This article perfectly illustrates the crisis of representation when a 'workers' party' becomes indistinguishable from the capitalist state. Labour isn't losing support because voters are confused; they're losing it because the material reality of austerity (cutting winter fuel and disability benefits) has exposed the party's true function: managing capital, not protecting labour. Reform is filling the vacuum by channeling that legitimate class rage into nationalist scapegoating rather than challenging property relations. The takeaway isn't that workers are 'far-right,' but that they've correctly identified Labour as an enemy of their class interests. Until the working class builds independent political power outside the Westminster duopoly and focusses on material demands over cultural distractions, this drift toward reactionary populism will only accelerate. We need to stop looking for saviors in parliament and start organising for ourselves.
I would venture to suggest that if a problem were the result of a lack of far-left parties on the British political scene, that problem would probably have been pretty thoroughly solved already.
For Trump --- not saying that the same factors are true here, since I haven't been paying attention to Reform --- a factor was rural communities who were worried about loss of unskilled manufacturing jobs --- assembly lines and the like --- that liked hearing about protectionism, both for the labor market and for the finished products.
Glancing at the Reform's policy page, a lot of it looks similar. Lots of stuff about eliminating competition for jobs and eliminating competition to provide those manufactured goods.
This sounds kind of incomprehensible, but the first line is " The era of cheap, low-skilled foreign labour is over. Reform UK will end the scam of mass immigration and finally put British citizens first."
Put British Workers First
Put British Businesses First
Other Rural Economic Support
Support Our Farmers and the Rural Economy
Other
Protect the NHS
From looking at a past poll, I recall the NHS was the only item that was in the top five issues for both Labour and Conservative voters, so I imagine that it's kind of de rigueur to stick on one's issues.
Restore Britain's Sovereignty
Make Law-Abiding Citizens Feel Safe
Make Work Pay
Scrap Net Zero to Cut Energy Bills
Make Britain the Best Place to Start and Run a Business
Right, so far right populism, with no real substance everyone will get fucked over and the workers are going to be so angry that reform used them as they always have and they get the "fell for it again" award
Reform led by Nigal Farage, big fan of Donald Trump. Famous for being a rapist, for starting forever wars in the middle east, for being a member of the wealthy elite... Also being mentioned in the Epstein files a couple times. Nigel Farage-big fan. I know it was a gaff, have you heard what garage said about Ian Watkins? Really want some like that leading the country?
Steven Hartley said in '22 that Jimmy saville, famous nonce, was a working class hero and doubted the accusations against him were true.
A vote for ReformUK is a vote for the Epstein class. They love themselves child molestor, as well as the wealthy elite.
100% was fact. Donald trump is a rapist, as shown in a court. He did start a forever war in the middle east. He is mentioned in the Epstein files. Farage is a fan. Hartley did say Jimmy saville was a working class hero, Jimmy saville is a nonce..
Guess who Chris was donating to before ReformUK? Tories. Why do you want me to vote for the Epstein class?
11 Comments
neonix@reddthat.com · 19 pts · 70d
This article perfectly illustrates the crisis of representation when a 'workers' party' becomes indistinguishable from the capitalist state. Labour isn't losing support because voters are confused; they're losing it because the material reality of austerity (cutting winter fuel and disability benefits) has exposed the party's true function: managing capital, not protecting labour. Reform is filling the vacuum by channeling that legitimate class rage into nationalist scapegoating rather than challenging property relations. The takeaway isn't that workers are 'far-right,' but that they've correctly identified Labour as an enemy of their class interests. Until the working class builds independent political power outside the Westminster duopoly and focusses on material demands over cultural distractions, this drift toward reactionary populism will only accelerate. We need to stop looking for saviors in parliament and start organising for ourselves.
tal@lemmy.today · 0 pts · 70d
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Communist_parties_in_the_United_Kingdom
https://xkcd.com/927/
I would venture to suggest that if a problem were the result of a lack of far-left parties on the British political scene, that problem would probably have been pretty thoroughly solved already.
neonix@reddthat.com · 4 pts · 70d
There's always a relevant xkcd! But I didn't suggest creating a new political party.
T00l_shed@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 70d
And reform doesn't give a fuck about the working class. How does that make sense?
tal@lemmy.today · 7 pts · 70d
For Trump --- not saying that the same factors are true here, since I haven't been paying attention to Reform --- a factor was rural communities who were worried about loss of unskilled manufacturing jobs --- assembly lines and the like --- that liked hearing about protectionism, both for the labor market and for the finished products.
Glancing at the Reform's policy page, a lot of it looks similar. Lots of stuff about eliminating competition for jobs and eliminating competition to provide those manufactured goods.
https://www.reformparty.uk/policies#policies-section
If I categorize the policy issues:
Eliminating competition for jobs/market access
Stop the Boats
Secure and Defend Our Borders
Deport Illegal Migrants
Scrap ILR to Avert the Boriswave
This sounds kind of incomprehensible, but the first line is " The era of cheap, low-skilled foreign labour is over. Reform UK will end the scam of mass immigration and finally put British citizens first."
Put British Workers First
Put British Businesses First
Other Rural Economic Support
Other
Protect the NHS
From looking at a past poll, I recall the NHS was the only item that was in the top five issues for both Labour and Conservative voters, so I imagine that it's kind of de rigueur to stick on one's issues.
Restore Britain's Sovereignty
Make Law-Abiding Citizens Feel Safe
Make Work Pay
Scrap Net Zero to Cut Energy Bills
Make Britain the Best Place to Start and Run a Business
Defend and Protect British Culture and Traditions
Rebuild Britain's Armed Forces
Help British People Have Children
Embrace the Technologies of the Future
Dramatically Cut Foreign Aid
Make Our Civil Service Lean and Productive
T00l_shed@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 70d
Right, so far right populism, with no real substance everyone will get fucked over and the workers are going to be so angry that reform used them as they always have and they get the "fell for it again" award
makingrain@lemmy.world · -6 pts · 69d
Fedegenerate@fedinsfw.app · 5 pts · 69d
Ew, Reform support nonces like Jack Denny, and are funded by ultra wealthy like Christopher Harborne. You might like the Epstein class, but I don't.
makingrain@lemmy.world · -3 pts · 69d
Fedegenerate@fedinsfw.app · 4 pts · 69d
Reform led by Nigal Farage, big fan of Donald Trump. Famous for being a rapist, for starting forever wars in the middle east, for being a member of the wealthy elite... Also being mentioned in the Epstein files a couple times. Nigel Farage-big fan. I know it was a gaff, have you heard what garage said about Ian Watkins? Really want some like that leading the country?
Steven Hartley said in '22 that Jimmy saville, famous nonce, was a working class hero and doubted the accusations against him were true.
A vote for ReformUK is a vote for the Epstein class. They love themselves child molestor, as well as the wealthy elite.
makingrain@lemmy.world · -6 pts · 69d
Fedegenerate@fedinsfw.app · 5 pts · 69d
100% was fact. Donald trump is a rapist, as shown in a court. He did start a forever war in the middle east. He is mentioned in the Epstein files. Farage is a fan. Hartley did say Jimmy saville was a working class hero, Jimmy saville is a nonce..
Guess who Chris was donating to before ReformUK? Tories. Why do you want me to vote for the Epstein class?
makingrain@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 69d