Reform UK discussion

[jon0844]

Can people just put up flags on their own property and do it with a bit more pride?

The roundabouts look hideous and most of the flags flying weren't put up well at all.

 

[styles]

Can people just put up flags on their own property and do it with a bit more pride?

The roundabouts look hideous and most of the flags flying weren't put up well at all.

I expect that most people putting flags on lampposts or painting mini roundabouts probably do also have flags up at their home in fairness.

 

[ainsworth74]

The roundabouts look hideous and most of the flags flying weren't put up well at all.

I'm amazed at the number of "patriots" who don't know which way round "their" flag flies. I reckon I've only seen one Union Flag flying the right way up out for a few dozen!

I expect that most people putting flags on lampposts or painting mini roundabouts probably do also have flags up at their home in fairness.

That seems impossible around my area the number of flags far exceeds the number of houses that have ever flown flags outside of world cups or similar.

 

[styles]

That seems impossible around my area the number of flags far exceeds the number of houses that have ever flown flags outside of world cups or similar.

Well that's because it's not one-person-one-flag-to-a-lamppost no? One person flies a flag from their window, and also put them on 20 lampposts. The number on lampposts will certainly exceed the number in homes, because it's a small number of people (relatively speaking) doing it on lampposts or mini roundabouts, but when they do it on lampposts or mini roundabouts, they do it on quite a few.

 

[317 forever]

I wouldn't say that's the reason for it right now as the election is still years off, even with the current apparent chaos. However, in the final year before an election if Reform UK are looking set for government, and/or a very unstable hung parliament where no clear coalition looks possible, then I'd expect some serious market problems.

A scenario that could cause market problems is shortly before the next General Election polls are pointing to Labour, Tory and Reform all gaining around 160-180 seats each, the LibDems 70 and the SNP 50. What kind of coalition or partnership could possibly be formed?

 

[Krokodil]

Most, if not all, of them will by polyester. Polyester is actually a pretty durable flag material and will probably survive harsh weather conditions. Expensive cotton flags would be just as limp in heavy rain, and actually more limp due to their weight.

If polyester flags have been tied up with decent knots, cable ties, or decent water-absorbing string/rope, they'll survive the elements just fine.

The main advantage to cotton flags isn't their durability - it's their appearance and feel. In fact many cotton flag owners are quite happy to continue flying their flags long after they've significantly deteriorated.

It's possible they're nylon flags, which is the worst of both worlds, but when I've searched for flags for our scout group before I've found polyester to be cheapest/come up first on Google. Even then, I wouldn't expect a nylon flag to tatter over a single British winter.

The string will be the main problem. If they've been tied up poorly (likely) and the string/rope isn't good at water-absorbing (also likely), they'll untie in strong winds.

Whatever they were made of, the sodden material was clinging to the lamp posts. I suspect that cotton would fare better because the weight would prevent it clinging.

 

[317 forever]

Gonna have to disagree there. This situation is unprecedented and the way the FPTP system works Reform don’t need a high proportion to get a majority, they just need everyone else to be doing poorly. And their lead is about 10% points ahead of Labour, or as high as 16% in some polls

Yes, because gap between the winner and runners-up has a greater bearing on seat tally than actual percentage of the vote.

There is also the matter of whether parties can get enough votes in individual constituencies, like the LibDems did manage last year but Reform didn't.

 

[Purple Train]

I'm amazed at the number of "patriots" who don't know which way round "their" flag flies. I reckon I've only seen one Union Flag flying the right way up out for a few dozen!

I was walking through Windsor on Friday, and walked past a young family who seemed to be tourists. They were very happily waving some tiny little flags that they'd seemingly been given. Danish flags. I only wish I knew whether it was deliberate!

I do find it interesting how effective the kind of UK-bashing discourse driven by these loud-mouthed "patriots" is at bringing otherwise intelligent people down to their level. I certainly know some people who are bright as a bulb on general knowledge etc., but the minute you start discussing something tenuously connected with this unrest, start mechanically repeating wild conspiracy theories like a fuse has been taken out. It has been ever thus to some degree, but I've noticed a definite uptick in it, almost approaching surge levels. This is what perhaps worries me most about the rise of Reform.

 

[317 forever]

Although lower profile than Danny Kruger (or Nadine Dorries), another defeated ex-Tory MP has defected to Reform - namely Maria Caulfield, MP for Lewes 2015-24.

 

[Bald Rick]

The roundabouts look hideous and most of the flags flying weren't put up well at all.

All the mini-roundabouts round here have been painted with the French flag.

(Plain white)

 

[AlterEgo]

Can people just put up flags on their own property and do it with a bit more pride?

The roundabouts look hideous and most of the flags flying weren't put up well at all.

This, basically. A good tidy flag on a proper flagpole looks great.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Sep 2025 ==

All the mini-roundabouts round here have been painted with the French flag.

(Plain white)

Very good.

 

[yorkie]

'Racial slurs levelled at children' in York, councillors told

Racial slurs have been levelled at children, international students told to speak English and LGBTQ people abused as flags have spread an oppressive…

www.yorkpress.co.uk

PhD student Isabella Langdon told councillors said York risked going down a dark road if behaviour seen in the wake of flags going up is allowed to continue.

The student said: “I’ve spoken to residents and businesses and heard stories about children being chased by grown men screaming racial slurs and of people being accused of being illegal immigrants in the street in broad daylight.

I've only entered two parts of York that had the flags; both are very run-down, poor parts where you see more litter than usual, and some of the residents have less pride in their surroundings than the average person would.

The leader of the group that appears to have led the way with flags claimed that:

Speaking previously to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Flag Force co-founder Joseph Moulton said racist incidents were deplorable but claims of intimidation were anecdotal.

They are clearly not merely "anecdotal"; this individual is in denial.

It is absolutely clear that the nonsense spouted by Reform and that the flag campaign by their odious supporters has resulted in an increase in racism.

Furthermore, the credibility of this individual has been called into question:

The curious case of Joseph Moulton and Flag Force UK | Searchlight

Flying the flag - Joseph Moulton When a 22-year-old presents himself as a seasoned business consultant with international defence sector links, eyebrows are ...

searchlightmagazine.com

...The opaque financial structures surrounding Moulton and his associates reinforce the suspicion that undisclosed sources of money may be at work...

...The contradictions in Joseph Moulton’s story are not just about personal exaggeration. They go to the credibility of a campaign that has sought to wrap itself in the Union Flag while avoiding scrutiny of the campaign’s origins...

Make no mistake, these Reform characters are absolute scumbags

I encountered a group of such individuals near King's Cross on their way to the far-right march a couple of weekends ago; they were spitting, littering, and generally being obnoxious. I told them they were disrespecting the country by behaving this way, and their response was to jeer and wave the flag.

A scenario that could cause market problems is shortly before the next General Election polls are pointing to Labour, Tory and Reform all gaining around 160-180 seats each, the LibDems 70 and the SNP 50. What kind of coalition or partnership could possibly be formed?

Anything that keeps the racist Reform out will have to do, even if it's far from perfect.

 

[brad465]

Something I discovered today is Rupert Lowe is the starter of multiple high-signature petitions on the government petition website, unsurprisingly one on deporting migrants in hotels, the other on publishing child sex offender data. Both of these date back a few months so have been quieter since. On the relevant maps the highest proportion of signatures by far is his own constituency, so he obviously promoted it there. Is there form for incumbent MPs starting petitions here, rather than responding to public opinion through others?

 

[35B]

Something I discovered today is Rupert Lowe is the starter of multiple high-signature petitions on the government petition website, unsurprisingly one on deporting migrants in hotels, the other on publishing child sex offender data. Both of these date back a few months so have been quieter since. On the relevant maps the highest proportion of signatures by far is his own constituency, so he obviously promoted it there. Is there form for incumbent MPs starting petitions here, rather than responding to public opinion through others?

I don't specifically know about MPs starting petitions, but political groups creating "astroturf" campaigns designed to appear as if "grass roots" but actually heavily promoted, are nothing new.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Something I discovered today is Rupert Lowe is the starter of multiple high-signature petitions on the government petition website, unsurprisingly one on deporting migrants in hotels, the other on publishing child sex offender data. Both of these date back a few months so have been quieter since. On the relevant maps the highest proportion of signatures by far is his own constituency, so he obviously promoted it there. Is there form for incumbent MPs starting petitions here, rather than responding to public opinion through others?

I’ve been following Lowe on X because I deplore him and his politics. He’s a racist rabblerouser. Today he for the first time (I think) described his supporters as “patriots”

It’s a slippery slope

 

[Tester]

I’ve been following Lowe on X because I deplore him and his politics. He’s a racist rabblerouser. Today he for the first time (I think) described his supporters as “patriots”

It’s a slippery slope

So we don't have to

Thank you for your service

 

[High Dyke]

I don't get the flag thing. We aren't Americans. We don't need to se ethe flag every second of the day to remind us of where we come from!

Talking of which, most of the lamp-post flags I've seen recently seem to be flying at half mast on the post.

Well, I'm proud to fly the flag and show where I'm from.



Image: Flag of Lincolnshire.

 

[alex397]

Talking of which, most of the lamp-post flags I've seen recently seem to be flying at half mast on the post.

Well, I'm proud to fly the flag and show where I'm from.

View attachment 188875

Image: Flag of Lincolnshire.

I’ve never seen the Lincolnshire flag before - I like it!
As a ‘Man of Kent’ I’m kind of disappointed that the patriots haven’t put the Kentish Invicta flag up a few of the lampposts… it’s a much more pleasing flag than the Union Flag on the St George’s Cross in my opinion!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I’ve been following Lowe on X because I deplore him and his politics. He’s a racist rabblerouser. Today he for the first time (I think) described his supporters as “patriots”

It’s a slippery slope

I don't follow him but "the algorithm" likes to show me his posts anyway. He's quite obnoxious, wouldn't vote for him if he was the last politician on earth.

As to this latest scheme, if LBC is anything to go by a lot of Europeans think it applies to them (it doesn't - no doubt because Farage doesn't want his French wife deporting), and a lot of British people think it does too, and as many Reform supporters are racist they probably don't want rid of the white European immigrants, just the ones with brown skin, so this could prove fortuitous for those of us who don't want them elected by alienating their more moderate support base.

 

[styles]

Something I discovered today is Rupert Lowe is the starter of multiple high-signature petitions on the government petition website, unsurprisingly one on deporting migrants in hotels, the other on publishing child sex offender data. Both of these date back a few months so have been quieter since. On the relevant maps the highest proportion of signatures by far is his own constituency, so he obviously promoted it there. Is there form for incumbent MPs starting petitions here, rather than responding to public opinion through others?

I expect most MPs don't bother with government online petitions, because they know that even the top 10 most signed petitions of all time haven't changed the government's course.

As an MP, there are other more direct ways of initiating debates or investigations in Parliament. Trying to secure 100,000 signatures is a fair bit of effort in comparison to many of them.

 

[nw1]

Although lower profile than Danny Kruger (or Nadine Dorries), another defeated ex-Tory MP has defected to Reform - namely Maria Caulfield, MP for Lewes 2015-24.

Ironic given Lewes has been a Tory / Lib Dem marginal which suggests it's more socially liberal than average.

If she wants to get back as the MP for Lewes I suspect she'd have been better off sticking with the Tories.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Sep 2025 ==

Anything that keeps the racist Reform out will have to do, even if it's far from perfect.

Indeed, and good to see a moderator using the R-word against them: I've been thinking that about them but have been wary of actually saying it.

I've said this at least twice already but I would vote Tory to keep them out. And I have, since 1989, been one of the biggest critics of the Tory Party!

I think this is what could sink them and prevent them getting in. The sheer strength of feeling against them, and the willingness for left-wing remainers to vote for the Tories in order to keep them out (assuming I'm not unusual in that respect).

 

[Gloster]

Ironic given Lewes has been a Tory / Lib Dem marginal which suggests it's more socially liberal than average.

If she wants to get back as the MP for Lewes I suspect she'd have been better off sticking with the Tories.

Defect early so as to increase the chances that Reform will parachute her into a seat that they have a chance of winning. “This seat is close to my heart and I have always felt a close affinity with the people of...er, where am I today?”

 

[nw1]

It is absolutely clear that the nonsense spouted by Reform and that the flag campaign by their odious supporters has resulted in an increase in racism.

I don't have a problem with flying the Union Flag in a normal, non-political way... but part of me wants to replace all these politically motivated flags with Ukraine, Palestine or Pride flags.

(I won't, but the mischievous side of me almost wants to...)

 

[Roast Veg]

I don't have a problem with flying the Union Flag in a normal, non-political way... but part of me wants to replace all these politically motivated flags with Ukraine, Palestine or Pride flags.

Or European Union Flags?

 

[nw1]

Or European Union Flags?

Yes, that would really wind them up.

 

[Krokodil]

Already there:

Popular seaside town baffles locals by flying every flag BUT the Union Jack

A WELSH council is bizarrely flying the EU, Polish, Ukrainian, French and Irish flags – but not the Union Flag. Seaside town Llandudno has a dozen flagpoles along its popular promenade but no…

www.thesun.co.uk

The St George’s Flag and the Welsh Red Dragon are also featured alongside a range of flags from around the world.

Llandudno resident Martin Edwards, 60, told The Sun: “We left the EU, so why are we flying that?

“I just find it really strange. Why are we flying the Polish flag? That's just bizarre.

 

[Harpo]

Farage has had a hissy one after Starmer said Reform would

tear this country apart

calling Starmer’s language

bordering on the inciteful

As the master of the dog whistle playbook Farage would know.

We can pull this round, says Sir Keir Starmer ahead of Labour conference

Labour's annual gathering is likely to be dominated by how it responds to the challenge from Reform.

www.bbc.co.uk

(Edit - reformatted to mods instructions)

 

[317 forever]

Ironic given Lewes has been a Tory / Lib Dem marginal which suggests it's more socially liberal than average.

If she wants to get back as the MP for Lewes I suspect she'd have been better off sticking with the Tories.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Sep 2025 ==



Indeed, and good to see a moderator using the R-word against them: I've been thinking that about them but have been wary of actually saying it.

I've said this at least twice already but I would vote Tory to keep them out. And I have, since 1989, been one of the biggest critics of the Tory Party!

I think this is what could sink them and prevent them getting in. The sheer strength of feeling against them, and the willingness for left-wing remainers to vote for the Tories in order to keep them out (assuming I'm not unusual in that respect).

She never seemed the ideal calibre for long-term MP for a constituency like Lewes. Places like that are better suited having one nation Tory MPs rather than right-wing Brexiteers like her.

We may yet have plenty of tactical voting to prevent many seats being lost by established parties to Reform.

 

[Cloud Strife]

I think this is what could sink them and prevent them getting in. The sheer strength of feeling against them, and the willingness for left-wing remainers to vote for the Tories in order to keep them out (assuming I'm not unusual in that respect).

I think there'll be a lot of tactical voting to stop Reform, and it'll manifest itself in some very interesting ways. For instance, in Scotland, the SNP are likely to benefit from this immensely, as nationalists won't vote for a unionist party, but non-racist unionists will vote for the SNP to keep Reform out. I'd fully expect full on tactical voting if it turns out that Reform are still riding high in the polls by the time of the next General Election, and quite possibly a situation emerging where Reform end up with almost nothing despite a large share of the vote.

I've only entered two parts of York that had the flags; both are very run-down, poor parts where you see more litter than usual, and some of the residents have less pride in their surroundings than the average person would.

I will say one thing: there is a very clear and repeated story where the most vocal ones who shout about "our country" are the ones who care least about it. It's not just in the UK, you see it all over Europe as well.

A scenario that could cause market problems is shortly before the next General Election polls are pointing to Labour, Tory and Reform all gaining around 160-180 seats each, the LibDems 70 and the SNP 50. What kind of coalition or partnership could possibly be formed?

That scenario wouldn't be that bad at all. You'd probably have either a Lab-Lib coalition with the SNP providing confidence/supply, or a Tory-Lib coalition where the SNP and Labour agree to abstain. Or even a German-style Grand Coalition could be in the works. I'll be very surprised if the Tories don't return to the centre-right before the next election, and there's plenty of examples of SNP-Tory cooperation in Scotland on economic issues.

Make no mistake, these Reform characters are absolute scumbags

His personal story is really no surprise to anyone that follows these scumbags. They're almost always opportunists in a cheap suit, who have very little to lose by mouthing off because they have nothing to lose anyway. The danger with them is that they're very easily bought by foreign governments, especially if there's a chance to be wined and dined in a 5 star Dubai hotel and made to feel important. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that there's a strong case for monitoring their travel and activities.

 

[Purple Train]

Not entirely sure whether to put this in the Labour thread or here, but safe to say Farage throwing his toys out of the pram in reaction to Sir Keir's conference speech has made my week a little bit better.

Nigel Farage has accused the Keir Starmer of being "unfit" to be prime minister after his attacks on Reform UK.

Farage accused Keir Starmer of putting the safety of Reform's elected officials under threat. He said Starmer's language "will encourage the radical left" and in the wake of Charlie Kirk's murder in the US was an "absolute disgrace".

"I am completely shocked at his behaviour," Farage said. "I now believe that he is unfit to be the prime minister of our country."

(Quote taken from BBC live text, post at 16.09: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd073r829jxt)

I really hope this is a sign that Starmer is going to start directing as much scrutiny at Farage as he possibly can, rather than meekly letting him control discourse and sow division. Farage is as deserving of the term "snowflake" as any of the people he labels as such - as far as the analogy is concerned, he'd probably melt in an industrial freezer.