UK Politics
- Thread starter CriedWhenBrucieLeft
- Start date
UpTheIrons
Ancient Mariner
After an appalling rout in the local and regiomal elections, outflanked on both left and right, the Labour internal opposition seem to be putting all their chips on 'the King of the North' Andy Burnham as their saviour.
He is standing for election in the Makerfield constituency after the sitting MP resigned to make way for him, the council wards in this seat were a clean sweep for Reform UK in the locals so they are banking heavily on Burnham's personal popularity to carry the day.
As a Southerner I don't know to what extent he is known and loved in Manchester, but this will definitely go down as one of the most important by-elections in recent history. In fact, I would go so far as to say if Burnham can't beat Reform here, the Labour party is essentially finished in its current form.
He is standing for election in the Makerfield constituency after the sitting MP resigned to make way for him, the council wards in this seat were a clean sweep for Reform UK in the locals so they are banking heavily on Burnham's personal popularity to carry the day.
As a Southerner I don't know to what extent he is known and loved in Manchester, but this will definitely go down as one of the most important by-elections in recent history. In fact, I would go so far as to say if Burnham can't beat Reform here, the Labour party is essentially finished in its current form.
Trevoire
Ancient Mariner
Honestly I think Labour are finished either way. They've completely abandoned the working class for the last 30 years so they have no real voter base left.
As soon as someone came along who actually advocated to help normal people and make society fairer Labour decided it was their mission to destroy him. Corporate interests come first after all.
Years of Tory corruption gave Labour their one chance to take things back, but they're still hooked on Neoliberalism, so helping the working class is not a priority.
Reform have taken right wing policies and Trumpism, wrapped it up in an England flag, seasoned it with decades of the media screaming about immigration, and convinced working people that all their problems are caused by foreigners. It's Brexit all over again.
It's interesting that the Greens look like they could be the only hope to save the UK from Reform. But the media already have their knives out for Polanski.
He's somehow anti semetic despite being Jewish. The house boat council tax story got more coverage then Farages £5 million gift.
Overall I think the UK is absolutely fucked.
As soon as someone came along who actually advocated to help normal people and make society fairer Labour decided it was their mission to destroy him. Corporate interests come first after all.
Years of Tory corruption gave Labour their one chance to take things back, but they're still hooked on Neoliberalism, so helping the working class is not a priority.
Reform have taken right wing policies and Trumpism, wrapped it up in an England flag, seasoned it with decades of the media screaming about immigration, and convinced working people that all their problems are caused by foreigners. It's Brexit all over again.
It's interesting that the Greens look like they could be the only hope to save the UK from Reform. But the media already have their knives out for Polanski.
He's somehow anti semetic despite being Jewish. The house boat council tax story got more coverage then Farages £5 million gift.
Overall I think the UK is absolutely fucked.
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
You are sadly right, although I would argue that many of/most Reform UK’s policies are far right.
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GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
The far right are scum, but you can always laugh at them.
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
____no5
Free Man
I’ve always had the impression that Corbyn’s heart was in the right place (which is on the left, where hearts tend to be). He seemed genuinely principled.
Unsurprisingly, he was heavily undermined; it’s hard to imagine someone like him ever being allowed to govern the UK nowadays or at any time. I have no living memory of a governing Labor Party truly on the left in the UK.
Aggelos
Ancient Mariner
Unfortunately, for some time now, the UK has joined the club of countries that don't have a left. They have a right, a less right and a far more right.
UpTheIrons
Ancient Mariner
All it really means is that Labour have over 400 sitting MPs but none of them are competent or charismatic enough to surpass even the mediocre drudgery of Starmer.
Wogmidget
Shitpost bot
Many of whom are new, owe their jobs to Starmer on some level, and are probably quite content to take the MP's salary for a few more years before slinking off. It's ironic that despite everything he's in a pretty secure position within his own party.
Fozzie4
Nil satis nisi optimum
Two tier Policing anyone?
It`s bad enough having scum like the murderer on our streets but racists Policing them too.
This country is a real shit show.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...rous-undercurrent-after-murder-of-henry-nowak
It`s bad enough having scum like the murderer on our streets but racists Policing them too.
This country is a real shit show.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...rous-undercurrent-after-murder-of-henry-nowak
Azas
The Holy Fact-Checker
Not long ago, I started following John Cleese (Monthy Python) on Twitter. Oh boy...
I realize that he often reposts questionable stories, fake news, and what many would consider far-right talking points. Even so, I’m beginning to perceive England as a somewhat broken country.
I don’t support figures like Tommy Robinson or similar personalities. What I do want is a government that maintains firm control over immigration.
That said, I don’t know the realities on the ground - this is purely an outsider’s perspective.
For example, is it actually true that some immigrants are allowed to have several wives and receive welfare benefits for each of them? And if an Englishman wanted two wives, would he be treated the same way? At first glance, that sounds like a double standard.
And what happens if growing numbers of immigrants become offended by Christmas celebrations in public spaces?
At some point, very different cultures can clash. I don’t fully understand these policies, and perhaps that’s my problem. If the British public is comfortable with them, then it’s ultimately their business.
Still, as an outsider, I can see how powerful modern media can be and how quickly people can become radicalized. One thing seems clear: if at least some of these stories are true, and serious problems are building up while the government turns a blind eye and insists everything is fine, then nobody should be surprised if the next election produces a dramatic backlash.
I’m not particularly familiar with UK political parties, and I certainly wouldn’t vote for Farage’s party or any far-right movement. But I also wouldn’t vote for a party that has no intention of addressing immigration levels or perceived double standards.
Take this as the perspective of a complete outsider - perhaps one who has consumed too much right-wing media. I genuinely don’t wish immigrants any harm. But when allowing large numbers of people from very different cultural backgrounds into a country, it seems important to think carefully about the interests, concerns, and integration of existing citizens as well.
It’s a very complex issue. Just my two pence.
I realize that he often reposts questionable stories, fake news, and what many would consider far-right talking points. Even so, I’m beginning to perceive England as a somewhat broken country.
I don’t support figures like Tommy Robinson or similar personalities. What I do want is a government that maintains firm control over immigration.
That said, I don’t know the realities on the ground - this is purely an outsider’s perspective.
For example, is it actually true that some immigrants are allowed to have several wives and receive welfare benefits for each of them? And if an Englishman wanted two wives, would he be treated the same way? At first glance, that sounds like a double standard.
And what happens if growing numbers of immigrants become offended by Christmas celebrations in public spaces?
At some point, very different cultures can clash. I don’t fully understand these policies, and perhaps that’s my problem. If the British public is comfortable with them, then it’s ultimately their business.
Still, as an outsider, I can see how powerful modern media can be and how quickly people can become radicalized. One thing seems clear: if at least some of these stories are true, and serious problems are building up while the government turns a blind eye and insists everything is fine, then nobody should be surprised if the next election produces a dramatic backlash.
I’m not particularly familiar with UK political parties, and I certainly wouldn’t vote for Farage’s party or any far-right movement. But I also wouldn’t vote for a party that has no intention of addressing immigration levels or perceived double standards.
Take this as the perspective of a complete outsider - perhaps one who has consumed too much right-wing media. I genuinely don’t wish immigrants any harm. But when allowing large numbers of people from very different cultural backgrounds into a country, it seems important to think carefully about the interests, concerns, and integration of existing citizens as well.
It’s a very complex issue. Just my two pence.
UpTheIrons
Ancient Mariner
Between stories like this and the rape gang scandal, a large number of the electorate will vote for whoever will deal with such matters permanently. The legacy parties have only themselves to blame for ceding such ground to those they decry as 'extremists'.
Trevoire
Ancient Mariner
You've answered your own question there.
The entire point of right wing propaganda is to make out that everything is broken, and it can only be fixed by getting rid of immigrants and cutting taxes for rich people.
The War on Christmas is one of the most blatantly absurd things that I can't believe anyone still falls for.
The claim about multiple wives seems to be bullshit too:
"Polygamous marriages are illegal in the UK
Universal Credit does not recognise polygamous households in the benefit system. Any adults living in the household would each have to claim as a single person on the basis of their own circumstances.
Benefits such as Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Housing Benefit do recognise a small number of polygamous marriages which took place in a jurisdiction where polygamy is permitted. This number is very small and declining, since the Immigration Act 1988, it has not been possible for people polygamously married overseas to bring second wives to the UK through the spouse visa route."