The Reform Thread

[whelk]

Don’t think Tommy’s flag boys want a rehashed Tory party

[Gloucester Saint]

28 minutes ago, whelk said:

Don’t think Tommy’s flag boys want a rehashed Tory party

Kruger saying the current Tory party is too left wing is like eating one of these, and saying it tastes like a Korma https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phall

[Farmer Saint]

58 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Kruger saying the current Tory party is too left wing is like eating one of these, and saying it tastes like a Korma https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phall

The problem is the Tories, alongside this iteration of the Labour party, don't know what they are. Reform do. That's why they're getting the traction they are.

Lib Dems need to really up their game on this front. Clear messaging: "We will re-enter the EU to improve everyone's lives. It will solve the migrant crisis" etc etc.

Edited Monday at 15:17 by Farmer Saint

[badgerx16]

1 hour ago, Farmer Saint said:

 

Lib Dems need to really up their game on this front. Clear messaging: "We will re-enter the EU to improve everyone's lives. It will solve the migrant crisis" etc etc.

So a straight up fight between LDs and Reform becomes Brexit referendum #2. Surely the LDs would effectively be cutting themselves off from the Leave voters.

Edited Monday at 16:23 by badgerx16

[iansums]

2 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Kruger saying the current Tory party is too left wing is like eating one of these, and saying it tastes like a Korma https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phall

An odd analogy but it is the case that many Tories and Tory voters do feel that the party has been too let’s say Liberal rather than left wing, over many years.

[iansums]

Having a sitting Tory MP defect to Reform is a significant development.

[iansums]

On 12/09/2025 at 20:49, whelk said:

Not being ‘an elite’ and one of the people I assume he doesn’t have much wealth at all. He is clearly driven by more noble principles. As an aside can the BBC stop their fucking love in with the cunt

Seeing as Reform currently lead the opinion polls, it’s only right that Farage gets significant air time.

[badgerx16]

47 minutes ago, iansums said:

Having a sitting Tory MP defect to Reform is a significant development.

Should there be a mandatory by-election if the MP switches parties mid term ?

[Lord Duckhunter]

6 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

Should there be a mandatory by-election if the MP switches parties mid term ?

No

[iansums]

12 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

Should there be a mandatory by-election if the MP switches parties mid term ?

Good question, I don’t really have an opinion to be honest. It’s happened a lot down the years across all parties. Interestingly, the MP in question is Prue Leith’s son.

[Farmer Saint]

24 minutes ago, iansums said:

Good question, I don’t really have an opinion to be honest. It’s happened a lot down the years across all parties. Interestingly, the MP in question is Prue Leith’s son.

Quite a coincidence that he looks very arian...

[The Kraken]

45 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

Should there be a mandatory by-election if the MP switches parties mid term ?

IMO yes. Like it or not, a large part of what people vote for is the party. There are obviously some MPs who are popular with their constituents for work they’ve done, but for the large part the average voter votes for the party. If you want to move parties then you should have to get elected under than banner IMO. And if that means a by election then so be it.

[sadoldgit]

1 hour ago, badgerx16 said:

Should there be a mandatory by-election if the MP switches parties mid term ?

Of course there should be. Can you imagine the meltdown amongst the Gammons if one of their MPs or councillors left Reform for the Labour Party?

If you stand as a representative for a certain party you owe it to the people who voted for you to have a choice to carry on supporting you or not. If you cast your vote for a Tory and they are elected, why should you end up with that person representing another party without another vote?

[egg]

1 hour ago, badgerx16 said:

Should there be a mandatory by-election if the MP switches parties mid term ?

First blush answer was yes mainly for the reasons Kraken says - most people don't know their MP from Adam, and in truth are backing the party and/or the leader. The MP is just just the party representative in most people's eyes. 

But do we do the same if someone loses the party whip? They become an indy, and no longer represent the party they were elected under. 

Different situations, yep, but in both situations an MP's role changes.

If one scenario triggers a by election, the other should. We can't have a political system where the whip system, and party discipline, goes for fear of a by election.

On balance, a heavy hearted "no" from me. 

 

[Gloucester Saint]

3 hours ago, badgerx16 said:

So a straight up fight between LDs and Reform becomes Brexit referendum #2. Surely the LDs would effectively be cutting themselves off from the Leave voters.

They won’t vote Lib Dem anyway and we don’t tend to do so well in those areas. Farage wouldn’t like all of his lies and the flop of Brexit exposed. The reason Sir Ed has avoided it is he saw how it destroyed Swinson, but different circumstances now. 

[Gloucester Saint]

2 hours ago, iansums said:

An odd analogy but it is the case that many Tories and Tory voters do feel that the party has been too let’s say Liberal rather than left wing, over many years.

Under Cameron I can see it - right wing economics/austerity combined with social liberalism. But May was socially more conservative, Boris who knows? Thatcher was the sea change but it’s compromise with the electorate after that and even she had to compromise eg NHS Safe with Us campaign. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

1 hour ago, sadoldgit said:

Of course there should be. Can you imagine the meltdown amongst the Gammons if one of their MPs or councillors left Reform for the Labour Party?

Of course, who can forget all your posts insisting Soubry and her band of 🤡’s stand in a by election….

[The Kraken]

2 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Of course, who can forget all your posts insisting Soubry and her band of 🤡’s stand in a by election….

I found Starmer’s grandstanding of Christian Wakeford pretty poor. I’d have been pretty pissed off had he been my mp.