The Budget

ronib

Wasn’t Boris Johnson quite friendly with a Russian? I seem to remember a few news stories at the time.
Good point though theworriedwell so what exactly is the wider picture with regard to boyhood jibes?

Yes, it was ex-KGB Officer Alexander Lebedev.
He was owner of the Evening Standard at one time.
Johnson made Lebedev's son a Lord. He is a cross bench peer.

Laugh at the ludicrousness of it or cry?

I doubt that any news source has looked at the budget in terms of harm to right wing factions. But the farmers haven’t stopped fighting.

ronib

I doubt that any news source has looked at the budget in terms of harm to right wing factions. But the farmers haven’t stopped fighting.

Are you calling farmers right wing factions? ?

Well it would be hard to call farmers left wing supporters wouldn’t it? Allira

DaisyAnneReturns

ronib

Right wingers are probably the ones paying out most in increased hidden taxes- that’s the problem with this budget. theworriedwell

Isn't that rather presumptuous.

It certainly isn’t borne out by the facts.
yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/49978-how-britain-voted-in-the-2024-general-election
There is a section on voting pattern by household income included.

ronib

Well it would be hard to call farmers left wing supporters wouldn’t it? Allira

Well - No Farmers no Food.

Food doesn't grow on supermarket shelves.

Casdon this information is very outdated. It’s 2025 voting intentions we need.

Why ronib, do you think high earners who voted Labour or Lib Dem only a year ago are the ones who have now decided to vote for Reform? I don’t. I think it is the disaffected, lower income groups.

ronib

Well it would be hard to call farmers left wing supporters wouldn’t it? Allira

And right wing faction makes the farmers sound like extremists.

Perhaps look at the food you eat this Christmas and have a think about where it comes from.

Allira No farming- no food is described as non partisan.

June 2025.
yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/52431-how-would-britain-vote-a-year-since-the-2024-election

ronib

Allira No farming- no food is described as non partisan.

So why describe them as a right wing faction?

December 2025 may well see yet another shift. But how credible is YouGov anyway?Casdon June 2025 is not current.

I said farmers not the organisation which calls itself no farming - no food. There’s a difference. Farmers as large landowners are known to be of a right wing persuasion?? Faction - meaning social group? Allira

No and no.

There is no point.
😫

Well AI does confirm my statements.

ronib

December 2025 may well see yet another shift. But how credible is YouGov anyway?Casdon June 2025 is not current.

YouGov is generally reliable ronib. I very much doubt the position will change significantly, except that more high income voters will opt for the Lib Dem’s instead of Labour if the economy doesn’t improve - most of this group are well educated professionals. The proof will be in the pudding when the next survey is carried out.

YouGov September 2025 - Reform has considerable traction.

Reeves did not mislead says OBR official

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czj0ngnkl2vo?at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_link_type=web_link&at_link_origin=BBCNews&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_link_id=47984EAC-CF7C-11F0-AEC6-A5EE2C8B10AB&at_medium=social&at_campaign_type=owned&utm_social_post_id=612173911&xtor=AL-71-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bbbc.news.twitter%5D-%5Bheadline%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D&at_format=link&at_ptr_name=twitter&utm_social_handle_id=612473

Farmers as large landowners are known to be of a right wing persuasion??

I am talking about farmers.

You are talking about wealthy landowners.

ronib

YouGov September 2025 - Reform has considerable traction.

Yes ronib. That doesn't make it untrue to say that Reform are largely gaining votes from lower earners, not from those on high incomes, which was your original contention.

There is very strong Reform in rural areas as well as working class industrial areas, everyone was fed up with the Tories but tactical voting let a Labour government in. The LD gained a few seats but arent going to be a serious force at the next election
If Labour don’t get their act together and grow the economy, Conservative and Reform are the parties that will form the next government, I don’t think either will get a majority but a lot can change in 3 yrs.

Allira

^Farmers as large landowners are known to be of a right wing persuasion??^

I am talking about farmers.

You are talking about wealthy landowners.

Large Landowners and most Farmers will vote conservative most other working rural voters support Reform. In this area non working voters a mix of Tory LD and Reform.

Labour MPs really need to get their act together and support Starmer because a move to the left will be a disaster.

The farmers round me voted Lib Dem David49, and they must have done so in lots of other rural areas too, because that is largely where the Lib Dem vote is strong. There is a geographical split in voting patterns too, Reform is stronger in the east than the west, with Lib Dem the opposite .

A slight diversion to the thread but local councils are now able to buy up farmland at agricultural rates and then develop as housing. So neat - forcing farms on to the market through changes to inheritance tax and then allow councils to make huge profits. Are we proud of this idea? So Labour!