A great early morning read, Pete most of which I agree with. The prospect of having to vote for Farage to stop the unholy alliance of Corbynistas, SNP, Plaid and the clown Polanski, is quite depressing.
Ideas without power are just ideas. With power ideas informs strategy. Winning is everything ergo. If you want to see a proper dog and pony show wrapped in a Whitehall Farce complete with Brian Rix dropping his trousers, keep Labour in office. I’ll give Farage and Reform a chance as 2029 can’t come quickly enough particularly if Rayner or Miliband become PM.
In 2015 Farage did a U turn of UKIP Halal policy, from anti to pro. Of an admittedly small poll of party members (around 60) there was only one in favour of Halal.
Emails were written to Farage, to try to avoid the U turn, but it went ahead anyway. Completely ignoring the wishes of the members.
Anyone thinking Reform will oppose Halal will be sorely disappointed.
It is absurd for Reform to chase the Muslim vote. That vote has largely left Labour and Tories, and going to the Greens, the pro-Gaza independents, and possibly Your Party. I notice Your Party is not standing in the Manchester Gorton election. They published a statement, effectively conceding defeat.
Zia did state the Reform policy opposing cousin marriage. Given that Koran 33:50 permits cousin marriage, he is de facto now an apostate. Not sure how well that will attract the Muslim vote!
I have written to all MPs regarding cousin marriage:
I always considered Reform to be The Tory Grumble Party. Now there’s a danger it just becomes The Tory Party.
I like Danny Kruger. But his blueprint for change, at least the one he came out with a few weeks ago struck me as pretty thin gruel. Nothing radical, just tinkering around the edges. That’s simply not good enough at this point.
Still, at least Reform is a party that doesn’t seem to want to imprison me for disagreeing with it about trans, illegal immigration, or Islam.
And at this stage I’ll take that as a win, and probably vote for it.
So what’s the plan if it’s not Farage? Labour not crazy enough under Starmer for you? You could have the purity of Conor Tomlinson or the unelectable Tommy Robinson (I like TR but the media have done a job on him with 95% of the population and sadly he’s toxic). Farage and Reform aren’t perfect but they’re on the side of the good guys and they’ve got a chance at least.
I’ve been strapped in for a while. Things were bad under the Tories but as I suspected have become incredibly bad under Starmer. We are hurtling downhill at a rate of knots without a brake. If Farage stops immigration that’ll be a start and some modest remigration would be A*. If we wait for your Saviour I’m afraid it’ll be far too late. 2029 could be our last chance. There’s no one else who offers a chance than Farage. I’m astonished that people are so complacent.
I totally get your position and don't get me wrong I suspect if Farage does get a working majority, a big IF, he will try to do his best and it will certainly be better anything the Labour, Lib Dems or Greens would do but probably no different to what a Conservative government under Olukemi or anyone else.
My point is that sadly no amount of wishful thinking will see our problems resolved under 'Our Nige the man of the (rich) people'!! I was in UKIP for 10 years and know him well and he is one leopard that cannot change his spots and the fact that he dumped UKIP in the end and never cared about the grass roots is what the man is all about at heart.
I'm not complacent but facing reality and have kept the flame alive on these reforms since 2012 which have to be part of any government's programme that is going to turn this country around.
Our politicians have to become our servants not our masters and that is not part of Nigel Farage's psyche.
Excellently put. I agree with pretty much everything you say there and have been saying the same things on X these last months.
I'm going to put this out there: I don't think Reform are a right wing party. My reasons are that if you ask a Reform member, in particular one of the more prominent ones, they clam up. As Robert Conquest once said any organisation that doesn't explicitly say it's right wing ends up becoming left wing. Add to that Tice's plans for renationalisation and increased welfare spending and the claims of being right wing evaporate.
Kruger's gone weird. I joke that in order to join Reform you have to shed 30 IQ points. James Orr has gone from serious conservative thinker to chanting "Reform surge! Reform surge!" and bragging about polling numbers. Kruger's piece in The Spectator was particularly bizarre, likening Farage to Pope Leo IV and that all conservatives must kiss his ring, prostrate themselves and beg for forgiveness. He's been placed in charge of developing a policy document for Reform...Farage and Yusuf won't read it, of course. And this is another thing Reform do and I have it on good authority as well. Every Tory defector is made to sign a NDA and abandon the very political causes that made their name in the first place. Kruger will no longer fight against assisted suicide and Jenrick will no longer campaign on lawlessness and abuse of the justice system. They will be made to sing the Reform song sheet which comprises two songs: Look at our polling numbers and 14 years! 14 years!
And I'm also starting to believe the conspiracy theory that the defection announcements are timed for whenever Badenoch is doing well or when Labour are caught in a scandal. Farage and Reform as Labour stooges? Possibly. Another sign of Reform idiocy is that they want proportional representation and yet want to destroy the only political party in the UK that could be a coalition partner. Labour could be smart, play the long game and let Reform be Continuity Blairism once they're in power.
You're right about Kruger. He's no intellectual and not even a smooth performer. A more serious thinker would have swerved the Tommy point.
The way I see it Reform is just a stepping stone to something more serious. But something more serious needs brains and above all else money, and I don't see where the latter is coming from.
There is a huge chunk of utter incompetence in ReformUK.
The people in charge of the national campaign are a former gamekeeper and a far-right conspiracy theorist who tried to assemble a militia. Somehow, he passed vetting, despite Hate Not Hope(sic) doing an exposé on him.
If you think you haven't heard much from your local Reform candidates it's because they aren't allowed to declare themselves publicly until 9th April, when nominations have closed.
Apparently, this is to stop the aforementioned HnotH from attacking their candidates. Much better instead to wait until declarations are in so as you can't do anything about them regardless of what HnH or one of the other assorted lefties reveal, leaving you to disown the candidate, who is still on the ballot paper with your logo at the side of him.
Well that's slightly better than the Labour Party, what's left of the Conservative Party, the Lib Clown Party or the Greens. There utter incompetence reigns supreme. Voting is always a best of the worst choice thing.
A great early morning read, Pete most of which I agree with. The prospect of having to vote for Farage to stop the unholy alliance of Corbynistas, SNP, Plaid and the clown Polanski, is quite depressing.
Ideas without power are just ideas. With power ideas informs strategy. Winning is everything ergo. If you want to see a proper dog and pony show wrapped in a Whitehall Farce complete with Brian Rix dropping his trousers, keep Labour in office. I’ll give Farage and Reform a chance as 2029 can’t come quickly enough particularly if Rayner or Miliband become PM.
In 2015 Farage did a U turn of UKIP Halal policy, from anti to pro. Of an admittedly small poll of party members (around 60) there was only one in favour of Halal.
Emails were written to Farage, to try to avoid the U turn, but it went ahead anyway. Completely ignoring the wishes of the members.
Anyone thinking Reform will oppose Halal will be sorely disappointed.
It is absurd for Reform to chase the Muslim vote. That vote has largely left Labour and Tories, and going to the Greens, the pro-Gaza independents, and possibly Your Party. I notice Your Party is not standing in the Manchester Gorton election. They published a statement, effectively conceding defeat.
https://hellish2050.substack.com/p/email-to-mps-labour-is-rapidly-losing
Zia did state the Reform policy opposing cousin marriage. Given that Koran 33:50 permits cousin marriage, he is de facto now an apostate. Not sure how well that will attract the Muslim vote!
I have written to all MPs regarding cousin marriage:
https://hellish2050.substack.com/p/email-to-mps-is-it-islamophobic-to
And received some replies:
https://hellish2050.substack.com/p/mps-reply-to-is-it-islamophobic-to
https://hellish2050.substack.com/p/email-from-mps-regarding-cousin-marriage
It's the ultimate containment operation ( just like MAGA) for White people.
A spot on analysis. Thanks!
I always considered Reform to be The Tory Grumble Party. Now there’s a danger it just becomes The Tory Party.
I like Danny Kruger. But his blueprint for change, at least the one he came out with a few weeks ago struck me as pretty thin gruel. Nothing radical, just tinkering around the edges. That’s simply not good enough at this point.
Still, at least Reform is a party that doesn’t seem to want to imprison me for disagreeing with it about trans, illegal immigration, or Islam.
And at this stage I’ll take that as a win, and probably vote for it.
But yes. That’s a pretty low bar.
I can only repeat my oft used phase - " If you think Nigel Farage is the answer you are asking the wrong question."
So what’s the plan if it’s not Farage? Labour not crazy enough under Starmer for you? You could have the purity of Conor Tomlinson or the unelectable Tommy Robinson (I like TR but the media have done a job on him with 95% of the population and sadly he’s toxic). Farage and Reform aren’t perfect but they’re on the side of the good guys and they’ve got a chance at least.
All I'm saying is Reform UK , especially under Farage, will not solve our problems.
As to who will form the next government is an unknown but whoever it is they will fail.
Our salvation will only come once all the current lot at Westminster have been totally discredited.
Sadly the reality is thing will have to get worse before they get better.
I suggest you strap yourself in for the ride of your life!!
I’ve been strapped in for a while. Things were bad under the Tories but as I suspected have become incredibly bad under Starmer. We are hurtling downhill at a rate of knots without a brake. If Farage stops immigration that’ll be a start and some modest remigration would be A*. If we wait for your Saviour I’m afraid it’ll be far too late. 2029 could be our last chance. There’s no one else who offers a chance than Farage. I’m astonished that people are so complacent.
I totally get your position and don't get me wrong I suspect if Farage does get a working majority, a big IF, he will try to do his best and it will certainly be better anything the Labour, Lib Dems or Greens would do but probably no different to what a Conservative government under Olukemi or anyone else.
My point is that sadly no amount of wishful thinking will see our problems resolved under 'Our Nige the man of the (rich) people'!! I was in UKIP for 10 years and know him well and he is one leopard that cannot change his spots and the fact that he dumped UKIP in the end and never cared about the grass roots is what the man is all about at heart.
I'm not complacent but facing reality and have kept the flame alive on these reforms since 2012 which have to be part of any government's programme that is going to turn this country around.
Our politicians have to become our servants not our masters and that is not part of Nigel Farage's psyche.
https://harrogateagenda.org.uk/
Excellently put. I agree with pretty much everything you say there and have been saying the same things on X these last months.
I'm going to put this out there: I don't think Reform are a right wing party. My reasons are that if you ask a Reform member, in particular one of the more prominent ones, they clam up. As Robert Conquest once said any organisation that doesn't explicitly say it's right wing ends up becoming left wing. Add to that Tice's plans for renationalisation and increased welfare spending and the claims of being right wing evaporate.
Kruger's gone weird. I joke that in order to join Reform you have to shed 30 IQ points. James Orr has gone from serious conservative thinker to chanting "Reform surge! Reform surge!" and bragging about polling numbers. Kruger's piece in The Spectator was particularly bizarre, likening Farage to Pope Leo IV and that all conservatives must kiss his ring, prostrate themselves and beg for forgiveness. He's been placed in charge of developing a policy document for Reform...Farage and Yusuf won't read it, of course. And this is another thing Reform do and I have it on good authority as well. Every Tory defector is made to sign a NDA and abandon the very political causes that made their name in the first place. Kruger will no longer fight against assisted suicide and Jenrick will no longer campaign on lawlessness and abuse of the justice system. They will be made to sing the Reform song sheet which comprises two songs: Look at our polling numbers and 14 years! 14 years!
And I'm also starting to believe the conspiracy theory that the defection announcements are timed for whenever Badenoch is doing well or when Labour are caught in a scandal. Farage and Reform as Labour stooges? Possibly. Another sign of Reform idiocy is that they want proportional representation and yet want to destroy the only political party in the UK that could be a coalition partner. Labour could be smart, play the long game and let Reform be Continuity Blairism once they're in power.
People to put it bluntly don’t trust any political party.
Voters look at Reform and hesitate.
Voters want regular referendums on all major issues.
Trusting is over, voters demand power.
If Advance UKIP and perhaps a Rupert Lowe party offer to cede power to voters the response will be positive.
The thought of trusting a government to make decision on our behalf is no longer acceptable.
You're right about Kruger. He's no intellectual and not even a smooth performer. A more serious thinker would have swerved the Tommy point.
The way I see it Reform is just a stepping stone to something more serious. But something more serious needs brains and above all else money, and I don't see where the latter is coming from.
Is this you Pete?
There is a huge chunk of utter incompetence in ReformUK.
The people in charge of the national campaign are a former gamekeeper and a far-right conspiracy theorist who tried to assemble a militia. Somehow, he passed vetting, despite Hate Not Hope(sic) doing an exposé on him.
If you think you haven't heard much from your local Reform candidates it's because they aren't allowed to declare themselves publicly until 9th April, when nominations have closed.
Apparently, this is to stop the aforementioned HnotH from attacking their candidates. Much better instead to wait until declarations are in so as you can't do anything about them regardless of what HnH or one of the other assorted lefties reveal, leaving you to disown the candidate, who is still on the ballot paper with your logo at the side of him.
Moronic
https://hopenothate.org.uk/2025/10/01/exposed-reform-uk-national-director-planned-physical-resistance-group-for-gorillas-by-night-tactics/
One thing that HnotH and the man they are attacking have in common is that they cannot spell guerrilla.
Well that's slightly better than the Labour Party, what's left of the Conservative Party, the Lib Clown Party or the Greens. There utter incompetence reigns supreme. Voting is always a best of the worst choice thing.