Inside the Reform Party

Well you are wrong there CW. I stopped voting Labour when TB took us into that unlawful war.
That’s why I can’t stand them.
Not jumping on any bandwagon!
I have no interest in this lot either

fancythat

^What about their debt to their Russian investors^

I have just googled "where does reform get its funding from"

I cant see where Russia features.

Not saying you are wrong, but not saying you are right either.

I have just let comments about Russia pass me by, previously.

Yep I never heard that. If it was the case you think it would have been all over the msm 🤔
I don’t follow TR so wouldn’t know about him being in bed with the Russians.

I always used to be a Liberal ... it described me perfectly .. I am not a Lib Dem ... but cant express how I feel .. not Reform ... not Labour or Tory ...help !

Barbadosbelle

MaizieD

That a very big axe you have to grind!
.

Why do you describe being amazed that people want to shoot themselves in the foot as having an axe to grind?

MT62

MT62

They already do plenty for people on benefits from what I hear. Aren’t they going to make it easier to claim more benefits?

Cats whiskers

Well, now I'm confused because you referred to the Labour of old. I'm sure you're aware that many of those who support Labour (or have historically voted Labour but no more) think that Labour isn't doing enough for the poor and deprived.

If I were a cynic, I'd think you just want to jump on any bandwagon which criticises Labour.

MaizieD

That a very big axe you have to grind!
.

What about their debt to their Russian investors

I have just googled "where does reform get its funding from"

I cant see where Russia features.

Not saying you are wrong, but not saying you are right either.

I have just let comments about Russia pass me by, previously.

MT62

They already do plenty for people on benefits from what I hear. Aren’t they going to make it easier to claim more benefits?

Cats whiskers

They already do plenty for people on benefits from what I hear. Aren’t they going to make it easier to claim more benefits?

What will Reform do for us, should they get in?
What about their debt to their Russian investors?

Galaxy

Do you think he was a model of decency and law abiding behaviour?

No. I was just asking for clarification.

MaizieD

fancythat

A Party cannot live on it's history though.

At least it has a history. Which is, on the whole, reasonably decent and honourable and rooted in concern for the wellbeing of the country and its citizens.

It is not based on what amounts to a single grievance, the presence of foreigners in the country and the constraints on poor and exploitative behaviour imposed by domestic human rights legislation and the ECHR. Nor is it led by a person who appears to have more interest in enriching himself and his donors (goodness, does that sound familiar?) than fulfilling his various roles, firstly as an MEP and now as an MP.

Nor is it supported by a foreign power which has the objective of destabilising and attacking Europe to dismantle its power as a bloc in order to gain economic and territorial advantage.

Nor are those it puts forward to election in local and national governmental roles rank amateurs with no coherent policies (see the article cited in the OP) apart from the grievances magnified by foreign interference and a compliant press.

I expect others could express this better than I can, but the number of people willing to take a leap into completely unknown territory at the behest of wealthy grifters and foreign powers quite amazes me...

“Change is one thing, progress is another.”

— Bertrand Russell

The two child cap was on Universal Credit benefits.

Family Allowance is not capped, you can have as many children as you want and claim for each one. Unless you earn over a certain amount (I think it’s a joint income of £85,000) and then you are taxed on child benefit payments.

Do you think he was a model of decency and law abiding behaviour?

MT62

Maremia

What did Labour ever do for us?
Apart from the NHS?

Ahh yes the Labour of old.

You sound nostalgic. Do you wish Labour did more for the poor and disadvantaged?

Shinamae

Casdon

We know that Nathan Gill, the Reform leader in Wales was paid by Russia when he was an MEP. He’s now in prison.

Peter Mandelson? 🤔

I didn't know Mandelson received Russian money.

MT62

Maremia

Child benefit

I don’t agree with lifting that cap.
Can’t afford more than two kids, will just don’t have any more.

What about parents who have more than one child and then something catastrophic happens, such as one of the parents gets killed or permanently disabled? What happens if two people who already have two children each, want to start living together?

Life doesn't always end up how we've planned it.

Maremia

Child benefit

I don’t agree with lifting that cap.
Can’t afford more than two kids, will just don’t have any more.

LizzieDrip

*MT62 …

“Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform UK in Wales and a former Member of the European Parliament, was convicted and sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison on November 21, 2025.

He pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery under the Bribery Act 2010 for accepting approximately £40,000 in payments in exchange for delivering pro-Russian speeches and participating in interviews.

The judge condemned his actions as a grave betrayal of public trust.

Gill's offending took place between 2018 and 2019 while he was serving as an MEP, receiving funds funneled from a pro-Russian Ukrainian politician linked to close associates of Vladimir Putin. His crimes were uncovered after Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism officers stopped and searched him at Manchester Airport in 2021.”

Good to know 👍🏻

Maremia

What did Labour ever do for us?
Apart from the NHS?

Ahh yes the Labour of old.

I am not saying to people vote Reform by the way.
Just giving my personal opinion.

Because they think the current government is worse.

And it has been tried and tested.
And so have the conservatives.

Depends on strength of feeling against what has already been tested, as to giving something else a try.

I have been heartily sick of both main Parties for at least 10 years.
Others have now come to that conclusion more recently.

Reform could well end up being worse..
but.. see above

Because they think the current government is worse. That would make me pause for thought if I was part of that government.

fancythat

A Party cannot live on it's history though.

At least it has a history. Which is, on the whole, reasonably decent and honourable and rooted in concern for the wellbeing of the country and its citizens.

It is not based on what amounts to a single grievance, the presence of foreigners in the country and the constraints on poor and exploitative behaviour imposed by domestic human rights legislation and the ECHR. Nor is it led by a person who appears to have more interest in enriching himself and his donors (goodness, does that sound familiar?) than fulfilling his various roles, firstly as an MEP and now as an MP.

Nor is it supported by a foreign power which has the objective of destabilising and attacking Europe to dismantle its power as a bloc in order to gain economic and territorial advantage.

Nor are those it puts forward to election in local and national governmental roles rank amateurs with no coherent policies (see the article cited in the OP) apart from the grievances magnified by foreign interference and a compliant press.

I expect others could express this better than I can, but the number of people willing to take a leap into completely unknown territory at the behest of wealthy grifters and foreign powers quite amazes me...

Casdon

We know that Nathan Gill, the Reform leader in Wales was paid by Russia when he was an MEP. He’s now in prison.

Peter Mandelson? 🤔