It is a dangerous and possibly catastrophic mistake to assume that Reform will automatically be incompetent, or at least incompetent to a degree that makes them unelectable. (Their supporters are the people least likely to look closely at what's going on, so they only need a veneer of competence.)
I’m hoping that they have peaked too soon which gives everyone the chance to see their true colours. Ever the optimist!
Labour never misses a chance to lend credibility to Reform’s immigrant-bashing agenda, so I wouldn’t bank on it. The latest is Keir Starmer’s ridiculous“Pro-flags” comment… Quote: “I’m very encouraging of flags. I think they’re patriotic and I think they’re a great symbol of our nation.”
I agree. Their supporters are the least likely to look closer. Reform is a deceivingly nice name for a party as that is what everybody wants.
"Give 'em a chance, they can't be worse than the last lot" is the uninformed voter's favourite chant.* And there are way more than enough uninformed voters to elect Reform. (See also Brexit: "Give it a go, we can't be worse off than we are now.")
They probably won't be as incompetent as Trump, and he proved more electable than worthless liberals. I think your best shot is to focus on a new left wing parth, but agree with Labor that whichever candidate for each seat is less popular among the two drops out.
True. As shown in the recent county elections.
The fickleness of voters is at times hard to comprehend. No sooner have they all jumped on the “change” train, and finding that train not living up to expectations, eagerly await the next’s arrival. Perhaps everyone should be forced to take a competency exam before gaining the right to vote.
Competence is not a major concern for Deform supporters, they want other people's lives to get worse more than they want their own lives to get better
their supporters don't care about competence at all.
True. They are backed by a well developed plan in the US far right, that same people controlling the Trump presidency that ultimately leads to the Kremlin.
Agree. To the relatively uninformed they will sound competent. It's only if they actually have to do any governing that their incompetence will rapidly become apparent.
Very true. Their “patriotic” supporters painted the flag of Denmark on a roundabout, having got confused about where to put the red and white paint. They won’t care as long as the PM is white, smokes, and drinks pints - even if he doesn’t really ;)
When your government operates happily and comfortably on bad information, bigotry, and fraud and aims only for profit and retention of power, competence takes a very different form. Do not assume that their incompetence will help you regain power or undo damage. Your friends in the USA
In other words, they have to be beaten by beating them, not by waiting for an implosion that may never come.
The learning curve from the Democrats in US is fairly obvious, and they elected a convicted Criminal and handed him unlimited power to pardon his followers and legal immunity.
Yes - beat me to it! Both in 2016 and 2024 the Democrats failed to take the threat of Trump seriously. The delay in prosecuting him for Jan 6 - the idea that his known record would put people off and then calling him “weird” thinking that would somehow dissuade MAGA. All completely disastrous.
And if other things have improved from now until the next election, then they will promote them as a win, once in office.
They will be incompetent. They are incompetent at council level and when it comes to coherent policy. But you are right, will not stop them attracting votes without significant attention being brought to bear. They are some people’s “they can’t be any worse” option. They really can.
I don’t think they even care about the veneer. It’s the unfiltered hatred that captures them.
I just think people underestimate them. They have a huge warchest and a lot of people to draw on. Somewhere in that mess there may be a veneer of competence to be found.
Clearly we underestimate them at our own peril. I guess hate is a very powerful drug.