Devil In The Detail

All true; but the same could be said of most of what the mainstream parties say and therein lies the problem. Increasing numbers of people are not prepared to give the establishment parties the benefit of the doubt any longer. But they haven’t rumbled Farage yet. Nor will they before next May in all likelihood.

Farage has a known track record. Although he's a very good communicator, is poor at taking responsibility for his actions. How many more name changes will the public fall for? We've had Ukip, Brexit Party and now Reform UK , all three are vehicles for one man's ego. Yes, those mainstream parties, Labour & Conservatives, false promises have resulted in an apathetic public now are willing to embrace populism. If I spoke your language. Said out loud what was once deemed taboo. Blamed foreigners for all your problems. Offered you a land of milk and honey at their expense . You accept it, wouldn't you, especially if from a neglected part of Wales or Britain. Oh, but there are consequences when you vote any populist into power. For example. Take the pyramid system. Those at the top usually benefit where all below, especially the bottom, suffer a financial hit. Less we forget. When Britain left the EU all those Ukip MEPs accepted their EU pension. Some were even rewarded with peerages by Boris Johnson in his New Year Honours. You scratch my back, I'll cross your palm with silver. Corruption and cronyism. And no need to look far what happens when you embrace a populist. It's already happening in America with Donald Trump's MAGA base. His Doge policies have stopped thousands of his supporters healthcare and benefits. You can see them on YouTube in their droves crying and regretting their vote. See, Trump doesn't care about his base because he's got what he craved. A second term in office. Immunity from prosecution. And the ability to make as much money as humanly possible by hook or by crook, and I emphasise , crook. Farage has the same ideology as Trump. Ultimate power without consequence. Voters will regret a would-be Reform government, especially here in Wales.

The issue is that Farage (and Trump) peddles over simplified, black and white, you're with me or against me, sound bite politics. Unfortunately there are many lazy, can't really be bothered to think (or don't know how to think) voters. Give them a scapegoat, an unfeasibly simple "solution" for all their ills and they fall for it every time. It doesn't have to be true, doesn't need to bear scrutiny and certainly doesn't need to make sense as these mirage like policies will never be enacted or tested. They are there to garner a reactionary vote and propel the worst of humanity to power. It's depressing beyond words.

New outfit for your bendy toy Farage 'Goes to the Races' now featuring 'facial manipulation' mouth opens and closes to suit his twisted rhetoric of the day...

Scrutiny of Reform's policies might deter some undecided voters, but the appeal of Farage and co. is emotional. Rather than unpicking Reform's 'policies', other parties need to define their own narrative more clearly, and learn how to use social media.

First, Nigel will come for your Welsh Government targets, then he'll come for your bilingual road signs, then he'll come for your Welsh-Medium schools - all to save taxpayers money, of course. Naturally, all this will blend in with his stripping of the NHS to accommodate American health care investors. But don't despair, at least we'll be able to blast out God Save The King at the Principality Stadium (no need to change that name, as Nigel and his chums love the idea that we are a 'Principality').

Here is a fact about Nigel, " if Brexit is a disaster, I will go and live abroad" said in 2017. It is 2025 and he is yet to leave, despite calling Brexit a disaster.

To paraphrase the late great Linda Smith: I don't just begrudge him the Oxygen of publicity, I begrudge him the Oxygen of Oxygen. I think you should join forces with Reform Watch and Political Custard

An interesting snippet. Because of Brexit, the UK can no longer access the fingerprints of failed asylum seekers coming through the EU.

I take it you don't like weekends or holiday pay or the NHS or workers rights? All brought about by left wing politics.

Education is worse in half of England. Health is worse in Northern Ireland. And North East England has the lowest GDP per capita in the UK. But don't let the facts bother you.

Pratt.

Really Ben, I imagine many are even more illiterate than they were in their Brexit heyday! Education, Education, Education...