Election Year or Fear!

[swaledale]

Probably is near power if there was an election today.

Saw a recent opinion poll saying reform most likely to manage the economy well. Let's not forget farage was spaffing in his pants over liz truss budget.

Well I was watching some interviews with folk who had voted for reform in Kent on the basis that they would stop the boats and lower immigration and on being informed that Local Government has no powers to do that, replied "Well that's disappointing". So I'd not bet against a substantial number of people believing Farage's "snake oil". They literally have no actual policies, just one line statements and a slogan to "fix Britain".

[swaledale]

I didn?t mean the power of government, I meant the power of influence

You are for once spot on, Farage has far more influence than he should ahve based on the fact that he has no actual policies, just vague statements about what Reform would do.

I did fear that labour would try to veer towards reform's views on immigration and they ahve, a big mistake IMO, those likely to vote reform will do so anyway and those like me who find the language used offensive will consider voting for others.

Yet Starmer could and should ahve used a much different tone. There is much one can agree with, the Tories did allow uncontrolled immigration post Brexit, there does need to be a fair system to allow immigrants in and an effective efficient system for processing Asylum claims and deporting those wo don't qualify or in the country illegally. Same with deporting those with criminal records etc. Indeed labour are actually deporting significant numbers, but of course successful deportations don't make news.

But the language and tone of his speech was offensive to anybody other than right leaning voters, the majority of whom as experience has shown will vote for a right wing party in any case, not a party aping right wing views.

It is depressing because it would be reasonably simple to discredit Farage, show up his contradictions and attack reform's lack of experience and thread bare policies yet few in the media or in politics do so.

[SithHappens]

It's a bit pathetic making this a thing. Its not like it's traditional, only been done since Boris was in power.

Don't get me wrong I have no issue with them doing it, but also none if they don't. If it was an traditional lasting 100s of years I'd agree but it's not.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn84y6e3551o

isn't there more important things to moan about?

[ramAnag]

It's a bit pathetic making this a thing. Its not like it's traditional, only been done since Boris was in power.

Don't get me wrong I have no issue with them doing it, but also none if they don't. If it was an traditional lasting 100s of years I'd agree but it's not.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn84y6e3551o

isn't there more important things to moan about?

I don’t believe it! (Said in best Victor Meldrew voice). More than a ‘bit pathetic’, Sith. It’s a complete bloody irrelevance. Get on with what’s important and stop wasting time and (public) money.

[swaledale]

I don’t believe it! (Said in best Victor Meldrew voice). More than a ‘bit pathetic’, Sith. It’s a complete bloody irrelevance. Get on with what’s important and stop wasting time and (public) money.

As the first pronouncements by Reform/UKIP/Brexit in the Council's they "run" now were about flags and DEI, I'm expecting much more of the same. But then its easy to make such statements, harder to address the serious complex issues of the day that will actually improve people's lives.

[swaledale]

...but I can count. Despite you saying, about Tricky, ' I will no longer mention or engage with him', you've mentioned him in 7 of your last 10 posts. That suggests obsession, but I won't resort to cheap jibes about medication like you did, I stick to verifiable facts

Context my dear boy, my references were necessary to respond to yours or others posts. If I was obsessed I'd be responding to his many posts directly, or I'd be pontificating at length on him, whereas I merely cautioned you from basing your views on what he had posted, as per the quotes you had made. Clearly however, despite your protestations, your views are somewhat aligned to his. Which rather makes you right of centre, now there's a fact you can chew on.

Anyway have you managed to come up with an explanation for your opinion on "good bullying" yet? Or why attacking DEI or scrapping government departments and attempting to sack employees without due process or indeed deporting immigrants without due process, including those with a legal right to reside in the US constitutes whatever "good bullying" is in your view?

[swaledale]

My persistence in exposing him is getting a bit boring for everyone Tricky, and I knew when I took over as moderator, after warnings from previous forum posters and admins, what he'd be like, so I've always had low expectation of change. For anyone interested (I'm sure Swale will be), you and he both have political/world views way more extreme than myself, but I don't recall you Tricky (or anyone else really) bombarding me with a succession of name-calls and insults for having a different opinion, hence my stance

Oh dear, political/world views more extreme than you? That in a nutshell blows your claim to stick to verifiable facts completely out of the window. I mean I would agree I'm not up for thinking someone like Trump has some good points or undertakes "good bullying" and really don't bother with people who have no actual opinions of their own, but just parrot rubbish they have read on the internet. If that's more extreme than you, I'd say and some would agree, your self awareness levels are a little lacking.

[SithHappens]

The news Joe Biden is seriously ill with cancer is very sad. A good thing for him and his fight against it he didn't gain a 2nd term. Good luck to him in his fight against it.

[Trickytreesreds]

The news Joe Biden is seriously ill with cancer is very sad. A good thing for him and his fight against it he didn't gain a 2nd term. Good luck to him in his fight against it.

I'd concur. Cancer is awful. But he shouldn't have had a first term, he has obviously been in ill health for years.

[Trickytreesreds]

these parodies are getting out of hand,

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16QjnZo575/

Oh dear Kier, they are shafting you, *(cough)

[ramAnag]

Just for the sake of perspective…apparently net migration was halved in 2024 (source ONS/BBC) and there were about 6k fewer asylum seekers living in tax payer funded accommodation in March 2025 than December 2024.

Not claiming it’s all down to the new Government of course as they only came into power a little over half way through last year however it’s always useful to look for the positives.

In the meantime, Badenoch responds with ‘the numbers are still too high’ and Farage adds, ‘not as high as the great Tory betrayal, but still disastrous.’

Not commenting here on the rights and wrongs of migration - after all I’m still enjoying the hospitality of my ‘migrant family’ in the U.S. - but maybe we should all remember that Labour have only been in power for just over ten months and, for those obsessed by migration, it surely must be seen as a step in the approved direction.

[swaledale]

Just for the sake of perspective?apparently net migration was halved in 2024 (source ONS/BBC) and there were about 6k fewer asylum seekers living in tax payer funded accommodation in March 2025 than December 2024.

Not claiming it?s all down to the new Government of course as they only came into power a little over half way through last year however it?s always useful to look for the positives.

In the meantime, Badenoch responds with ?the numbers are still too high? and Farage adds, ?not as high as the great Tory betrayal, but still disastrous.?

Not commenting here on the rights and wrongs of migration - after all I?m still enjoying the hospitality of my ?migrant family? in the U.S. - but maybe we should all remember that Labour have only been in power for just over ten months and, for those obsessed by migration, it surely must be seen as a step in the approved direction.

Labour also seemed to ahve deported over 24,000 failed asylum seekers, which begs the question why the Tories found it difficult to do so. Or, are left lawyers not taking action when its a labour government, or even stranger perhaps this government is actually observing the legal requirements and getting on with the job? Not a word about this of course becuase things running as they should are never news!!

[Geoff Parkstone]

On the need today I thought I heard that the main reason net immigration was down was because far less students are coming to UK (under labour) which I would see as net bad news for university finance if nothing else

[Andy_Faber]

It would appear from reliable fact checking sources, including the BBC, who all confirm that HMG have declined to give their own sub analysis, that HMG have not ?deported? 24,000 souls, the majority having left voluntarily. HMG have returned less than 4% of those arriving by boat in the period in question (just over 1,000 of nearly 24,000)

Claimed by the government, disproved by the fact checkers, disbelieved by the majority, believed by the gullible (see above).

[Trickytreesreds]

It would appear from reliable fact checking sources, including the BBC, who all confirm that HMG have declined to give their own sub analysis, that HMG have not ?deported? 24,000 souls, the majority having left voluntarily. HMG have returned less than 4% of those arriving by boat in the period in question (just over 1,000 of nearly 24,000)

Claimed by the government, disproved by the fact checkers, disbelieved by the majority, believed by the gullible (see above).

Most of those left with a cash incentive, not Labour taking the problem by the nuts.
The Home Office has also posted a video on X, showing people being escorted onto planes by immigration enforcement officials, with the words: "we have removed more than 24,000 people".

But the claim is misleading. The government's latest figures show that only 6,339 of these were "enforced returns". Of those, they were ex cons like Albanians where we can now send them home, or others who had failed their legal blocking attempts. The majority were "voluntary returns" - and a significant number of these happen without the government's direct involvement or even knowledge.

So, in effect, lying through his teeth again.