All is not well in the world of Reform

Mamie

As an MEP he was renowned for his unwillingness to turn up and especially his failure to attend the fisheries committee.
I am at a loss to understand why anyone is taken in by him.

I think the unpopularity of the mainstream parties has a lot to do with it. There is no doubt that people are disgruntled with many aspects of their lives and want something "different". Farage is a good communicator and cherry picks the issues which people moan most about.

As an MEP he was renowned for his unwillingness to turn up and especially his failure to attend the fisheries committee.
I am at a loss to understand why anyone is taken in by him.

nanna8

By nothing I wasn’t referring to his personal background but that there was no party or group as there is and has been with the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal parties. I believe he actually went to Dulwich College, in my local stamping ground when I was a child. Not that ‘privileged’ I can assure you, just what you would call ‘middle’ class. Probably passed his 11 plus.

Yes, there was nanna8. See my previous post.

Incidentally, I don't know which school you mean, but Dulwich College is a public school. Pupils don't need to pass the 11+ to go there. The fees are currently £29,094 a year.

Farage didn't start from nothing politically. UKIP was founded in the early 1990s with a Eurosceptic, anti-immigrant, nationalist, cultural identity and libertarian agenda. Farage has been involved almost from the start and sat as a UKIP MEP.

By nothing I wasn’t referring to his personal background but that there was no party or group as there is and has been with the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal parties. I believe he actually went to Dulwich College, in my local stamping ground when I was a child. Not that ‘privileged’ I can assure you, just what you would call ‘middle’ class. Probably passed his 11 plus.

nanna8 Farage has ever never started from nothing.

Privileged childhood, lucrative employment and as a politician, has milked the system the whole of his life.

He is one of the elite.

I think Nigel Farage is doing very well considering he started from nothing. He shouldn’t be underestimated and the Labour Party needs to get its act together to prevent people wanting to sign up for groups like Reform. They need to listen and analyse why people are unhappy and why there is so much feeling against them instead of crashing on as though they have all the answers.

Some days it feels as if the entire country is headed for the scrap heap. The pound is plummeting against the dollar, the markets won’t continue to lend to Reeves, it’s another Truss moment coming up fast. Reform have few MPs and we need to focus more on the here and now . Starmer has said Reeves has his every confidence - well let’s see. I for one don’t believe a word he says.

As I said, if people are young and working (so get cover that way) they might be ok, but what about we creaking gates with existing conditions and no employers to pick up the tab

Yes Doodledog, in the world of Reform PLC, it will be like the USA - every man for himself. No welfare state!

Those of us who are not wealthy, and have pre-existing health conditions, will just be thrown on the scrap heap.

25Avalon

As a matter of interest Doodledog dd and her family are covered by her work insurance for private health services. I’m wondering if it includes emergency services as most insurances don’t so NHS definitely needed.

All that assumes that we still have an NHS to opt into. If Reform get their way, we won't. As I said, if people are young and working (so get cover that way) they might be ok, but what about we creaking gates with existing conditions and no employers to pick up the tab?

Freya5

This is all a distraction from what is happening inside this Labour Gov. Reeves in China with her begging bowl, selling off more of our country.
The Labour minister, Siddiq, being investigated by Bangladesh for money laundering. See she's still in post.!
See a Labour MP going against the status quo re child abuse gangs, and its still going on I would say.
Yet all you can do is gaggle on about how bad you think Reform is. Well there's a Gov who is proving to be very bad, perhaps you should look at them.

Reeves in China with her begging bowl
What’s worse, begging or selling our country to the Chinese as Cameron and Osborne wanted to do before the adults in the room pointed out the dangers.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/18/uk-and-china-how-the-love-affair-faded

but it won't fast track you in an emergency queue.

having private insurance in the UK does not prevent one from using the NHS when required.

As a matter of interest Doodledog dd and her family are covered by her work insurance for private health services. I’m wondering if it includes emergency services as most insurances don’t so NHS definitely needed.

Imagine losing everything in the fires in LA and your job with it as your workplace burnt down, and then realising that not only is there no welfare state to help you, there is no health service either. The American Dream is a nightmare for many.

At least in the UK, although services may be creaking they exist, and there is a will to put them right. From what I understand of Reform's 'contract' there will be no welfare state or NHS. That's maybe one thing if you (and your children) are young, healthy (so insurable) and able to work*, but it would finish off most of us on here in pretty short order, I suspect.

*assuming you are happy to live in a society in which others stand or fall based on fate

Beeches

Reform are racist and fascist through and through, and will destroy democracy and our free health service the second they get near power. Only a complete fool would support them

In your opinion

Beeches

Reform are racist and fascist through and through, and will destroy democracy and our free health service the second they get near power. Only a complete fool would support them

Steady on old bean! You have to be polite at all times.

And on the other side of the pond, Steve Bannon has accused Musk of being very racist, and that he will do anything to bring him down.

Reform are racist and fascist through and through, and will destroy democracy and our free health service the second they get near power. Only a complete fool would support them

HousePlantQueen

A pint and a dusting of fag ash may appeal to some, but the faux bonhomie does not fool me.

Both lead to illness and strain on the NHS. But, an insurance based system would charge the patient.

Weirdly enough, this is true. Many years ago I heard a man standing on a box talking in a loud voice. A small crowd gathered round him and being nosey I made my way over.

It was indeed Nige.

Chocolatelovinggran

I, too, have met Mr Farage and felt that he was acting in his " man- of- the - people " role. I did not feel that I met the real person behind the mask.
Re " stay at home mums" : has Reform any data to back their assertion ? I prefer statements to be backed by research, personally.

I have a local acquaintance who worked in TV journalism and production.

He is not a fan of Farage, he’s met him several times behind and in front of the camera, he says that there definitely “two Farages” and the one in front of the cameras is infinitely more “agreeable” than the one behind!

I find Reform’s behaviour in the HoC quite shocking, as if the behaviour in there over the last few years has not degenerated enough, they then bring it down to an all time low.

It’s like it’s all one huge game and I have no doubt when it all becomes too much and too serious, some will simply walk away.

There’s so much to learn when a brand new MP and the 5 of them would do well to keep their heads down, work hard, get to know their own constituency’s needs and wants and get on with the job at hand. Lee Anderson should know better. Surely, now is the time to start looking at ALL MPs other jobs and bring in some sensible legislation to govern this properly.

A pint and a dusting of fag ash may appeal to some, but the faux bonhomie does not fool me.

Thank You Mouse, you express yourself much better than I do. I'm afraid I become incoherent with disbelief and worry.