Nigel Farage has won

Btw way, it’s not just us “woke lefties” who despise Farage and Reform, I think you’ll find Tories/Lib Dems/Greens also have a pretty low opinion of him and his ilk.

Chestnut

LemonJam - It remains to be seen how it performs at the next GE- but current polls evidence if there was a GE called today Reform UK would not win.

I agree Reform would probably not win a GE but they play a very important role in politics because we need balance, and the better they do the more Labour (and the Conservatives) are kept on their toes.

The government has rowed in a different direction many times in the past because of something Farage has pushed for. For someone who was not even an MP he has had huge influence and that is why left wingers hate him. And my goodness, when they hate they really do hate. You only have to take a peek at any Reform thread on here to see vile name calling and much spitting of venom. I guess they want the whole world to be a left wing paradise of rainbows and unicorns with all the nasty Reformers gone, just gone.

Sorry to disagree, but Reform and Restore add zero to balance in Parliament. (In my opinion)

Firstly, we have balance, we have left, right and centralised representation already in Parliament plus a few Independents.

What balance does a far right (or indeed far left) party give?

Secondly, you do have to actually turn up in Parliament to give this “balance” (which I believe already exists)

There may be a lot of deletions, and it can be annoying when you miss the comment, but there are a lot of GNs, and new ones all the time.

Excellent post Casdon

Obviously political views have a big part to play in people’s feelings about any politician, but for the majority, agree with them or not, there is a degree of respect for their commitment to their cause and their intentions

I quite agree. In that vein, though I was totally opposed to Margaret Thatcher's ideology, I do believe she was totally committed to it, heart and soul, in a way that earned respect from some of her opponents, even if grudgingly given.

Farage is fundamentally dishonest, and that’s what people don’t like.

Yes, this.

fancythat

Considering people go around on this site saying "we will not report a poster", or "I wont report", well someone clearly does, as there are a lot of deletions. Daily.

I don't know why it's supposed to be a badge of honour not to report. IMO it snowballs -a few posts overstep the mark and it encourages others. It happened to me recently. I didn't report some vitriolic personal attack posts and it emboldened others . So I reported, they were deleted and it's stopped.. HQ takes a dim view of posters trying to deter reporting as they made clear in a recent long running saga. Some posters were calling for all reports to be attributed to the reporter If BlueBelle had said 'you are a Hitler copycat' it would be reportable but calling NF that is just a fact. Whoever I've bee deleted I would say that in 9/10 cases I've agreed with the deletion.

fancythat

Considering people go around on this site saying "we will not report a poster", or "I wont report", well someone clearly does, as there are a lot of deletions. Daily.

There are people who say they won't report but there are some who have said they will. It's up to the individual.

Considering people go around on this site saying "we will not report a poster", or "I wont report", well someone clearly does, as there are a lot of deletions. Daily.

I have never seen an action from Farage that has served his constituents or the country well.

Feel free to correct me anyone if I am wrong and not aware of anything.

I entirely agree that Farage is disliked for many reasons by centrist, right and left leaning parties and voters.

I also agree that Farage is fundamentally dishonest. I also agree that decent people exist in centrist, left leaning and right leaning parties.

Personally I do not place Farage in a decent politician category. I do not believe he primarily seeks to serve with the behaviours and values set out in the Nolan Principles of Public Office.

I view him more as self serving.

To avoid any doubt- the only part of the 16.00 post attributed to me is: "It remains to be seen how it performs at the next GE- but current polls evidence if there was a GE called today Reform UK would not win".

Chestnut

LemonJam - It remains to be seen how it performs at the next GE- but current polls evidence if there was a GE called today Reform UK would not win.

I agree Reform would probably not win a GE but they play a very important role in politics because we need balance, and the better they do the more Labour (and the Conservatives) are kept on their toes.

The government has rowed in a different direction many times in the past because of something Farage has pushed for. For someone who was not even an MP he has had huge influence and that is why left wingers hate him. And my goodness, when they hate they really do hate. You only have to take a peek at any Reform thread on here to see vile name calling and much spitting of venom. I guess they want the whole world to be a left wing paradise of rainbows and unicorns with all the nasty Reformers gone, just gone.

I think you’re off the mark in your assessment of why Farage is so disliked (not just by people on the left, but by centrist Tories too). Obviously political views have a big part to play in people’s feelings about any politician, but for the majority, agree with them or not, there is a degree of respect for their commitment to their cause and their intentions. You would never see Sunak, or May, for example described in the terms that Farage is. Decent people exist in all parties. Farage is fundamentally dishonest, and that’s what people don’t like.

Chestnut

Well I'm really pleased he won because he serves a very useful role. He can continue to be a painful thorn in the side of Labour! I doubt I'd ever vote Reform but we need them.

I'm not sure why people call them 'far right' isn't that the Nazis? At what point does right wing become far right and what do you have to do to become 'far right'? Maybe one of the posters here using the term 'far right' can explain why they use that term and what it means please.

I've used that terminology (Far Right) a few times. However, I've never equated it with Nazism - in the same way I use Far Left, but don't confuse it with Communism.

There's no absolute definition of either though is there as the terms mean different things to different people.

I'd say NF is Far Right in terms of economic ideology - but not an extremist. However, if he were ever to become PM, and seriously attempted to draft in the military to 'stop-the-boats', or used the infamous ICE tactics to turf immigrants out of their houses or arrest them on the streets, then I'd change my mind.

In the same vein, I see Corbyn as Far Left, but didn't think him an extremist either.

Obviously, people on here will disagree with my interpretations, but I assume you were looking for personal viewpoints rather than an exact science on the matter...

Most of what you call vile name calling and spitting of venom is accurate fact about Farage and Reform Chestnut.

Personally I have not seen anything that has been good for the UK that has resulted because of huge Farage's influence.

I don't hate Farage. I occasionally feel sorry for him, particularly when he self sabotages and because it appears that he is driven to make huge sums money to make him happy. However despite his enormous wealth and privilege he never particularly looks happy but instead filled with bitterness, anger, petulance when questioned by the free press in the public interest and filled with hatred towards immigrants and asylum seekers.

Chestnut

LemonJam - It remains to be seen how it performs at the next GE- but current polls evidence if there was a GE called today Reform UK would not win.

I agree Reform would probably not win a GE but they play a very important role in politics because we need balance, and the better they do the more Labour (and the Conservatives) are kept on their toes.

The government has rowed in a different direction many times in the past because of something Farage has pushed for. For someone who was not even an MP he has had huge influence and that is why left wingers hate him. And my goodness, when they hate they really do hate. You only have to take a peek at any Reform thread on here to see vile name calling and much spitting of venom. I guess they want the whole world to be a left wing paradise of rainbows and unicorns with all the nasty Reformers gone, just gone.

The opposition and the electorate keep a government on their toes.

My view is that a party who stirs up division however is not required. Farage is a very divisive person so I guess that is not going to change.

Neither the UK or other countries in the world has never ever been a left wing paradise or rainbows and unicorns- I don't believe that exists, is possible or is desirable.

Tuliptree

Oh I think ‘little Hitler copycat’ is quite mild considering.

Well some of these comments are very revealing and quite shocking. I'm just not in that league I'm afraid.

LemonJam - It remains to be seen how it performs at the next GE- but current polls evidence if there was a GE called today Reform UK would not win.

I agree Reform would probably not win a GE but they play a very important role in politics because we need balance, and the better they do the more Labour (and the Conservatives) are kept on their toes.

The government has rowed in a different direction many times in the past because of something Farage has pushed for. For someone who was not even an MP he has had huge influence and that is why left wingers hate him. And my goodness, when they hate they really do hate. You only have to take a peek at any Reform thread on here to see vile name calling and much spitting of venom. I guess they want the whole world to be a left wing paradise of rainbows and unicorns with all the nasty Reformers gone, just gone.

Did anyone actually get any benefit from the Farage's Clacton' political Panto'?

Not him and not his party. Clacton has the same MP. Farage is exhausted, not doing a media victory round today for obvious reasons and party and personal poll ratings are down...

But you're right- Count Binface went from 95 votes at Makerfield by election to nearly 9.5 thousand votes in Clacton. Now that is a benefit!

GNs. Sorry for that Freudian slip. 🤣

Who do GBs think got the 'most' from that Political Panto?

I think Count Binface, because who knew anything about him before the by-election 'battle'.

Thanks MazieD for posting that info.

Ed Davey was perhaps nearer the mark, with ‘Temu Trump’.

Tuliptree

Oh I think ‘little Hitler copycat’ is quite mild considering.

Me too.

Tuliptree

I love the way it was announced they’d resumed immediately after his forcing a two month break

Me too! That’s been my favourite part of this whole ludicrous debacle.

Oh I think ‘little Hitler copycat’ is quite mild considering.