Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. Yes, the voters of Clacton have been fooled again!

Galaxy

They were being kind in the restaurant, they offered me a free shot. I took it as a compliment, I haven't drunk shots in about 30 years
I just meant talking about the increase in those claiming disability ( particularly young people) is important, it isn't 'knocking benefit claimants' etc, it is trying to.work out what is going on.

I agree. Particularly our young people between 18-25. It’s a proven fact that, in the main, having paid work has a positive effect on those with mild to medium mental health problems.

Sometimes people forget that working goes so much further than just having more income, though, of course, this is vitally important. But work brings with it a new environment, new colleagues, new learning, a sense of achievement, self esteem.

For me, it’s so important to get those of benefit who COULD work AND to find them sustainable and appropriate paid work.

I partly agree, but think he expected a much more ringing endorsement than he got butterandjam, enabling him to depart on a big high. He withdrew from the results ceremony when he realised his ploy had failed and he was going to look small and foolish.
He must be praying for a massive number of super dinghies this weekend, ironically.

Maremia

Maybe vintage folk like us will be targeted?

I doubt it, we're their biggest voter base.

Thanks ReturningFomExile, long Covid has changed many lives.

Farage has a long history of changing horses; starting new parties then tiring of them.

I have a feeling that he got the wind up about an inquiry into the £5 million personal gift and planned a theatrical exit to bury the inquiry and rid himself of a party/politics he's bored with. He really wants to be in USA getting rich from cryptocurrency like the Trumps.

He would resign his seat, stand for re-election as a stunt he expected to fail; The Establishment would field real politicians as candidates and win the seat.

He could not have foreseen that the main parties would just refuse to contest it. The stunt has badly backfired; he accidentally won back the seat and job he's tired of.

He's furious.

" I’m damned if I’m going to stand on a stage,... and be demeaned and humiliated by nobodies.”

Galaxy and Maremia, I think that Long Covid has had a lot to do with the recent increase in disability. This is real and physical, not in people's imaginations, and also has affected many healthcare professionals.

nanna8

Oh get a grip. Not everyone who voted for the man are fools. That is an unwarranted thing to say . You never know, he might turn out to be reasonably good ( not sure there but Andy Burnham is being given a chance and no one knows how he will turn out,either) I think they hate him because he threatens the two main parties, they don’t like change. Not many do.

Turn out to be reasonably good? his grubby past suggests the opposite. The European Parliament was his gravy train. He boasted of his 2 million pound expense claims ; and had the lowest ever attendance and voting record.

He has only been an MP since 2024, same story; poor attendance in Westminster, absent for 77 votes in a row over three months. No constituency surgery ever in Clacton. Now facing a Parliamentary Standards enquiry over £5 million undeclared financial gift from a criminal.

In complete contrast Burnham has a 20 year strong history of public service as an MP /Minister.

Two ways of looking at it, and yes there will be others,
there has been an increase in disability, that has risen with the rise in population,
there are new/different ways to diagnose/measure disability.

They were being kind in the restaurant, they offered me a free shot. I took it as a compliment, I haven't drunk shots in about 30 years
I just meant talking about the increase in those claiming disability ( particularly young people) is important, it isn't 'knocking benefit claimants' etc, it is trying to.work out what is going on.

I don't understand who isn't being kind but it is 37 degrees here

I agree with Cossy about the difficulty of breaking the cycle of deprivation.
I worked in an area of high deprivation, with significant numbers of families where no one worked ( the Great British Bad Back was endemic), and I can only imagine how many of our working families resented this.
Our only way of changing this is with educating the children, and hoping that they find remunerative employment.
Jaywick, of course, has the added burden of extra needy people being put in their neighborhood.

Maybe vintage folk like us will be targeted?

Galaxy

I have just done the thing I hate when other people do it, said something inflammatory and now I am going out

I have just done the thing I hate when other people do it, said something inflammatory and now I am going out

Oh and not paying attention to the increase in disability claims particularly amongst the young isn't being kind, it is the opposite.

Well if we are being controversial I would say the greens have cornered the market in targeting those with autism ( gender nonsense), so farage will have to look elsewhere.

of course Cossy - I understand that.
Is that to do with high housing costs?

JaneJudge

Thanks Casdon.

I think you are right Galaxy. I mean why should people work dirty stressful jobs when people are sitting at home spending time with their families on universal credit and getting their rent paid?*

*I'm being controversial on purpose but I understand their frustration. The lowest paid jobs are often the dirtiest and stressful with less stability, worse working conditions and hours

However, one has to remember many people on low pay will be entitled to top up with Universal Credit

I posted before I'd read the Social Research findings Galaxy. Spot on.

Cossy

Galaxy

And I actually think some of Farages support is from those who do work ( often for minimum wage) and daily see others not working.

Yes, I agree and that too makes complete sense.

Once we’ve done set with all those pesky migrants, then we’ll take all those lazy scroungers off their benefits.

Mmm then who will we blame? 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

People with learning disabilities. They are always fair game

Thanks Casdon.

I think you are right Galaxy. I mean why should people work dirty stressful jobs when people are sitting at home spending time with their families on universal credit and getting their rent paid?*

*I'm being controversial on purpose but I understand their frustration. The lowest paid jobs are often the dirtiest and stressful with less stability, worse working conditions and hours

Galaxy

And I actually think some of Farages support is from those who do work ( often for minimum wage) and daily see others not working.

Yes, I agree and that too makes complete sense.

Once we’ve done set with all those pesky migrants, then we’ll take all those lazy scroungers off their benefits.

Mmm then who will we blame? 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Definitely agree with that Galaxy.I can understand how they might feel, Unscrupulous Farage has aimed his racist comments to be the great panacea.

Galaxy

And I actually think some of Farages support is from those who do work ( often for minimum wage) and daily see others not working.

It is. Here is the finding of the National Centre for Social Research on where Reform voters come from.

Squeezed Stewards (29%): Anxious, middle-income voters who combine cultural conservatism and anti-immigration views with local community concerns and cost-of-living anxieties.

Working Right (26%): Economically insecure, older working-age individuals who blend pro-worker sentiments with intense hostility toward immigration and deep distrust of political elites.

Reluctant Reformers (19%): The most moderate and persuadable segment, backing the party out of frustration with mainstream politics rather than hardline ideology.

Hardline Conservatives (18%): Affluent, older, and socially conservative traditionalists who strongly oppose state spending, climate action, and immigration.

Contrarian Youth: A smaller contingent of young, digital-first men drawn to the party's anti-establishment messaging via online platforms like TikTok.

And I actually think some of Farages support is from those who do work ( often for minimum wage) and daily see others not working.