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Farage. Well he’s Top of the Pops right now! šŸ˜‚

(502 Posts)
FriedGreenTomatoes2 Thu 06-Feb-25 20:59:23

This tonight, from the ā€˜i’ newspaper (that I also now subscribe to, not just The Telegraph!) ….

ā€œNigel Farage stood up at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday to hostile silence. Squashed together in the Commons, MPs from other parties glowered at him, and then delighted as he appeared to fluff his lines when asking a question about the Chagos Islands.

Behind the scenes it is a different story, with individual MPs from other parties queuing up to ask the Reform UK leader to sign House of Commons wine bottles and drinks coasters for family members and constituents who are fans of his brand of straight-talking populism. It’s not clear whether those MPs acknowledge the cognitive dissonance involved.

There’s no doubt Reform is having a moment. On average, the last half-dozen polls have put the party on 25 per cent, putting it equal first with Labour. Three of those polls put the party in the lead, either solely or in tandem with Labour.

It’s causing tangible jitters among both Labour and Conservative MPs. At PMQs, Farage accused them of ā€œpanic.ā€

This week a group of around 40 Labour MPs from ā€œRed Wallā€ seats in the north of England called for Sir Keir Starmer to send a stronger message on immigration as they seek to see off the threat from Farage and his crew ahead of local elections in May.

Behind the scenes, other Labour MPs have requested training sessions from No 10 on how to deal with Reform in their areas. ā€œIt really troubles them,ā€ a Labour source said.ā€

C’mon REFORM!

Shinamae Fri 07-Feb-25 10:12:18

mum2three

What exactly is the point here? Is it personalities or policies? Once again, personality seems more important than policies. I can't say I actually like Nigel Farage, but that is beside the point. He is standing up for those who actually care about Great Britain and want to put a stop to its continuing decline, which is more than can be said for the majority of people on Gransnet!

šŸ‘šŸ»šŸ‘šŸ»šŸ‘šŸ»šŸ‘šŸ»šŸ‘šŸ»šŸ‘šŸ»šŸ‘šŸ»

MayBee70 Fri 07-Feb-25 10:14:46

Because people whose values I despise seem to have taken over the forum…to e honest I don’t think gransnet is the place these days for pearl clutchers like me.

Primrose53 Fri 07-Feb-25 10:15:03

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Yes I too watched PMQs on Wednesday westendgirl. Nigel Farage tried a few times to ask Keir Starmer his question but there was so much barracking going on from the Labour back benches he had to keep trying to be heard. Then he stopped and smiled politely hoping it would calm down. Big mistake! No chance. He should have just ploughed on regardless. The Speaker Lindsay Hoyle obviously realised the situation and urged Nigel Farage to ā€œjust get on with it!ā€.

Quite.

I think it’s very pompous of people on here who say there are those who idolise Nigel Farage so they don’t want to hang around.

I am interested in people who are outsiders and who get on with the job in hand, and yes, like to prove people wrong. I see nothing bad in that and seeing how far NF has come is amazing. In all that time I don’t think I have ever seen him get foul mouthed or really angry with his opponents. He just carries on as usual. I don’t idolise him but he does interest myself and millions of others as the polls confirm.

Cossy Fri 07-Feb-25 10:15:25

bathsalts

*The constant adoration of Farage and Trump by some people on here is making me want to avoid the forum and it wouldn’t surprise me if it isn’t having the same effect on other people, too*

I can only think of one reason why the same people keep banging on about this.

On the one hand, it's profoundly upsetting and depressing, on the other thankfully I do still have a choice about what I expose myself to.

These rants can not be representative of the vast number of citizens who are friendly and caring.

Let’s hope so.

Have a great weekend, one and all, whoever and whatever you support. flowers

Barleyfields Fri 07-Feb-25 10:16:29

I can’t believe that someone has such an aversion to Farage that they have to turn the television off if he comes on . You can’t be fully informed if you don’t listen to what different politicians say, whether you like them and their policies or not.

Boz Fri 07-Feb-25 10:17:54

They say that Reform will decide the balance of power at the next GE. All they need is a leader that doesn't have Farage's 'baggage'. We will see.
Politics is becoming brutal; it is the age we live in. There is real anger among people that feeds Reform and they are not all unintelligent; the middle-classes of the non-chattering, illiberal set see the merits of this Party.
Labour seem out-of-date and tired to a lot of people.
I can see they are trying to redistribute wealth, as they always do, but are really up against a public not on their side.

maddyone Fri 07-Feb-25 10:18:15

Sago

I wonder how long it will take Starmer to lower the voting age to 16?

I thought sixteen year old are children.
That’s what we’re constantly told anyway. Which I don’t disagree with.
But why would anyone with a brain give a vote to a child?

GrannyGravy13 Fri 07-Feb-25 10:19:56

Hyperbole about an elected UK MP.

This is a N & P thread, of course politicians of all colours are discussed.

It is not compulsory to post…

maddyone Fri 07-Feb-25 10:20:31

Barleyfields

I can’t believe that someone has such an aversion to Farage that they have to turn the television off if he comes on . You can’t be fully informed if you don’t listen to what different politicians say, whether you like them and their policies or not.

Deary me, I agree Barleyfields.
It’s a childish reaction.
I have no time for Starmer, but I don’t turn off the television when he comes on.

GrannyGravy13 Fri 07-Feb-25 10:21:11

Sorry my post was in response to MayBee70

Barleyfields Fri 07-Feb-25 10:23:33

Same here maddy. Can’t stand him and despair of what his government is doing, but I listen when he speaks, difficult though it is as he’s so wooden despite his ā€˜coaching’.

maddyone Fri 07-Feb-25 10:24:00

šŸ‘GG

JenniferEccles Fri 07-Feb-25 10:27:27

If the Conservatives and Reform joined forces they, in my opinion, would be an unbeatable force.

Doodledog Fri 07-Feb-25 10:27:30

I don't turn off the TV when NF comes on - I am always hoping he will speak in non-cliches and say what it is he represents using self-constructed sentences. So far that's been a vain hope, but one of these days it might happen.

I am not in favour of giving the vote to 16 year olds. Maybe let them vote and have a non-binding announcement of their intentions or something, so their views are noted? I understand why politicians want to know how the next generation of voters are leaning, and it would be great to encourage an interest in politics amongst that age group, but IMO 16 is too young to have the vote.

Barleyfields Fri 07-Feb-25 10:31:28

JenniferEccles

If the Conservatives and Reform joined forces they, in my opinion, would be an unbeatable force.

I have thought that for some time.

Cossy Fri 07-Feb-25 10:33:11

Calendargirl

Sir Edward Leigh, Conservative MP for Gainsborough, is calling for the Tories to join with Reform.

No surprise, there, after all Farage is a man of many parties and did start as a Tory.

Cossy Fri 07-Feb-25 10:35:16

Doodledog

I don't turn off the TV when NF comes on - I am always hoping he will speak in non-cliches and say what it is he represents using self-constructed sentences. So far that's been a vain hope, but one of these days it might happen.

I am not in favour of giving the vote to 16 year olds. Maybe let them vote and have a non-binding announcement of their intentions or something, so their views are noted? I understand why politicians want to know how the next generation of voters are leaning, and it would be great to encourage an interest in politics amongst that age group, but IMO 16 is too young to have the vote.

I agree with everything said here! 26 is far too young and so many 16 year olds appear to be totally uniformed about politics.

Cossy Fri 07-Feb-25 10:35:44

Ooops 16 not 26! Edit button please grin

merlotgran Fri 07-Feb-25 10:40:10

MayBee70

Because people whose values I despise seem to have taken over the forum…to e honest I don’t think gransnet is the place these days for pearl clutchers like me.

The forum is called News and Politics.

šŸ¤”šŸ¤”

Cossy Fri 07-Feb-25 10:40:59

Chocolatelovinggran

I think that Mr Farage should try being an MP first, before he has a stab at being Prime Minister. He is very hot on rhetoric, very cool on working for his constituency.
Unless, of course, someone from Essex knows something different...

I’m in Rssex, though thankfully not Clacton. My dear friend in Frinton has seen neither sight nor sound of his since the election, however he was very visible when canvassing. I feel for Clacton and Jaywick, two very deprived and unstable wards who could do with a strong, hard working MP.

We’re in St Oysth at least two weekend a month and hear nothing about him, his non-existent surgeries or anything g he has actually done!

Cossy Fri 07-Feb-25 10:41:17

Essex Grrrrr

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Fri 07-Feb-25 10:41:28

Shinamae

MayBee70

BlueBelle

I always know who starts your threads FGT as soon as I read the title I say to myself bet that’s …l
I won’t write any more because I feel so sick looking at the photo you ve put on that I need the bathroom …lquick

Was just about to say the same. Have to turn the tv off every time he comes on and I’m really not impressed with having a quick glance at gransnet only to see that picture. The constant adoration of Farage and Trump by some people on here is making me want to avoid the forum and it wouldn’t surprise me if it isn’t having the same effect on other people, too.

Oh the drama!! šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚
Why even engage? why not ignore if it sends you into pearl clutching mode?.🤣

And yet here they both are Shinamae.
The title I used was informative of the subject matter and yet they not only clicked on it but commented more than once.
No pleasing some people.

AGAA4 Fri 07-Feb-25 10:41:37

Farage "talks the talk" but doesn't "walk the walk". He's a showman and attracts people by selling them what they want to hear. I doubt he will actually do anything.

maddyone Fri 07-Feb-25 10:44:19

I agree with both Doodledog and Cossy about votes for children ie sixteen year olds.
We cannot be told that seventeen year olds who murder are children and at the same time told that sixteen year olds are adult and mature enough to vote. If children are children until the age of eighteen (and they are) then it is both unreasonable and irresponsible to give the adult right of voting to children.

JenniferEccles Fri 07-Feb-25 10:51:12

They would, wouldn’t they Barleyfields?

Things are going from bad to worse for Labour yet I am not convinced the Tories alone could oust current the rabble.

Farage is saying what a great number of people are thinking, but could he and Reform alone win with the party’s complete inexperience?

The trouble is both parties have flatly refused any suggestion of joining forces.

Of course they could change their minds over time.
We can but hope.