Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

forum

The Reform Party and the UK’s lurch towards fascism

I posted an earlier version of this a while back - inspired to do update following THAT discussion about all things ULEZ. 

The “manifesto”, in terms of transport, only mentions stopping HS2, but there’s plenty on the usual right-wing obsessions: Brexit, immigration, veterans and climate change.  I had another look because I worry about the ongoing decline of the two main political parties. 

If the Cons stay wedded to Brexit, then we will go into the next GE with all the widespread impoverishment Brexit has ushered in - not helped by Covid, Putin, etc. People generally vote according to their pockets.  I don’t get Labour’s current position on Europe either, but let’s see how that evolves, and even the Cons may also evolve, or even pivot, but time is already running out for them.

Several roads now lead to the horrors of a further lurch to the right in this country.  Let’s hope Labour get the GE landslide the polls are predicting - but we’re still at least a year out from the real campaigning beginning. 

A cycling angle? With the Reform Party and its ilk, Facebook Steve and Nextdoor Dave attain real political influence. It’s not spelt out in the manifesto, but you can see where this is probably heading and what it is likely to mean for cycling.  You can bet that this lot are very much "on the side of hard working drivers" etc. 

As you all know, Dave’s going to “sort the traffic” and no doubt show them lazy planners how it’s done: Steve thinks the Council are corrupt, the police blinkered and is, if he can fit it in to his busy schedule he’s going to “teach them Lycra’s a thing or two.” It won’t concern him that his Mondeo is 3 months out of MoT or that Mrs Steve sometimes drives the kids in it uninsured. 

As vulnerable road users, vulnerable people, we rely a great deal on the rule of law for protection. The rule of law means that we understand what the laws are, they are in general fair, and how they are applied and to whom is even-handed and consistent. 

The fascist position is broadly the opposite - it’s all off-the-cuff to support today’s particular agenda - that’s why the Iain Duncan-Smith “happy to see ULEZ infra vandalised” comment is, as an example, so very worrying.  In the Conservatives, here is a party happy to send signals to enable the mob to attack RNLI stations, beat up immigrants, shout at teachers, doctors etc. 

This right-wing stuff works by allowing/enabling significant privileged groups to to think of themselves as the downtrodden underdog and here is a way to fight back.  The pro Brexit campaign played on people’s ignorance, fears and prejudices exactly as this does. 

It’s all about freedom, innit, less regulation, less tax burden, and damn the climate.  There’s more polar bears now, so it’s fine.  Let’s have open-cast coal mining, lithium mining and fracking. The section on climate change stumbles around like a Friday night drunk, trying to explain he wasn't being racist to the barman - a denier position emerges, unsurprisingly.

In places, the mask really slips: “We must keep divisive woke ideologies such as Critical Race Theory (CRT) and gender ideology out of the classroom.” - to be honest, I don’t even know what those two are.

The standard enemies are put up - the civil service, the BBC.  Amid all the thrust and parry, there’s nothing  about making a better, more inclusive and cohesive world to live in; arts, sports and culture don’t feature in this barstool view of the world: a dullard’s grim vision.

Don’t be a member of the wrong sort of minority would be my advice, should any of this come to pass. 
 

https://www.reformparty.uk/reformisessential

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

Add new comment

337 comments

Avatar
brooksby | 1 month ago
2 likes

I think that the problem is not Reform UK / Brexit Party / UKIP per se (they only ever seem to get MPs by Conservatives crossing the floor), but the problem is how they have dragged the whole British political discourse further and further right.  The Conservatives aren't exactly conservative any more - they are pretty radical, but right wing radical.  Labour has followed them rightwards because they think that being right (ish) wing is the only way to get into power (maybe it is) and they seem to be working on purging anyone left of centre.

Avatar
David9694 | 1 month ago
2 likes

Well, here we are with a month to go to a GE. Labour are riding high in the polls, Conservatives are going to struggle to get more than 100 MPs and Farage is standing in Clacton. The battle for the soul (???) to the right continues.

immigration continues to be a focus, whether driven by good old racism or xenophobia, "they're taking all our jobs" or concern about over-population. I don't think the first two are the universal vote-winners the far right think they are. 

Overpopulation interests me - that feeling of oppression one gets in a busy "people everywhere" environment. I'm not a fan of crowds myself.  Anyway, here's my formula for why it's an issue:

concern about over population = feeling of oppression by constantly 'busy' environment = too many cars

Yep, it's cars making you feel this way. 

Avatar
Hirsute replied to David9694 | 1 month ago
1 like

Local rag is full of Clacton stories.

"We need a putin" has been posted by 2 people. Brains addled by drugs I assume.

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to Hirsute | 1 month ago
5 likes

Hirsute wrote:

Local rag is full of Clacton stories.

"We need a putin" has been posted by 2 people. Brains addled by drugs I assume.

According to the Russian polls he's very popular...

Avatar
mdavidford replied to chrisonabike | 1 month ago
4 likes

chrisonabike wrote:

Hirsute wrote:

Local rag is full of Clacton stories.

"We need a putin" has been posted by 2 people. Brains addled by drugs I assume.

According to the Russian polls he's very popular...

According to the Poles, though, not so much.

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to David9694 | 1 month ago
1 like

David9694 wrote:

concern about over population = feeling of oppression by constantly 'busy' environment = too many cars

Yep, it's cars making you feel this way. 

Overpopulation isn't only about being in crowded areas, we could easily build enough to meet the population needs without becoming more crowded. 

Residential is either 1.3% or 6.2% depending on whether you include gardens, so an extra 20% of housing could easily be accomdated in the land. (easily if you ignore all the nimbys opposing any new houses where they live) although of course we haven't been building housing and house prices and rents have outstripped inflation/wages for decades. This more than anything else probably drives the objection to immigration. People who are already struggling to pay their rent will not want more demand on housing.

But we don't grow enough food for the current population, never mind more people. We also import energy both in the form of gas an electricity. Certain areas of the country are also designated as being under water resources stress. More people exacerbates all these issues

Avatar
David9694 | 10 months ago
2 likes

Death, sex, religion and helmets politics - how many people, beholden to 1950s books on good manners are still being oh so British about these topics? When these issue do eventually force their way to the surface, it often gets out of hand because as a people are out of practice in handling them.  It's like when we're called on as a nation to dance and sing. 

We get the politics and government that we invest in. I can hear my old Gran saying things like "there's people starving in Africa" and "worse things have happened at sea" -  funny to think that the current defence of 10 years of Tory government draws largely on her collection of stoic sayings.

Avatar
mattw | 10 months ago
1 like

"I think we're about to be taken over by Reform UK at the next Election".

"They are down there ... let me help"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3GJycgu-cs

Avatar
perce | 10 months ago
2 likes

''In the year of Darkness (what happened to them?) 2029, the rulers of this planet devised the ultimate plan. They would reshape the future by changing the past''. Only six years to go then.

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to perce | 10 months ago
1 like
perce wrote:

''In the year of Darkness (what happened to them?) 2029, the rulers of this planet devised the ultimate plan. They would reshape the future by changing the past''. Only six years to go then.

It's not over until the bells end?

Avatar
mark1a replied to perce | 10 months ago
2 likes

perce wrote:

''In the year of Darkness (what happened to them?) 2029, the rulers of this planet devised the ultimate plan. They would reshape the future by changing the past''. Only six years to go then.

Nah, that timeline is now way out, 2029 is based on the fact that Skynet became self-aware in 1997.

Avatar
perce replied to mark1a | 10 months ago
2 likes

I've been to a 1980's exhibition at my local museum and that was one of the film posters on display. They also had a Raleigh Vektra kids bike on display - on board computer, radio and an assortment of arcade type sounds which could be unleashed while riding along. Nice. The only thing was it weighed nearly 20kg which ultimately led to its demise.

Avatar
ktache replied to perce | 10 months ago
2 likes

They had one of those on Yesterday's electronic workshop restoration show.

Give me the simplicity of the Burner anyday.

Avatar
perce replied to ktache | 10 months ago
2 likes

They had a Burner as well.

Avatar
perce | 10 months ago
3 likes

Oh god I knew there'd be a graph coming.

Avatar
NOtotheEU | 10 months ago
2 likes

Fortunately we have a choice, we can vote Labour because they aren't in the corporations pockets like those other fascists . . . . . 

Labour partly rows back on workers’ rights pledges

Party amends plan to bolster protections for gig economy as it boasts of ‘pro-business’ credentials

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/aug/18/labour-party-workers-ri...

 

Oh well, looks like the Socialist Party will be getting my vote again then.

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to NOtotheEU | 10 months ago
2 likes

Yeah - the point of being in power is being in power.  Other concerns are secondary.

Recall Peter Mandelson being "intensely relaxed" about people getting filthy rich.  Although many years later he did wish to change the record on that...

Probably best get lobbying your local lugal and get some improvements for active travel where you are at least.  I suspect that - with a minimum standard of quality and connection - and once you cross the 10% (say) of journeys cycled threshold - it's clear wins for everyone going forward.

Plus all positions of the the UK political spectrum should be able to spin it as aligned with their ideology.  Socialist (equitably distributed benefits no matter if you're rich, poor, have disabilities, are old, are a child - although actually it's great for people driving also).  But also a "facilitating private enterprise / smaller state / individualist" party ought to be able to see benefit too!

Avatar
brooksby replied to NOtotheEU | 10 months ago
3 likes

It doesn't matter who you vote for: the Government always gets in.

Avatar
mark1a | 10 months ago
7 likes

Just got back from a ride - anything much happened here?

Avatar
Hirsute | 10 months ago
2 likes

All is forgiven

Peace through Chess

"We are inviting the local authorities (LAs) who received funding under the Levelling Up Parks Fund (LUPF), to submit an expression of interest (EOI) to receive an additional £2,500 of funding for the purchase and installation of a chess table and accompanying seats or benches in their local parks and/or green spaces."

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to Hirsute | 10 months ago
1 like

Stalemate - game drawn by constant repetition...

Avatar
Left_is_for_Losers | 10 months ago
2 likes

What a rubbish post.

Avatar
essexian replied to Left_is_for_Losers | 10 months ago
12 likes

Ssshhhhh now. The adults are talking. 

Avatar
Left_is_for_Losers replied to essexian | 10 months ago
0 likes

essexian wrote:

Ssshhhhh now. The adults are talking. 

Oh look who's back! Nice of you to say hello. 

Avatar
essexian replied to Left_is_for_Losers | 10 months ago
2 likes

Jeremy Corbyn for PM wrote:

Wrote rubbish.

Hello.

Now shouldn't you be off getting your school uniform ready for your return to school? Or don't they wear uniform in first school anymore?

Avatar
Left_is_for_Losers replied to essexian | 10 months ago
0 likes

essexian wrote:

Hello.

Now shouldn't you be off getting your school uniform ready for your return to school? Or don't they wear uniform in first school anymore?

Haha - you call yourself an adult? If you are that mature, sort it out and maybe post sense, or at least stop showing yourself to be a fool every time you think you are "funny" by commenting on everything I do. 

Avatar
essexian replied to Left_is_for_Losers | 10 months ago
2 likes

Jeremy Corbyn for PM wrote:

Yet more nonsense.

Oh, nice school cap but....sorry to break this to you, but the D is supposed to be showing at the front.

 

 

Avatar
Left_is_for_Losers replied to essexian | 10 months ago
1 like

essexian wrote:

Jeremy Corbyn for PM wrote:

Yet more nonsense.

Oh, nice school cap but....sorry to break this to you, but the D is supposed to be showing at the front.

Man up

Avatar
essexian replied to Left_is_for_Losers | 10 months ago
6 likes

Left_is_for_Losers wrote:

Man up

That's so funny. I see, Troll, you have changed your name again. Sad.

Now remember, the crayons go in your pencil case, not up your nose. 

Avatar
hawkinspeter | 10 months ago
9 likes

Critical Race Theory is mainly an investigation into how and why society has systemic racism built into it. It's a mix of history, sociology, pyschology, economics and politics.

As far as gender ideology goes, the more basic idea is to respect people and their choices. If someone wants to be referred to by a certain title or pronoun, then it's just common decency to try to abide by that and not deliberately insult them.

In my opinion, the overriding characteristic of far-right politics is to designate an out-group as being a major cause of trouble to people/society/economics and to then de-humanise them and attempt to cause as many problems for them as possible. Obviously this is opposite to the purpose of human societies, where we should attempt to work together and help each other. It seems that the current major target in the UK are refugees that are being labelled as "illegal immigrants" and being denied appropriate channels to apply for asylum - hence the rise of "small boats" and the misery and deaths that go along with them.

Edit: Just seen this article on The Ganduria: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/sep/01/home-office-defies-high-court-by-placing-100-asylum-seeker-children-in-hotels

It seems that deliberate cruelty is now a feature of our government and I blame everyone that voted for them.

Pages

Latest Comments