Senedd Election 2026

[JamesWales]

Re: Senedd Election 2026

Millions of people vote conservative out of tradition , in fact in greater numbers if we look historically

The most noticeable stuff coming through from reform is them saying they only want union jacks etc flying from council offices

It's complete nonsense and playing to the right wing patriotic guff

Unfortunately that's what is getting them votes

But with regard to housing , immigration , the nhs and public services they are going to get slaughtered and rightly so

That's going to dent their support but the reality is reform have a group of the electorate who won't be going back so it's up to Labour, the liberals etc to get their act together and shore up their core vote

Getting rid of starmer , Ed Davey and eluned morgan would be the first step

Yeah the Tories absolutely have their voters who do so out of tradition / loyalty etc too. And that's massively weakened. Same too with Labour in many of their English and Scottish heartlands, but Wales has remained loyal, so far.

Reforms main policy definitely is nothing to do with flags, but it says a lot about public discourse that websites push that story out. Ironically it is not to appease others, but to enrage yourself. (The blue passports story was always the best example of that!).

As I said, we'll have to see how they go.

[Dorcus]

Re: Senedd Election 2026

Yeah the Tories absolutely have their voters who do so out of tradition / loyalty etc too. And that's massively weakened. Same too with Labour in many of their English and Scottish heartlands, but Wales has remained loyal, so far.

Reforms main policy definitely is nothing to do with flags, but it says a lot about public discourse that websites push that story out. Ironically it is not to appease others, but to enrage yourself. (The blue passports story was always the best example of that!).

As I said, we'll have to see how they go.

They certainly enrage me!

[Heathblue]

Re: Senedd Election 2026

Yeah the Tories absolutely have their voters who do so out of tradition / loyalty etc too. And that's massively weakened. Same too with Labour in many of their English and Scottish heartlands, but Wales has remained loyal, so far.

Reforms main policy definitely is nothing to do with flags, but it says a lot about public discourse that websites push that story out. Ironically it is not to appease others, but to enrage yourself. (The blue passports story was always the best example of that!).

As I said, we'll have to see how they go.

I read on the Wonderweb yesterday that Reform are toying with the 1st 20k of earnings being tax free!! that would be a vote winner especially for those at the early point in their careers and the pensioners that Labour have shat upon from a great height. ?

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: Senedd Election 2026

Yeah the Tories absolutely have their voters who do so out of tradition / loyalty etc too. And that's massively weakened. Same too with Labour in many of their English and Scottish heartlands, but Wales has remained loyal, so far.

Reforms main policy definitely is nothing to do with flags, but it says a lot about public discourse that websites push that story out. Ironically it is not to appease others, but to enrage yourself. (The blue passports story was always the best example of that!).

As I said, we'll have to see how they go.

Reform are a right wing party

Flags , immigration , all that cobblers

They shout stop the boats ! ....a tiny proportion of immigration .....and get votes

But they are not proposing anything to bring that about

One trick pony

They have support but they are a bunch of chancers and you seem to have been sucked in

You would be better off getting back into bed with your conservative chums and push for a moderate tory party led by the likes of James Cleverly

It's a complete waste of time the main parties trying to woo back hard core reform voters , they are lost and now have a party to vote for

If there is any good news it splits the tory vote so if the labour party get rid of starmer they will be able to govern with a coalition

I would even consider a few faces from a new moderate conservative wing to ensure stable government and keep reform out as they are dangerous

[JamesWales]

Re: Senedd Election 2026

Reform are a right wing party

Flags , immigration , all that cobblers

They shout stop the boats ! ....a tiny proportion of immigration .....and get votes

But they are not proposing anything to bring that about

One trick pony

They have support but they are a bunch of chancers and you seem to have been sucked in

You would be better off getting back into bed with your conservative chums and push for a moderate tory party led by the likes of James Cleverly

It's a complete waste of time the main parties trying to woo back hard core reform voters , they are lost and now have a party to vote for

If there is any good news it splits the tory vote so if the labour party get rid of starmer they will be able to govern with a coalition

I would even consider a few faces from a new moderate conservative wing to ensure stable government and keep reform out as they are dangerous

Forget about flags. It's a distraction, although one that is part of a wider debate about the benefits of us all starting to talk more about what connects us rather than divides

As for immigration, the main difference between Labour and Reform seems to be about 18 months.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c626dyd8y8wo

[cyril evans awaydays]

Re: Senedd Election 2026

I read on the Wonderweb yesterday that Reform are toying with the 1st 20k of earnings being tax free!! that would be a vote winner especially for those at the early point in their careers and the pensioners that Labour have shat upon from a great height. ?

I cant believe this is the first you saw of this given that it was a prime plank of the Reform 2024 manifesto. Here is the IFS taking the piss out of it as voodoo economics on a Trussian scale.Still, be careful what you wish for!

https://ifs.org.uk/articles/reform-uk-manifesto-reaction

[Heathblue]

Re: Senedd Election 2026

I cant believe this is the first you saw of this given that it was a prime plank of the Reform 2024 manifesto. Here is the IFS taking the piss out of it as voodoo economics on a Trussian scale.Still, be careful what you wish for!

https://ifs.org.uk/articles/reform-u...festo-reaction

Still about Cyril, nice to see you, yes 1st time seen sorry, not sure why you think I would go looking for the reform manifesto ?.
Reports today on X with video , the 3 stooges with a suspicious white bag of powder, 1st time I've seen it, although hard to make it out on the fone, your leader has been appropriately renamed as " loves the gear Kier" would it surprise you if Europe is being governed by a bunch of coke heads ?, can you imagine the coverage if a certain person or one of his sons was sat at the table 🤣🤣🤣

[cyril evans awaydays]

Re: Senedd Election 2026

Still about Cyril, nice to see you, yes 1st time seen sorry, not sure why you think I would go looking for the reform manifesto ?.
Reports today on X with video , the 3 stooges with a suspicious white bag of powder, 1st time I've seen it, although hard to make it out on the fone, your leader has been appropriately renamed as " loves the gear Kier" would it surprise you if Europe is being governed by a bunch of coke heads ?, can you imagine the coverage if a certain person or one of his sons was sat at the table 🤣🤣🤣

Good question, Nels. Looking for information to help form your opinions and being subconsciously influenced by the Wonderweb are completely different things after all!

[JamesWales]

Re: Senedd Election 2026

I cant believe this is the first you saw of this given that it was a prime plank of the Reform 2024 manifesto. Here is the IFS taking the piss out of it as voodoo economics on a Trussian scale.Still, be careful what you wish for!

https://ifs.org.uk/articles/reform-u...festo-reaction

I don't think the IFS's thoughts change much. They were very critical of Labours 2017 manifesto and they got nearly 13m votes!

It's a pretty daft policy. In due course the tax free amount will inevitably rise to £20k, but not in the course of the next parliament. They will certainly need to tighten up things like that even if it's a laudable enough policy on paper.

[cyril evans awaydays]

Re: Senedd Election 2026

I have no idea what the first paragraph has to do with the conversation.

Heathblue was highlighting the 20k headline because it reappeared in the Reform supporting dailies as a selling point to the less well off.

It, and raising the 40% threshold for the well off from 50k to 70k and disproportionately making the latter more well off compared with those below the 20k threshold never really got challenged because the Reform boys were a protest party.

Now, sensible people like you, fiscally educated, will surely be asking serious questions where the £90 billion givaway will be recuperated from.

[JamesWales]

Re: Senedd Election 2026

I have no idea what the first paragraph has to do with the conversation.

Heathblue was highlighting the 20k headline because it reappeared in the Reform supporting dailies as a selling point to the less well off.

It, and raising the 40% threshold for the well off from 50k to 70k and disproportionately making the latter more well off compared with those below the 20k threshold never really got challenged because the Reform boys were a protest party.

Now, sensible people like you, fiscally educated, will surely be asking serious questions where the £90 billion givaway will be recuperated from.

Well, it's relevent because I am not sure the IFS have the influence you think, as evidenced by the 2017 reference!

And yes, my saying it's a pretty daft policy would be an expression of asking serious questions! 👍

[cyril evans awaydays]

Re: Senedd Election 2026

Well, it's relevent because I am not sure the IFS have the influence you think, as evidenced by the 2017 reference!

And yes, my saying it's a pretty daft policy would be an expression of asking serious questions! ��

Ah, didn't quite understand.

The Labour Manifesto of 2017 and the Tory one that got implemented, both were pilloried by the IFS, but only one got implemented. It was as bad as the IFS predicted.

Yet the Reform 2024 manifesto, obviously didn't get too much attention but they seem to be selling the main bits of it now. Massive tax cuts with (foggy) savings. Good to see that you are sticking to the view that Farage is selling snake oil though!

[JamesWales]

Re: Senedd Election 2026

Ah, didn't quite understand.

The Labour Manifesto of 2017 and the Tory one that got implemented, both were pilloried by the IFS, but only one got implemented. It was as bad as the IFS predicted.

Yet the Reform 2024 manifesto, obviously didn't get too much attention but they seem to be selling the main bits of it now. Massive tax cuts with (foggy) savings. Good to see that you are sticking to the view that Farage is selling snake oil though!

I wouldn't say that. I think all parties have the capability to produce wildly unrealistic manifestos and I think the reality is that such manifestos probably aren't as it unappealing to people as perhaps they should be. No question, any future manifesto will be far more scrutinised, which is a good thing.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: Senedd Election 2026

Forget about flags. It's a distraction, although one that is part of a wider debate about the benefits of us all starting to talk more about what connects us rather than divides

As for immigration, the main difference between Labour and Reform seems to be about 18 months.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c626dyd8y8wo

That doesn't show what you suggest at all

[cyril evans awaydays]

Re: Senedd Election 2026

I wouldn't say that. I think all parties have the capability to produce wildly unrealistic manifestos and I think the reality is that such manifestos probably aren't as it unappealing to people as perhaps they should be. No question, any future manifesto will be far more scrutinised, which is a good thing.

But would you accept that a party miles away from power can promise the earth and that Reform was such a party in 2024, so that perpetuating with 20k tax free seductive noises (not promises) with no clue on how it would be funded is selling snake oil to the gullible?