Good article - yet the mainstream media continue to give Farage disproportionate air time. When did you last hear from a Green party MP, although they have as many MPs in Westminster. I'm afraid that I know several well educated people who are taken in by Farage's rhetoric. There can be no doubting his communication skills.
I absolutely agree with your thoughts here (and it looks like a few others did too)! I refer you to my response to Steve on the issue of Farage’s airtime. Sigh.
Your point on Farage’s strength as a communicator is absolutely right - and yet still is underestimated by the left and centre. The fact is - Farage is better at politics than any MP I can think of in the current Labour government, and certainly in the Conservative Party. He is able to exploit anger by convincing people it is ‘the system’ and ‘the Westminster blob’ that has failed them. And after 14 years of Tory failure and a *mixed* start by this government - you can see why that rhetoric carries weight.
It’s a big reason I believe Labour’s best opponent to Farage would be Andy Burnham. Being an ‘outsider’ (from Westminster) since 2017 could be a huge electoral asset for him. But most importantly, he understands that so many of the issues we face stem from fundamental failures in our democratic institutions, which prevent us seeing the policies the majority of us want to see. It’s something that could definitely be changed through a move to proportional representation (I refer you to my colleague Rose’s excellent article on this subject). Andy believes passionately in PR and a big upgrade to our democracy - and I think he can communicate that to the electorate far better than Keir or anyone in the Cabinet can.
Similarly, I am very intrigued to see the outcome of the current Greens’ leadership contest. I am pleased that a commitment to PR is absolutely central to the Ramsay-Chowns campaign (Chowns being the Vice-Chair of the APPG for Fair Elections, powered by Open Britain), but I think in terms of a communicator to go up against Farage and the far-right - Zack Polanski offers something incredibly fresh and exciting. Let’s see what their membership concludes…
Once again, thank you for your comment. And rest assured, Diana, if you’re as fed up with the mainstream media as I am - Ugly Politix is the place for you!
Why on earth would anyone expect ANYTHING else from Farrago the Fascist. The man is about as bright a spark as his hero trumpty dumpty. His Deform party is a joke, which, if it gained any kind of power, would bankrupt the country within a week, just as the NAZI in the White House has done to the U.S.A. I just bet if it came to the point of debate with a SOCIALIST with a HEART, he would be totally out of his depth because he is a 'don't care' who just wants to bask in the limelight for as long as he can. Jeremy Corbyn is worth a million farragos and the sooner we get the new party up and running, the sooner we can start dragging this country back out of the sewer where it has been since the days of the old bag thatcher, and was ably assisted & continued by Tory B LIar and his totally wasted 13 years of office !
Thank you for your comment, Alan. Such passionate thoughts will always be welcome in my comment section - especially those in opposition to some of the political figures you name.
I, like you, am encouraged by the new party (ignoring the disastrous comms around it thus far). If I’m being completely honest though, I am enthused more by the politics of the party than the party itself. I am just as supportive of those who choose to stay within the PLP and fight for the causes they believe in on the inside (Ian Byrne and Clive Lewis, to name two), as I am by JC and ZS forming a new band. The government got what it deserved in the welfare vote in early July - and we need more of that - wherever it comes from.
We’ll see where things go. One thing which is clear is that the new party makes the case for a move to PR even more irrefutable than it was before. It’s an issue Open Britain is leading on - and one which we will continue to highlight on Ugly Politix.
Thanks again for the comment, Alan - and I look forward to hearing from you again!
Farage is literally copying from Trumps playbook on a number of topics. Trump has no real economic policies either, except for running his own country towards bankruptcy while lining his and his corrupt pedo buddies pockets and breaking slowly basic civil rights ALL should have . That is where Farage will go. He's being funded by Musk anyway, isn't he? If young( or old) people think he really cares about their day to day problems they are doing the same as MAGA voters , who are now discovering that so far NONE of what Trump said would happen has happened regarding their domestic economics- same will happen with Farage. Farage has spent his political career putting his foot in and out of the water - for financial benefit only.
You raise a number of great points here, Cindy. Farage is definitely trying to replicate a winning formula from Trump, particularly on immigration, crime, and the supposed links between the two.
Whilst I also agree Farage has been in it for the money for much of his career (taking advantage of his stock being so high after the Brexit vote, for example), I fear the story is slightly different this time. With the very real prospect of Reform winning the next election, I think he has his eyes set on No 10. And as you say, when a person likely to be our next Prime Minister is motivated entirely by his own self-interest, and is willing to do whatever it takes to get there - that’s a very dangerous situation.
Thank you for your comment, Cindy. Stay tuned for more from me on Ugly Politix - I look forward to hearing from you again!
Can I ask you if there has been any open debate about the Peter Thiel company Palantir which can surveil online/ computer activity? Peter Thiel is a major sponsor behind Trump , of similar mindset to or worse and the German police have just accepted using some of the programming software.. Opinions?
I agree, Alan. As I’ve said in a couple of replies on here, I was dismayed by (within an hour of publishing this article last week) Yvette Cooper caving to the pressure from Farage, and stating publicly that police should begin releasing such information. Not only is this a needless and dangerous idea for our legal system, but it shows how easily the government can be bullied into rash decisions by Farage. Sadly, it’s not the only example - it has been the same story with small boats and legal immigration - culminating in the absurd ‘island of strangers’ speech a couple of months ago.
I have given your Substack a read - and it appears you have felt this way from early on in this government. I share your concerns over this government trying to outflank Reform on the right. Firstly, because it isn’t reflective of the manifesto Labour was elected upon. Secondly, because I loathe this politics. And thirdly, because if people want this form of politics, they’ll vote for it in 2029. And in a contest to outflank each other on the right between Starmer and Farage - I know who my money is on.
I, like you, am encouraged by the new party on the left (ignoring the disastrous comms around it thus far). If I’m being completely honest though, I am enthused more by the politics of the party than the party itself. I am just as supportive of those who choose to stay within the PLP and fight for the causes they believe in on the inside (Ian Byrne and Clive Lewis, to name two), as I am by JC and ZS forming a new band. The government got what it deserved in the welfare vote in early July - and we need more of that - wherever it comes from.
Thank you for your great comment, Alan (and for sharing your insightful Substack)! I look forward to hearing from you on another one of my posts - stay tuned for more from Ugly Politix!
Quite right, Oliver. Sadly, we know the answer - it would help Reform, and the anti-immigration message it seeks to make hay from. I was both surprised and disappointed that (within an hour of posting this article last week) Yvette Cooper caved to the pressure from Farage, and stated publicly that police should begin releasing such information. Not only is that a needless and dangerous idea for our legal system, but it showed how easily the government can be bullied into rash decisions by Farage. A very concerning precedent. Anyways - thank you for your comment Oliver - stayed tuned for more from Ugly Politix!
I fail to see how anyone with even the slightest element of intelligence can support idiot Farage. The man who likes the sound of his own voice just like the orange idiot across the pond!!
I struggle with it too, David. Unfortunately, like the orange idiot, they share the quality of being to communicate with the angry and disillusioned. Farage is more polished than Trump is, but they both find their ways to get their message across. To cut through with their supporters, the messaging against them needs to be a lot stronger, and the media needs to play its part. That’s what we’re trying to do here on Ugly Politix. So thank you for reading and commenting, David - and I hope to hear from you again soon!
"All Fear, No Fixes", "Effective opposition requires more than identifying problems"
Both are very valid observations regarding Farage's methods, but sadly I think you could argue they also apply to our response to him.
We, or at least those of us who take an interest, know he is a problem.
But what are we going to do about it? What are 'the Fixes'? What is the plan? How do we inform and convince those who fall for his words that he is not the answer to their problems? How do we get the media to properly hold him to account?
Thank you for your comment Ron - and it’s an incredibly important one. It’s a very scary but very real thought that Nigel Farage could be the next Prime Minister of this country. And I don’t think there’s any one or two solutions to avoiding this eventuality. It has to be a perfect storm of a number of factors. Here’s a few:
- From the top down approach, government has to do better. I am encouraged that Labour appears to (slowly) be waking up to the size of the threat posed by Reform - but I still think their response to this threat is woefully inadequate. Firstly, Labour has to pursue the agenda upon which it was elected. Their ‘Change’ mandate promised stronger public services, ambitious house building targets, a green new deal, and huge capital projects to set Britain up for a decade of national renewal. Any good work towards these goals (and there has been some) is undermined by penny-pinching on Winter Fuel, welfare, and employee NI. If Labour wants to get serious about fulfilling its objectives, it needs to find the money from somewhere. The majority of the public is now behind a wealth tax on the super rich (2% on assets worth over £10m). Sadly, we don’t see this because of winner-takes-all politics, entrenched by a voting system that isn’t fit for purpose. I’ll come on to this shortly - but if you’re really interested in the relationship between the two - I point you in the direction of my colleague Rose’s piece on this.
- Similar to pursuing the centre-left agenda upon which they were elected - they must stop kowtowing to the right - but in particular to Reform. The decision of Yvette Cooper to apply pressure on the police to reveal the ethnicity and immigration status of criminals (within the same hour of me publishing this article) is the exact kind of policy which is hurting this government. Not only does it look weak for being bullied into the decision by Farage, but it demonstrates a fundamental a lack of direction of government. But more importantly, Labour won’t win a battle trying to outflank Reform on the right. If people want the right, they’ll vote for the real thing.
- On a practical level, I think government should be using its immense manpower to oppose Reform, and undermine its unserious agenda, as much as possible, and as publicly as possible. The fact is - Labour still has about 80 times the number of MPs Reform does - so use this numerical advantage to make sure everything they say and do faces the scrutiny befitting of a party that wants to get into power. This is particularly important for MPs in areas where Reform now has a record to defend at local level - be on their backs constantly.
- However, the most fundamental thing Labour can do is fix the critical flaws in our democracy. As alluded to earlier, there is none greater than our voting system. A change from winner-takes-all FPTP to PR will not only be, by its very nature, more representative and democratic, but it will make governments far more likely to pursue agendas which truly reflect the will of the people. It would give the British people a Parliament that listens not only when we go to the ballot boxes, but one that is forced to listen constantly - and that is true democracy. In addition to this, from a very practical standpoint, Reform is currently polling at 30-32%. That is enough to get the springboard to a majority under FPTP - and indeed some pollsters have Reform on course for a majority in 2029. PR is an absolute must - and it’s an issue Open Britain is leading the way on.
- Firstly, we need to force the small and manageable change that we can effect. The issue of PR is one example - it’s a cause the British people should be screaming for - now more than ever. And it looks like more and more are (60% now pro PR) - but it’s the kind of issue that must be central to our politics until it is implemented. It’s so difficult and time consuming to force government to implement policies we want all of the time - it’s much easier to pressure them into this one change that means would mean they ALWAYS have to listen to us. In summary - make PR the most important cause of the British people.
- Secondly - start holding them to account where they have power NOW. I’m lucky enough to not live in a constituency, council, or authority with any Reform presence - but I know many who do since May - and I say the same things to them. They now have a record to defend - so hold them to account over it. See a pothole? Write an email. Library closing down? Start a campaign. Concerned about DOGE teams stealing your data? Ask about the implications for GDPR. The reality is, they’re already failing all around the country. The more people who can see that around the country before 2029, the better.
- Finally, seek the best information possible, and share it with those who need to see it most. Now is not the time to turn away from the tough conversations and truths of the threat Reform and the far-right poses. We all have to do our best to expose their lies and mistruths, especially if the mainstream media are not doing this. That’s what we’re trying to do at Open Britain, and especially here on Ugly Politix - so thank you for your support.
Thank you for indulging my reply - I think your question was so important as to warrant a response of this length. The ‘what can I do about this?’ question is one I ask myself everyday about the state of our country and democracy. Ultimately, do your best to do your best, I think. I’ll get some right, I’ll get some wrong. But whatever happens, I’ll be on the right side of history. Thanks again for your comment, Ron - I hope to hear from you again.
James - thanks for replying to my comment and so fully. I agree with your thoughts, especially on what Labour needs to do but I do worry that they don't seem to be. I write regularly to my MP but she seems more interested in attending local constituency coffee mornings than really addressing the big issues. I sign petitions every day, and was complaining to the BBC about their disproportionate platforming of Farage as long ago as 2018. Wish it had more effect.
I share your fears, Ron. I am concerned far too few Labour MPs are awake to how aggressive the threat posed by Reform is - and whether or not they are ‘up for the fight’. You seem to be along the right lines though - I just hope others are as engaged and motivated as you are - particularly on the matter of opposing Farage. If you enjoyed this Substack, I’d kindly point you in the direction of my newest one - where I attempt to explain the worrying trend in young people favouring authoritarianism to democracy. Likes, comments, and restacks always appreciated! Take care - and thanks again for engaging.
I agree Liz - Nigel Farage has only ever, and will only ever, be interested in what’s best for Nigel Farage. And owing to that, he is more than happy to lean on his support from the far-right as a means to his political ends. In my eyes, that makes him only as good as them.
Sadly, I believe he does have one very important redeeming feature - he plays politics very well - or at least far better than any of his adversaries at present. Part of this is due to his communication skills, part of this is thanks to his kid gloving by the media (I discuss both of these in depth in other replies in this comment section) - but either way - it’s what makes him so appealing not only to the far-right, but to so many ordinary people at the moment.
It’s the job of those of us who see him for what he is to push back against him - and that’s what Open Britain is doing, and what we’ll be doing increasingly here, on Ugly Politix.
Thank you for your comment, Liz - I look forward to hearing from you again!
I may just be down to visit, David. Believe it or not, shortly after publishing this piece, a fella on a bike tried to have my phone off me in North London. White British, by the way.
Anyways, North Devon sounds lovely. And I’m a fan of a cream tea (clotted cream first, of course). Thanks for the comment - I hope to see you on another post!
All this is true but what can we do about it when the mainstream media prints every single word that arsehole says. MSM that is read by the bigoted that is believed by the racists that has any undue influence on every single person in this country. What seriously can be done against this level of propaganda. Russians living in the Soviet era weren't subjected to much more than we are getting now. Absolutely despair of this country
I share your concerns over the state of journalism in our country, Steve. It’s to be expected of the typical bile-printing rags (the S*n, the Mail, the Express, et al) - but even the The Telegraph has caved to a hard right lurch for a couple of years now (you can see from a diminishing number of intelligent right-wingers).
However, I despair most at the airtime Farage, Tice, Yusuf are given by the BBC and Sky News - and how easy a ride they have when they appear. Laura K a particular disappointment. But the standard of journalism everywhere is nowhere near where it needs to be - too many of the questions posed at the crime pressers I discuss were absolute dollies.
But, Steve, it’s the mainsteam media’s failure to do their job properly which is why WE are here. We at Open Britain are committed to providing the best information, unspun and readily available, as quickly as possible. And that’s what myself, Mark, Matt, and Rose are doing here on Ugly Politix. So thank you for reading (and for your comment!) - and I hope to hear more from you in future!
BTW - Gutted by the injury to Madders. He’s a top player, and I had really backed him to kick on under Frank. Would love to know who you might like as a replacement though…
I could not agree more, Colin. His decades-long instigation of the European question, culminating in the referendum, only to declare his ‘work was done’ as soon as the Leave vote came through - is probably the best example of this, for me. He thrives on chaos and disruption, and offers no workable solutions when given real responsibility - we are seeing this already in councils and local authorities where Reform has power. Let’s hope enough people reach our assessment - as I fear we could see the ‘troublemaker’ in No 10 by 2029. Thank you for your comment, Colin - I look forward to hearing your thoughts on my next article!
Since I’ve never heard Farages voice, and watch him with subtitles, I view his so called charisma differently from the way most people seem to. Subtitled Farage isn’t impressive so perhaps everyone should watch him with the sound off and subtitles on. Anyhow, he’ll ruin the UK because, regardless of what he says, he doesn’t care about anything except himself and our MSM appear to support him.
A different James Patrick, Cathy. I know a bit about politics - but pitifully little about thermodynamics. Although that’s probably because I tossed my GCSE chemistry books on to a bonfire.
Good article - yet the mainstream media continue to give Farage disproportionate air time. When did you last hear from a Green party MP, although they have as many MPs in Westminster. I'm afraid that I know several well educated people who are taken in by Farage's rhetoric. There can be no doubting his communication skills.
Thank you for your comment, Diana.
I absolutely agree with your thoughts here (and it looks like a few others did too)! I refer you to my response to Steve on the issue of Farage’s airtime. Sigh.
Your point on Farage’s strength as a communicator is absolutely right - and yet still is underestimated by the left and centre. The fact is - Farage is better at politics than any MP I can think of in the current Labour government, and certainly in the Conservative Party. He is able to exploit anger by convincing people it is ‘the system’ and ‘the Westminster blob’ that has failed them. And after 14 years of Tory failure and a *mixed* start by this government - you can see why that rhetoric carries weight.
It’s a big reason I believe Labour’s best opponent to Farage would be Andy Burnham. Being an ‘outsider’ (from Westminster) since 2017 could be a huge electoral asset for him. But most importantly, he understands that so many of the issues we face stem from fundamental failures in our democratic institutions, which prevent us seeing the policies the majority of us want to see. It’s something that could definitely be changed through a move to proportional representation (I refer you to my colleague Rose’s excellent article on this subject). Andy believes passionately in PR and a big upgrade to our democracy - and I think he can communicate that to the electorate far better than Keir or anyone in the Cabinet can.
Similarly, I am very intrigued to see the outcome of the current Greens’ leadership contest. I am pleased that a commitment to PR is absolutely central to the Ramsay-Chowns campaign (Chowns being the Vice-Chair of the APPG for Fair Elections, powered by Open Britain), but I think in terms of a communicator to go up against Farage and the far-right - Zack Polanski offers something incredibly fresh and exciting. Let’s see what their membership concludes…
Once again, thank you for your comment. And rest assured, Diana, if you’re as fed up with the mainstream media as I am - Ugly Politix is the place for you!
Why on earth would anyone expect ANYTHING else from Farrago the Fascist. The man is about as bright a spark as his hero trumpty dumpty. His Deform party is a joke, which, if it gained any kind of power, would bankrupt the country within a week, just as the NAZI in the White House has done to the U.S.A. I just bet if it came to the point of debate with a SOCIALIST with a HEART, he would be totally out of his depth because he is a 'don't care' who just wants to bask in the limelight for as long as he can. Jeremy Corbyn is worth a million farragos and the sooner we get the new party up and running, the sooner we can start dragging this country back out of the sewer where it has been since the days of the old bag thatcher, and was ably assisted & continued by Tory B LIar and his totally wasted 13 years of office !
Thank you for your comment, Alan. Such passionate thoughts will always be welcome in my comment section - especially those in opposition to some of the political figures you name.
I, like you, am encouraged by the new party (ignoring the disastrous comms around it thus far). If I’m being completely honest though, I am enthused more by the politics of the party than the party itself. I am just as supportive of those who choose to stay within the PLP and fight for the causes they believe in on the inside (Ian Byrne and Clive Lewis, to name two), as I am by JC and ZS forming a new band. The government got what it deserved in the welfare vote in early July - and we need more of that - wherever it comes from.
We’ll see where things go. One thing which is clear is that the new party makes the case for a move to PR even more irrefutable than it was before. It’s an issue Open Britain is leading on - and one which we will continue to highlight on Ugly Politix.
Thanks again for the comment, Alan - and I look forward to hearing from you again!
Hitler promised the Germans a better life and blamed Jews for all the ills in Germany.Look where that led to
If it looks like fascism, and it sounds it fascism…
Farage is literally copying from Trumps playbook on a number of topics. Trump has no real economic policies either, except for running his own country towards bankruptcy while lining his and his corrupt pedo buddies pockets and breaking slowly basic civil rights ALL should have . That is where Farage will go. He's being funded by Musk anyway, isn't he? If young( or old) people think he really cares about their day to day problems they are doing the same as MAGA voters , who are now discovering that so far NONE of what Trump said would happen has happened regarding their domestic economics- same will happen with Farage. Farage has spent his political career putting his foot in and out of the water - for financial benefit only.
You raise a number of great points here, Cindy. Farage is definitely trying to replicate a winning formula from Trump, particularly on immigration, crime, and the supposed links between the two.
Whilst I also agree Farage has been in it for the money for much of his career (taking advantage of his stock being so high after the Brexit vote, for example), I fear the story is slightly different this time. With the very real prospect of Reform winning the next election, I think he has his eyes set on No 10. And as you say, when a person likely to be our next Prime Minister is motivated entirely by his own self-interest, and is willing to do whatever it takes to get there - that’s a very dangerous situation.
Thank you for your comment, Cindy. Stay tuned for more from me on Ugly Politix - I look forward to hearing from you again!
Can I ask you if there has been any open debate about the Peter Thiel company Palantir which can surveil online/ computer activity? Peter Thiel is a major sponsor behind Trump , of similar mindset to or worse and the German police have just accepted using some of the programming software.. Opinions?
And what does Labour do? Capitulate to the Reform agenda: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8rygx2xpy7o
Labour has been doing this for months: https://theleftlane2024.substack.com/p/starmer-doesnt-challenge-the-rise-b00
Reason #37 why we need a new left party.
Alan Story THE LEFT LANE
I agree, Alan. As I’ve said in a couple of replies on here, I was dismayed by (within an hour of publishing this article last week) Yvette Cooper caving to the pressure from Farage, and stating publicly that police should begin releasing such information. Not only is this a needless and dangerous idea for our legal system, but it shows how easily the government can be bullied into rash decisions by Farage. Sadly, it’s not the only example - it has been the same story with small boats and legal immigration - culminating in the absurd ‘island of strangers’ speech a couple of months ago.
I have given your Substack a read - and it appears you have felt this way from early on in this government. I share your concerns over this government trying to outflank Reform on the right. Firstly, because it isn’t reflective of the manifesto Labour was elected upon. Secondly, because I loathe this politics. And thirdly, because if people want this form of politics, they’ll vote for it in 2029. And in a contest to outflank each other on the right between Starmer and Farage - I know who my money is on.
I, like you, am encouraged by the new party on the left (ignoring the disastrous comms around it thus far). If I’m being completely honest though, I am enthused more by the politics of the party than the party itself. I am just as supportive of those who choose to stay within the PLP and fight for the causes they believe in on the inside (Ian Byrne and Clive Lewis, to name two), as I am by JC and ZS forming a new band. The government got what it deserved in the welfare vote in early July - and we need more of that - wherever it comes from.
Thank you for your great comment, Alan (and for sharing your insightful Substack)! I look forward to hearing from you on another one of my posts - stay tuned for more from Ugly Politix!
Thanks. About to take a week off +++ This has been most read piece in THE LEFT LANE history
https://theleftlane2024.substack.com/p/the-democratic-rights-of-your-party
Karie Murphy at the centre of it.
+++++++++
Will soon be a Byline Times podcast ...and a petiton being organised.
https://theleftlane2024.substack.com/p/what-should-be-the-top-priorities-ef0
I do wish someone would ask Reform why releasing the immigration status of alleged criminals would be helpful, and who it would help?
Quite right, Oliver. Sadly, we know the answer - it would help Reform, and the anti-immigration message it seeks to make hay from. I was both surprised and disappointed that (within an hour of posting this article last week) Yvette Cooper caved to the pressure from Farage, and stated publicly that police should begin releasing such information. Not only is that a needless and dangerous idea for our legal system, but it showed how easily the government can be bullied into rash decisions by Farage. A very concerning precedent. Anyways - thank you for your comment Oliver - stayed tuned for more from Ugly Politix!
I fail to see how anyone with even the slightest element of intelligence can support idiot Farage. The man who likes the sound of his own voice just like the orange idiot across the pond!!
I struggle with it too, David. Unfortunately, like the orange idiot, they share the quality of being to communicate with the angry and disillusioned. Farage is more polished than Trump is, but they both find their ways to get their message across. To cut through with their supporters, the messaging against them needs to be a lot stronger, and the media needs to play its part. That’s what we’re trying to do here on Ugly Politix. So thank you for reading and commenting, David - and I hope to hear from you again soon!
"All Fear, No Fixes", "Effective opposition requires more than identifying problems"
Both are very valid observations regarding Farage's methods, but sadly I think you could argue they also apply to our response to him.
We, or at least those of us who take an interest, know he is a problem.
But what are we going to do about it? What are 'the Fixes'? What is the plan? How do we inform and convince those who fall for his words that he is not the answer to their problems? How do we get the media to properly hold him to account?
Thank you for your comment Ron - and it’s an incredibly important one. It’s a very scary but very real thought that Nigel Farage could be the next Prime Minister of this country. And I don’t think there’s any one or two solutions to avoiding this eventuality. It has to be a perfect storm of a number of factors. Here’s a few:
- From the top down approach, government has to do better. I am encouraged that Labour appears to (slowly) be waking up to the size of the threat posed by Reform - but I still think their response to this threat is woefully inadequate. Firstly, Labour has to pursue the agenda upon which it was elected. Their ‘Change’ mandate promised stronger public services, ambitious house building targets, a green new deal, and huge capital projects to set Britain up for a decade of national renewal. Any good work towards these goals (and there has been some) is undermined by penny-pinching on Winter Fuel, welfare, and employee NI. If Labour wants to get serious about fulfilling its objectives, it needs to find the money from somewhere. The majority of the public is now behind a wealth tax on the super rich (2% on assets worth over £10m). Sadly, we don’t see this because of winner-takes-all politics, entrenched by a voting system that isn’t fit for purpose. I’ll come on to this shortly - but if you’re really interested in the relationship between the two - I point you in the direction of my colleague Rose’s piece on this.
- Similar to pursuing the centre-left agenda upon which they were elected - they must stop kowtowing to the right - but in particular to Reform. The decision of Yvette Cooper to apply pressure on the police to reveal the ethnicity and immigration status of criminals (within the same hour of me publishing this article) is the exact kind of policy which is hurting this government. Not only does it look weak for being bullied into the decision by Farage, but it demonstrates a fundamental a lack of direction of government. But more importantly, Labour won’t win a battle trying to outflank Reform on the right. If people want the right, they’ll vote for the real thing.
- On a practical level, I think government should be using its immense manpower to oppose Reform, and undermine its unserious agenda, as much as possible, and as publicly as possible. The fact is - Labour still has about 80 times the number of MPs Reform does - so use this numerical advantage to make sure everything they say and do faces the scrutiny befitting of a party that wants to get into power. This is particularly important for MPs in areas where Reform now has a record to defend at local level - be on their backs constantly.
- However, the most fundamental thing Labour can do is fix the critical flaws in our democracy. As alluded to earlier, there is none greater than our voting system. A change from winner-takes-all FPTP to PR will not only be, by its very nature, more representative and democratic, but it will make governments far more likely to pursue agendas which truly reflect the will of the people. It would give the British people a Parliament that listens not only when we go to the ballot boxes, but one that is forced to listen constantly - and that is true democracy. In addition to this, from a very practical standpoint, Reform is currently polling at 30-32%. That is enough to get the springboard to a majority under FPTP - and indeed some pollsters have Reform on course for a majority in 2029. PR is an absolute must - and it’s an issue Open Britain is leading the way on.
So that covers what government must do…
But what can we do?!
- Firstly, we need to force the small and manageable change that we can effect. The issue of PR is one example - it’s a cause the British people should be screaming for - now more than ever. And it looks like more and more are (60% now pro PR) - but it’s the kind of issue that must be central to our politics until it is implemented. It’s so difficult and time consuming to force government to implement policies we want all of the time - it’s much easier to pressure them into this one change that means would mean they ALWAYS have to listen to us. In summary - make PR the most important cause of the British people.
- Secondly - start holding them to account where they have power NOW. I’m lucky enough to not live in a constituency, council, or authority with any Reform presence - but I know many who do since May - and I say the same things to them. They now have a record to defend - so hold them to account over it. See a pothole? Write an email. Library closing down? Start a campaign. Concerned about DOGE teams stealing your data? Ask about the implications for GDPR. The reality is, they’re already failing all around the country. The more people who can see that around the country before 2029, the better.
- Finally, seek the best information possible, and share it with those who need to see it most. Now is not the time to turn away from the tough conversations and truths of the threat Reform and the far-right poses. We all have to do our best to expose their lies and mistruths, especially if the mainstream media are not doing this. That’s what we’re trying to do at Open Britain, and especially here on Ugly Politix - so thank you for your support.
Thank you for indulging my reply - I think your question was so important as to warrant a response of this length. The ‘what can I do about this?’ question is one I ask myself everyday about the state of our country and democracy. Ultimately, do your best to do your best, I think. I’ll get some right, I’ll get some wrong. But whatever happens, I’ll be on the right side of history. Thanks again for your comment, Ron - I hope to hear from you again.
James - thanks for replying to my comment and so fully. I agree with your thoughts, especially on what Labour needs to do but I do worry that they don't seem to be. I write regularly to my MP but she seems more interested in attending local constituency coffee mornings than really addressing the big issues. I sign petitions every day, and was complaining to the BBC about their disproportionate platforming of Farage as long ago as 2018. Wish it had more effect.
I share your fears, Ron. I am concerned far too few Labour MPs are awake to how aggressive the threat posed by Reform is - and whether or not they are ‘up for the fight’. You seem to be along the right lines though - I just hope others are as engaged and motivated as you are - particularly on the matter of opposing Farage. If you enjoyed this Substack, I’d kindly point you in the direction of my newest one - where I attempt to explain the worrying trend in young people favouring authoritarianism to democracy. Likes, comments, and restacks always appreciated! Take care - and thanks again for engaging.
Farage is interested only in himself. He panders to the hard-of-thinking with his far-right racism. He has not a single redeeming feature.
I agree Liz - Nigel Farage has only ever, and will only ever, be interested in what’s best for Nigel Farage. And owing to that, he is more than happy to lean on his support from the far-right as a means to his political ends. In my eyes, that makes him only as good as them.
Sadly, I believe he does have one very important redeeming feature - he plays politics very well - or at least far better than any of his adversaries at present. Part of this is due to his communication skills, part of this is thanks to his kid gloving by the media (I discuss both of these in depth in other replies in this comment section) - but either way - it’s what makes him so appealing not only to the far-right, but to so many ordinary people at the moment.
It’s the job of those of us who see him for what he is to push back against him - and that’s what Open Britain is doing, and what we’ll be doing increasingly here, on Ugly Politix.
Thank you for your comment, Liz - I look forward to hearing from you again!
Down here in north Devon we have no crime in our postcode
I may just be down to visit, David. Believe it or not, shortly after publishing this piece, a fella on a bike tried to have my phone off me in North London. White British, by the way.
Anyways, North Devon sounds lovely. And I’m a fan of a cream tea (clotted cream first, of course). Thanks for the comment - I hope to see you on another post!
All this is true but what can we do about it when the mainstream media prints every single word that arsehole says. MSM that is read by the bigoted that is believed by the racists that has any undue influence on every single person in this country. What seriously can be done against this level of propaganda. Russians living in the Soviet era weren't subjected to much more than we are getting now. Absolutely despair of this country
I share your concerns over the state of journalism in our country, Steve. It’s to be expected of the typical bile-printing rags (the S*n, the Mail, the Express, et al) - but even the The Telegraph has caved to a hard right lurch for a couple of years now (you can see from a diminishing number of intelligent right-wingers).
However, I despair most at the airtime Farage, Tice, Yusuf are given by the BBC and Sky News - and how easy a ride they have when they appear. Laura K a particular disappointment. But the standard of journalism everywhere is nowhere near where it needs to be - too many of the questions posed at the crime pressers I discuss were absolute dollies.
But, Steve, it’s the mainsteam media’s failure to do their job properly which is why WE are here. We at Open Britain are committed to providing the best information, unspun and readily available, as quickly as possible. And that’s what myself, Mark, Matt, and Rose are doing here on Ugly Politix. So thank you for reading (and for your comment!) - and I hope to hear more from you in future!
BTW - Gutted by the injury to Madders. He’s a top player, and I had really backed him to kick on under Frank. Would love to know who you might like as a replacement though…
Farage as was said when we had a chat with friends. is a troublemaker. That's all he has to offer; trouble.
I could not agree more, Colin. His decades-long instigation of the European question, culminating in the referendum, only to declare his ‘work was done’ as soon as the Leave vote came through - is probably the best example of this, for me. He thrives on chaos and disruption, and offers no workable solutions when given real responsibility - we are seeing this already in councils and local authorities where Reform has power. Let’s hope enough people reach our assessment - as I fear we could see the ‘troublemaker’ in No 10 by 2029. Thank you for your comment, Colin - I look forward to hearing your thoughts on my next article!
Excellent piece. What a pity the majority of media seem intent on promoting this liar.
Since I’ve never heard Farages voice, and watch him with subtitles, I view his so called charisma differently from the way most people seem to. Subtitled Farage isn’t impressive so perhaps everyone should watch him with the sound off and subtitles on. Anyhow, he’ll ruin the UK because, regardless of what he says, he doesn’t care about anything except himself and our MSM appear to support him.
James Agoodfireburns?
A different James Patrick, Cathy. I know a bit about politics - but pitifully little about thermodynamics. Although that’s probably because I tossed my GCSE chemistry books on to a bonfire.
Thanks for reading though - stay tuned for more!
Thermodynamics still apply i guess, what with all this disinformation manifesting itself going kinetic.
He wrote 'Alternative War' in 2017 )
(I think) An early spotter of what Russia was up to and how they were doing it. Hybrid Warfare. We'd lost a war we didn't know we were in.
Sounds fascinating, Cathy - and important in the current climate. I shall look into this.