting the blue touch paper. hmm

MaizieD Wed 18-Dec-24 08:24:46

GrannyGravy13

Why do posters think it ok to insult another poster?

Question their post/views by all means, resorting to insults, totally unnecessary HousePlantQueen

I think that the opening post rather set the tone of the subsequent discussion..

David49 Wed 18-Dec-24 08:25:00

ronib

I think the average British voter has more pressing concerns than Musk and Reform. Most importantly survival.

Unless the Conservatives and Reform form a pact, it’s most likely that Labour will win the next election due to fptp . Can’t see Badenoch and Farage teaming up so Starmer will have a clear run.

Judging by the number of voters that chose Reform, PR would given a large number of MPs today, be very careful what you wish for.
A PR system would have given them nearly 100 seats, that is not a prospect I look forward to.

MaizieD Wed 18-Dec-24 08:27:26

I'll bet FGT is chuckling after lighting the blue touch paper. hmm

I did think it was the sort of post that was best to ignore, but people do rise to the bait.

David49 Wed 18-Dec-24 08:28:25

Badenoch and Farage are strange bedfellows but the prospect of power will bring them together for sure.

MaizieD Wed 18-Dec-24 08:29:54

be very careful what you wish for

I think that ronib wishes for a Reform government, David...

GrannyGravy13 Wed 18-Dec-24 08:30:33

MaizieD

^I'll bet FGT is chuckling after lighting the blue touch paper. hmm^

I did think it was the sort of post that was best to ignore, but people do rise to the bait.

There was a discussion on either ITV or BBC yesterday, and it was said that both Labour and Conservatives were/are worried about Reform gaining momentum put to the next election.

Elon Musk’s financial contribution will enable more Reform candidates and a slick PR Election Campaign.

David49 Wed 18-Dec-24 08:32:01

MaizieD

^I'll bet FGT is chuckling after lighting the blue touch paper. hmm^

I did think it was the sort of post that was best to ignore, but people do rise to the bait.

Maizie it is entirely possible that Musk will interfere in the same way as the US.
Why does he do it, because he can!. It’s just another challenge to him.

David49 Wed 18-Dec-24 08:35:23

MaizieD

^be very careful what you wish for^

I think that ronib wishes for a Reform government, David...

She may get her wish too.

NannyJan53 Wed 18-Dec-24 08:59:55

I rarely come on the political threads as they get too heated for me.

I would genuinely like to know what are Reforms policies? Apart from immigration? I did read once that Farage would like our health system to be similar to USA? Could anyone enlighten me, would anyone really want this?

nanna8 Wed 18-Dec-24 09:07:54

I’d be interested in what Farage has in mind re policies. Clearly he wants to stop illegal immigration but he doesn’t say how. What else has he got as a policy ? I think he will gather more and more support but I equally think he is the great unknown. I have a sense it is the failure of both major parties that gives him his support rather than what he actually proposes to do. He is a very good speaker,undeniably, but where are his policies?

Shinamae Wed 18-Dec-24 09:11:09

LizzieDrip

Would you like Reform to win the next election and therefore form the next government? If so, could you tell me how Reform would make life better for the UK population? Genuinely interested!

Well, it can’t make it any worse than the current government!!
And yes, I would!

Oreo Wed 18-Dec-24 09:13:55

nanna8

I’d be interested in what Farage has in mind re policies. Clearly he wants to stop illegal immigration but he doesn’t say how. What else has he got as a policy ? I think he will gather more and more support but I equally think he is the great unknown. I have a sense it is the failure of both major parties that gives him his support rather than what he actually proposes to do. He is a very good speaker,undeniably, but where are his policies?

Good comment

Wyllow3 Wed 18-Dec-24 09:24:46

Yes, where are the policies?

Accepting huge amounts of money from a USA based politician - for that is what Musk now is as well as businessman - means asking what USA policies Reform intend to bring on board, or intend to import, what bi partisan deals they intend to enact.

Musk has alread frewquently involved himself in our country with comments on X, and Farage has spent a great deal of time flying over for discussion - no doubt about plans to work with the USA not Europe? Re-shape politics in this country or stay with the system we have? Musk isnt just giving away money for the goodness of his heart.

I don't mean all the i's dotted or the t's crossed, but directional outlines.

If we are being asked to take Reform seriously and to support them how can we do that - or critique it.

The brief Reform manifesto for the election gave very little idea on how even the flagship immigration policies are supposed to work, never mind whole rafts of social and economic policies that shape a country.

The other question is - do we want US style politics over here? the way the election was conducted? The hatred, the threats, the bullying? effectively buying votes?

LizzieDrip Wed 18-Dec-24 09:55:30

Exactly Wyllow… and do we want an insurance based health system similar to that in the US, which is about the only concrete thing Farage has committed to.

Sago Wed 18-Dec-24 10:03:14

I find it very interesting how the very left leaning threads were always accepted yet FGT is being slammed for her policitics.

ronib Wed 18-Dec-24 10:04:38

I don’t see Reform in government. The only way Reform will find power is to work as a coalition with Conservatives and that looks very unlikely at the moment. It’s great that GNet loves the present Labour government so much…. Seems Labour will get their 10 years in office after all. Even the taxi drivers are thinking of emigrating…, apparently Australia has space on the roads, great weather and beautiful beaches so why stay here? Too old to make the leap unfortunately.

Wyllow3 Wed 18-Dec-24 10:05:25

At the moment the US health system is in crisis, with insurance companies making millions, CEO's getting huge payouts, and yet people with cancer being unable to get the treatment they need.

Not only has Trump no intention of tackling the big insurance companies but the basic health care systems are targets for Musk's "I'll save two trillion dollars".

Be very careful who we import.

If we don't get policy information there is a limit what we can actually discuss - personality politics?

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Wed 18-Dec-24 10:07:53

Let’s play the ball & not the man eh HPQ?
Back later …. 😁

GrannyGravy13 Wed 18-Dec-24 10:10:14

Sago

I find it very interesting how the very left leaning threads were always accepted yet FGT is being slammed for her policitics.

Yep 👏👏👏

eazybee Wed 18-Dec-24 10:16:24

As so many people said, and are now discovering the truth, Well, they can't be worse than the Tories.
Yes they can.

Wyllow3 Wed 18-Dec-24 10:16:57

I'm just asking what the politics/policies actually are.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 18-Dec-24 10:25:55

Wyllow3

I'm just asking what the politics/policies actually are.

Listening to the Labour Party interviews pre-election I am left wondering why they made all the promises they did? Oh silly me if they had told the truth they wouldn’t have been elected with such a massive majority…

Keir Starmer in front of the NFU AGM - no extra taxes for farmers.

No extra taxes for the working man, but then again they couldn’t define a working man.

Slating the Tories over considering removing the WFA from pensioners, then their first decision was to remove the WFA for all unless on pension credits.

Oh and inflation has risen again this month.

I thought they had settled the train dispute, Oops, strikes begin again in New Years Day and continue until May 2025

Lovetopaint037 Wed 18-Dec-24 10:26:05

Foreign donations I thought were not allowed. The thought of Musk being involved with the Reform Party and interfering with our politics makes me feel sick. As for Farage strutting his stuff but doing very little for his constituents it beggars belief.