Before Mandleson even....Labour voters must be sick. https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/uk-opinion-polls/voting-intention-polls-and-trends
I wonder if they can keep the momentum for anouther 4 years. Farage and Reform are in such a great position, farage can do no wrong...even when he is, some politicians have that blind loyalty, Boris, trump, Farage. Even if he was PM and the country went down the toilet it would always be someone else fault, just like brexit, it didnt go well but it wasnt brexit it was because it wasnt implemented correctly and all his followers nod along.
Does feel like some sort of rules need to be in place for defections. I don't get how you can defect from a party, and manifesto, that you stood for election for just over 12 months ago. And as far as I could tell weren't exactly at odds with before the defection, it is just blatant careerism. I think unless you have lost the whip, or been suspended, then you shouldn't be allowed to defect without triggering a byelection. Then it is put your money where your mouth is time. Tory MP Danny Kruger defects to Nigel Farage’s Reform – POLITICO
Manifestos mean nothing ....Labour said spending would be 9.6billion....they're at 76 billion already. Reform will be just another elite party also.
I see a Labour Councillor on Stevenage Council has defected to Reform UK so it's not only Tories jumping ship.
Spot on! I mean in a hypothetical world, what is stopping 400 MPs standing for Labour in a general election but with the full intention of defecting to Reform as soon as they win their seat?
I had an email earlier today from Reform UK asking me as a member of the party do i want to stand as a candidate for the Wells And Mendips in the next general election,i might think about it.
I don't think Reform are in as strong a position at the moment as some might have us believe. The main reason for that, though by no means the only one, is time. If we were only a year or two out from the next election, I'd be a lot more concerned than I am now. But with nearly four years still to run, if the current Parliament goes its full term, I struggle to see how Reform can maintain their current standing to a point that they would go into the next election with a serious shot at getting into government. History tells us how difficult it is for third parties to break through and sustain their momentum within our electoral system. If Labour can deliver tangible improvements in key policy areas before the next election, and by that I principally mean the economy and public services, then the temptation for disillusioned voters to seek an extreme alternative will be reduced. Reform also has a number of its own challenges that it needs to overcome if it is to maintain or improve its current standing. Its leader, for all the impact he has had on our politics, is yet to experience what could be described as sustained electoral success and the Lowe/Musk saga earlier this year demonstrated that his flaws in the role are known even among those who apparently share his political views. The broad trend of recent defections gives the party the impression of being a political refuge for Conservative has-beens and there is a difficult and ongoing balance to be struck between seeking to distance itself from the kind of people who inspired the London march at the weekend (whether inside or outside the ranks of their candidates) and seeking the votes of those who attended it. Above all, though, Reform will have a record of their own in office to defend at the time of the next election and the early indications are it will not be a pretty one. None of this is to suggest that the threat from Reform can be taken lightly. It can't. But I do think there is a danger of them benefiting from a hype that their standing and representation do not merit.
Agreed, I've said this several times. If 'a week is a long time in politics' 44 months is an eternity. Perhaps this is why Corbyn's new party is staying so low-key, not even really naming itself, because it's too early and would give our right wing press several years to badmouth it? Meanwhile:
I think that's why Starmer will be PM a while longer. Better to let him take more flack before ousting him.
There is absolutely no chance of a party led by Corbyn getting elected, whether the press get enough time to bad mouth him or not.
I meant that from the perspective of Labour MPs. They are better off letting Starmer and Reeves continue a while longer, and replace him as lead closer to the election date.
