CAN WE GET THE PARTY STARTED?

How to react to the Reform Party in the UK and to Nigel Farage in particular? This is a question I hinted at in my blog about Keir Starmer’s current response to criticism and presumed concerns of the British public as expressed by Mr Farage and Ms Badenoch. The emphasis being put on “stopping the boats” as the foremost concern of the British public is misplaced. Yes, it is a problem, and yes, it has been given priority coverage in the media because of the activities of Tommy Robinson; but, that is not a reason for allowing these displays of bigotry and racism to dictate the government’s agenda on dealing with the problem. Nor should the Prime Minister be seen to be taking advice from the likes of Trump about using the armed services. Should the navy be shooting them out of the water? How insane is that? 

The boats are one problem and the encouragement of right wing nationalism is another. They both have to be dealt with, but not by allowing the right wing to dictate the schedule. Once again Jonathan Freedland, in the Guardian, has stated the case in a piece entitled “Trump has dragged the US to the abyss and Nigel Farage would do the same to Britain. Here’s how to stop him”. I urge you to read the article which can be found at:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/sep/19/donald-trump-us-abyss-nigel-farage-britain

I realise that the Reform party seems to be gathering an extraordinary amount of support in certain polls and as a result has garnered more publicity in the media, but that is mere puff. It does not actually represent the majority of the British public’s view. At least I don’t believe it. That may be my problem; however, it is clearly not something that can be ignored and the current Labour government must find an effective way of dealing with it, and not scrabble around like headless chickens. Surely there must be informed political strategists within the party that can find a way. If there are not, then we are in serious trouble.

I guess I am just an elderly man, now only fit for the older persons assessment unit at Guy’s Hospital. Whatever political strategies I may have contemplated or even promoted are long past my use by date. I never really put them into practice in any event. I am a sideline critic. Nonetheless, speaking from the spectator’s stand is what remains. I have never been asked to participate in a poll. I have never been part of a sought after percentage of a point of view, but I can still be a minute part of the conversation.

Some You Gov polls to contemplate from August 2024:

It would seem that the main concerns all round are the environment, feminism, liberalism and socialism. Most britons it would appear do not favour Reform, or indeed the Conservative Party any longer. One would have thought that would offer some measure of relief for the government and they could react accordingly. Why are they therefore obsessed by what Farage thinks or does, and why does the media have such a fixation about asking what the Government thinks of Reform’s popularity in the polls? What polls are favouring the Reform Party? Why is Nigel Farage as the next Prime Minister even a question? It’s clearly ludicrous. It must be coming from that over 65 classification. But no one I know over 65 even thinks of him as a serious politician. He is a blowhard and would be Trumpian stooge. He invents statistics and lies about ‘the British people’s needs and wants’. It’s what he wants, not the British people. Why is there no real pushback in the media? 

In effect, enough is enough. Is it not time to draw a line and get on with reality and show some direction of thought? If one must respond to the polls, why not respond to ones that matter? All I have left is questions, like what on earth are Corbyn and Sultana up to? It’s clearly no way to get the party started. Put away the champagne, this is not the time.