[Andy McDandy]

Remake it in his own image, as he did with UKIP? That's his style. And the Conservative logo has advantages - brand recognition, legacy dating back through Thatcher, Churchill, back to Peel. Makes no difference that he's basically buying a scrappy Rolls Royce body and fitting a chicken chaser motor in it - it'll fool enough people for him to keep his foot in the door.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Yeah, I didn't mean as actual leader doing actual work, just as a kind of instant grandee. All the grift with none of the graft.

Now you mention it, there's a recent antecedent.

[Watchman]

Plus the easy come salary, expenses, networking with those with big wallets

[Bones McCoy]

Third place in Wellingborough.
Not even close to the collapsed Tory numbers.

Who'd have guessed that a party targeting the "wogs out" vote wouldn't poll well with Ben Habib.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I don't think that's a problem for them nowadays. They see themselves as not being racists because they vote for Ben Habib.

But I thought they'd get a lot more. At this rate they're looking at third place in Clacton too.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Believe this when I see it. Lots of the worst headbangers have very big majorities (Braverman, Hayes, Kruger). I suppose Miriam Cates might reasonably conclude she's got nothing to lose.

[satnav]

I think if Reform had actually won one of the by-election or even come a respectable second place I could see some Tory MPs trying their luck especially in some of the red wall seats.

Jumping ship now would mean ditching all the constituency members who have campaigned for you over the years and relying on the Reform Party to magic up dozens of people willing to knock on door and deliver leaflets on your behalf.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Unless the intention were to set up a GB News/ Telegraph career.

More from Brooks here. Labour winning elections by miles is a sign of disconnect. The bigger disconnect of couse is between GB News and what people actually care about. Presumably the votes for the Tories and Labour yesterday, far more than for Reform, didn't come from normal people.

[Bones McCoy]

Believe this when I see it. Lots of the worst headbangers have very big majorities (Braverman, Hayes, Kruger). I suppose Miriam Cates might reasonably conclude she's got nothing to lose.

Fra' sinking ship to sinking lifeboat.

[Andy McDandy]

The SPACING!!!!!!!

Grr.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Refom here. "Plans" to save £146bn a year in spending and increase the tax take by £10bn. They modestly allow this might take 5 years to achieve. And all without touching the NHS or old age pensions, the two largest items.

[Youngian]

If Reform teamed up with John McDonnell, they could find another £140bn from corporate tax avoiders.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I've looked at the policy. They propose saving £100bn by cancelling HS2. And they get tens of billions out of energy companies, apparently. Other trifles include raising the income tax threshold to £20k, and raising inheritance tax threshold to £2m, and charging only 20% above that.

Is it just me or is this a complete contradiction? What's the voucher for if it's all free?

We must put the patient in charge by
having a voucher scheme so they can be
seen and treated promptly. Healthcare
will always, of course, remain free at the
point of delivery.

[RedSparrows]

Reform don't need to make anything that actually adds up. They're fuelled entirely by the magical thinking that if one screws up ones eyes hard enough, one can surely overcome that crushing sense of inadequacy.

[Abernathy]

Apparently, Reform UK is going to make a “major announcement” at about 10:30am today. The speculation is that it’ll be to tell us that 30p Lee is joining them from the Tories.

What a surprise !

[Youngian]

Maybe but Tice is full of shit more likely

[Andy McDandy]

Your regular reminder that "Up to..." includes zero.

[davidjay]

He's gone then. While they deserve each other I'm not particularly happier that an even more far right party than the Tories is gaining support.

[Oboogie]

Presumably Anderson thinks he has a better chance of retaining his seat as a Reform candidate than a Tory. Giving the Tories current polling, he may even be correct.
What does the panel think?

[Abernathy]

Presumably Anderson thinks he has a better chance of retaining his seat as a Reform candidate than a Tory. Giving the Tories current polling, he may even be correct.
What does the panel think?

I think even a calculation like that is beyond the skill set of a thick-as-mince twat like Anderson. I think he has two chances of retaining his seat, whatever party mast he nails his colours to - zero and fuck all. He is destined to be a sad footnote in UK political history.