Reform UK's chronicles

[jfman]

I think it’s hard to tell.

The “mid-term” (urgh, an imported Americanism we can live without) council elections were never representative despite how many times someone pulled up a graphic saying “if this was a general election”.

Similarly it’s easy in a by-election to vote one way to stop Reform. In Scotland there’s some resentment on the unionist side that Reform splitting the vote let the SNP in the back door.

Just the £5m gift remark: I think that’s now yesterday’s story and thus no longer material.

As long as he keeps in hiding and refuses to interact with the media, it’s not going anywhere…

[Carth]

Originally Posted by Hugh

As long as he keeps in hiding and refuses to interact with the media, it’s not going anywhere…

It's certainly kept alive and kicking on here

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

The Makerfield result show that Reform UK has peaked under opresent political circumstances.

However, Labour won’t be able to turn things round (imo) because Burnham hasn’t explained how he will obtain significant economic growth.

So, after a short honeymoon and some deft work by Farage, I reckon Reform UK will rise again. Farage should consult me! Maybe OB can arrange that!

No, that’s not true. It was becoming clear a week before the election the Makerfield electorate had decided to vote for Burnham to replace Starmer, following which they would vote for Reform at the General Election.

They swallowed the spider to catch the fly…..

---------- Post added at 13:21 ---------- Previous post was at 13:10 ----------

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Reform seems to have hit a brick wall. It's done well in local government elections but has failed to win the last three by-elections. It still remains dependent on Farage's personality which is a risk particularly given the investigation into his undisclosed £5m gift.

Farage's own popularity has decreased (65% have an unfavourable opinion of him v 59% a year ago) and the Party's appeal to women has inevitably suffered after poor vetting of its Makerfield candidate let in someone who had previously proclaimed himself a sexist.

Farage has been investigated on multiple occasions by people attempting to bring him down. None of them found any wrongdoing.

I’ll tell you when people will move to Reform in droves. That’s when we get to the General Election debates. Most people will listen to what is said at those debates, and that’s when those who hadn’t thought about voting Reform will hear what Farage has to say first hand and realise he’s the only politician addressing the real issues that are important to them.

Reform UK is still well in the lead in the opinion polls, and yet to hear you speaking, you’d think they were losing!

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

No, that’s not true. It was becoming clear a week before the election the Makerfield electorate had decided to vote for Burnham to replace Starmer, following which they would vote for Reform at the General Election.

They swallowed the spider to catch the fly…..

Reform were giving out two excuses for the loss. Most were on TV talking about Restore Britain dividing the vote which literally didn't add up mathematically, a bit like their manifesto. Then Farage said his candidate lost as the vote was all about dethroning Starmer. Nothing about fielding a sexist candidate.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Farage has been investigated on multiple occasions by people attempting to bring him down. None of them found any wrongdoing.

Let's see what the investigation finds. I hope that Farage has obeyed the rules but the multiple reasons he has given for the gift don't exactly fill me with confidence!

[Carth]

The political lot are always getting 'bungs' thrown at them, and it's not always cash, it's just the way things are in politics

I'd venture that many people are annoyed at what Starmer hasn't done than the things Farage has . .

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Carth

The political lot are always getting 'bungs' thrown at them, and it's not always cash, it's just the way things are in politics

I'd venture that many people are annoyed at what Starmer hasn't done than the things Farage has . .

The key point about the £5m is that Reform's biggest asset - Farage - is somewhat neutered until the invesigation is complete and only then, if it clears him. Until then, Farage is giving a good impression of BoJo but without the fridge!

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Reform were giving out two excuses for the loss. Most were on TV talking about Restore Britain dividing the vote which literally didn't add up mathematically, a bit like their manifesto. Then Farage said his candidate lost as the vote was all about dethroning Starmer. Nothing about fielding a sexist candidate.

Reform was indeed worried that Restore Britain would split the vote, and it did, but the reason for Reform’s lacklustre performance was because people were desperate to see Starmer gone. A number of them said as much when interviewed.

The Mackerfield people don’t appear to be concerned about the comments their Reform UK candidate made when he was young. It’s what he represents now that is important. Most people see through all the silly mudslinging.

Reform’s lacklustre performance was because people were desperate to see Starmer gone. A number of them said as much when interviewed.

Any evidence of this? (besides Tice saying it…)

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

The Mackerfield people don’t appear to be concerned about the comments their Reform UK candidate made when he was young. It’s what he represents now that is important. Most people see through all the silly mudslinging.

Kenyon was 34 years old when he made those remarks. So not young. And the Makerfield electorate were evidently concerned enough not to elect him as their MP.

[jem]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

No, that’s not true. It was becoming clear a week before the election the Makerfield electorate had decided to vote for Burnham to replace Starmer, following which they would vote for Reform at the General Election.

They swallowed the spider to catch the fly…..
.....snip

Starmer is not exactly Mr. Popular now, and while I don’t necessarily think that ‘call me Andy’ Burnham’s stated policies will add up, he is more popular than Starmer and a better ‘political operator’.

Are you suggesting that Reform supporters, switched to voting Labour just to get someone into Parliament who will oust the current PM?

Surely then it would be better for Reform supporters to have, well, voted Reform, keep Burnham out and ‘lame-duck’ Starmer in place.

Or am I missing some cunning plan here?

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by jem

Or am I missing some cunning plan here?

No, you're just thinking logically as oppose to just trotting out the latest Reform line.

[Carth]

At 72 years of age, I can't remember too much being logical concerning politics.

As an example I'll gladly throw at you . . Brexit.

Apparently that outcome was illogical