Political turncoats.

[Dubbag]

I see yet another Conservative MP has defected to the Far right Reform party.
I don't get why that is allowed. If they resign from a party they were elected from, they shouldn't be allowed to join another party.
Remain independent or resign. All that jumping ship is pathetic to be honest. How can anyone vote for a politician who defects is beyond me....anyway, I think it should be banned.

[baggieal]

I see yet another Conservative MP has defected to the Far right Reform party.
I don't get why that is allowed. If they resign from a party they were elected from, they shouldn't be allowed to join another party.
Remain independent or resign. All that jumping ship is pathetic to be honest. How can anyone vote for a politician who defects is beyond me....anyway, I think it should be banned.

Perhaps these MP?S are in tune with the people so joining a progressive party. I would not say Reform are Far Right either when top people are of Indian origin or were immigrants themselves. The Party want what the majority of those in the country want - to stop mass illegal immigration and deport those who are here illegally. Whilst I have never voted in the past - I may be tempted to vote Reform myself. Reform are hammering Labour in the local council elections which is why gutless Starmer is trying to delay local elections for a year or more. Another own goal!

Whilst Andy Burnham is a bright guy he?s more left than Starmer and by Starmer blocking him Farage must think it?s an early present.

Everyone to their own but this country is broken and my view is illegals should not be allowed to be treated better than our homeless or young couples who can?t get their first homes. They should also be kept in processing centres to avoid mixing with the public from a safety perspective.

[Leicesterbaggie]

Have to agree that this country is politically in one mess. So many people, myself included, do not have a clue who to vote for. I suppose it comes down to which party, in an individuals opinion, has the least faults. I suppose the one thing in Reform UKs favour is that it has not had its chance in power yet and let?s be honest the two main parties haven?t covered themselves in glory. Rock and a hard place comes to mind!

[baggiematt]

Reform are a Liz Truss away from being the Conservative B Team.

They give me no assurance that they will deal with migration any better than the old tories. Suella was the Home Secretary!

Im concerned about how close Farage wants us to America and where his allegiances lie considering the mess going on in America and their behaviour towards us. Closeness to European colleagues feels a safer bet.

[baggieal]

Reform are a Liz Truss away from being the Conservative B Team.

They give me no assurance that they will deal with migration any better than the old tories. Suella was the Home Secretary!

Im concerned about how close Farage wants us to America and where his allegiances lie considering the mess going on in America and their behaviour towards us. Closeness to European colleagues feels a safer bet.

That?s your view but not the view of the majority which is why Labour are being hammered in the local elections if of course Mr Gutless does not delay them!

People have had enough of this country going to ruins. Crowborough a nice place is the next to explode and can you blame those who live there? I would not mind being closer to Poland or Denmark or even Italy where there?s zero tolerance to illegals!

Is it not Mahmood who is trying to push through an equivalent to the FBI here! Last time I looked she was not white like Sullerman but some white wet lettuces will call this out!

Where?s all the extra money in the pockets for 2026 Starmer and Reeves promised. Sadly not my pockets as I do not have six kids and on universal credit!

[baggiematt]

That?s your view but not the view of the majority which is why Labour are being hammered in the local elections if of course Mr Gutless does not delay them!

People have had enough of this country going to ruins. Crowborough a nice place is the next to explode and can you blame those who live there? I would not mind being closer to Poland or Denmark or even Italy where there?s zero tolerance to illegals!

Is it not Mahmood who is trying to push through an equivalent to the FBI here! Last time I looked she was not white like Sullerman but some white wet lettuces will call this out!

Where?s all the extra money in the pockets for 2026 Starmer and Reeves promised. Sadly not my pockets as I do not have six kids and on universal credit!

What exactly have I said that isnt accurate Al?

Are they not going to be a party largely populated by ex Tory?s? Did those Tory?s not fail dramatically?

If Reform have a good plan for immigration, what is it? Just talking about it relentlessly doesnt in my mind mean they have a viable solution better than other parties.

I have seen Mahmoods plans to change the police and they dont seem radical. I dont know what her colour has to do with anything.

[Omegstrat6]

Given it's proximity to North Africa, Italy has long been a gateway for illegal immigration from that continent to enter Europe but they certainly do not all pass through and Italy is second only to Germany in terms of the numbers of illegal immigrants the country has. Right leaning PM, Giorgia Meloni, speaks the same kind of rhetoric regarding these illegal immigrants as Trump and Farage but whilst continuing levels of such immigration are undeniably unsustainable, the situation in Italy also demonstrates some paradoxes around the issue.

Professors Luciano Sardella and Matteo Mantuano have made a study of the subject in Italy. Their research shows that 2024 witnessed the highest levels of both immigration (382,000) and emigration (155,700).

[Omegstrat6]

Given it's proximity to North Africa, Italy has long been a gateway for illegal immigration from that continent to enter Europe but they certainly do not all pass through and Italy is second only to Germany in terms of the numbers of illegal immigrants the country has. Right leaning PM, Giorgia Meloni, speaks the same kind of rhetoric regarding these illegal immigrants as Trump and Farage but whilst continuing levels of such immigration are undeniably unsustainable, the situation in Italy also demonstrates some paradoxes around the issue.

Professors Luciano Sardella and Matteo Mantuano have made a study of the subject in Italy. Their research shows that 2024 witnessed the highest levels of both immigration (382,000) and emigration (155,700).

Apologies, site kicked me out as I was posting!

I was going to say that their research also brought up evidence that was at odds with the political rhetoric over immigration. Italy experienced a particular crisis over immigration levels in 2013 but the data from 2007-2016 showed a 25% reduction in crime across the country and a 65% drop in the percentage of crime attributed to immigrants. The data may be some ten plus years old now but would indicate that much of the fear mongering over immigration was exaggerated at best.

Their report also highlights another issue-that of exploitation which the current legislation would seem to encourage. The EU Dublin Regulations state that the country that immigrants first enter should hold them for processing in order to prevent them passing through into other EU nations. This would make sense-though France (itself with a far higher percentage of such immigrants than the UK) seems to be failing us in this regard given the number of channel crossings!

The problem is the amount of time that this asylum processing takes and Italy has far more to process than others. During this period, these immigrants cannot legally work but many seek to still do so in order to make some money. In the UK, this might be taking advantage of the Gig economy (allowed to flourish under the Conservative government) and working as Uber drivers or fast food delivery riders for example. In Italy, a significant proportion (some 230,000) end up working on the land under the Caporalato system which is effectively a kind of agro-mafia. Workers are exploited through having to work long hours for poor pay and having to fork out to these same gang masters for basic and unsanitary accommodation and food. Agriculture is important to the Italian economy yet much of it is allowed to be run by such gangs who exploit this cheap labour. (It might be remembered btw that a few Reform candidates have been caught employing illegal immigrants in the past. They might not like them, but they can be happy to exploit them).

I'm not at all saying that immigration is not a problem and it is undeniable that the current levels of immigration-particularly illegal immigration-are simply not sustainable for any country. It is also undeniable that some of these asylum seekers are engaged in criminal activity while a minority pose a threat (e.g.***ual assault) but the evidence does not support all the rhetoric that goes on around immigration.

For centuries, immigrants have been used as both scapegoats and as a means of deflection and modern populism continues this trend. In the US, Trump used promises on immigration as a major part of his election platform. He claimed to have identified x thousands of criminals, murderers and rapists amongst illegal immigrants and promised to deport the "worst of the worst". Despite his bragging however, he has so far only arrested a small proportion of this number and has, instead, allowed henchman Stephen Miller and ICE to turn their attention to immigrant communities where the vast majority simply work, want to make a better life for themselves and contribute to the economy. Not only have fewer illegal immigrants been deported under Trump than there were under Obama, but the vast majority of Americans are no better off for Trumps policies toward them.

Farage, like Trump, has put a lot of focus on immigration but does anyone seriously believe that even if Reform could curb the numbers crossing the channel that this would have any substantial affect on the economy, on inflation or interest rates, or improve access for the majority to housing, education or healthcare?

As for Cruella, she continues to spout the same rhetoric but her record as Home Secretary regards curbing the numbers landing by small boat was hardly stellar either was it?. A perfect fit for Nige, along with other failed right wing Tories.

I'm no fan of Starmer, have no faith in Badenoch or Davy but I not only dislike so much of what Reform stands for, I also believe that they haven't a clue about how to address the myriad of issues this country faces. Worrying times.😞