It’s easy to laugh at them – but the Left ignore Reform at our peril
Since returning to the Westminster fray this year after a few years in “The Wilderness” (A grand way of explaining that I spent two years living back in my hometown, Cardiff), it’s been a point of interest to me – quickly giving way to concern – just how little serious attention is being dedicated to the rise of Reform and the UK’s populist right.
When it comes to media attention, it’s true that the new Reform MPs, and the rise of the party’s popularity, has been amply covered to the point of near-saturation.
Not a week passes when a new shock poll shows Reform edging well past the Conservatives, and over at GB News, the party’s success is a regular feature of conversation.
Many will handily dismiss Reform’s rise as a redux of UKIP’s popularity pre-and-during the Brexit referendum.
But their groundswell of support is undeniable.
Reform UK has an enthusiastic voter base. A YouGov poll in December 2024 asked over 2000 UK adults how favourably they rated the parties they voted for in the General Election, and the results are stark.
Among those who voted for the Labour Party last summer, 68% had a favourable view of Labour. Whereas among those who voted for Reform UK last summer, 93% had a favourable view of the party.
This 25-point gap cannot be ignored.
Reform is pulling voters from Labour and from the Conservatives, and while some political insiders believe they are a flash in the pan, the upcoming council elections – and more importantly – the 2026 Welsh Senedd elections – will I believe prove that their bite is, in fact, worse than their bark.
When it comes to media attention, it’s true that the new Reform MPs, and the rise of the party’s popularity, has been amply covered to the point of near-saturation.
Not a week passes when a new shock poll shows Reform edging well past the Conservatives, and over at GB News, the party’s success is a regular feature of conversation.
Many will handily dismiss Reform’s rise as a redux of UKIP’s popularity pre-and-during the Brexit referendum.
But their groundswell of support is undeniable.
Reform UK has an enthusiastic voter base. A YouGov poll in December 2024 asked over 2000 UK adults how favourably they rated the parties they voted for in the General Election, and the results are stark.
Among those who voted for the Labour Party last summer, 68% had a favourable view of Labour. Whereas among those who voted for Reform UK last summer, 93% had a favourable view of the party.
This 25-point gap cannot be ignored.
Reform is pulling voters from Labour and from the Conservatives, and while some political insiders believe they are a flash in the pan, the upcoming council elections – and more importantly – the 2026 Welsh Senedd elections – will I believe prove that their bite is, in fact, worse than their bark.
So what can we do?
First of all, I think we should be loud and proud about our successes. We have four-and-a-half years to win over the public with the results of our policies. The doom-and-gloom narrative that has been pushed in recent months by the Treasury in particular will not win voters to our cause. Being outspoken about what is going well in our time in Government will instil a sense of optimism in the country, rather than one of declinism.
Secondly, where we can we need to refocus on popular policy. No, not populism. There have been far too many controversial policy debates in recent months that have dragged on far longer than they needed. A decisive Government should put a stop to this.
The IHT and farmers debate has dragged on long enough. Dan Neidle, the former Clifford Chance tax partner, has offered a common-sense solution to this debate – How to stop IHT avoidance but protect farmers. So why does the Government insist on ploughing through?
Secondly, where we can we need to refocus on popular policy. No, not populism. There have been far too many controversial policy debates in recent months that have dragged on far longer than they needed. A decisive Government should put a stop to this.
The IHT and farmers debate has dragged on long enough. Dan Neidle, the former Clifford Chance tax partner, has offered a common-sense solution to this debate – How to stop IHT avoidance but protect farmers. So why does the Government insist on ploughing through?
Finally - the Labour Party ignores Reform at your peril.
I have encountered countless friends, commentators, journalists, and politicians who think that ignoring Reform UK – and sticking their heads in the sand – will work. I’m afraid that doesn’t work.
Reform UK are pulling voters from the right just as much as the left. I hear from my friends back home in Cardiff about ordinary, working class friends who are tempted by Farage and his rhetoric. Meanwhile, I gather from colleagues who work in the City of London that Reform is fast gaining traction among the younger generation manning the Bloomberg Terminals.
So let’s actually focus on what we are doing well, redirect from policies that have clearly failed in the court of public opinion, and take the fight to the populist right.
Reform UK are pulling voters from the right just as much as the left. I hear from my friends back home in Cardiff about ordinary, working class friends who are tempted by Farage and his rhetoric. Meanwhile, I gather from colleagues who work in the City of London that Reform is fast gaining traction among the younger generation manning the Bloomberg Terminals.
So let’s actually focus on what we are doing well, redirect from policies that have clearly failed in the court of public opinion, and take the fight to the populist right.
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