It's Frightening How Prospective Reform Party Voters Aren't All Loud Extremists

Yusuf, 47, Birmingham

Profession: Economics Tutor and Online Educator

Past Votes: Labour Party. He considers himself “formerly known as moderate left. To the left of Starmer – who isn’t?”

Personal Anecdote: During a seminar featuring life coach Tony Robbins, showing that people are more capable than they think, Yusuf walked across burning coals.

Mark, Walsall

Work: Former Nurse, later Educator, now Retired

Voting Record: Has voted for most parties – last time Conservative while next time he intends to support Reform Party

Interesting Fact: Mark scored two goals representing England versus Germany … at his sister's wedding of his sibling, who wed a German (England lost the match).

Initial Impressions

Mark: Since I had surgery to treat Parkinson's, I occasionally struggle expressing myself. Yusuf speaks well, and deeply committed about his beliefs. I enjoy a drink but I just had a blackcurrant with soda. I ordered sirloin steak, and dessert was pancake with ice cream.

Yusuf: You’ve got a certain image of the typical a Reform voter looks like – a union jack T-shirt or a loud, overweight man – and that idea was shattered. He was very pleasant. I've been sober for 16 years, so I had a Diet Coke. And a ribeye steak, which was delicious.

The Big Beef

Mark: The present scale of immigration cannot continue. Numerous migrants crossing in small boats are genuine and willing to work, but others are not. They might be criminals or extremists.

Yusuf: Imagine their position. Nobody abandons a good life a stable country and living a good life. These are individuals who’ve got nothing or everything’s been taken away from them. Channel crossings represent a minor portion; the majority of migrants into this country is through legal means.

Mark: Ethically speaking to attracting skilled workers to a rich country, since we contribute to shortages in other nations. A long-standing worry of mine is UK overpopulation, given energy needs, water, health service, education, homes, among other issues. And there are communities that live completely parallel lives and avoid integrating with the wider society. This is concerning – notably when newcomers arrive from nations where freedoms or women's rights are terrible.

Yusuf: I shared my dad's story Integrating takes time; they continue their traditions in their home country. Several countries Britain colonised, like India, had strong economies, but resources were extracted and set them back. It’s not like we came to get our stuff back, but we came to where stuff is.

Common Ground

Mark: We both felt when people become super affluent, they always want more. I'd advocate for taxing the rich.

Yusuf: Mark noted wealth inequality was all Thatcher’s fault and talked about the historical seeds she had sown. I was surprised he wasn't more right-wing!

Dessert

Mark: Nigel Farage does have the gift of the gab, doesn’t he? I would trust him with the economy, though reducing public spending will upset a lot of people so he might have to compromise. I'll vote reluctantly as he seems unconcerned about the NHS; moving to private care is disappointing. I spent 26 years in the NHS. But I won’t vote Conservative or Labour; they've had opportunities.

Yusuf: I said to Mark: reflect on Reform's allies. Some supporters are extreme, you don't fit that mold, your views are not their views. Nigel Farage and Richard Tice, Richard Tice, are affluent businessmen who don’t really care about the country, but seek to exploit public anxieties and prejudices to get elected.

Conclusion

Mark: As a retiree, I lack insight into youth views as much as I did when I was a lecturer. I had a great time.

Yusuf: I find it alarming that potential Reform voters aren't all loud flag-waving extremists. But I came away feeling positive that if you calmly discuss divisive issues, you might influence attitudes and opinions.