Reform UK discussion

[Railwaycat]

There’s certainly a (large) degree of this, but there’s also the fact that things like farming, fishing and mining have a “sense of place” with strong roots in deeply-established communities (they literally can’t be done anywhere else). Similar applies to big heavy manufacturing (for “us on here” think Swindon, Doncaster, Crewe etc but equally Longbridge, Halewood etc) because it’s not easy to move. However high the contribution of animation or gaming, they (and lots of other modern industries) are essentially mobile- to add to the fact that they haven’t been around long enough to establish that sense of place.

They also aren't necessary for everyday life, unlike farming and fishing.

 

[AlterEgo]

They also aren't necessary for everyday life, unlike farming and fishing.

Fishing isn't essential for everyday life. Most people don't even have one 200g portion a week. The stuff about fishing matters politically because it involves territorial control of waters and defines whole towns and villages, as @The exile alludes to.

Video gaming on the other hand is consumed much more widely and worth a lot more money, and is a great export for UK plc. One of the things we do best to be honest, and it should be talked about a lot more.

 

[Railwaycat]

Fishing isn't essential for everyday life. Most people don't even have one 200g portion a week.

Really? How do you know that? You're source is?
In these troubled times, all indigenous food sources are important.

 

[brad465]

Fishing would have been a larger part of our economy had we not sold loads of quotas off to private entities. Had either Thatcher, Major &/or Blair* not done this and instead invested more in the industry, we'd have had more bargaining power, but many of those backing Brexit seemed to ignore this particular detail.

*When searching this up I got "in the 1990s" but no specific years, so have had to list all the PMs in that decade.

 

[ainsworth74]

Really? How do you know that? You're source is?
In these troubled times, all indigenous food sources are important.

Total UK seafood consumption, both in and out of home in 2022 (latest 2023 Defra family food data) stood at 144.55g /person/wk. down -7.7% vs the previous year. This equates to just over one (1.03), 140g portion per person per week.

Seafood Consumption (2024 Update))

Total UK seafood consumption, both in and out of home in 2022 (latest 2023 Defra family food data) stood at 144.55g /person/wk. down -7.7% vs the previous year. This equates to just over one (1.03), 140g portion per person per week. This means that most people are still only eating around half...

www.seafish.org

Fish is not a major source of nutrition for the UK. We just don't eat it.

 

[AlterEgo]

Really? How do you know that? You're source is?

From the UK's own public body which monitors and promotes fish consumption.

Benchmarking seafood consumption
The Defra Family Food dataset is the UK seafood consumption benchmark. Latest data Released in October 2024 shows that in 2023, total seafood consumption (both in and Out of home) fell to 134.53g /person/wk. down -6.9% vs the previous year. For the first time, it equates to less than one (0.96), 140g portion per person per week. This means that most people are still only eating around half of the amount of seafood
recommended by health professionals.

80% of that 134.53g a week is imported by the way. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articl..., an estimated 81% of,Fronc 2007; Tetley 2016).

Therefore on average each person consumes just 27 grams of British seafood per week.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Seafood Consumption (2024 Update))

Total UK seafood consumption, both in and out of home in 2022 (latest 2023 Defra family food data) stood at 144.55g /person/wk. down -7.7% vs the previous year. This equates to just over one (1.03), 140g portion per person per week. This means that most people are still only eating around half...

www.seafish.org

Fish is not a major source of nutrition for the UK. We just don't eat it.

And what we do eat, mainly isn't indigenous. The majority of what the UK fishing fleet catches is exported, while the majority of fish consumed in the UK is imported. Turns out that Brits just aren't big fans of the species of fish that swim in our waters. It's why the UK fishing industry was actually in favour of the UK/EU fishing deal that was done (actually extended/modified) last year, without it there essentially wouldn't be a UK fishing industry as there wouldn't be a market for their catch.

 

[Harpo]

Fish is not a major source of nutrition for the UK. We just don't eat it.

Most people probably can’t afford fish, let alone know how to prepare it.

Even processed fish scraps (frozen square type) get called ‘Fish pie mix’ and sold for around £14/kg, or about £6 a pack before adding other ingredients.

 

[alex397]

Completely off topic of course but this has now made me want to research why seafood is relatively unpopular in the UK, when in many other countries the native food is very popular. I’m thinking of the Northern Europe/Scandi countries and the Mediterranean. For a country surrounded by the sea, it would be interesting to know why the UK isn’t also like those countries.

 

[35B]

Completely off topic of course but this has now made me want to research why seafood is relatively unpopular in the UK, when in many other countries the native food is very popular. I’m thinking of the Northern Europe/Scandi countries and the Mediterranean. For a country surrounded by the sea, it would be interesting to know why the UK isn’t also like those countries.

It's a good question, but I remember staying around Loch Linnhe, and hearing that the vast majority of seafood (mostly shellfish) caught locally was being exported to Spain. My impression at the time was that the key driver for this was that British tastes were much more at the "fish and chips" end of the spectrum.

 

[The exile]

Completely off topic of course but this has now made me want to research why seafood is relatively unpopular in the UK, when in many other countries the native food is very popular. I’m thinking of the Northern Europe/Scandi countries and the Mediterranean. For a country surrounded by the sea, it would be interesting to know why the UK isn’t also like those countries.

There was a time - centuries ago - when there were riots caused by the poor demanding something other than oysters to eat. Cockles, whelks etc very much part of an East End diet not that long ago. Suspect part of the reason was that our inshore waters became horrendously polluted long before other countries’ did - so, together with a drift towards inland industrial towns, we list the taste.

 

[Silver Cobra]

Fishing isn't essential for everyday life. Most people don't even have one 200g portion a week. The stuff about fishing matters politically because it involves territorial control of waters and defines whole towns and villages, as @The exile alludes to.

Video gaming on the other hand is consumed much more widely and worth a lot more money, and is a great export for UK plc. One of the things we do best to be honest, and it should be talked about a lot more.

Especially when you consider that the development studio for one of the biggest video game franchises in the world in Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar North, is based in Edinburgh.

 

[Three-Nine]

I guess its also arguable that videogame production involves skills that are a) if not easier, than at least more comfortable to learn for the inclined person b) the equipment required is more readily obtainable and c) the skills are more easily transferable to other related fields, such as business software programming. Its often stated that one of the reasons the UK is still a major player in the videogame market is because of how many people learned to code on 8-bit microcomputers and some of those people would pay things forward by developing the Raspberry Pi, the best-selling British computer of all time (with the intention of teaching a new generation how to code). Much as I recognise the importance of obtaining food it seems difficult to imagine that, say, a 1980s National Fishing Programme would have had quite the same effect or resulted in the creation of the BBC Model B Trawler.

And, of course, all computers are served with an order of... (wait for it)... chips!

 

[Sorcerer]

Especially when you consider that the development studio for one of the biggest video game franchises in the world in Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar North, is based in Edinburgh.

Arguably the biggest simply because of how defining Grand Theft Auto VI will be before it's even released and how much of the industry will be shaped by it. I can confidently say that it will break records on day one. Quite easily the UK's greatest video game export. But I don't expect Reform's voting base of over-50s working class voters will be too keen on celebrating that aspect of British culture simply because they didn't grow up with it and won't understand or appreciate it as much. In a lot of ways Reform doesn't seem to celebrate British culture at all even though it likes to champion itself as it's only remaining safeguard. Guess that's the populist right for you.

 

[Railwaycat]

From the UK's own public body which monitors and promotes fish consumption.



80% of that 134.53g a week is imported by the way. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12065761/#:~:text=Today, an estimated 81% of,Fronc 2007; Tetley 2016).

Therefore on average each person consumes just 27 grams of British seafood per week.

Which is more than consume lamb and mutton:

"And over the last 50 years there has been a significant fall in lamb and mutton consumption according to Becky Smith, a senior analyst at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), which represents farmers.
In 1980 the average UK household purchased 128g of sheep meat (lamb and mutton) per person, per week. In 2024 that same measure was down to 23g per person, per week".

My point is that food production is far more important than the video games industry in these troubled times - we import far too much food as it is even before the mounting threats to our security (and if food is scarce/rationed people will eat what's available, like it or not). Once the fishing fleet is gone it won't be easy to revive it, unlike sheep farming.

 

[AlterEgo]

Which is more than consume lamb and mutton

So? It's expensive and we export the vast majority of it. We produce well over 100% of our consumption of it and people would eat it more if it was affordable. But it isn't. We are more than entirely self sufficient on lamb, but choose not to eat it. Go figure.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/agriculture-in-the-united-kingdom-2023/chapter-8-livestock (114% surplus as of the most recent data).

"And over the last 50 years there has been a significant fall in lamb and mutton consumption according to Becky Smith, a senior analyst at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), which represents farmers.
In 1980 the average UK household purchased 128g of sheep meat

My point is that food production is far more important than the video games industry in these troubled times

The video games industry here is a massive success. Seems weird to dismiss it as "you can't eat it" because you don't understand it. It contributes about £2bn to the country's coffers, money which might be used to help do things like upscale our food production.

If Reform were so pro-UK they'd actually celebrate stuff like this, but the video games industry (and tech/dev in general) is full of types of people they don't like and they think video games are stupid. So they don't care.

 

[35B]

Which is more than consume lamb and mutton:

"And over the last 50 years there has been a significant fall in lamb and mutton consumption according to Becky Smith, a senior analyst at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), which represents farmers.
In 1980 the average UK household purchased 128g of sheep meat (lamb and mutton) per person, per week. In 2024 that same measure was down to 23g per person, per week".

My point is that food production is far more important than the video games industry in these troubled times - we import far too much food as it is even before the mounting threats to our security (and if food is scarce/rationed people will eat what's available, like it or not). Once the fishing fleet is gone it won't be easy to revive it, unlike sheep farming.

I'm reading David Stevenson's "With Our Backs to the Wall", on how WWI came to an end. What I found interesting was that, prior to WWI, British food supplies were mostly imported.

Autarky is rarely a good idea, and usually means that populations get less, of worse, and it costs more.

Specifically on fishing, I notice that Waitrose are stopping selling mackerel. That suggests that, just possibly, enlarging the fishing fleet might not be a good idea.

 

[JGurney]

made me want to research why seafood is relatively unpopular in the UK, when in many other countries the native food is very popular. I’m thinking of the Northern Europe/Scandi countries and the Mediterranean. For a country surrounded by the sea, it would be interesting to know why the UK isn’t also like those countries.

Historically, religion was a factor. British Protestant churches seem to have given more emphasis to Leviticus 11:9-12 than did other churches around Europe.
"These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. But anything in the seas or the rivers that does not have fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is detestable to you. You shall regard them as detestable; you shall not eat any of their flesh"

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.n a lot of ways Reform doesn't seem to celebrate British culture at all even though it likes to champion itself as it's only remaining safeguard. Guess that's the populist right for you.

Quite. For all that Farage likes to be photographed with a pint, there is little overlap between CAMRA's membership and Reform's lager swillers. It would be interesting to see how many could tell a Somerset cider from a Norfolk one. Reform supporters are similarly noticeably absent from groups interested in preserving traditional songs and dances.

 

[317 forever]

In the Gorton and Denton by-election compared to the General Election on 4 July 2024 the vote share changes are Green +28% Labour -25% Reform UK +15% Conservatives -9%. The 48% by-election turnout is about the same as at the General Election. The switch compared to the General Election is almost entirely Conservative to Reform UK and Labour to Green. There is no shift from Labour to Reform UK.

The message from this Gorton and Denton by-election won by the Green Party and the Senedd Caerphilly by-election in November 2025 won by Plaid Cymru is many voters will switch parties to block Reform UK from winning. These are not good results for Reform UK.

Reform UK clearly attracts some Tory voters especially in strongly working class constituencies but I expect their attempts to attract Tory voters will be a lot more mixed in well to do Conservative constituencies. Supporting fracking is not a recipe for attracting a lot of voters in the traditionally Conservative shires.

Also, the swing from Labour to Green here at 26% was noticeably greater than the swing from Labour to Reform at Runcorn last year, being just 17%.

 

[Bayum]

interesting developments for ‘SpudBros’ as they are being called out left right and centre for altering their opening times to coincide with the breaking of fast for Ramadan and offering dates as traditional fast breaking foods. A Facebook page affiliated with UKIP +/- Reform calling them traitors and subsequently receiving a torrent of one star reviews and abuse.

 

[styles]

interesting developments for ‘SpudBros’ as they are being called out left right and centre for altering their opening times to coincide with the breaking of fast for Ramadan and offering dates as traditional fast breaking foods. A Facebook page affiliated with UKIP +/- Reform calling them traitors and subsequently receiving a torrent of one star reviews and abuse.

The main reason I dislike these two is they just copied Spud Man's gig. Spud Man seems like a guy who was generous and went viral, whereas Spud Bros seem like a pair who saw pound signs and are sometimes generous because they can afford to be and it gets them views.

Their statement on this particular issue however makes a lot of sense:

It’s actually really frustrating and sad that we have to explain these things from serving potatoes in Preston!

During Ramadan a lot of our customers are fasting during the day, which means they can only eat at certain times. Because of that we actually lose a lot of daytime trade, and that’s why we open later so people can come in once they’re able to eat.

The dates and water we handed out were also given to us, we didn’t go out and buy them as some sort of campaign, we simply passed them on to customers who were breaking their fast.

We try to do things throughout the year for the community too. At Easter we give out Easter eggs, at Christmas we give out gifts and donate ingredients to the food bank so people who might be struggling can still come in and eat a spud.

At the end of the day we’re a potato shop that just tries to do nice things for people when we can. Nothing more complicated than that.

It seems they may close at certain times due to reduced business, and open later because there's a load of people breaking fast and they'll get a load of business from it. Seems like good business sense to me?

 

[Bayum]

The main reason I dislike these two is they just copied Spud Man's gig. Spud Man seems like a guy who was generous and went viral, whereas Spud Bros seem like a pair who saw pound signs and are sometimes generous because they can afford to be and it gets them views.

Which is one thing, but for them to be called traitors because they’re serving a potato is a bit OTT, regardless of whether you like their origin story or not.

 

[martin butler]

Which is one thing, but for them to be called traitors because they’re serving a potato is a bit OTT, regardless of whether you like their origin story or not.

It's all getting a bit Germany in the 1930's what's next, these proud patriots burning down places that are catering for their customer's needs?

 

[JGurney]

to be called traitors because they’re serving a potato is a bit OTT,

We are dealing with Reform UK supporters here ...... One British tradition they certainly do not respect is practicing moderation and self-restraint.

 

[GusB]

We are dealing with Reform UK supporters here ...... One British tradition they certainly do not respect is practicing moderation and self-restraint.

Having looked at the "UK Patriots" Facebook page, they seem to be more affiliated with UKIP rather than Reform. There are a few posts referring to the party and its leader, Nick Tenconi (fabulous British surname ).

 

[styles]

Which is one thing, but for them to be called traitors because they’re serving a potato is a bit OTT, regardless of whether you like their origin story or not.

Sure... which is what I said

 

[martin butler]

Having looked at the "UK Patriots" Facebook page, they seem to be more affiliated with UKIP rather than Reform. There are a few posts referring to the party and its leader, Nick Tenconi (fabulous British surname ).

I have a real problem with people who claim to be upholding Christian values, whilst at the same time totally ignoring those self-same values as taught by the Christian church

 

[dgl]

So Christian values aren't "hurt thy neighbour" and "thou shalt make as much money as possible off the poor and helpless"...

 

[jon0844]

So Christian values aren't "hurt thy neighbour" and "thou shalt make as much money as possible off the poor and helpless"...

Do a search for 'Republican Jesus' for some laughs.

For a lot of people on the right, Christianity has become a new grift. They don't say or do anything remotely like you would expect someone following Christian values, bar the preaching bit and asking for donations.

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I have a real problem with people who claim to be upholding Christian values, whilst at the same time totally ignoring those self-same values as taught by the Christian church

They've looked at the grifting by Christian Evangelists in the USA and realised it can work here. I am not sure it's anywhere near as profitable, but Tommy Robinson has been dabbling (without much success) of late.

 

[nw1]

Nick Tenconi (fabulous British surname ).

Like Mr Farage, presumably descended from French, Belgian or Swiss immigrants?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Mar 2026 ==

interesting developments for ‘SpudBros’ as they are being called out left right and centre for altering their opening times to coincide with the breaking of fast for Ramadan and offering dates as traditional fast breaking foods. A Facebook page affiliated with UKIP +/- Reform calling them traitors and subsequently receiving a torrent of one star reviews and abuse.

Facebook needs to shut down these dangerous and extremist far-right hate groups. The platform needs much more regulation: free speech should be allowed, but not of course hate speech, and certainly not slandering a business in the way that they are doing. But you won't get that from Trump toady Zuckerberg, of course.