Election Year or Fear!

[Andy_Faber]

In your haste to portray my post as ‘daft’ you seem to be dealing with the result at a particularly simplistic level.

You’re right to the extent that Labour’s 31.6% earned them disproportionately much more than Reform’s 26.1% but you need to look in more depth.

Who do Reform UK appeal to? I’d suggest disgruntled former Tory voters, one time UKIP voters, and a collection of miscellaneous right wingers who would formerly have found sanctuary amongst the likes of Britain First and the National Front. In short they are the party of the Right and, of those who stood in Hamilton, are only competing for votes with those who stubbornly stick to the traditional Tory vote, all 6% of them.

In comparison Labour was up against the SNP, the Greens and the Lib Dems who all have something in common. Between them Labour, the SNP, Scottish Greens and the Lib Dem won 65.6% of the vote. It was that 65.6% that ‘rejected’ the divisive policies of Farage and, looking at the bigger picture and the possibility of some form of national coalition after the next General Election that, thankfully, is Farage’s problem…he leads a populist party which appeals to in the region of 25-30% of voters, but that still leaves a very significant majority who want nothing to do with him.

I?m not going to get into another spat but I disagree, and with an observers hat on not an anti-right (your phrase) one.

[ramAnag]

I?m not going to get into another spat but I disagree, and with an observers hat on not an anti-right (your phrase) one.

Not entirely sure what you’re disagreeing with, or why ‘anti-right’ is my phrase.

[Andy_Faber]

Not entirely sure what you?re disagreeing with, or why ?anti-right? is my phrase.

I disagree pretty much in line with GP's line of reasoning but don't currently have time or inclination to provide lengthy responses

Your 'phrase' is the repeated use of 'right' ie 'right wing', which is IMO an outmoded description as the world, and the pleb's individual POVs and voting habits, are far more complex than can be categorised as 'right' (or the divising 'far right') and 'left'