Inside the Reform Party

MaizieD

fancythat

A Party cannot live on it's history though.

At least it has a history. Which is, on the whole, reasonably decent and honourable and rooted in concern for the wellbeing of the country and its citizens.

It is not based on what amounts to a single grievance, the presence of foreigners in the country and the constraints on poor and exploitative behaviour imposed by domestic human rights legislation and the ECHR. Nor is it led by a person who appears to have more interest in enriching himself and his donors (goodness, does that sound familiar?) than fulfilling his various roles, firstly as an MEP and now as an MP.

Nor is it supported by a foreign power which has the objective of destabilising and attacking Europe to dismantle its power as a bloc in order to gain economic and territorial advantage.

Nor are those it puts forward to election in local and national governmental roles rank amateurs with no coherent policies (see the article cited in the OP) apart from the grievances magnified by foreign interference and a compliant press.

I expect others could express this better than I can, but the number of people willing to take a leap into completely unknown territory at the behest of wealthy grifters and foreign powers quite amazes me...

“Change is one thing, progress is another.”

— Bertrand Russell

The two child cap was on Universal Credit benefits.

Family Allowance is not capped, you can have as many children as you want and claim for each one. Unless you earn over a certain amount (I think it’s a joint income of £85,000) and then you are taxed on child benefit payments.

Do you think he was a model of decency and law abiding behaviour?

MT62

Maremia

What did Labour ever do for us?
Apart from the NHS?

Ahh yes the Labour of old.

You sound nostalgic. Do you wish Labour did more for the poor and disadvantaged?

Shinamae

Casdon

We know that Nathan Gill, the Reform leader in Wales was paid by Russia when he was an MEP. He’s now in prison.

Peter Mandelson? 🤔

I didn't know Mandelson received Russian money.

MT62

Maremia

Child benefit

I don’t agree with lifting that cap.
Can’t afford more than two kids, will just don’t have any more.

What about parents who have more than one child and then something catastrophic happens, such as one of the parents gets killed or permanently disabled? What happens if two people who already have two children each, want to start living together?

Life doesn't always end up how we've planned it.

Maremia

Child benefit

I don’t agree with lifting that cap.
Can’t afford more than two kids, will just don’t have any more.

LizzieDrip

*MT62 …

“Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform UK in Wales and a former Member of the European Parliament, was convicted and sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison on November 21, 2025.

He pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery under the Bribery Act 2010 for accepting approximately £40,000 in payments in exchange for delivering pro-Russian speeches and participating in interviews.

The judge condemned his actions as a grave betrayal of public trust.

Gill's offending took place between 2018 and 2019 while he was serving as an MEP, receiving funds funneled from a pro-Russian Ukrainian politician linked to close associates of Vladimir Putin. His crimes were uncovered after Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism officers stopped and searched him at Manchester Airport in 2021.”

Good to know 👍🏻

Maremia

What did Labour ever do for us?
Apart from the NHS?

Ahh yes the Labour of old.

I am not saying to people vote Reform by the way.
Just giving my personal opinion.

Because they think the current government is worse.

And it has been tried and tested.
And so have the conservatives.

Depends on strength of feeling against what has already been tested, as to giving something else a try.

I have been heartily sick of both main Parties for at least 10 years.
Others have now come to that conclusion more recently.

Reform could well end up being worse..
but.. see above

Because they think the current government is worse. That would make me pause for thought if I was part of that government.

fancythat

A Party cannot live on it's history though.

At least it has a history. Which is, on the whole, reasonably decent and honourable and rooted in concern for the wellbeing of the country and its citizens.

It is not based on what amounts to a single grievance, the presence of foreigners in the country and the constraints on poor and exploitative behaviour imposed by domestic human rights legislation and the ECHR. Nor is it led by a person who appears to have more interest in enriching himself and his donors (goodness, does that sound familiar?) than fulfilling his various roles, firstly as an MEP and now as an MP.

Nor is it supported by a foreign power which has the objective of destabilising and attacking Europe to dismantle its power as a bloc in order to gain economic and territorial advantage.

Nor are those it puts forward to election in local and national governmental roles rank amateurs with no coherent policies (see the article cited in the OP) apart from the grievances magnified by foreign interference and a compliant press.

I expect others could express this better than I can, but the number of people willing to take a leap into completely unknown territory at the behest of wealthy grifters and foreign powers quite amazes me...

Casdon

We know that Nathan Gill, the Reform leader in Wales was paid by Russia when he was an MEP. He’s now in prison.

Peter Mandelson? 🤔

LizzieDrip

Agreed MollyNew.

The ‘let’s give ‘em a go’ attitude is very dangerous. Giving Reform ‘a go’ could bring about the ruin of our wonderful country.

The damage they would do in a 5 year term is immeasurable, and the country may never recover.

So let’s not ‘give ‘em a go’ eh!

Exactly how I feel about Labour, and they are actually ruining the country right now!

I’d be more worried about Rupert Lowe’s party. There’s a real threat and true right wing extremism. Frightening.

Christopher Harborne Reform's main contributor has links to Russia. He's giving funds to Reform and Farage to have a major influence on them.

A Party cannot live on it's history though.

And much more

Child benefit

Minimum wage

What did Labour ever do for us?
Apart from the NHS?

MT62

Still though, I won’t be giving labour the time of day. I can’t stand them!

You might not but sadly thousands will because they think life would be better with Farage in control. It won't.

AGAA4

Farage and his ilk are disrupters. That's what they are being paid to do by Russia and others. They have no viable policies.
Why some people believe they are the answer I've no idea. Nobody gives a reason why they would vote for them apart from they are different.
They are certainly that and not in a good way .

Spot on. That’s exactly what I think. Farage has done nothing but agitate and can’t even do his job as MP in Clacton.

Well we are for interesting times as today is election day!