National Politics 🟣 Reform UK

[Peterdev]

I see Nigel was AWOL from parliament again today.

Amazing for a man who spent decades trying to get into Parliament and failed to do so on SEVEN separate occasions.

You'd think he couldn't get enough of it, having achieved a lifelong ambition. It's almost like it was all a bit of a charade and he couldn't actually give a toss about the democratic process. I mean I for one am shocked as this is completely out of character for the pied piper of Clacton.....

He’s probably sick of a system that lets mainly Labour ask questions and rarely allows him to ask questions at all, despite polling more votes than the Liberals. But hey ho that’s meant to be democracy.
As is cancelling local elections as they’re frightened about losing seats and probably their leader too

 

[OUFCGav]

I see Nigel was AWOL from parliament again today.

Amazing for a man who spent decades trying to get into Parliament and failed to do so on SEVEN separate occasions.

You'd think he couldn't get enough of it, having achieved a lifelong ambition. It's almost like it was all a bit of a charade and he couldn't actually give a toss about the democratic process. I mean I for one am shocked as this is completely out of character for the pied piper of Clacton.....

Apparently he doesn't like the hurty words .

 

[Peterdev]

Apparently he doesn't like the hurty words .

Probably doesn’t like being disallowed from snidy Starmer remarks.his time will soon be up..

 

[Scotchegg]

He’s probably sick of a system that lets mainly Labour ask questions and rarely allows him to ask questions at all, despite polling more votes than the Liberals. But hey ho that’s meant to be democracy.
As is cancelling local elections as they’re frightened about losing seats and probably their leader too

For someone who has been waiting to get into Parliament for so long, you'd think that he (and his supporters) would do a little homework.

The leader of the main opposition party get 6 questions. The leader of the party with the third highest number of seats gets 2. All other questions are allocated from a ballot with alternating questions between the Government benches and the opposition. The same has it has been for years, and a system that I doubt Reform would change if they ever got into power themselves.

Sulking about it and running away to favourable media outlets will play to the 30% of Reform voters, but makes him look a joke to the other 70%.

 

[Sheik Djibouti]

Apparently he doesn't like the hurty words .

Awww...were the big boys and girls mean to ickle Nigel?

He didn't seem to have an issue with dishing out the (very) hurty words at Dulwich College. He just can't seem to cope with being on the recieving end

#thinskinnedgrifter

 

[Peterdev]

The current system looks a joke at the moment.
PMQs is predictable boring with Labour MPs crawling to Starmer along with Ed Davey whining on about the same old stuff as before. Occasionally punctuated by questions from SNP, Plaid and Tories.
Seems a charade to me and a shadow of what it once was.

 

[OUFCGav]

The current system looks a joke at the moment.
PMQs is predictable boring with Labour MPs crawling to Starmer along with Ed Davey whining on about the same old stuff as before. Occasionally punctuated by questions from SNP, Plaid and Tories.
Seems a charade to me and a shadow of what it once was.

It was always a charade. Doesn't mean that he should choose to be paid to appear on TV whilst taking his taxpayer funded salary to represent his constituents in parliament.

 

[Peterdev]

It was always a charade. Doesn't mean that he should choose to be paid to appear on TV whilst taking his taxpayer funded salary to represent his constituents in parliament.

True. But I’m sure he can get his points across there rather than sit in the HOC having Starmer insult him without an opportunity to reply.

 

[Peterdev]

Awww...were the big boys and girls mean to ickle Nigel?

He didn't seem to have an issue with dishing out the (very) hurty words at Dulwich College. He just can't seem to cope with being on the recieving end

#thinskinnedgrifter

Are those the alleged insults that might have happened getting on 50 years ago?

 

[Sheik Djibouti]

Are those the alleged insults that might have happened getting on 50 years ago?

I think I've identified the issue here Peter.

You actually believe what Farage says

30 people and counting have corroborated his behaviour. He himself has admitted it in previous interviews. He's now squirming like a snake to try and both deny and "justify" the comments simultaneously. Which one is it Nige?

The one thing he could do, which might make a slight difference is apologise and say something along the lines of...it was stupid thing to say and a bout of brainless youthfulness.

He hasn't.

Why?

Apart from the fact that he has proven time and again that he is a person who accepts no consequence or responsibility for his own actions, why does he not tell us he no longer holds those views.

Do you trust him?

 

[OUFCGav]

True. But I’m sure he can get his points across there rather than sit in the HOC having Starmer insult him without an opportunity to reply.

Even beyond PMQ he doesn't turn up to speak or vote, he has the worst record of any leader since he was elected. He also has one of the worst records for constituency work.
No-one should be surprised given his previous record, but appears some people still think he represents them.

 

[Peterdev]

I think I've identified the issue here Peter.

You actually believe what Farage says

30 people and counting have corroborated his behaviour. He himself has admitted it in previous interviews. He's now squirming like a snake to try and both deny and "justify" the comments simultaneously. Which one is it Nige?

The one thing he could do, which might make a slight difference is apologise and say something along the lines of...it was stupid thing to say and a bout of brainless youthfulness.

He hasn't.

Why?

Apart from the fact that he has proven time and again that he is a person who accepts no consequence or responsibility for his own actions, why does he not tell us he no longer holds those views.

Do you trust him?

My trust in politicians disappeared some time ago. Starmer destroyed much of the trust anyone has in politicians.
And before him too.
There’s always been witch hunts over people’s pasts to gain political advantage. Always gets dragged up at critical points too.

 

[Osei Yaw]

Ah yes, it's Starmer who has destroyed the trust. Not Liz Truss and her budget, or Boris and his lockdown pissups.

 

[SteMerritt]

Ah yes, it's Starmer who has destroyed the trust. Not Liz Truss and her budget, or Boris and his lockdown pissups.

Pah, nothing but Johnny-come-latelys. I blame Neville Chamberlain for starting it with that 'peace in our time' whopper.

 

[Peterdev]

Ah yes, it's Starmer who has destroyed the trust. Not Liz Truss and her budget, or Boris and his lockdown pissups.

Note….i said before him too, and yes that does include Johnson, Truss and others.
And I still remember Cameron and Osborne coming out with their rallying call…’We are all in this together’, until they disappeared back into the land of making lots of money again.

 

[Sheik Djibouti]

Note….i said before him too, and yes that does include Johnson, Truss and others.
And I still remember Cameron and Osborne coming out with their rallying call…’We are all in this together’, until they disappeared back into the land of making lots of money again.

The difference is Pete - you have CONSISTENTLY backed those who are only in this to line their own pockets, as you fervently backed the Tories for years and you're now doing the same for Farage. They were virtually ALL to a man or woman chancers on the make with a priority of enrichment of themselves and their already rich buddies.

Whether or not you have Starmer Derrangement Syndrome, do you think he's in politics for the same reason and motivation?

I'm guessing you'll answer yes and cite the non-declaration of the odd pair of glasses/trousers/footy tickets as your proof.

 

[Peterdev]

The difference is Pete - you have CONSISTENTLY backed those who are only in this to line their own pockets, as you fervently backed the Tories for years and you're now doing the same for Farage. They were virtually ALL to a man or woman chancers on the make with a priority of enrichment of themselves and their already rich buddies.

Whether or not you have Starmer Derrangement Syndrome, do you think he's in politics for the same reason and motivation?

I'm guessing you'll answer yes and cite the non-declaration of the odd pair of glasses/trousers/footy tickets as your proof.

I have voted Tory but many years ago and never really a fervent supporter. I don’t think there are many MPs who would pass by on freebies, and the current lot don’t seemed to changed my mind on that issue. Where have I said I would vote for NF? I think you will find I have an open mind on who to vote for, but there’s not that much to encourage me towards any of them. I don’t belong to any political party although was a member of the LibDems some years ago.
At the moment I can’t see why anyone would passionately support the current government. Giving Chagos away, breakfast clubs, giving taxpayers money away to subsidies large families, where does one begin?

 

[Essexyellows]

The difference is Pete - you have CONSISTENTLY backed those who are only in this to line their own pockets, as you fervently backed the Tories for years and you're now doing the same for Farage. They were virtually ALL to a man or woman chancers on the make with a priority of enrichment of themselves and their already rich buddies.

Whether or not you have Starmer Derrangement Syndrome, do you think he's in politics for the same reason and motivation?

I'm guessing you'll answer yes and cite the non-declaration of the odd pair of glasses/trousers/footy tickets as your proof.

The SKS that has "earnt" £900k or so from "external sources" up until 2024 you mean?

And of course his non-declarations don`t count because?

Anyone who thinks any politician is out to make "other peoples lives better" without creaming off the fat along the way, is in short, deluded.

The Starmer social media posts make for a good chuckle over a cup of tea.

 

[Sheik Djibouti]

I have voted Tory but many years ago and never really a fervent supporter. I don’t think there are many MPs who would pass by on freebies, and the current lot don’t seemed to changed my mind on that issue. Where have I said I would vote for NF? I think you will find I have an open mind on who to vote for, but there’s not that much to encourage me towards any of them. I don’t belong to any political party although was a member of the LibDems some years ago.
At the moment I can’t see why anyone would passionately support the current government. Giving Chagos away, breakfast clubs, giving taxpayers money away to subsidies large families, where does one begin?

Read my post again - I said you have backed him, as you seem to be defending/attempting to justify his decision to not attend Parliament.

Why?

The very fact you have a problem with breakfast clubs tells me an awful lot Peter!

Out of interest - what is your take on the Governments proposal to lower the drink drive limit in England. Do you see this as an important safety measure that brings us into line with many other countries, or (as has been widely reported in he likes of The Sun, The Telegraph and the Daily Mail) a move to kill off even more rural pubs?

 

[tonyw]

I would double wages and half the number of MPs constituancies are too small anyway. Then prevent second jobs ect.

I'm late to this one, and the debate has moved on, but I'm going to comment anyway because I think this is a terrible, terrible idea.

I think there's a general consensus around here that PR is the way.

But for as long as we're stuck with FPTP, then the way you ensure that the government is as representative as possible is to make the constituencies as small as possible.

Halve the number of MPs, and you're most of the way to the American system where the average congressman is representing 700,000 people, and some senators are representing 10s of millions. Say goodbye to local communities choosing a representative based on their specific values (e.g. Brighton Pavilion). Say hello to a rigid two party system, and the vast majority of voters being disenfranchized because they live in a small corner of a massive voting block that always votes in a particular direction. Recent analysis suggests that only 14% of votes in the last US house election were actually meaningful (i.e. votes that could reasonably sway tight election races)

Britain should go to PR, but failing that - the more MPs, representing the fewest voters, the better if you genuinely want representative government.

And if you want to pay them more, in order to attract highly capable individuals and prevent them from taking side gigs, so be it. It's not the sort of money that's going to bankrupt the country on its own.

 

[Peterdev]

Read my post again - I said you have backed him, as you seem to be defending/attempting to justify his decision to not attend Parliament.

Why?

The very fact you have a problem with breakfast clubs tells me an awful lot Peter!

Out of interest - what is your take on the Governments proposal to lower the drink drive limit in England. Do you see this as an important safety measure that brings us into line with many other countries, or (as has been widely reported in he likes of The Sun, The Telegraph and the Daily Mail) a move to kill off even more rural pubs?

I don’t blame him not attending parliament as he gets little chance to ask questions.
I am glad you’re able to sum someone up by disapproving of breakfast clubs. The reason I disagree with them is that I believe like many others, parents should be responsible for bringing up their children, same as parents who want large families shouldn’t expect taxpayers to bail them out. It tells me an awful lot about you if you believe that they should.
You might be surprised to learn as an ex driving instructor I’m very much in favour of reducing drink/drive levels. This would reduce fatalities. I have also long campaigned for regular eye tests which could be submitted on a five year diving licence renewal. You can see this on a thread today.

I’m pleased we agree on something.

 

[OUFCGav]

I don’t blame him not attending parliament as he gets little chance to ask questions.
I am glad you’re able to sum someone up by disapproving of breakfast clubs. The reason I disagree with them is that I believe like many others, parents should be responsible for bringing up their children, same as parents who want large families shouldn’t expect taxpayers to bail them out. It tells me an awful lot about you if you believe that they should.
You might be surprised to learn as an ex driving instructor I’m very much in favour of reducing drink/drive levels. This would reduce fatalities. I have also long campaigned for regular eye tests which could be submitted on a five year diving licence renewal. You can see this on a thread today.

I’m pleased we agree on something.

He gets the same amount of opportunities to ask questions at PMQ's as other leaders of similar sized parties.

The doesn't excuse his lack of participation in the rest of parliamentary time.

 

[Essexyellows]

Lets face it - nobody answers the questions in PMQ`s.

Its always deflection, tangents and outright BS.

 

[Matty Greens Left Boot]

I'm late to this one, and the debate has moved on, but I'm going to comment anyway because I think this is a terrible, terrible idea.

I think there's a general consensus around here that PR is the way.

But for as long as we're stuck with FPTP, then the way you ensure that the government is as representative as possible is to make the constituencies as small as possible.

Halve the number of MPs, and you're most of the way to the American system where the average congressman is representing 700,000 people, and some senators are representing 10s of millions. Say goodbye to local communities choosing a representative based on their specific values (e.g. Brighton Pavilion). Say hello to a rigid two party system, and the vast majority of voters being disenfranchized because they live in a small corner of a massive voting block that always votes in a particular direction. Recent analysis suggests that only 14% of votes in the last US house election were actually meaningful (i.e. votes that could reasonably sway tight election races)

Britain should go to PR, but failing that - the more MPs, representing the fewest voters, the better if you genuinely want representative government.

And if you want to pay them more, in order to attract highly capable individuals and prevent them from taking side gigs, so be it. It's not the sort of money that's going to bankrupt the country on its own.

Oh i could definitely accept that i was only trying to make it cost neutral. My main comment was it isnt worth the aggro of being an MP unless you passionately believe in a cause you want change on (which is hardly a good position for pragmatic decision making) or you just want the public profile. I dont exactly see the great and the good of the private sector who run companies well lining up for a job running the country.

 

[Peterdev]

I’d be interested to know how many Labour MPs have actually worked before drifting into politics via research assistant roles or human rights jobs

 

[Scotchegg]

I’d be interested to know how many Labour MPs have actually worked before drifting into politics via research assistant roles or human rights jobs

Why?

 

[Peterdev]

Why?

To see how many jobs in business. They don’t seem to have an understanding how businesses work. Raising NI on employers has resulted in job losses in industry, they don’t appreciate how this affects employment. Surely a key reason behind rising unemployment?

 

[chuckbert]

Even beyond PMQ he doesn't turn up to speak or vote, he has the worst record of any leader since he was elected. He also has one of the worst records for constituency work.
No-one should be surprised given his previous record, but appears some people still think he represents them.

I don’t blame him not attending parliament as he gets little chance to ask questions.
I am glad you’re able to sum someone up by disapproving of breakfast clubs. The reason I disagree with them is that I believe like many others, parents should be responsible for bringing up their children, same as parents who want large families shouldn’t expect taxpayers to bail them out. It tells me an awful lot about you if you believe that they should.
You might be surprised to learn as an ex driving instructor I’m very much in favour of reducing drink/drive levels. This would reduce fatalities. I have also long campaigned for regular eye tests which could be submitted on a five year diving licence renewal. You can see this on a thread today.

I’m pleased we agree on something.

He doesn’t want to ask questions. He wants to talk. Questions imply listening to answers and NF is not a listener. He’s only interested in things that can act as a platform.

 

[Sheik Djibouti]

To see how many jobs in business. They don’t seem to have an understanding how businesses work. Raising NI on employers has resulted in job losses in industry, they don’t appreciate how this affects employment. Surely a key reason behind rising unemployment?

Conversely, how many Tory/Reform MPs drifted into business roles through the old school tie and 'Daddy's contacts" route?

Doesn't make them good at business either, and arguably even less suited to making decisions that affect the everyday lives of c67 million people.

Do you think Farage's history (now a very long time ago) as a city trader makes him more qualified to be PM where his primary concern should be to make decisions that will ultimately be in the best interests of the the largest number of people and especially those who need more support than those that are already well off by comparison?

My money says he neither has a clue or gives a shiny shit how the other 95% live.

 

[Peterdev]

It’d be interesting to know that as well.
Do you think people involved in running businesses have a better idea of running the country or is better run by others with experience of political research etc.