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Nigel Farage has won

(310 Posts)
GrannyGravy13 Fri 14-Aug-26 06:38:32

Yes, Nigel has won the by-election with approximately 1,000 more votes this time than in the 2024 election, according to ITV breakfast news…

LemonJam Fri 14-Aug-26 14:56:09

Chestnut

Tuliptree

Well Chestnut perhaps you can now explain why Reform shouldn’t be called far right? Maizie’s done your homework

I never said they shouldn't be called far right, I just asked why they were considered to be far right because it always seemed very extreme to me.

However, I would say that BlueBelle's comparison to Hitler is shocking and disgusting and should be retracted immediately. I shan't report it, as I believe comments should stand so that other posters can see for themselves what the person has said.

I would consider Reform UK to typify a far right party because it typifies so many of the characteristics included in MaizieD's summation- see 14.44 post. I think Reform UK would also place itself as a far right party, agreeing with and promoting many of those characteristics.

Reform UK puts a lot of effort into getting people to pay attention to Reform UK's far right wing views or 'far right wing 'nonsense' as some describe. Reform UK gained a handful of MPs at the last election. 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.

LemonJam Fri 14-Aug-26 14:48:37

I agree- good summation. Anyone who thinks this is a 'nonsense' summation of the characteristics is invited to give their alternative 'sensible' summation of the characteristics of that far right.

Anyone is entitled to believe that 'nobody' pays attention to far right 'nonsense' but they would be wrong.

Chestnut Fri 14-Aug-26 14:45:52

Tuliptree

Well Chestnut perhaps you can now explain why Reform shouldn’t be called far right? Maizie’s done your homework

I never said they shouldn't be called far right, I just asked why they were considered to be far right because it always seemed very extreme to me.

However, I would say that BlueBelle's comparison to Hitler is shocking and disgusting and should be retracted immediately. I shan't report it, as I believe comments should stand so that other posters can see for themselves what the person has said.

Fallingstar Fri 14-Aug-26 14:44:39

MaizieD

^Maybe one of the posters here using the term 'far right' can explain why they use that term and what it means please.^

The ever useful AI might help you.

Characteristics of 'far right'.

1. Extreme nationalism
The nation is treated as the primary political community, often with an emphasis on ethnic, cultural or ancestral identity. National interests are presented as overriding international obligations or universal principles.*

2. Strong hostility to immigration
Immigration is often portrayed not merely as an economic or administrative issue but as a threat to national identity, culture, social cohesion or security. This can shade into the belief that different ethnic or religious groups cannot properly coexist.*

*3. Nativism
A particularly important distinction is between ordinary nationalism and nativism: the belief that the country fundamentally belongs to its indigenous or historically established population and that outsiders are inherently less entitled to belong.*

4. “Us versus them” politics
Far-right movements commonly divide society between a supposedly virtuous “ordinary people” and various groups portrayed as enemies or corrupting influences: immigrants, minorities, political elites, intellectuals, journalists, judges, civil servants, NGOs, or “globalists”.

5. Authoritarianism
There is often a preference for strong leadership, stricter social discipline, harsher criminal penalties and greater state coercion. Institutions which constrain executive power can be portrayed as obstacles to the will of the people.

6. Hostility to pluralism
Liberal democracy assumes that different groups and opinions can legitimately coexist. Far-right politics tends to be less comfortable with this pluralism, particularly where minority rights or competing identities are concerned.

7. Rejection of liberal universalism
Ideas such as equal rights regardless of ethnicity, nationality, religion or sexual orientation may be regarded as excessive or subordinate to national, cultural or traditional values.

8. Traditionalism and reaction
Far-right movements frequently idealise an earlier, supposedly more cohesive society and seek to reverse social changes involving gender roles, sexuality, multiculturalism or immigration. This is not identical to conservatism: the characteristic feature is often a desire to restore a lost social order.

9. Conspiracy thinking
Conspiracy narratives are common, particularly those involving supposedly coordinated efforts by elites or outside groups to undermine the nation. Examples include claims about “globalists”, demographic replacement, cultural Marxism, or deliberate destruction of national identity.

10. Disdain for established institutions
This can be paradoxical. Far-right movements may attack mainstream parties, Parliament, courts, universities, the civil service and the media as an illegitimate “establishment”, while simultaneously demanding much stronger executive authority.

Not my opinion. The meta analysis of a large body of writing and research into political characteristics of groups/movements in societies world wide.

Very good summation of what the far right is all about.

MaizieD Fri 14-Aug-26 14:42:35

Galaxy

Why would you care if they call you far right, nobody pays any attention to that nonsense anymore.

So you keep trying to convince us.

Perhaps you could explain who 'no-one' is?

Tuliptree Fri 14-Aug-26 14:30:49

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

LemonJam Fri 14-Aug-26 14:26:01

That's the silver lining in this by election stunt- Farage remains MP so it means his parliamentary investigation resumes.

Plus ca change 😊

theworriedwell Fri 14-Aug-26 14:19:33

Grantanow

It's quite clear: the Clacton voters have ensured Farage will face a renewed standards investigation. Excellent news! Congrats to Binface on achieving near 10,000 votes.

Yes if I was in Clacton I'd have been torn. Really would have loved Binface to win but so good that Garage hasn't avoided scrutiny about the undeclared £5mill.

theworriedwell Fri 14-Aug-26 14:14:18

FriedGreenTomatoes2

The Essex police haven’t denied that.
They just haven’t confirmed it.

NF secured a thousand more votes in Clacton’s by election than he did at the GE. And that’s with a much lower turnout.

I’m pleased for him.

Now let’s await the findings of the investigation concerning the £5million donation given to him personally by a benefactor. I think this was given to him before he became an MP? I’ll have to check that.

I wonder how many voted for him so he couldn't avoid scrutiny about the £5mill.

Tuliptree Fri 14-Aug-26 14:09:10

That still counts as homework that clearly some posters aren’t prepared to do

Galaxy Fri 14-Aug-26 14:08:25

Why would you care if they call you far right, nobody pays any attention to that nonsense anymore.

MaizieD Fri 14-Aug-26 13:58:01

Tuliptree

Well Chestnut perhaps you can now explain why Reform shouldn’t be called far right? Maizie’s done your homework

To be fair, ChatGtp did it, not me. I can't spend hours researching a huge body of work

Tuliptree Fri 14-Aug-26 13:55:48

Well Chestnut perhaps you can now explain why Reform shouldn’t be called far right? Maizie’s done your homework

Graphite Fri 14-Aug-26 13:50:38

Thanks, Maizie.

Sums up Reform very accurately.

A lot of cognitive dissonance on this platform

Witzend Fri 14-Aug-26 13:48:23

Count B got not far off 10,000 votes, as against IIRC 22,000 and something, for Farage.
And Farage didn’t even have the courtesy to turn up for the result, though I doubt that anyone’s surprised by that.

MaizieD Fri 14-Aug-26 13:32:05

Maybe one of the posters here using the term 'far right' can explain why they use that term and what it means please.

The ever useful AI might help you.

Characteristics of 'far right'.

1. Extreme nationalism
The nation is treated as the primary political community, often with an emphasis on ethnic, cultural or ancestral identity. National interests are presented as overriding international obligations or universal principles.*

2. Strong hostility to immigration
Immigration is often portrayed not merely as an economic or administrative issue but as a threat to national identity, culture, social cohesion or security. This can shade into the belief that different ethnic or religious groups cannot properly coexist.*

*3. Nativism
A particularly important distinction is between ordinary nationalism and nativism: the belief that the country fundamentally belongs to its indigenous or historically established population and that outsiders are inherently less entitled to belong.*

4. “Us versus them” politics
Far-right movements commonly divide society between a supposedly virtuous “ordinary people” and various groups portrayed as enemies or corrupting influences: immigrants, minorities, political elites, intellectuals, journalists, judges, civil servants, NGOs, or “globalists”.

5. Authoritarianism
There is often a preference for strong leadership, stricter social discipline, harsher criminal penalties and greater state coercion. Institutions which constrain executive power can be portrayed as obstacles to the will of the people.

6. Hostility to pluralism
Liberal democracy assumes that different groups and opinions can legitimately coexist. Far-right politics tends to be less comfortable with this pluralism, particularly where minority rights or competing identities are concerned.

7. Rejection of liberal universalism
Ideas such as equal rights regardless of ethnicity, nationality, religion or sexual orientation may be regarded as excessive or subordinate to national, cultural or traditional values.

8. Traditionalism and reaction
Far-right movements frequently idealise an earlier, supposedly more cohesive society and seek to reverse social changes involving gender roles, sexuality, multiculturalism or immigration. This is not identical to conservatism: the characteristic feature is often a desire to restore a lost social order.

9. Conspiracy thinking
Conspiracy narratives are common, particularly those involving supposedly coordinated efforts by elites or outside groups to undermine the nation. Examples include claims about “globalists”, demographic replacement, cultural Marxism, or deliberate destruction of national identity.

10. Disdain for established institutions
This can be paradoxical. Far-right movements may attack mainstream parties, Parliament, courts, universities, the civil service and the media as an illegitimate “establishment”, while simultaneously demanding much stronger executive authority.

Not my opinion. The meta analysis of a large body of writing and research into political characteristics of groups/movements in societies world wide.

Grantanow Fri 14-Aug-26 13:14:20

It's quite clear: the Clacton voters have ensured Farage will face a renewed standards investigation. Excellent news! Congrats to Binface on achieving near 10,000 votes.

LemonJam Fri 14-Aug-26 13:02:41

FriedGreenTomatoes2

He did a lot better than Burnham did in Makersfield.

Depends what you mean by a 'lot better' and in which way things are any better now for Farage and Reform as a result.

AB got 24,927 votes in Makerfield- Reform UK 15,696, Restore 3,111, Conservative 997, Green Party 308, Liberal Democrat 163 and Count Binface 95 votes.

In Clacton's by election Farage received 22,239 votes, Count Binface 9,455. Farage had no competition from opposition parties e.g. LP, Tories, Greens and Lib Dems.

Since the Makerfield by election AB went on to become LP leader and LP poll ratings have increased and overtaken Reform UK. AB's personal popularity ratings are currently the highest of any party leader.

Since the Makerfiled by election Reform UK ratings have continued to fall from the lead and are currently the lowest they have been since the last GE, whcih it did not win. Frage's personal ratings have also continued to fall. So not doing better in fact the opposite.

The parliamentary investigation against Farage now resumes and police investigation into Reform UK finances continues.

Farage won the vote yesterday- against a Bin who secured 9,455 votes. He continues to be Clacton MP but he was already the Clacton UK. Outside Clacton, Reform UK and Farage's brand and poll ratings continue to decline.

Is anyone able to explain what Reform UK and Farage have got to celebrate as a result of Farage's decision to call this by election?

Chestnut Fri 14-Aug-26 12:59:03

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.

BlueBelle Fri 14-Aug-26 12:57:47

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Fallingstar Fri 14-Aug-26 12:44:23

Graphite. We lived near Clacton for a few years when we were younger, it has never been or will be a place that will vote centre left or centre right unless centre right Tories are the only option . The dial has always turned further right.
And am not saying this to have a go at voters in Clacton, they are not enjoying the best opportunities in that neck of the woods and obvs believe that voting for Farage will be the solution or at the very least make their voices heard. It won’t do either and sadly Farage has shown precious little interest in the place but is their decision.

DiamondLily Fri 14-Aug-26 12:39:14

The local police say they had received no intelligence about any threats. They had received no reports from Farage about being threatened.

He was obviously just embarrassed at possible ridicule of beating a pretend dustbin. 😂

Chocolatelovinggran Fri 14-Aug-26 12:38:11

Meandrogrog, no one has " the facts" on the scrutiny of Mr Farage's financial matters by the Parliamentary Standards Committee, the National Crime Agency et al, because the investigations are ongoing.

LauraNorderr Fri 14-Aug-26 12:36:51

Not sure why Farage was afraid to take the stage due to potential security threat. Wasn’t the £5m donation to cover his security? How much more does he think he needs to keep him safe.

DiamondLily Fri 14-Aug-26 12:36:33

Good for him. When his political achievements are notarised, as they all are, he’ll hold the dubious distension of beating a man dressed as a dustbin. 😂😂😂

Not exactly Churchillian is it? 🙄