Election Year or Fear!

[Andy_Faber]

Strange how those who criticised the removal of the WFA are now falling over themselves to criticise its - partial at least - reinstatement.
Can?t do right for doing wrong it would seem.

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Likewise, even stranger the the current administration have announced the change as if it is a new idea, rather than a massive, Farage driven U-turn. Both sides equally culpable there, typically Milliband popped out his usual blessing ?it?s the right thing to do? so I guess it must be! What insight that fellah has

[ramAnag]

Yep, there’s a fair amount of hypocrisy about, but to call the change ‘Farage driven’ just isn’t correct.
There was almost universal disapproval from the left wing of the Labour Party across to all sections of the opposition.
It was just another bandwagon for Farage, who has yet to come up with any ideas of his own or prove himself capable of anything other than destructive criticism.
He’s had one big idea, Brexit…how’s that working out?

[Geoff Parkstone]

If Farage managed England to victory in the next world cup, bringing it home, you still wouldn't give him credit for achieving anything....

[SithHappens]

I think the more likely scenario is England winning it and Farage taking credit anyway.

[MadAmster]

My total income is just under ?35K. If it's available to expats, like it was pre the stop last winter, I'll still not claim it.

[ramAnag]

If Farage managed England to victory in the next world cup, bringing it home, you still wouldn't give him credit for achieving anything....

There’s a good reason for that, GP…he’s been around - on the political scene - for about 15 years and still hasn’t achieved anything that hasn’t either a) benefitted him personally or b) been a huge source of disharmony and conflict within our country.
If you think differently please provide an example.

[SithHappens]

There’s a good reason for that, GP…he’s been around - on the political scene - for about 15 years and still hasn’t achieved anything that hasn’t either a) benefitted him personally or b) been a huge source of disharmony and conflict within our country.
If you think differently please provide an example.

I think you are being unfair.

He's worked tirelessly to provide a safe place and platform for a minority group, a group persecuted for so long, a group that some, nay most even wanted to see the back of. He's given them a voice, the confidence to be themselves, to be empowered, to stand up and say I am brave, I am powerful, I am Racist.....

[ramAnag]

I think you are being unfair.

He's worked tirelessly to provide a safe place and platform for a minority group, a group persecuted for so long, a group that some, nay most even wanted to see the back of. He's given them a voice, the confidence to be themselves, to be empowered, to stand up and say I am brave, I am powerful, I am Racist.....

Lol! Yeah, but apart from that! What have the Romans - sorry Farage - ever done for us?

[Andy_Faber]

I think you are being unfair.

He's worked tirelessly to provide a safe place and platform for a minority group, a group persecuted for so long, a group that some, nay most even wanted to see the back of. He's given them a voice, the confidence to be themselves, to be empowered, to stand up and say I am brave, I am powerful, I am Racist.....

I don?t think they are a minority, other than that good try!

[SithHappens]

I don?t think they are a minority, other than that good try!

I do, just a noisy one

[Geoff Parkstone]

There’s a good reason for that, GP…he’s been around - on the political scene - for about 15 years and still hasn’t achieved anything that hasn’t either a) benefitted him personally or b) been a huge source of disharmony and conflict within our country.
If you think differently please provide an example.

Whilst not entirely disagreeing with you say I could observe (a) name me one politician that isn't in it for personal benefit {tip, Mother Theresa wasn't a politician} (b) you've been on this political platform for what seems like 15 years without converting anyone to your "dark side" and been a constant source of disharmony within our forum with your views... before you start getting arsey, point (b) can likely define any of us here.

What's that about greenhouses?

[ramAnag]

Whilst not entirely disagreeing with you say I could observe (a) name me one politician that isn't in it for personal benefit {tip, Mother Theresa wasn't a politician} (b) you've been on this political platform for what seems like 15 years without converting anyone to your "dark side" and been a constant source of disharmony within our forum with your views... before you start getting arsey, point (b) can likely define any of us here.

What's that about greenhouses?

By which you mean, you TTR and AF consistently disagree with me, besides which I’m a) not a politician and b) can’t possibly gain from anything I say on here, so I don’t really ‘get’ your point.

Beyond that I think you probably do some politicians an injustice by saying they’re all just in it for personal benefit, although the likes of Farage, Johnson and Hancock certainly have been but, although I wasn’t a fan, it’s difficult to see how Jeremy Corbyn was - or how he benefitted - and I’m not at all sure Keir Starmer is or a whole bunch of minor MP’s are.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Two in a row but from different perspectives. I was chatting to my son yesterday and the question of illegal immigration came up and I was amazed to hear that he and the vast majority of his mates were in favour of "sink the boats" (in the wider sense) of the expression ie control/repatriate/get rid etc. not in an EDL "burn em out" sort of way.

Now he and again most of his mates are graduates in their mid 20's, not under threat for their jobs from these people and the majority are/were (were being in the last 6 months) Starmer supporting labour voters and in my son's case at least, a Corbyn voter before that.

So IF the 20 or so of his mates are representative of the wider peer group, I asked myself: if the gammons, the pensioners, the recent graduates, the far right, the economic disadvantaged and in many cases the existing migrants themselves are against further illegal immigration in boats, who the hell actually favours it (apart from Swale and rA)? Perhaps we could characterise the pro group as comfortably off middle class professional champagne socialists who are safely insulated by virtue of nice houses and plenty of holidays abroad from the consequences of such migration, and dont mind throwing a few quid in the good name of charity at the boats so lang as its NIMBY? Well, as long as its the tax payers few quid, well no sot much "few", but...

I am genuinely perplexed, this isnt meant s a dig at anyone just looking for any explanations - did I just glimpse the nouveau Hitler Youth 2025 style?

[Geoff Parkstone]

By which you mean, you TTR and AF consistently disagree with me, besides which I?m a) not a politician and b) can?t possibly gain from anything I say on here, so I don?t really ?get? your point.

Beyond that I think you probably do some politicians an injustice by saying they?re all just in it for personal benefit, although the likes of Farage, Johnson and Hancock certainly have been but, although I wasn?t a fan, it?s difficult to see how Jeremy Corbyn was - or how he benefitted - and I?m not at all sure Keir Starmer is.

I will grant that Corbyn quite likely gained no great benefit from his position but he was never really in any sort of position of power to leverage it, whereas Blair's fall from grace into disrepute was all to plain to see and there are definite signs of Starmer heading the same way in his early days. I dont dispute your right sided examples but think you are being a little naive in exonerating the left as you do. its early days yet and the snouts are already seeking out the left side of the trough

[ramAnag]

Two in a row but from different perspectives. I was chatting to my son yesterday and the question of illegal immigration came up and I was amazed to hear that he and the vast majority of his mates were in favour of "sink the boats" (in the wider sense) of the expression ie control/repatriate/get rid etc. not in an EDL "burn em out" sort of way.

Now he and again most of his mates are graduates in their mid 20's, not under threat for their jobs from these people and the majority are/were (were being in the last 6 months) Starmer supporting labour voters and in my son's case at least, a Corbyn voter before that.

So he isn’t really in favour of the ‘sink the boats’ mentality is he? He’s concerned about the level of illegal immigration as I’d suggest many, including Swale and I are. At no time have I ever suggested that it isn’t a complex and significant problem which needs to be addressed via ‘joined up’ international thought. We just tend to express ourselves rather more compassionately than you and TTR.

P.S. At the most recent by-election in Scotland, Farage’s ReformUK and the ‘sink the boats’ crew won 26.1% of the vote. That means that 73.9% rejected their stance.