How the media created Reform

Well said. I often think that paying the likes of Reform less attention would be a good idea (while being aware of their agenda)

Farage's growing toxicity the article reports helps his opponents mobilise against him. The majority dislike what they witnessed.

Those scenes of those supporters did neither Farage or his party many favours in the electorate's eyes.. Just been reading a Fox News article about poll ratings on Reform UK in 2025 going into party conference and same you.gov poll ratings in 2026 going into Reform conference.

In 2025 36% of the electorate approved Farage's performance as a party leader and 38% disapproved showing a net approval of the 2 ratings compared as minus 2.4%.

In 2026 only 25% of the electorate approved of Frog's leadership and 54% disapproved resulting in a net approval of minus 30%. His and his party's ratings also fell steadily over the 12 months, not just after AB became PM.

In contrast same date 2026, same poll Andy Burnham was the only party leader with a net approval rating, ie with Frage trailing 51.6% behind him.

Iam64

It was Maremia. Such violence and verbal aggression from supporters of the party that proclaims free speech

Also claim safety for women but found it amusing to see a young woman being attacked by several of their supporters.

It was Maremia. Such violence and verbal aggression from supporters of the party that proclaims free speech

It was more than 'hurty words' at the Reform debacle.

Peacelilydilly

Milsa yes the boomers and the silent majority who were too scared to speak up that they were not happy with the way the country was going against the very vocal voices who shouted them down if they dared to express their concerns, a bit like now people silently supporting Reform I think.

Are you a Boomer Milsa, or Peacelillydilly? I am. I , my boomer sisters and friendship group all voted Remain. It sounds as though as well as believing you can speak for and dismiss Boomers, you believe some silent majority was shouted down
There is certainly a group who say things like “we aren’t allowed to say anything”. “It’s only hurty words”.

Reform is a consequence of (mainly) Labour neglecting northern voters on the assumption the northern working class had no-one else to vote for.

Milsa yes the boomers and the silent majority who were too scared to speak up that they were not happy with the way the country was going against the very vocal voices who shouted them down if they dared to express their concerns, a bit like now people silently supporting Reform I think.

Good grief, Olivebranch- your words seem somewhat at odds with your username.
Were you ok with the woman being hit with a stick as well?

LemonJam

Olivebranch

What do people expect if they disrupt a Reform conference. I’m not even a Reform voter but I might have pulled her hair. Stupid woman.

Crikey!

And posters here express concern about young people of today 🙈

It was not social media. It was the boomers who voted for Brexit

Olivebranch

What do people expect if they disrupt a Reform conference. I’m not even a Reform voter but I might have pulled her hair. Stupid woman.

Crikey!

Listening to Tim Montgomerie, he identified some of the problems within the party. Not least is that Farage has never appointed a Chief of Staff and rarely communicates with his senior people. No wonder they talk such nonsense when sent out on the media rounds to defend him.

Poor communication and people management skills does not bode well for a man who allegedly wants to be Prime Minister. He would have to communicate regularly with a cabinet of 23 Senior Ministers who have Junior Minsters and Parliamentary Under Secretaries working under them. 150 ministers altogether.

He’s a solo operator who is totally unfit for senior office just at Johnson wasn't either. Let’s hope he walks soon and this charade of a political party, which becomes more unpleasant by the day, will fall apart and the serious people can get on with things.

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Its amazing really how people think Reform UK just saying it will get rid of asylum seekers in small boats who actually are legally permitted to come to the UK to seek asylum by the way* that it will magically happen!

Reform UK has no detailed plans with steps to get there or how it will overcome predictable obstacles current and previous governments faced, legal and otherwise will be addressed.

Seems naive and too trusting to me. It won't happen as Reform claims. Just like Trump wasn't able to stop the war in Ukraine in a day! But it won't him votes and now there is much reported voters remorse as just look what's happening in the US...

LuckyGirl13

Are you rather obsessed?
How on earth will you cope when he's PM?!!
.

This morning I was talking to a person who was full of admiration for Reform mainly due to getting rid of the illegal immigrants which I tried to explain to her that Nigel Farage is all talk. His ideas I believe won’t be possible. As for running the country I don’t believe he has much idea at all especially after trying to back off with the media finding out about his finances.

Is John McAndrew the name spabbygirl is thinking of?

I don't think his history and the favour shown by the BBC towards Reform is any coincidence.

Nick Watt has been particularly bad mannered and cringeworthy of late. He was scuttling around in Birmingham last week after Reform MPs like Uriah Heep.

Will the new season of BBCQT due to start soon, it remains to be see whether it remains the Zia Yusuf show. After his humiliation on his last appearance where Fiona Bruce upbraided him for calling her a liar and he was forced to admit Farage won't let him stand for election, maybe he won't be so keen to appear.

Plus Farage has £contracts with GB News and The Telegraph so their coverage is mutually beneficial and evidently can not be seen to be impartial.

Farage values and highlights his positive media coverage, e.g. The Telegraph and GB News and undermines those who are not favourable towards him and more partial and investigative in style, e.g. 'Fake news' - just like Trump.

Farage had a pretty soft ride in the media up until disclosures about the £5 million sum received. However now its not giving him such as easy ride.

The BBC, as a national broadcaster, must be seen to be impartial. As Reform UK, until Burnham came to power was leading in national polls for an extended period and did so well in May local elections, The BBC could legitimately be accused of not being impartial if it did not report about Reform UK's insurgent rise.

Plus, that reporting momentum is intentionally propelled further by Farage's agitating, provocative actions and behaviours as he skilfully seeks to secure media attention for himself and his cause (though not quite as much as usual during a period in the summer).

We have the media to thank- largely the Guardian and the Times and last week Channel 4 News (supplied by Verbatim) , for scrutinising Farage and Reform UK (as they should - public interest journalism) to bring concerns to the public's attention. e.g. the party's foreign donation culture.

Farage is not exceptional- all politicians are scrutinised. The closer they get to power and when in power, scrutiny ramps up increasingly.

one of the ex-GB news presenters is now a senior BBC politics manager, I couldn't find his name but that accounts for their plentiful appearance in good terms on their, much of the news papers are owned by billionaires who don't want to be in the eu cos they have been tidying up tax issues hence the media's soft ride for farage & reform

Catching up, many thanks to LemonJam and Graphite for your posts.

Is anybody excusing them? I've only heard condemnation of the few of them involved.

Maremia

They did at first look 'normal'.
Just some citizens attending the Conference of their chosen party, to hear the new policies.
But, is anyone saying that assault is a 'normal' reaction to heckling, when there is paid security to deal with it?

That’s the worrying thing! They just looked normal pensioners which shouldn’t be excused.