Quote Originally Posted by Eric Cartman View Post
I don't really comment on Welsh politics as I have never lived in Wales but in the context of the UK I think you need to ask yourself why the Tories, who would massively benefit politically from reducing legal immigration, didn't do it.

Rupert Lowes twitter and the reform manifesto 2024 is essentially a list of 'do x, this will cause y' when life is rarely that simple. Immigration is a great example of this, the problem is that when their simple solution is implemented, it doesn't actually do what they said it would primarily because they are looking for sound bites rather than working policies. We introduced a new points based immigration system, which the right of politics were hailing as the magical easy solution that would fix everything for years and years and legal migration sky rocketed.

I work broadly in the sphere of education and SEND so somewhat understand the current challenges. I made a point of reading everyone's manifesto sections on education. Reforms amounted to some culture war red meat stuff about trans people and having a 'patriotic curriculum' and cutting tax on private school fees because this would solve all problems in the state sector. A completely ridiculous over simplification of a really important part of a governments overall responsibilities. My guess is they likely threw that together in about 10 minutes, which leads me to my main point. Political parties need different people who care about different things, reform is essentially a single issue party where everybody's main point of interest is immigration.
Yeah, I'm not a zealot on these things. No party is perfect and Reform are far from it. They are also far from ideal for normal governance but I think our society and economy is poorly and unsustainable and I think they have some answers. But as I say, in Wales this is in part driven by just wanting to see Labour gone, as they have failed the country by almost any measurement you choose to look at.

I think in the last election, Reforms approach was a "contract" not a manifesto. Indeed, I know it was, as I just looked it up again. Plainly it's very thin on the ground and they wouldn't get away with that again. They need far more meat on the bones, but there's not much in the education section I disagree with. Added to what you mentioned is:
Scrapping interest on student loans
Cut funding to universities that undermine free speech
Permanent exclusions for violent students
Universities to provide two year undergraduate courses.

Reality is harder than just writing it down, esp the violent pupils issue, which are symptomatic of wider issues. But the 2 year degree and scrapping interest on student loans are excellent ideas.

As for the Tories and immigration, they totally ****ed up. I think it has to be seen in the context of COVID and brexit and the urgent need for growth and also trying to prove the UK was open etc. But I think everyone now, bar the most laissez faire of liberals agrees that the immigration levels of the last few years are entirely unsustainable.

I don't disagree on the last point. They need to expand what they are talking about, and not just into culture war issues like trans debates etc.

Interesting that you have never lived in Wales btw! City is obviously a family connection?