Good analysis of a worrying case of media bias and complicity, Adam. Perhaps a comparison can be made with the level of positive MSM coverage of Moseley in the 1920s and early '30s?
Reform have a good reason to be hopeful. The first past the post electoral system.
Britain is now, in some places, in a seven party fight. Which means fragmentation of the voting which brings parties to power.
The “big parties” are no longer that big. As Labour marches rightwards highlighting immigration it plays into Farage’s happy place. It also alienates the inner city voter comfortable with a multicultural society
As white England, worries about being replaced by Muslim incomers, spurred on by frightening headlines, Farage and the Conservatives, the cities of Britain are less worried. Leave versus remain demographics for the 2020s.
If other parties are competing in the low 20% mark and Labour continues to alienate centre left voters then the electoral system will help. Tens of Labour seats are held by tiny majorities. The winter fuel allowance vote in Runcorn took a seat by six votes. Reform on 30% of the vote may well become a majority Government or, might share the Government benches with a diminished Conservative Party
Labour chasing Reform with no narrative of its own purpose could well lead to collapse in Labour support.
Of course Labour could bring in Proportional Representation to represent voters better and prevent minority rule. Don’t hold your breath. The Labour deathwish is strong.
I have to admit I will use my vote come what may and I will vote for the party that inhibits Reform. The Tories now seem irrelevant. I will vote for the party that is most likely to win in my area and is still progressive. This is why KS has to remain progressive. I was actually heartened by Labour MPs rebelling. It shows they’re listening to us. I do feel KS seems unsure of himself. I wish he was a better communicator.
I do feel Farage will be affected by Trump. By the time the GE comes around which is still a way away just seeing these populists tearing everything down will surely make people see sense. Farage has not achieved anything. Certainly not without help. I’m tired of his myth.
My comment is OT. In the couple of years or so I’ve subscribed to BT, the Supplement and Folded I don’t think I’ve seen any serious mention of Scotland (or NI or Wales). It’s disappointing that when we are finally considered it’s only because of a by-election which is useful to confirm an argument re the English press and Reform.
Paul Lewis, journalist and broadcaster, coined the acronym TABIS - things are better in Scotland, and in many ways they are, despite the lies in the gutter press and from UK Government ministers. But it takes research to uncover - from the Scottish Child Payment (what’s that?) to world class access legislation to (marginally) higher rates of tax on higher earners.
For me it’s becoming increasingly difficult to justify subscriptions to publications which are every bit as London-centric as everything else.
I take your point on BT Graham, which is a fair one that we do need to commission more pieces on Scottish politics. We will take that on board. However, on this newsletter I am a Westminster-based reporter so obviously most of what I write about here will be focused on the body where I work and speak to people on a daily basis, rather than on other legislative bodies where I am not based and do not have those contacts, for the same reason that I don't spend a lot of time writing about American politics and European politics. I would be open to commissioning pieces from Scottish political reporters however
In Hamilton labour ran a ground campaign with a very local candidate who was well known locally on from here for here approach. A poor media man but good on the doors. So Labour kept him away from medja. SNP leadership,ran its Reform or us campaign. So just saying they were better than reform. But no policies that would help the town. So Labour called it correctly.
Good analysis of a worrying case of media bias and complicity, Adam. Perhaps a comparison can be made with the level of positive MSM coverage of Moseley in the 1920s and early '30s?
Reform have a good reason to be hopeful. The first past the post electoral system.
Britain is now, in some places, in a seven party fight. Which means fragmentation of the voting which brings parties to power.
The “big parties” are no longer that big. As Labour marches rightwards highlighting immigration it plays into Farage’s happy place. It also alienates the inner city voter comfortable with a multicultural society
As white England, worries about being replaced by Muslim incomers, spurred on by frightening headlines, Farage and the Conservatives, the cities of Britain are less worried. Leave versus remain demographics for the 2020s.
If other parties are competing in the low 20% mark and Labour continues to alienate centre left voters then the electoral system will help. Tens of Labour seats are held by tiny majorities. The winter fuel allowance vote in Runcorn took a seat by six votes. Reform on 30% of the vote may well become a majority Government or, might share the Government benches with a diminished Conservative Party
Labour chasing Reform with no narrative of its own purpose could well lead to collapse in Labour support.
Of course Labour could bring in Proportional Representation to represent voters better and prevent minority rule. Don’t hold your breath. The Labour deathwish is strong.
"How the Media is Trying to Talk a Nigel Farage Government Into Reality"
Why? Cuo Bono?
Just to sell newspapers (sadly, a dying industry) seems too trivial a reason.
I have to admit I will use my vote come what may and I will vote for the party that inhibits Reform. The Tories now seem irrelevant. I will vote for the party that is most likely to win in my area and is still progressive. This is why KS has to remain progressive. I was actually heartened by Labour MPs rebelling. It shows they’re listening to us. I do feel KS seems unsure of himself. I wish he was a better communicator.
I do feel Farage will be affected by Trump. By the time the GE comes around which is still a way away just seeing these populists tearing everything down will surely make people see sense. Farage has not achieved anything. Certainly not without help. I’m tired of his myth.
My comment is OT. In the couple of years or so I’ve subscribed to BT, the Supplement and Folded I don’t think I’ve seen any serious mention of Scotland (or NI or Wales). It’s disappointing that when we are finally considered it’s only because of a by-election which is useful to confirm an argument re the English press and Reform.
Paul Lewis, journalist and broadcaster, coined the acronym TABIS - things are better in Scotland, and in many ways they are, despite the lies in the gutter press and from UK Government ministers. But it takes research to uncover - from the Scottish Child Payment (what’s that?) to world class access legislation to (marginally) higher rates of tax on higher earners.
For me it’s becoming increasingly difficult to justify subscriptions to publications which are every bit as London-centric as everything else.
I take your point on BT Graham, which is a fair one that we do need to commission more pieces on Scottish politics. We will take that on board. However, on this newsletter I am a Westminster-based reporter so obviously most of what I write about here will be focused on the body where I work and speak to people on a daily basis, rather than on other legislative bodies where I am not based and do not have those contacts, for the same reason that I don't spend a lot of time writing about American politics and European politics. I would be open to commissioning pieces from Scottish political reporters however
It would also be good to do some Substack lives here with Scottish based reporters /experts
Thanks, Adam. I take your point about Folded. Cheers.
In Hamilton labour ran a ground campaign with a very local candidate who was well known locally on from here for here approach. A poor media man but good on the doors. So Labour kept him away from medja. SNP leadership,ran its Reform or us campaign. So just saying they were better than reform. But no policies that would help the town. So Labour called it correctly.