Someone Is Very Worried About Reform

 

Someone is very worried about the impact that Reform UK is having on the UK’s July 4^th election. That someone, whoever or whatever they are, has a power and reach that can extend into fomenting nasty incidents. I myself witnessed one, outside my local Waitrose, on Friday June 28^th, 2024 at about 5pm. (The photo was taken in 2020, from almost the same spot).

I am campaign manager for Graham Drage, the Reform Party candidate in Godalming and Ash constituency. We had invited Ann Widdecombe, former Tory MP and now one of Reform’s principal spokespeople, to come to address us at a meeting in Guildford, organized on behalf of several Reform candidates in Surrey. A group of us from Godalming and Ash met up with Ann about twenty minutes before the incident.

We met in the centre of Godalming, and walked gently down Bridge Street, making for Waitrose’s. There were about seven of us as we reached the entrance. I was at the back of the convoy with Ann, Graham our candidate was at the front, and those between had leaflets ready. Just in case anyone didn’t already know about us!

As we offered leaflets to people coming out of Waitrose’s, we received rejections. And increasingly unpleasant ones. That was in complete contrast to what I experienced on my many days of leafleting throughout Godalming. I found that more of the people I talked to were favourably disposed to Reform than not. And I was only called a “racist” four times.

Yet two men, in quick succession, came out of the Waitrose shop and started accusing us of racism, and worse. One confronted Graham rather aggressively. They were very quickly followed by the manager, ordering us to get off Waitrose’s property – which we had only been on for about 45 seconds!

As we slowly moved away, the more aggressive of the two came back, and berated Graham about the Andrew Parker comments, that had only become public knowledge that day.

I cannot believe that this incident was not planned by the enemies of Reform. We had made no secret of Ann’s visit, nor of our intention for Ann to help us campaign in Godalming that afternoon. I have shopped regularly at that Waitrose ever since it was built, and I have seen nothing like this before. Even during an election. And it is, I think, no coincidence that hustings close by at Shalford were re-arranged late for a date Graham was already committed.

Oh, and then think about the Andrew Parker incident… was that planned, too? By whom?

Anyway, the Guildford event was very convivial (though I made it there late). But someone is, indeed, very worried about Reform.