The media, the billionaires and certain politicians are telling us we’re all obsessed with immigration –
…that we don’t care about human rights.
…that we don’t really believe in climate breakdown.
…that we’d be OK with an American healthcare system and the end of our free NHS.
But people are not the same as algorithms. They DO care!
They don’t want the UK to go the way of Trump’s America… and nor do we.
So we set out to collect the evidence that we are kinder, more compassionate, more tolerant and more savvy than these grifters would have us believe.
And if we pull together, we reckon we can beat them.
Our Purpose and Passion
At Common Ground, we believe it’s time we stood up to hatred and division
We’re not from any political party. But we are united in rejecting the politics of the far right, and we want to tackle the lies that are deepening division in society.
- We listen, we discuss and sometimes we explain and gently correct mis- and dis-information.
- We want to help mobilise people to demand kind, constructive policies from their politicians and to use their vote to keep the far right out of power.
- 99% of people we speak to do NOT want to live in Trump’s America, and that includes Reform supporters.
- We can’t stand by and watch our democracy, our rights – and our NHS – being destroyed.
If you want to be hopeful, then do hopeful things! Jane Fonda
How we started
We got involved in the South Devon Primary, a grassroots initiative to end 100 years of Conservative rule in the Totnes / South Devon constituency.
We ran our ‘democracy meter’ sticker polls on the streets and held ‘Town Hall’ meetings across the constituency to choose one candidate from the progressive parties behind whom to unite. You could call it a step up from tactical voting.
In July 2024, voters united behind Caroline Voaden, LibDem, and she defeated the Conservatives.
And we decided to stay on the streets and keep listening and talking.
What we are hearing in these conversations
Apathy and disillusionment are real, BUT most people
- are hungry for a healthier democracy
- want to be able to talk politics without the shouting
- want to be heard
- feel that moderate, kind voices are being ignored
- are happy to find that others share their views.
Sometimes we just have to agree to disagree.
And everyone enjoys a sticker poll!
What we love about talking with people
It’s genuinely uplifting. Examples:
- The young woman who said she knew nothing and had no views – proud to discover that she did.
- The angry man who came back and apologised when he realised he had been gaslit on immigration numbers.
- The couple who recognised that they didn’t support Reform UK’s policies after all.
- The many, many people who thank us for doing this.
What we do with the information
- We take photos of the board at the end of each session and post them on social media and share with pro-democracy groups.
- People are often pleased and relieved to discover that so many others in their towns and villages feel the way they do on the key issues of the day.
- When the media are constantly telling us that EVERYONE thinks one way, it’s great to disprove that lie!
The difference it might make
- We want to give hope and encouragement to all those who share our values
- We encourage people to use their vote rather than shrugging and giving up.
- We arm people with facts so that they can help counter the disinformation and propaganda from the far right.
- Bottom line: we don’t want to live under a Farage/Reform UK government. And when people get a chance to think through the policies rather than get bombarded with endless soundbites, many of them realise they don’t, either.