Election Year or Fear!

[SithHappens]

Ive said a number of times I don't think Farage will become PM. Hes a drifter, too obsessed with his other careers he won't want to give them up. Hes also incredibly thin skinned and won't cope with the scrutiny of being PM.

He will step down acting like some kind if hero , probably hand the reins over to Jenrick or Braverman.

[ramAnag]

Ive said a number of times I don't think Farage will become PM. Hes a drifter, too obsessed with his other careers he won't want to give them up. Hes also incredibly thin skinned and won't cope with the scrutiny of being PM.

He will step down acting like some kind if hero , probably hand the reins over to Jenrick or Braverman.

It’s an interesting proposition, although, imo, far too early to try and guess.
Farage is a narcissist, but he also seems like a greedy b@st@rd which might give him quite a dilemma.

I think/hope that if the worst came to the worst and Reform won the most support - don’t think they will but let’s go with the hypothetical - then a coalition of Labour, LibDems, Greens and increasingly reasonable Tories (because their nutters will have all joined Reform) would still keep him out of Downing Street.

Seeing as you’re in prediction mode, Sith. Do you think Trump will still be around by the end of the year, or will he have been got rid of…one way or another?

[SithHappens]

It?s an interesting proposition, although, imo, far too early to try and guess.
Farage is a narcissist, but he also seems like a greedy b@st@rd which might give him quite a dilemma.

I think/hope that if the worst came to the worst and Reform won the most support - don?t think they will but let?s go with the hypothetical - then a coalition of Labour, LibDems, Greens and increasingly reasonable Tories (because their nutters will have all joined Reform) would still keep him out of Downing Street.

Seeing as you?re in prediction mode, Sith. Do you think Trump will still be around by the end of the year, or will he have been got rid of?one way or another?

I think Trump is a bully and like most bullies can't cope with people standing up to them. He soon stepped back on Greenland when he was stood up to. I think he'll go along making noises but a lot of inaction.

He will do the 4 years then disappear. Sadly Vance might take his place but that's a problem for another day.

[SithHappens]

Coalition of the the willing.

I don't particularly have a problem with Badenoch, Davey or Starmer. Im yet to get convinced on the appeal of Polanski though.

The lib dems campaign very intelligently, could Davey be PM? probably not.

[ramAnag]

I think Trump is a bully and like most bullies can't cope with people standing up to them. He soon stepped back on Greenland when he was stood up to. I think he'll go along making noises but a lot of inaction.

He will do the 4 years then disappear. Sadly Vance might take his place but that's a problem for another day.

He’s certainly a bully, but he’s also becoming an embarrassment - just as he did first time around - even to those on the Right. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him got rid of but, as you say, that leaves Vance who, I suspect, is much cleverer.

[Andy_Faber]

Coalition of the the willing.

I don't particularly have a problem with Badenoch, Davey or Starmer. Im yet to get convinced on the appeal of Polanski though.

The lib dems campaign very intelligently, could Davey be PM? probably not.

I think any coalition of the willing would be a disaster, conservatives are more likely to align with Reform, Lib Dem’s wouldn’t align with anyone after they were ***-****** by firstly their conservative partners and then the electorate last time, labour can’t even coalesce (?) with themselves, Greens / conservatives no chance. Just IMO and a long way off

[Andy_Faber]

Watching BBC World News, there’s just been a list of Labour ****ups and dollopped on top of that list another list where Starmer has shown / is showing weakness (women’s spaces, grooming gangs) and in doing so has hacked off his MP cohort, and it reads really badly, the independent commentators featured appear to be preparing the ducking stool

[swaledale]

It wasn’t me who said they would. I don’t know and merely pointed out that three and a half years is a very long time in politics.

I know I’m wasting my time but look at it this way. Approaching a decade ago you lot won the narrowest of victories in the Brexit referendum but did little in the 2019 GE when Farage didn’t even stand - having missed out on seven consecutive occasions - and Johnson humbled Corbyn’s Labour by winning a very comfortable and large majority.
Johnson lasted as PM for less than three years before resigning in disgrace paving the way for Labour to win with an enormous majority less than two years after Johnson’s departure at which point Farage became an MP for the first time, at the eighth attempt.

Given those facts I find it very difficult to predict what may or may not happen in another three years or so. The Mandelson situation represents a very serious error of judgement. Beyond that I’m not sure what it is about Starmer’s behaviour you find so unforgivable.

You are RA, best have the idiot on ignore, then unless somebody like you quotes his stupid posts I don't have to read the bollox repeated verbatum from whatever fake news media he is reading. Reform won't win an election simply becuase if that becomes a ral posibility, there will be considerable tactical voting to prevent it. But that won't be the case, because history suggests that Farage will not want to cede control and there will, as has already happened a falling out and defections or ejections from Reform.

As for opinion polls, anybody who takes notice of them 3 plus years from a GE needs to give their head a wobble, as you say a lot can and will happen in the time ahead and agin its a fact that what people say in a poll (iirrespective of its accuracy) is often very different to how they actually cast their vote.

Still let the fascists have thier brief moment of triumph, it wont last.

[Andy_Faber]

You are RA, best have the idiot on ignore, then unless somebody like you quotes his stupid posts I don't have to read the bollox repeated verbatum from whatever fake news media he is reading. Reform won't win an election simply becuase if that becomes a ral posibility, there will be considerable tactical voting to prevent it. But that won't be the case, because history suggests that Farage will not want to cede control and there will, as has already happened a falling out and defections or ejections from Reform.

As for opinion polls, anybody who takes notice of them 3 plus years from a GE needs to give their head a wobble, as you say a lot can and will happen in the time ahead and agin its a fact that what people say in a poll (iirrespective of its accuracy) is often very different to how they actually cast their vote.

Still let the fascists have thier brief moment of triumph, it wont last.

I think you?re genuinely worried

[SithHappens]

Watching BBC World News, there’s just been a list of Labour ****ups and dollopped on top of that list another list where Starmer has shown / is showing weakness (women’s spaces, grooming gangs) and in doing so has hacked off his MP cohort, and it reads really badly, the independent commentators featured appear to be preparing the duelcking stool

How much did they say about Russian Stooges, Tax evasion on home purchases, rife racism, homophobic comments, misogynistic attitudes, 400k undeclared earnings, 43 mentions in Epstein files and close association with others mentioned in them, appointing a treasurer with close links to epstein, blatant rule breaking in General election and current by-election..let me guess...not much.

[swaledale]

I think you?re genuinely worried

I'm genuinely concerned that there has been a rise in hateful dialogue, the increasing promotion of false narratives (to the extent that even blatant lies are put out by politicians and repeated online and by media sources deliberately), ethno nationalism, populism which pretends to have simple answers to complex problems, blaming specific groups or "foreigners" and a denial of scientific knowledge (not the same as a challenge) in respect of climate change, vaccines etc.

With a corresponding lack of cooperation and mutual understanding on the serious issues that affect all but the mega wealthy, such as climate change, social care, crime, immigration and inequality generally, whether that be economic, educational, health, or in a wider society.

Am I worried that Reform will form the next Government? Not at present, but then I don't swallow the propaganda pumped out daily online, by certain pats of the media, I don't set much store by opinion polls, many of which have dubious statistical accuracy and other than a vague measure of voters views at a point in time cannot be generally taken as to what may happen in a GE 3 plus years from now.

As for Farage, his track record of being a "one man" show, a disruptor, a spouter of platitudes and of not actually achieving anything that has improved the lives of either the UK or its citizens is obvious to all.

I take it your not worried by the prospect of a hard right Reform Government then?

[ramAnag]

I'm genuinely concerned that there has been a rise in hateful dialogue, the increasing promotion of false narratives (to the extent that even blatant lies are put out by politicians and repeated online and by media sources deliberately), ethno nationalism, populism which pretends to have simple answers to complex problems, blaming specific groups or "foreigners" and a denial of scientific knowledge (not the same as a challenge) in respect of climate change, vaccines etc.

With a corresponding lack of cooperation and mutual understanding on the serious issues that affect all but the mega wealthy, such as climate change, social care, crime, immigration and inequality generally, whether that be economic, educational, health, or in a wider society.

Am I worried that Reform will form the next Government? Not at present, but then I don't swallow the propaganda pumped out daily online, by certain pats of the media, I don't set much store by opinion polls, many of which have dubious statistical accuracy and other than a vague measure of voters views at a point in time cannot be generally taken as to what may happen in a GE 3 plus years from now.

As for Farage, his track record of being a "one man" show, a disruptor, a spouter of platitudes and of not actually achieving anything that has improved the lives of either the UK or its citizens is obvious to all.

I take it your not worried by the prospect of a hard right Reform Government then?

Forums are all about agreement and disagreement, hopefully, in our better moments, as respectfully as possible. Occasionally however there is a post which makes perfect sense and perfectly encapsulates one’s own view. They’re rare things but, for me, the post above is one of them.

[Trickytreesreds]

Another one gone.
Wont be long now, the reaper is sharpening his blade.

[Trickytreesreds]

You are RA, best have the idiot on ignore, then unless somebody like you quotes his stupid posts I don't have to read the bollox repeated verbatum from whatever fake news media he is reading. Reform won't win an election simply becuase if that becomes a ral posibility, there will be considerable tactical voting to prevent it. But that won't be the case, because history suggests that Farage will not want to cede control and there will, as has already happened a falling out and defections or ejections from Reform.

As for opinion polls, anybody who takes notice of them 3 plus years from a GE needs to give their head a wobble, as you say a lot can and will happen in the time ahead and agin its a fact that what people say in a poll (iirrespective of its accuracy) is often very different to how they actually cast their vote.

Still let the fascists have thier brief moment of triumph, it wont last.

����������. Thats an awful lot of fascists fail
Perhaps the latest pols upset you?

[Andy_Faber]

I'm genuinely concerned that there has been a rise in hateful dialogue, the increasing promotion of false narratives (to the extent that even blatant lies are put out by politicians and repeated online and by media sources deliberately), ethno nationalism, populism which pretends to have simple answers to complex problems, blaming specific groups or "foreigners" and a denial of scientific knowledge (not the same as a challenge) in respect of climate change, vaccines etc.

With a corresponding lack of cooperation and mutual understanding on the serious issues that affect all but the mega wealthy, such as climate change, social care, crime, immigration and inequality generally, whether that be economic, educational, health, or in a wider society.

Am I worried that Reform will form the next Government? Not at present, but then I don't swallow the propaganda pumped out daily online, by certain pats of the media, I don't set much store by opinion polls, many of which have dubious statistical accuracy and other than a vague measure of voters views at a point in time cannot be generally taken as to what may happen in a GE 3 plus years from now.

As for Farage, his track record of being a "one man" show, a disruptor, a spouter of platitudes and of not actually achieving anything that has improved the lives of either the UK or its citizens is obvious to all.

I take it your not worried by the prospect of a hard right Reform Government then?

A reasonable question deserves an answer, so, too top to bottom

I’m concerned too, but/and the hateful dialogue is from both/all sides, on many subjects. I blame social media for its rise but not for the existence of it in the first place, social media has merely lifted the lid on hate/division that was always there

I think your definition / understanding of mega wealthy and mine is different, I think folk switch off on being bothered about your list of issues way further down the wealth scale, that’s maybe part of the problem, with what I call the ‘fat and happy’

I don’t see the point predicting three years ahead, I think that’s agreeing with you

Farage’s mettle will only be proven if/when in office, his USP is his ability to ‘connect’ (for good or ill) and that will sustain through time, not sure who or how it could be countered

I’m not worried by any form of govt other than full dictatorship at one end and away with the fairies at the other. I’m more resilient than that, I actually get the impression you are too but our view on how much ‘politics’ influence our lives differ