By Youngian
#94446
So Farage voters are now more nuanced and sophisticated than our prejudices suggest. I say prejudice but I meant experience of every one you've met. If you've been commissioned for an extensive survey it's hard to tell your client that your research has found they're all dickheads.
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By The Weeping Angel
#94504
Nice to see the Reform Youth embracing patriotism,

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... MP=bsky_gu
An adviser used by Nigel Farage and others in Reform UK to boost their social media popularity has suggested that Britain would be better off had it stayed neutral in the second world war instead of fighting Nazi Germany.

Jack Anderton, who ran Farage’s hugely successful TikTok account before helping Luke Campbell become the Reform mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, also said the UK should not support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

In a post on his personal blog about Britain’s international standing, Anderton said that in a future world of “meritocracy”, the UK could “regain” former colonies such as Australia, Canada and South Africa.

He added that the UK should copy the policy of mass incarceration carried out by El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, widely condemned as an abuse of human rights.
By Youngian
#94564
The Weeping Angel wrote: Sat Aug 16, 2025 10:53 pm Nice to see the Reform Youth embracing patriotism,

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... MP=bsky_gu
An adviser used by Nigel Farage and others in Reform UK to boost their social media popularity has suggested that Britain would be better off had it stayed neutral in the second world war instead of fighting Nazi Germany.

Jack Anderton, who ran Farage’s hugely successful TikTok account before helping Luke Campbell become the Reform mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, also said the UK should not support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

In a post on his personal blog about Britain’s international standing, Anderton said that in a future world of “meritocracy”, the UK could “regain” former colonies such as Australia, Canada and South Africa.

He added that the UK should copy the policy of mass incarceration carried out by El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, widely condemned as an abuse of human rights.
This Blimpish imperial view wasn't unusual until post WWII and it's the way Trump and Putin look at the world. Which is great powers agreeing to demarcation after carving up the world. Then they are free to crush any inferior and troublesome races and nations within their empires.
I suspect Dan Hannan shares this view League of Empire Loyalists narrative and not keen on national sovereignty for lesser peoples. This was something of a non starter even in the 20s and 30s, the empire was broke and even the Tories were looking at the best way of getting shot.
And even at the height of the imperial trading system in the Mid 19th century, the UK's main trading partners were Germany and France.
User avatar
By Watchman
#94617
Watchman wrote: Mon Aug 18, 2025 9:35 pm Your Leicestershire correspondent writes….

Reform UK deputy county council leader removed

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgjywq5304wo

An update

Apparently he was using ChatGPT for his statements in the Council Chamber, also mummy has gone on FB to say he’s “not a naughty boy”
User avatar
By Yug
#94621
Well, if he's not the messiah...
By RedSparrows
#94622
The Weeping Angel wrote: Sat Aug 16, 2025 10:53 pm Nice to see the Reform Youth embracing patriotism,

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... MP=bsky_gu
An adviser used by Nigel Farage and others in Reform UK to boost their social media popularity has suggested that Britain would be better off had it stayed neutral in the second world war instead of fighting Nazi Germany.

Jack Anderton, who ran Farage’s hugely successful TikTok account before helping Luke Campbell become the Reform mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, also said the UK should not support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

In a post on his personal blog about Britain’s international standing, Anderton said that in a future world of “meritocracy”, the UK could “regain” former colonies such as Australia, Canada and South Africa.

He added that the UK should copy the policy of mass incarceration carried out by El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, widely condemned as an abuse of human rights.
What virtue is the meritocracy supposed to celebrate and reward?

Intellectual coherence? Nil points.
Moral integrity? Nil points.
Justice? Nil points.
Liberty? Nil points.

And so on. What's left, I wonder? A sense of naughty provocation and 'daring' for the over-promoted intern, a little frisson of naughtiness, and the same fundamental atavism, fear and ego driving it, as ever.
User avatar
By The Weeping Angel
#94736
https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/polit ... ts-397004/
Reform UK has seen its support among 18-24 year olds fall off a cliff this month, whilst support for Labour has surged.

Despite what the likes of Nigel Farage and Zia Yusuf may say, it seems that Reform is haemorrhaging support among young Brits.

According to the latest YouGov polling, just 8% of 18-24 year olds say they would vote for Reform if there were a general election held tomorrow.

This is a huge drop from earlier this month, when polling from 4 August had support for Reform among 18-24 year olds at 21%.

Even when taking into account any outliers in the data, YouGov’s trend line shows a drop from 16% to 8% this month, seeing Reform even drop below the Tories.

Meanwhile, support for Labour and the Lib Dems is strong. In the space of a week, Labour’s support among the youngest age group has surged to 38%, whilst polling from 11 August even had the Lib Dems – arguably Britain’s most pro-EU party – as the most popular party for 18-24 year olds, on 25%.

Taking into account the general trend of polling, YouGov have the Lib Dems on 21% amongst young Brits.
Oboogie liked this
By Rosvanian
#94743
But....but....but ....you can't say that. Nigel's going to win because everyone I know is going to vote for him.
User avatar
By Abernathy
#94749
Youngian wrote: Fri Aug 22, 2025 6:30 am Fine piece of work in which Reform voters who tell the interviewer there’s so much more to them than banging on about immigrants are challenged to name another Reform policy
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CiKsc ... tid=wwXIfr
Fine indeed, and reveals an ineffable truth that, conventional political strategic wisdom dictates, we're not supposed to mention : most supporters of Reform/Farage are basically dimwitted thickos who've never had a considered or rational thought in their lives. Not just politically ignorant, one strongly suspects that in many cases you wouldn't trust any of them to go down the shops for a pint of milk.
Dalem Lake liked this
By Youngian
#94751
Most thoughtful evidence based liberals who vote Lib Dem probably don't know what's in their manifestos, either. But the party aligns with their values.
Reform/ BXP/ UKIP align with the values of those interviewees. Which are; don't like foreigners apart from the odd one, get em out and err.
User avatar
By Abernathy
#94752
Youngian wrote: Fri Aug 22, 2025 10:32 am Most thoughtful evidence based liberals who vote Lib Dem probably don't know what's in their manifestos, either.
I don’t think that is the case - particularly with respect to Lib Dems. My experience is that they’re mostly pretty well aware of the main policy positions of the party they support. In a way that Reform supporters demonstrably are not (immigration aside).
Last edited by Abernathy on Fri Aug 22, 2025 11:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
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