The constant publicity around Reform and Nigel Farage?

Tell that to the MSM

I have wondered this for a long time. Why a party with so few MP's is receiving so much attention?

No, do not stop the publicity now. It was on the news today that most Reform councils intend to increase council tax next April.

Despite all their shouting about waste in councils and slashing expenditure etc etc. Most have found little to scrap and rising demands and are doing none of the things they promised but doing what every other council is doing and raising council tax.

This news should be in six inch capitals on every hoardings and 2 inch type in the newspapers. The more people who know how Reform are all mouth and no trousers and are not doing what they promised the better.

I doubt Farage thrives on the oxygen of Gransnet or even knows of its existence. People do have a right to discuss their very real concerns just as they do on any other subject. Why shouldn’t we discuss what is headline news?

Reform is a reboot of UKiP and Brexit Party, the very same people who have done enormous damage to this country and will do even more damage if they ever have power.

Why is it right to moan about Employers’ NIC levied at 15% but not mention that Reform propose 20% Employers’ NIC as an Immigration Tax on employers who employ anyone not born in the UK, the only exception being health and care workers.

If the upcoming Autumn Statement were to result in a government crisis that triggered a snap election, then Reform policies would be very relevant indeed when pollsters are predicting that the next government could be Reform.

If you don’t like the discussions, there’s always the hide option.

It's worth reading all about how much the Reform politicians are actually failing.
But Farage gets too much air time on MSM.
Has anyone figured out what that is happening?

He receives attention because he is charismatic;
He says what people want to hear
Labour hate him and waste a great deal of time decrying him instead of doing something to improve the lamentable performance of their party.

And I am not a Reform supporter.

People want to hear about losing the NHS?

On reflection I’m actually all for Reform being exposed as much as possible now, with four years to go until the election, because they will inevitably hang themselves. I’d be more concerned if they rose to their current level of popularity a year before the election.

Casdon

On reflection I’m actually all for Reform being exposed as much as possible now, with four years to go until the election, because they will inevitably hang themselves. I’d be more concerned if they rose to their current level of popularity a year before the election.

I agree. They really are showing themselves up for the charlatans they have always been.

M0nica

No, do not stop the publicity now. It was on the news today that most Reform councils intend to increase council tax next April.

Despite all their shouting about waste in councils and slashing expenditure etc etc. Most have found little to scrap and rising demands and are doing none of the things they promised but doing what every other council is doing and raising council tax.

This news should be in six inch capitals on every hoardings and 2 inch type in the newspapers. The more people who know how Reform are all mouth and no trousers and are not doing what they promised the better.

Strangely enough , the media seems a bit quiet about some of Reform's latest announcements about not being able to afford tax cuts until savings have been made and the council tax increases in the county councils they hold.

Putting up council tax
Councils wasting money on the purchase of Union Jack flags, 75,000 estimated.
Being in favour of widespread fracking.
Scrapping the NHS.
Yes, let them continue to dig their own graves.

I don't think ignoring Reform will make them go away. The more people learn that they are all bluster and have no substance the more will turn away from them.

“If the upcoming autumn statement were to result in a government crisis that triggered a snap election”

We can’t only hope. It’s frightening what damage labour can do if in power for another 4 years

So you want a party which say it will bring in unelected people to form a Cabinet and try to stuff the Lords with similar so it can pass draconian legislation that would restrict our human rights. Do you not believe in democracy?

sundowngirl

“If the upcoming autumn statement were to result in a government crisis that triggered a snap election”

We can’t only hope. It’s frightening what damage labour can do if in power for another 4 years

What makes you think that any other party would be any less dangerous.

Remember the Americans thought Biden was an absolute disaster as a President and should go sooner rather than later - then look who they voted in as President.

sundowngirl

“If the upcoming autumn statement were to result in a government crisis that triggered a snap election”

We can’t only hope. It’s frightening what damage labour can do if in power for another 4 years

Don't kid yourself that any other party would improve things. They all subscribe to the same fairy tale economic beliefs.

Spot on MOnica.

So you want a party which say it will bring in unelected people to form a Cabinet and try to stuff the Lords with similar

You mean like Lord Hermer and Peter Mandelson, to name but two?

It's a way of diverting attention away from this dreadful government. Bad publicity is the tool of those who are trying to weaken the support for Reform. This country is in a mess and the public will have to accept that difficult choices have to be made.

I should’ve gone to Specsavers because I can’t find all these threads. Except this one.

Yes i do believe in democracy and if reform get sufficient votes they will become the party of government . Just as Trump received sufficient votes in two American elections.

If by some fluke, Reform is elected then it’s highly unlikely that Farage would want to take a drop in salary to become PM. Led by Donkeys has suggested that current earnings are in excess of £1 million pounds a year.

eazybee

^So you want a party which say it will bring in unelected people to form a Cabinet and try to stuff the Lords with similar ^

You mean like Lord Hermer and Peter Mandelson, to name but two?

Mandelson served as British Ambassador to the United States, nothing to do with cabinet. He was appointed Lord in 2008.

Three of the political appointments you may be thinking of, as there was media coverage at the time, are:

James Timpson, Lord Timpson - Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation NOT a cabinet position.

Richard Hermer KC Lord Hermer - Attorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland NOT full a cabinet position but may attend attend Cabinet meetings, particularly when legal matters are being discussed. The practice of the Attorney General being a full cabinet member ended in 1928 to prevent political interference in the course of justice.

Sir Patrick Valance Lord Vallance Abbotsbury (formerly the government's chief scientific adviser), - Minister for Science in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology NOT a cabinet position.

To be clear, these people were bought in for their particular expertise but are not members of the cabinet or in Hermer's case not a full member. By contrast, Farage has explicitly stated that a future Reform government would appoint individuals from outside Parliament to cabinet positions.

My stuffing the Lords comment was a reference to Reform conference where they were talking about appointing 500 Reform peers specifically to neutralise the Lords to ensure their legislation would face no opposition.

Speaking at a fringe event at the Reform UK conference in September 2025, David Starkey outlined a plan for a future Reform government to appoint 500 new peers to the House of Lords. He argued this would be necessary to overcome opposition in the unelected chamber and implement the party's legislative programme, which he believes involves repealing much of the legislation passed since 1997.

The current process for appointing peers typically involves the Prime Minister of the day making recommendations to the King, vetted and approved by the independent House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC). The appointment of such a large number of peers in one go would be an extraordinary and controversial constitutional move designed deliberately to fundamentally alter the composition of the House.^

The current composition of the Lords is:

Conservative Party: 286
Labour Party: 210
Crossbench: 177
Liberal Democrats: 75
Non-affiliated: 39
Bishops: 24
Democratic Unionist Party: 6
Ulster Unionist Party: 3
Green Party: 2
Plaid Cymru: 2
Independent: 1

There is a long report in the Guardian today that Reform in Lancashire plan to close Council care homes and move elderly residents into the private sector. Obviously a cost saving plan worthy of DOGE.