4 ms·

Just wandering in to this as a relative political bystander, but as I look at the polling out of the UK [0] I see that the party currently leading is some group

by roenxi 5mo ago

Just wandering in to this as a relative political bystander, but as I look at the polling out of the UK [0] I see that the party currently leading is some group called "REF" and I gather they did pretty well in the latest round of elections. I assume they're an old-established party who represent the deep contentment the British have with how the public service has been run. I suppose they do seem a little unpopular, they aren't breaking 30% but they seem relatively popular compared to the more fringe groups like, say, LAB and CON. Have they, in what I assume is decades of stable political governance, made any mistakes that might have engendered this ideological distrust in how well the political system is managed? [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_United_Kingdom_general_election https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_U...

tim333 5mo ago
Reform are the new Trump like, kick the immigrants out party. I don't know if they'd achieve the operational excellence that Trump and DOGE have.
pjc50 5mo ago
While you've clearly mastered the tone of supercilious sarcasm that is the mainstay of British politics, I should point out to the audience that the Farage party is entirely the billionaire and foreign propaganda party, which is why they are successful. See eg https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c072prlxlddo https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c072prlxlddo Meanwhile, at least eight of their councilors elected last week have quit already due to comedy levels of misconduct. https://www.markpack.org.uk/176783/how-many-councillors-has-reform-uk-lost-since-the-may-2026-elections/ https://www.markpack.org.uk/176783/how-many-councillors-has-...
- roenxi 5mo ago
  So, in a moment of clarification, your official position on this one is going to be that the 2 majors are at high risk of being knocked into 3rd/4th place by the greens, and this isn't a reflection on their failures of governance over the decades? I'm not actually sure what you're proposing you think the major reasons are, since that article is just a reminder that people with money have noticed what a disaster the EU is too, not just average voters. > While you've clearly mastered the tone of supercilious sarcasm that is the mainstay of British politics... I will admit a feeling of loss that I couldn't work in "unstained escutcheon" but that would be too obscure a reference. I doubt Rees-Mogg would have baulked. > Meanwhile, at least eight of their councilors elected last week have quit already due to comedy levels of misconduct. And a supplementary question - do you feel this is "ideological mistrust of the public sector" coming through? Or is it something else when you do it?

by roenxi 5mo ago

tim333 5mo ago

Reform are the new Trump like, kick the immigrants out party. I don't know if they'd achieve the operational excellence that Trump and DOGE have.

pjc50 5mo ago

While you've clearly mastered the tone of supercilious sarcasm that is the mainstay of British politics, I should point out to the audience that the Farage party is entirely the billionaire and foreign propaganda party, which is why they are successful. See eg https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c072prlxlddo https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c072prlxlddo Meanwhile, at least eight of their councilors elected last week have quit already due to comedy levels of misconduct. https://www.markpack.org.uk/176783/how-many-councillors-has-reform-uk-lost-since-the-may-2026-elections/ https://www.markpack.org.uk/176783/how-many-councillors-has-...

roenxi 5mo ago
So, in a moment of clarification, your official position on this one is going to be that the 2 majors are at high risk of being knocked into 3rd/4th place by the greens, and this isn't a reflection on their failures of governance over the decades? I'm not actually sure what you're proposing you think the major reasons are, since that article is just a reminder that people with money have noticed what a disaster the EU is too, not just average voters. > While you've clearly mastered the tone of supercilious sarcasm that is the mainstay of British politics... I will admit a feeling of loss that I couldn't work in "unstained escutcheon" but that would be too obscure a reference. I doubt Rees-Mogg would have baulked. > Meanwhile, at least eight of their councilors elected last week have quit already due to comedy levels of misconduct. And a supplementary question - do you feel this is "ideological mistrust of the public sector" coming through? Or is it something else when you do it?