History repeating itself

One of the problems with voting in a Reform politician is that they appear to have no staying power.
How many defections and resignation have there been recently?
Perhaps some of that 5 million should have been spent on preparing candidates to serve.
Explaining about council minutes, how meetings work, that sort of basic stuff.

AfD's success warns us that mainstream parties that neglect constituencies ( as Labour did in the North) will cause serious populist problems. Alas, it's too late to ban AfD and other extremist parties.

Voters of very little knowledge will always be susceptible to people offering unicorns and pixie dust. How can these folks still hope these people have their interests at heart?

It's a shame. In a discussion that is largely informative and interesting, (thanks Whitewavemark2, Fallingstar, Dickens and others), that someone has to come along and look down their nose at other people of lesser intelligence or understanding in order to put their view across. I guess the "thick", "dimwit" labels will be next.

Grantanow

AfD's success warns us that mainstream parties that neglect constituencies ( as Labour did in the North) will cause serious populist problems. Alas, it's too late to ban AfD and other extremist parties.

That's an interesting point. Technically I think AfD could be banned, but I don't know what is required to achieve this.
Noticeably these days Chancellor Merz tends to avoid discussing the Firewall and gets irritated by questions about it. The previous strategy of deplatforming the far right isn't working, and membership of AfD is growing. Somehow, some way, they will need to be listened to by Germany's political establishment and included.

Meandrogrog

MayBee70

And did anyone listen to Bravermans plans for education including teaching children about how great the British Empire was and asking parents to report schools that don’t fly the union flag and other stuff like that.

I fail to see what is wrong with that.

I fail to see the point of it. Look where excessive patriotism has landed the USA, with voters who vote just as their party tells them to, even when it means voting a man into absolute power who acts like a dictator and is suffering from cognitive failure

Actually I don't think having "very little knowledge" was meant to be prejorative. Many voters don't have a great knowledge of economics or politics and just vote almost automatically for one of the parties. Many Reform voters used to be labour voters or conservative voters, they haven't suddenly become less intelligent however if they don't follow politics they will be influenced by social media and there is a lot of misinformation out there much of it being manipulated by bots or malign agents.

foxie48

Actually I don't think having "very little knowledge" was meant to be prejorative. Many voters don't have a great knowledge of economics or politics and just vote almost automatically for one of the parties. Many Reform voters used to be labour voters or conservative voters, they haven't suddenly become less intelligent however if they don't follow politics they will be influenced by social media and there is a lot of misinformation out there much of it being manipulated by bots or malign agents.

Its amusing that you think Reform voters will be influenced by social media but presumably not Labour voters? It doesnt need social media, we can all see what is sadly happening to this country.

They are, according to social research, Meandrogrog. There’s a fair bit of information online which backs that up.
www.google.com/goto?url=CAESowEB6zswFSFTqGfxveQPoxoZJSBPZmXmoa2NG5i8Tmh5nHCKYuf1muGoLJ775Q8oCaqsaxpMWAW8tUpeDU7_UJ3jhQTZcr5FZA4KltLkow0U0mIHdjBTJ-eYbY2zwr4X7m2pmJN1CYTkvyfVPCJlnWOfycQxDzScYRZOMZzX-YceFW_CNPTV1DzMD5zC8ziWN4-vVgqzKhR2K0hDCH1w7Yepbrdw

What voters on the left anywhere, dont seem to appreciate/realise/take into account, or maybe not care

is, the more they carry on pushing whatever agenda, the more they push others[sometimes a majority] the other way.

And reaping what they sow, in this sort of instance, can actually be dangerous.

Will they or it stop?
No, of course now.

They may find it "fun" now, to do so.
They wont find it so funny when things[as they often or always do], backfire. Sometimes in a massive way.

No, of course now, should be, no of course not.

Thanks for the link Casdon. Informative and concerning. Another example that as a result of this shift we can see how quickly and easily it was to organise and orchestrate the Dover and Portsmouth protesters.

Another reason why we must resist foreign interest UK party political donations.

Absolutely LemonJam, keep all foreign money out of our politics.

Meandrogrog It is not "amusing" it is because of the analytics that are used in social media. I don't get any pro Reform social media posts because I don't show any interest in Reform fwiw I don't get any pornography either!

Maremia

Absolutely LemonJam, keep all foreign money out of our politics.

Genuine question. What counts as foreign nowadays?

Swiss money undoubtedly comes into Germany's AfD. Their leader Alice Weidel lives in Switzerland.

fancythat

Maremia

Absolutely LemonJam, keep all foreign money out of our politics.

Genuine question. What counts as foreign nowadays?

The electoral commission rules make clear.

Just in case you don't want to check yourself fancythat- here we go - UK Electoral website:

A permissible UK party political donation source is

1) an individual registered on a UK electoral register, including overseas electors and those leaving bequests
2) a UK-registered company which is incorporated in the UK and carries on business in the UK
3) a Great Britain registered political party
4) a UK-registered trade union
5) a UK-registered building society
6) a UK-registered limited liability partnership (LLP) that carries on business in the UK
7) a UK-registered friendly or industrial and provident society
a UK-based unincorporated association that is based in and carries on business or other activities in the UK

You can also accept donations, but not loans, from certain types of trusts, certain public funds and from anyone who is paying for the reasonable costs of a visit outside the UK.

Charities are not allowed to make political donations under charity law, even if they fall into one of the categories of permissible donor. If you know that a donor is a charity, you should make sure that they get advice from the Charity Commission before giving a donation.

I will take a look. Thanks.

You beat me to it.

Now I need to look up what qualifies as "Uk-registered"

I find 5. strange

Another reason why we must resist foreign interest UK party political donations.

I dont think, though have not really thought about it before, I mind "some" foreign money?
I suppose it would hinge on how much?

fancythat

^Another reason why we must resist foreign interest UK party political donations.^

I dont think, though have not really thought about it before, I mind "some" foreign money?
I suppose it would hinge on how much?

Or if it is coming from a country like Russia in order to buy political influence.

Yes. Good point.

foxie48

Meandrogrog It is not "amusing" it is because of the analytics that are used in social media. I don't get any pro Reform social media posts because I don't show any interest in Reform fwiw I don't get any pornography either!

A lot of Reform misinformation on social media is regurgitated right here on GN.

"The govt doesn't listen/ care/ do anything about boat migrants" etc.