Issue 001 of Reform UK’s free “newspaper” dropped unbidden through my door earlier this week. Apparently it is free for patriots but I’m fairly certain that neither I, nor many of the other recipients, qualify under their definition of the term but there is no obvious way to return this rag that I didn’t want and would not be willing to pay for. Let’s count that as as issue #1.
The front page has three main stories, all of which are “dog whistle” politics. The small ones promise that, if elected to power, Reform UK will stop the boats (what might be called the details on p.3 fail to mention that the number of small boat crossings has already begun to fall significantly) and a hagiography of the late Ann Widdecombe. They don’t use such a long word but they are very clearly casting her as a saint and martyr. The big picture shows Nigel Farage with what I assume is his dog and he is even wearing a dog whistle. I’m not sure if that is carelessness or contempt. The big words promise a fix for “Broken Britain” and that if a Reform Government doesn’t deliver in 100 days, the ministers responsible would be sacked. No word is given about whether that would apply to himself, presumably cast in the role of Prime Minister and thus ultimately responsible for his cabinet.
I won’t work through the whole release although there are problematic things on every page. For example, it seems a bit odd on the centre pages to make a big point of how 14 years of failed Conservative government and yet several of the people flanking Mr Farage were prominent members of that failed government. I suspect the indication of horns behind a couple of their heads is probably another example of lack of attention in their media department. Finally, I note on the back page that although I got this paper for “free”, I’d have to use a stamped addressed envelope to mail in to become a member. I guess they are clever enough not to open up a FREEPOST address which would probably get lots of unwanted items.
Nothing seems to let a good fact get in the way of a partisan opinion. Meanwhile, since there’s too much ink on this unwanted “newspaper” to make it good for fire starting, I’m going to see if I can get it in the recycling bin before they come round to collect it today.
