I’m voting Reform too. Totally agree with all you’ve written. On the one hand I dread the next five years yet on the other I’m getting ready for battle. Let’s be having it. I can see lots of rebellion from people. We were betrayed with Brexit. This is the necessary push to drive people towards deep change I hope.
I agree with your thought that Labour will eventually have trouble with the left of their party. I’d go further and say that, with little opposition from their right, they will eventually split in two: a looney left and a sensible right.
Reform are getting a lot of press and support at the moment because of their novelty and because of the collapse of their main competition on the right. As you say, the situation is very similar to the SDP in 1983. But the SDP had proper grown up, big name politicians. Reform has Farage and Tice. I think we’ll discover quite quickly that they don't have the intellectual heft to sustain.
That's certainly possible. However I think we might be approaching, or already at, the point where "proper grown up, big name politicians" are more of a liability than an asset. After all, the adults haven't exactly turned in a stellar performance lately, have they?
But that’s a comment on 14 years of Conservative rule. The Tories spent most of that time pandering to older people and richer people and Reform are winning disaffected Tory voters.
I suspect the results will show that Reform have also eaten into Labour's vote in the Red Wall. And if Starmer lets the wokels run amok, that trend will accelerate.
Well, I've voted for Reform (in Sunak's constituency). Now we just have to wait and see.
I voted for Reform.
I voted Reform. Who knows what will happen next. To nick a footballing reference, it’s up for grabs now… Arsenal supporters will understand 🫡
Right, read all that. Agreed with it all. Off to vote Reform. See you on the other side x
I’m voting Reform too. Totally agree with all you’ve written. On the one hand I dread the next five years yet on the other I’m getting ready for battle. Let’s be having it. I can see lots of rebellion from people. We were betrayed with Brexit. This is the necessary push to drive people towards deep change I hope.
And me.The 'two cheeks of the same arse' approach is dead in the water,it's time for something else
I think seeing how hard the media have gone after Reform cemented it for me!
Brilliant!
I’ve voted for a Conservative all my life so why change the habit of a lifetime. I’ve found a Conservative to vote for
I VOTED REFORM!!!! 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Same for me
It occurs to me you may enjoy this - https://open.substack.com/pub/ombreolivier/p/what-have-the-tories-done-for-us?r=7yrqz&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
I did indeed! Thanks.
I agree with your thought that Labour will eventually have trouble with the left of their party. I’d go further and say that, with little opposition from their right, they will eventually split in two: a looney left and a sensible right.
Reform are getting a lot of press and support at the moment because of their novelty and because of the collapse of their main competition on the right. As you say, the situation is very similar to the SDP in 1983. But the SDP had proper grown up, big name politicians. Reform has Farage and Tice. I think we’ll discover quite quickly that they don't have the intellectual heft to sustain.
That's certainly possible. However I think we might be approaching, or already at, the point where "proper grown up, big name politicians" are more of a liability than an asset. After all, the adults haven't exactly turned in a stellar performance lately, have they?
But that’s a comment on 14 years of Conservative rule. The Tories spent most of that time pandering to older people and richer people and Reform are winning disaffected Tory voters.
I suspect the results will show that Reform have also eaten into Labour's vote in the Red Wall. And if Starmer lets the wokels run amok, that trend will accelerate.
A truly terrifying prospect…