Will Reform Uk See A Surge In Support?

[naomi24]

The Conservatives having stabbed Boris and made a hash of replacing him with two failures in succession, sacked Suella - the only one in recent office who had the courage to speak as many people see it - and reinstalled the hapless coward that is Cameron, are now I believe in seriously dire straits with the right leaning electorate - even if they are too far removed from real life to recognise it.

 

Will this untenable situation result in a shift towards Reform UK, a party that does actually appear to support what vast swathes of the electorate - including those first time Conservatives in the north - voted for the last time?

[Old_Geezer]

Reform probably already has a surge of support, although many may not wish to admit it. The problem is that they are very unlikely to win outright so may need to align with one or more of the proven inadequate parties.

[Old_Geezer]

Kemi has already proven she'll abandon previously held and discussed aims. In the unlikely event she persuades anyone to vote her to the leadership I'd expect basically no change from present. There again, is there any politician you can trust to walk the walk ?

[Khandro]

One person who could save them would be Nigel Farage, I think overtures have been made to him secretly but he has declined publicly and he would have to become an MP first anyway.

[Hymie]

NJ complains at the high level of tax in this country, but high taxes are not necessarily a bad thing; there are countries with higher levels of tax (than the UK) that are doing OK.

But the higher tax must be spent on projects for the common good of the populous, and not as in our country, given to the Tory’s mates.

[retrocop]

Three now.

[david small]

5 now. Wife included.

[naomi24]

Nigel is honorary president of Reform UK.  I wonder if he's going into the jungle as a PR stunt with a view to the future?

[Khandro]

^^ Keep it up AB folks & Mrs Tice (Isabel Oakeshott)* will be measuring the new curtains for no. 10

I think technically she's what is now known as 'his partner'. Anyway she's quite good in her own right.

[Khandro]

naomi; Yes, he says it will connect him with the younger voters  ( & the alleged one & a half million quid will help keep the wolf from the door too!) 

[naomi24]

I know he's being well rewarded for it but it doesn't seem to be his sort of thing at all.  He said he's sure he'll be voted for a lot of the challenges which can't be a happy prospect so I can't help thinking there's a method in the madness.  

[naomi24]

Just had a message from a friend - a Conservative voter.  She said she thinks Rushi's lost the plot with his latest comings and goings.  She's gobsmacked.  She says she's going to vote Reform.  

[Khandro]

Nigel does like to be in the limelight & I wouldn't at all be surprised if at the last minute he pulls out, having snaffled a bit more free publicity surrounding himself.

[naomi24]

Apparently he's already in Australia.  He seems to be going for it.

[Ellipsis]

> he [Nigel Farage] would have to become an MP first anyway

No, he could do a Dave ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Lords#Relationship_with_the_government

Most Cabinet ministers are from the House of Commons rather than the House of Lords. In particular, all prime ministers since 1902 have been members of the lower house (Alec Douglas-Home, who became prime minister in 1963 whilst still an earl, disclaimed his peerage and was elected to the Commons soon after his term began).

[jourdain2]

Make that 6 + OH.  There was a quick poll  (about 1,500 people questioned) published this morning and Reform support was 11% - greater than the LibDems.

[ynnafymmi]

Looks like a classic case of divide and conquer Naomi.The more Tory type voters vote for the Reform Party the more likely Labour wins.Up here in Scotland at Rutherglen it was a case of tactical voting between the Tories and Scottish Labour to vote out the SNP numptie.Tactical voting is the way forward methinks.

[Countrylover]

11.12  would be good Hoppy.

[naomi24]

Ynna, I don't think tactics are coming into play here.  I think after a catalogue of disastrous moves by this government - the first being the political assassination of Boris, the latest Suella's enforced departure and cowardly Cameron's re-emergence,  a lot of Tory voters feel it no longer represents them.  that's how I feel anyway.

[ynnafymmi]

But isnt this new Reform UK party not just another UKIP party(Or ALBA party up here in Scotland),OK for protest votes but never going to get near high office?

[Ellipsis]

The Conservative Party is a broad church.

Is that still the case?  Probably not for quite some time, at the latest when the whip was withdrawn from Ken Clarke, i.e. September 2019.  That was the end of the left of the Tory party, now the right of the Tory party looks to be happier with Reform, which leaves a very narrow church indeed ...