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Reform. 140,748 members and counting. The Tories are well and truly in trouble!

(333 Posts)
FriedGreenTomatoes2 Fri 27-Dec-24 14:50:32

Kemi Badenoch has got herself embroiled in a spat with Nigel Farage over whether or not this figure is real.
Silly girl.
She ought to have ignored the hype in my opinion.
Now she’s set herself up as a combatant and Farage will want an apology. Or more.

PoliticsNerd Mon 30-Dec-24 08:35:53

HousePlantQueen

It is posts like those by nanna8, which "suggest" that Starmer plans to shut down GB news, and that he, personally,locks up people for hate speech which annoy me intensely.

It's just a lot of populist rot HousePlantQueen. I should try and ignore it. No one would waste time bringing in laws simply for the likes of GBeebies - their infantile drivel isn't worth it. They should generally be treated as they behave - like small children. Children in a paddy are best checked for safety and then ignored. (Yes. That's me using my right to freedom of expression).

However, if any person or company breaks the laws that limit our rights to freedom of expression they should be prosecuted. The UK right to freedom of expression is already subject to a range of restrictions in law, including the: Malicious Communications Act 1988 and the Communications Act 2003, which criminalises “indecent or grossly offensive” messages and threats.

Adding the Online Safety Act 2023 has already placed statutory responsibilities on regulated services to prevent the publication of certain false information. We need clarity of who or what is regulated and to see more prosecutions under it - not more laws.

Jeanathome Mon 30-Dec-24 09:02:01

Brexit was in the main a ghost option to release closet racists

They are certainly out and proud now alright.

nanna8 Mon 30-Dec-24 09:23:25

I’d rather be a populist than an unpopulist. Just saying. Not my problem,anyway. I quite like our Labor leader here but I can’t stand yours. He needs a boot up the proverbial.

Galaxy Mon 30-Dec-24 09:25:13

I cant imagine why people dont vote in the way you want them to politics need, it's a complete mystery.

Galaxy Mon 30-Dec-24 09:25:50

Nerd rather than need smile

LizzieDrip Mon 30-Dec-24 09:28:46

It's just a lot of populist rot HousePlantQueen. I should try and ignore it. No one would waste time bringing in laws simply for the likes of GBeebies - their infantile drivel isn't worth it. They should generally be treated as they behave - like small children. Children in a paddy are best checked for safety and then ignored. (Yes. That's me using my right to freedom of expression)

👏👏👏 I second that PoliticsNerd!

nanna8 Mon 30-Dec-24 09:59:47

That comment definitely makes me seek out GB news. If people feel that strongly about it , it must be doing something,right or wrong.I think it is on YouTube , watched it a couple of times a while back. Always good to check out what people get their knickers in a knot about. I would love to be childish at my age, great nanna of 6.

PoliticsNerd Mon 30-Dec-24 10:03:28

nanna8

I’d rather be a populist than an unpopulist. Just saying. Not my problem,anyway. I quite like our Labor leader here but I can’t stand yours. He needs a boot up the proverbial.

Really? You see democracy as a worse choice than having people just telling you what you want to hear which they then don't carry out?

Democracy is difficult and messy and probably only for grown-ups but when did swaths of the population become so infantalized?

PoliticsNerd Mon 30-Dec-24 10:12:02

Galaxy

I cant imagine why people dont vote in the way you want them to politics need, it's a complete mystery.

I am a strong advocate for democracy, which inherently includes accepting that others may hold different views and make different choices at the ballot box. It’s important to recognize that supporting democracy means acknowledging diverse opinions, even when they oppose my own. I hope we can engage in constructive dialogue instead of giving up on the democratic process.

Galaxy Mon 30-Dec-24 11:07:07

Your dialogue isnt constructive though. It is ridiculous to pretend it is.

Allira Mon 30-Dec-24 11:16:50

nanna8

That comment definitely makes me seek out GB news. If people feel that strongly about it , it must be doing something,right or wrong.I think it is on YouTube , watched it a couple of times a while back. Always good to check out what people get their knickers in a knot about. I would love to be childish at my age, great nanna of 6.

😂😂😂

Lovetopaint037 Mon 30-Dec-24 11:19:40

Anyone who actually believes Farage cares about anyone but himself is making a big mistake. His priority is self advancement. He is not a politician. He is an activist who uses the cover of “man of the people”in order to draw people into his ridiculous posturing.

Allira Mon 30-Dec-24 11:19:49

I am a strong advocate for democracy, which inherently includes accepting that others may hold different views and make different choices at the ballot box. It’s important to recognize that supporting democracy means acknowledging diverse opinions, even when they oppose my own. I hope we can engage in constructive dialogue

It's just a lot of populist rot HousePlantQueen. I should try and ignore it. No one would waste time bringing in laws simply for the likes of GBeebies - their infantile drivel isn't worth it. They should generally be treated as they behave - like small children. Children in a paddy are best checked for safety and then ignored

Well, those two contradictory statements have given me a good chuckle, PoliticsNerd

😂

Allira Mon 30-Dec-24 11:22:30

Lovetopaint037

Anyone who actually believes Farage cares about anyone but himself is making a big mistake. His priority is self advancement. He is not a politician. He is an activist who uses the cover of “man of the people”in order to draw people into his ridiculous posturing.

Yes, I agree, well said. Some of us can acknowledge that without making inflammatory comments about others.

This 'hail fellow, well met down the pub bloke' is just an act to try to make us think he's one of us.

pascal30 Mon 30-Dec-24 11:22:41

Lovetopaint037

Anyone who actually believes Farage cares about anyone but himself is making a big mistake. His priority is self advancement. He is not a politician. He is an activist who uses the cover of “man of the people”in order to draw people into his ridiculous posturing.

He's a right-wing populist which is unfortunately why he appeals to a large proportion of the country.. and in that he is reflecting the mood of Europe and America. I think he is a real threat to progressive politics...

Cossy Mon 30-Dec-24 11:31:41

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I bet some are thinking ‘yep, like a hole in the head…’ 🤣
Actually are we even allowed to say that nowadays?
Oh well I just did.

It’s really good to have many differing views and opinions and beliefs and the means to express them, keep it up FGT, and everyone else too.

Hoorah for freedom of speech!

We all feel quite passionately about many things and it can become a bit heated, but most of us manage to express ourselves with civility and accept others may not agree with us.

Cossy Mon 30-Dec-24 11:38:46

In terms of Mr Farage, one only has to look at his history and life to realise what kind of person he is.

As for Reform, aside from migration and increasing the personal allowance to a mind boggling £20,000, I’ve seen little substance to their policies, certainly no costings, and no “how” and “when”

ronib Mon 30-Dec-24 11:58:30

Why is there such a rush for the public to demand opposition parties write their manifesto years in advance of the next election? I seem to remember that Reform had produced its own manifesto for the last election.
From what I understand, there are no guarantees that manifestos are followed up once elected so why fuss?

nanna8 Mon 30-Dec-24 12:01:31

I actually agree with you Cossy and I wouldn’t vote for him ,he is too risky. However, I think Starmer needs to change and listen to people and if Nigel makes him do that, well good. Sometimes it takes someone with the gift of the gab to make changes. Farage is certainly gabby - the most talented speaker around just now, love him or despise him. To just dismiss and despise someone like that and his ‘populist’ supporters in a snooty way will make more people follow him. Life teaches some of us those things.

PoliticsNerd Mon 30-Dec-24 12:15:34

In what way do my posts contradict each other Allira? Do explain.

Dickens Mon 30-Dec-24 12:17:15

Purely subjective but I think all political parties need more leaders and prospective MPs with a greater intellectual capacity, integrity, and less self-interest who might have the ability to recognise the deep divisions within our society and understand the consequences their economic policies might have on those disparate groups.

I don't believe we need any more messiahs - like (in my opinion) Blair, (Corbyn?), Johnson, Truss, Farage.

A party can only work 'for the common good' if it compensates both the 'haves' and the 'have nots' under the imperfect Capitalist system.

I think any nation's economic growth will only come from the backs of the people who work in it and therefore the government (whichever it is) of that nation will have to invest in its people if it really wants stability and growth. Simplistically speaking of course.

theworriedwell Mon 30-Dec-24 12:24:14

nanna8

That comment definitely makes me seek out GB news. If people feel that strongly about it , it must be doing something,right or wrong.I think it is on YouTube , watched it a couple of times a while back. Always good to check out what people get their knickers in a knot about. I would love to be childish at my age, great nanna of 6.

I decided to have a look one night, horrible man called Ben Leo or something like that was on. Talk about smug and full of your own importance. If they are all like him I will definitely give it a miss.

Of course there are presenters I don't like on other channels, Rinder occasionally on GMB, Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt on BBC are a combination from hell. However none of them seem as obnoxious as Ben.

Galaxy Mon 30-Dec-24 12:26:06

I think it is not just economic policies that need to be included in that. Many social/cultural issues cheered on by the 'haves' are absolutely disastrous for the have nots.

Kalm Mon 30-Dec-24 12:36:55

Lovetopaint:
Bang on, Yep

MaizieD Mon 30-Dec-24 13:22:44

Galaxy

I think it is not just economic policies that need to be included in that. Many social/cultural issues cheered on by the 'haves' are absolutely disastrous for the have nots.

Can you give us some examples, Galaxy?

I actually think that raising the personal allowance to at least the value of the actual 'living wage' is a perfectly good idea. It would mean more money circulating in the economy because the poor actually spend extra money in their hands. Money which would still return to the government via taxation.

Unlike tax cuts for the wealthy, which just get squirreled away to earn more money, not spent. And very, very little of it returns via taxation.

But then, don't Reform promise tax cuts for the wealthy, too?