OV9

ZedLeg wrote: Fri May 08, 2026 10:53 am There’s nothing logical about it though. Reform have nothing to offer the country except turning the place into a haven for oligarchs and grifters.

Unless you’re really into the idea of putting people in camps.

So why do you think people are voting for them?

They have an expensive marketing campaign and old people like the fags and pints cosplay from Farage.

In another kick to Starmer Anas Sarwar’s already admitted defeat in Scotland

Luckily our new East Surrey council was taken by the Lib Dems, thank god. Proud of that.

Got the green msp I voted for.

Not thrilled about the number of list seats that Reform picked up but at least they didn’t win any constituency seats.

unzippy wrote: Fri May 08, 2026 2:22 pm So why do you think people are voting for them?

Don't forget the heady brew of spite and stupidity.

I've variously heard people justify their Reform vote on the basis that they *hate* the Tories, now *hate* Labour just as much, and want to make the choice that hurts them them most. Also resentment at the "liberal elite" (although I'm not sure the people saying that know what they mean by that) - e.g. reasonably affluent non-university educated self-made types annoyed at being looked down on for their education status.
I've also heard "just to shake things up" and "for a laugh".

Reform appears to be fueled by deep-pocketed donors from abroad. I'm sure they wake up every day thinking only of what’s best for the normal bloke on the street.

Nefarious wrote: Sat May 09, 2026 8:36 am

unzippy wrote: Fri May 08, 2026 2:22 pm So why do you think people are voting for them?

Don't forget the heady brew of spite and stupidity.

I've variously heard people justify their Reform vote on the basis that they *hate* the Tories, now *hate* Labour just as much, and want to make the choice that hurts them them most. Also resentment at the "liberal elite" (although I'm not sure the people saying that know what they mean by that) - e.g. reasonably affluent non-university educated self-made types annoyed at being looked down on for their education status.
I've also heard "just to shake things up" and "for a laugh".

Well that’s what you do on Big Brother and Strictly, same thing innit?

It will be very emotionally driven I think.

We have a no go area at the rowing lake as there is a hotel full of illegals. The people who live in that area would rightly do want them gone and I believe vote for the group they feel would fix that problem.

Around South Kesteven where I am there is a conservative lady called Alicia Kearns and she is always working, visiting all the towns, always giving updates on issues and seems to be very well liked for doing what the people want. So people vote for her.

Unless we know the issues of the area I don't think it's fair to tar anyone who chooses to vote with any kind of nastiness.

I bet there are areas where a green vote is perfectly logical for that area or them personally, however bastardised I think the party is we don't know everyone's reasoning.

Dave!

I'm amazed the greens didn't do better considering the polling before. Indeed we had a couple of green councillors locally who lost their seat. Maybe that's because of sunlight being shone on their policies at a national level?

It’s probably good reform put such a good performance in here tbh. Plenty of time for everyone to see that they’re a shambles before the next GE.

The greens are amazingly popular on social media, and experience shows that's a fairly poor barometer of actual voting behaviour.

That’s true. My little online echo chamber has been solidly green for years but this is the first time any political vote I’ve made has been a winner in decades

IMO.

Zach P and green have done a great job of coming across as normal, but i can’t help think they’ll never quite make it because of a few policies which will never be popular, and to be honest will completely preclude many from voting green.

legalising drugs & lowering speed limits

sounds daft, but no one will vote for a party who want to lower motorway speed limits to 55 and make cannabis legal.

Then there’s his recent outcry to the police kicking the guy with a knife who’d just stabbed 2 people. That went down like a shit brick with the majority of the country (including people in the green party).

On the other hand, police brutality is police brutality. It doesn’t matter if the person they’re penalty kicking in the head is a piece of shit or not. They shouldn’t be doing that.

Rich B wrote: Sat May 09, 2026 11:04 am IMO.

Zach P and green have done a great job of coming across as normal, but i can’t help think they’ll never quite make it because of a few policies which will never be popular, and to be honest will completely preclude many from voting green.

legalising drugs & lowering speed limits

sounds daft, but no one will vote for a party who want to lower motorway speed limits to 55 and make cannabis legal.

Then there’s his recent outcry to the police kicking the guy with a knife who’d just stabbed 2 people. That went down like a shit brick with the majority of the country (including people in the green party).

I think that’s some of their more sensible policies seeing as half the stuff they came up with contradicted itself in reality and would never be achievable

Denying Israel has a right to exist isn’t a good look overall, but I can see how this would attract the young, Palestine badge wearing brigade

ZedLeg wrote: Sat May 09, 2026 11:15 am On the other hand, police brutality is police brutality. It doesn’t matter if the person they’re penalty kicking in the head is a piece of shit or not. They shouldn’t be doing that.

Nothing to do with whether he’s a piece of shit or not, he had not released the knife in his hand. In that situation they have the right to use whatever means necessary UNTIL he is disarmed imo.

Mito Man wrote: Sat May 09, 2026 11:24 am

Rich B wrote: Sat May 09, 2026 11:04 am IMO.

Zach P and green have done a great job of coming across as normal, but i can’t help think they’ll never quite make it because of a few policies which will never be popular, and to be honest will completely preclude many from voting green.

legalising drugs & lowering speed limits

sounds daft, but no one will vote for a party who want to lower motorway speed limits to 55 and make cannabis legal.

Then there’s his recent outcry to the police kicking the guy with a knife who’d just stabbed 2 people. That went down like a shit brick with the majority of the country (including people in the green party).

I think that’s some of their more sensible policies seeing as half the stuff they came up with contradicted itself in reality and would never be achievable

Give specific examples, just stating “stuff” is how we end up in these situations!

Rich B wrote: Sat May 09, 2026 11:46 am

ZedLeg wrote: Sat May 09, 2026 11:15 am On the other hand, police brutality is police brutality. It doesn’t matter if the person they’re penalty kicking in the head is a piece of shit or not. They shouldn’t be doing that.

Nothing to do with whether he’s a piece of shit or not, he had not released the knife in his hand. In that situation they have the right to use whatever means necessary UNTIL he is disarmed imo.

While they were kicking him in the head the Jewish security guy was isolating his arm and disarming him. That was the right thing to do.

Jumping on someone’s head isn’t a self defence or control technique. If that was a saturday night fight the video footage would be enough to bump the charge from assault to attempted murder.