Nigel Farage On Course To Be Prime Minister As Labour And Tories Collapse, New Mega-Poll Shows

Posted on 26/09/2025 by Boris Clair

Nigel Farage would “almost certainly” become prime minister on the back of a huge surge in support for Reform UK if a general election was held tomorrow, according to a new mega-poll.

The YouGov survey of 13,000 people shows Reform would win 311 seats – up from the five they won at last year’s election.

Labour would lose a staggering 267 seats to leave them on just 144, while the Tories would have just 45 MPs, 76 fewer than they got elected in 2024.

The number of Lib Dem MPs would increase by six to 78, with the SNP on 37 (up 28), the Greens on 7 (up 3) and Plaid Cymru on 6 (up 2).

Such a result would almost certainly result in Farage leading a minority government, meaning he would have to do deals with other parties to get Reform legislation through the Commons.

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YouGov’s September 2025 MRP projects a hung parliament where Reform UK would be almost certain to form a government

Reform UK: 311 (+306 from 2024)
Labour: 144 (-267)
Lib Dems: 78 (+6)
Conservatives: 45 (-76)
SNP: 37 (+28)
Greens: 7 (+3)
Plaid: 6 (+2)
Others: 3 (-2) pic.twitter.com/4K1fUBn4ij

— YouGov (@YouGov) September 26, 2025

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YouGov’s September 2025 MRP projects a hung parliament where Reform UK would be almost certain to form a government

Reform UK: 311 (+306 from 2024)
Labour: 144 (-267)
Lib Dems: 78 (+6)
Conservatives: 45 (-76)
SNP: 37 (+28)
Greens: 7 (+3)
Plaid: 6 (+2)
Others: 3 (-2) pic.twitter.com/4K1fUBn4ij

— YouGov (@YouGov) September 26, 2025

In terms of vote share, Reform UK are on 27% of the national vote, with Labour on 21%, the Tories on 17%, the Liberal Democrats on 15% and the Greens on 11%.

The seat totals are calculated using the so-called “MRP” method, which compiles constituency-by-constituency data to provide a more accurate forecast.

Patrick English, YouGov’s director of political analytics, said the poll showed Reform would be “within touching distance of winning a parliamentary majority”.

He said: “Their seat total in a hypothetical election would almost certainly be enough to see them take the reins of government.”

Labour would lose a swathe of seats in their traditional heartlands in the north of England, Scotland and Wales.

Among the big names on course to lose their seats are Yvette Cooper, Wes Streeting, Ed Miliband and Angela Rayner.

English said: “Such a defeat for Labour would be an even greater loss of seats than the Conservatives experienced at the last general election, and a sharp turnaround from a majority victory that was expected by some to carry the party through at least two terms in office.”

The Conservatives, meanwhile, would be all-but wiped out at a serious political force in the UK.

English said: “We would expect the Conservatives – the current official opposition – to win only 68 seats at the very maximum, with the Liberal Democrats projected to win no fewer than 65 seats and potentially as many as 86.”

Taliban Says It’s ‘Ready And Willing’ To Work With Nigel Farage On Deportation Plan

Posted on 27/08/2025 by Boris Clair

The Taliban has said it is “ready and willing” to work with Nigel Farage after he pledged to deport hundreds of thousands of immigrants from the UK.

The Reform UK leader said he was prepared to do a deal with Afghanistan’s brutal regime which would see refugees from there returned to their home country.

Farage even said he was willing to pay the Taliban, as well as Iran’s despotic government, to take asylum seekers off the UK’s hands.

Asked if he was worried that those returning to their homelands could face torture or even death, the Reform leader said: “It bothers me, but what really bothers me is what is happening on the streets of our country.”

A Taliban official told the Telegraph they were willing to work with Farage if he becomes prime minister.

“We are ready and willing to receive and embrace whoever he [Nigel Farage] sends us,” the official said.

“We are prepared to work with anyone who can help end the struggles of Afghan refugees, as we know many of them do not have a good life abroad.”

The official said the Taliban “will not take money to accept our own people”.

But they added: ” We welcome aid to support newcomers, since there are challenges in accommodating and feeding those returning from Iran and Pakistan.

“Afghanistan is home to all Afghans, and the Islamic Emirate is determined to make this country a place where everyone – those already here, those returning, or those being sent back from the West by Mr Farage or anyone else – can live with dignity.”

Unveiling his “operation restoring justice” plan yesterday, Farage said he would withdraw the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and other international treaties to stop “activist judges” blocking his plans to deport 600,000 illegal immigrants in five years.

Reform would also revive the Tories’ failed Rwanda plan, and house asylum seekers in disused RAF sites – although Farage refused to say where they would be.

‘That’s Quite A Flip-Flop’: BBC Presenter Burns Nigel Farage Over Deportation U-Turn

Posted on 26/08/2025 by Boris Clair

A BBC presenter accused Nigel Farage of performing “quite a flip-flop” as he prepares to unveil his plan to deport anyone who enters the UK illegally.

Jon Kay pointed out that the Reform UK leader said just a year ago that doing so was “impossible” so it was “pointless” to even discuss it.

In a remarkable U-turn, Farage will today announce that a Reform government would set up a “UK deportation command” if it wins the next election to remove all illegal immigrants from the country.

But asked by GB news last year if he supported the deportation of illegal immigrants, Farage said: “It’s impossible to do. Literally impossible to do.

“For us, at the moment, it’s a political impossibility.”

Asked if it was his “ambition” to do so, he replied: “No … it’s pointless even going there. It’s a political impossibility. We simply can’t do it.”

On BBC Breakfast this morning, Kay reminded former Reform chairman Zia Yusuf of Farage’s previous view.

He said: “Only a year ago, Nigel Farage was asked about removing all illegal immigrants. Back then he said it is ‘impossible’ to remove all illegal immigrants. ‘It is a political impossibility’.

“And then he was asked if it was an ambition for Reform UK and he said ‘no, it’s pointless even going there. It is a political impossibility, We simply can’t do it’. So what has changed in a year?”

Yusuf replied: “What’s changed is we’ve done the work. Nigel didn’t say it was impossible, he said it was a political impossibility. His view on that has decisively changed because of the facts on the ground and because of the fact that we’ve now done the work.”

But Kay told him: “That’s quite a flip-flop, isn’t it, by Mr Farage? To say 12 months ago it’s politically impossible, and now he’s saying we’re going to do it?”

Yusuf said: “We’ve done the work and Nigel has taken the view that not only can this be done, it must be done. As Winston Churchill said, he who never changes his mind never changes anything.”

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‘That’s quite a flip flop by Mr Farage to say 12 months ago it’s politically impossible and now he’s saying we’re going to do it?’

Zia Yusuf from Reform UK was questioned on #BBCBreakfast about plans to organise mass deportations of all illegal migrants to tackle small boats… pic.twitter.com/KpjfNrOnDr

— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) August 26, 2025

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‘That’s quite a flip flop by Mr Farage to say 12 months ago it’s politically impossible and now he’s saying we’re going to do it?’

Zia Yusuf from Reform UK was questioned on #BBCBreakfast about plans to organise mass deportations of all illegal migrants to tackle small boats… pic.twitter.com/KpjfNrOnDr

— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) August 26, 2025

‘A Bulls**t Artist’: Kemi Badenoch In Fresh Foul-Mouthed Blast At Nigel Farage

Posted on 24/08/2025 by Boris Clair

Kemi Badenoch has launched a fresh foul-mouthed blast at Nigel Farage as the pair’s feud exploded once again.

The Tory leader described the Reform UK boss as a “bullshit artist” and even claimed that his friendship with Donald Trump is fake.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Badenoch said she “used to really respect” Farage, but that her view of him changed after details of a private conversation between them ended up in the Telegraph.

“I thought, this is bullshit,” she said. “And that was the moment that it changed for me, that this is a bullshit artist, so that is how I treat him.”

Farage is reportedly heading to America this week to give evidence to a US Congress inquiry into free speech in Britain.

According to the Telegraph, he will tell allies of Donald Trump about Lucy Connolly, the Tory councillor’s wife who was released from prison last week after serving more than a year for a tweet she posted during the Southport riots calling for asylum seekers’ hotels to be burned down.

But Badenoch insisted that Farage’s well-publicised friendship with the US president is fake.

She said: “I’ve been told by many people that it’s all puff.”

The Tory leader’s comments come as her party continues to trail well behin Reform UK in the opinion polls.

Her attack also echoed similar comments she made about Farage at the Local Government Association’s annual conference last month.

According to The Spectator, she said: “Nigel Farage is a bullshitter, a bullshitter. The difference between liars and bullshit is that bullshitters don’t care whether what they’re saying is true or false. They just say whatever. We are not liars and we don’t do bullshit. We tell the truth. That is what my leadership is about.”

Nigel Farage Modestly Claims Starmer Is ‘Completely Obsessed With Me’

Posted on 31/07/2025 by Boris Clair

Nigel Farage has accused Keir Starmer of being “completely obsessed with me” in a new jibe at the government.

His remarks come after technology secretary Peter Kyle hit back at Reform UK for saying they would repeal the Online Safety Act – and alleged Farage would have been on the same side as Jimmy Savile, the late prolific sexual predator.

The Reform UK leader has subsequently called for an apology from the government over the claim.

Speaking about the incident again on LBC today, he said it was all “absolutely appalling” – and suggested Labour were “completely obsessed” with him.

The MP for Clacton-on-Sea said: “I thought [the Savile comment] was incredibly badly judged.”

He pointed out that Labour was outraged when ex-Tory prime minister Boris Johnson attacked Starmer in 2022 by saying he failed to prosecute Savile when he was the director of public prosecutions – although there was no evidence to support Johnson’s claim at the time.

Still, Farage said: “The levels of moral indignation that we got from Labour on this, ‘how dare Johnson do this’ – and yet they use this Savile analogy.”

The LBC presenter said: “The papers are all reporting it was authorised by No.10, that line. Can you believe that?”

Farage paused, then replied: “I think they’re losing the plot in every way, yes, and I think we’re at a place where, the PM in particular, and others, they’ve become completely obsessed with me.”

Labour have repeatedly pivoted to treating Reform UK as their main competitors instead of the Tories, who are the second largest party in parliament and the official opposition.

After Reform secured hundreds of council seats in May’s local elections, Labour’s political director Claire Reynolds told the party’s MPs: “Reform voters are not necessarily right wing. They are our people and they are pissed off.”

Starmer himself told his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney that they should be targeting Reform UK as the “real opposition” that same month.

And the party has been consistently leading in the polls, even securing a record nine-point lead over Labour in June according to Ipsos.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn – who is trying to set up his own party –even told Novara Media: “The Labour government is here to appease Reform.”

But insiders shrugged off Farage’s remark, suggesting what he really meant was he does not like scrutiny.

The Labour Party has declined to comment.

Blow To Labour As Reform Voters Prefer Jeremy Corbyn To Keir Starmer On Almost Every Metric

Posted on 30/07/2025 by Boris Clair

Reform UK voters generally prefer Jeremy Corbyn to Keir Starmer, a surprising new poll has found.

As first reported by Novara Media, a survey of 2,000 UK adults – conducted by Merlin Strategy over the weekend – showed Reform voters believe the former Labour leader has better qualities than the current prime minister.

The poll showed 65% of respondents think Corbyn was more authentic, 67% said he was for working people, 57% think he was hardworking, 64% believe he’s honest and 54% say he’s intelligent.

A further 70% said they believe Corbyn makes radical decisions, 64% say he is principled, 69% say he represents change, 62% say he’s strong and 59% say he’s trustworthy.

And, crucially, 61% said they believe the Islington North MP understands “people like me”.

Starmer won on only one metric – he’s seen as better on the world stage than Corbyn.

However, the poll did not show whether or not this would push Farage supporters to actually vote for Corbyn’s new party.

Still, the research will be a real blow to the Labour government, considering it has moved away from hard-left policies touted by figures like Corbyn, in favour of winning back Reform voters.

The right-wing populist party has soared in popularity over the last year and now consistently leads in opinion polls by a healthy margin – despite having just four MPs.

So the government has been trying to win back that support.

Labour’s political director Claire Reynolds even told the party’s MPs in May that Reform UK voters are “our people”, but they’re just “pissed off” with the government right now.

It’s well-known that Starmer’s increasingly hardline anti-immigration policies have failed to cut through to Farage’s growing body of supporters – as Reform UK currently have a seven-point lead on Labour.

However, it will rub salt in the wound to know that Corbyn, Starmer’s predecessor who was expelled from the party over a row related to antisemitism, is more respected than the prime minister.

Starmer has tried to present it as a major strength that he moved Labour away from Corbyn’s policies after the party’s disastrous performance in the 2019 general election.

But, the Islington North MP is now setting up his own left-wing party – which is yet to be named – and already has 500,000 sign-ups expressing interest.

Zarah Sultana, a suspended Labour MP who quit the party to join Corbyn’s new group, told Novara Media that Starmer’s “spent years chasing Reform voters, echoing their rhetoric, even mimicking Enoch Powell. And for what? They still prefer Jeremy Corbyn.”

Corbyn himself told the outlet: “The Labour government is here to appease Reform. We are here to defeat Reform.”

How Does Farage Want To Protect The UK From ‘Collapse’? By Sending Prisoners To El Salvador, Of Course

Posted on 21/07/2025 by Boris Clair

Nigel Farage has a brand new plan to help save Britain from “societal collapse”, apparently.

In a press conference, the Reform UK leader declared his party would cut crime in half amid a rise of alleged “lawlessness” in Britain.

As his party continues to lead in the polls, here’s the £17.4bn vision he set out for how Reform would manage criminals if it were to win the next general election – including the rather bizarre figures who inspire him…

Utilising other countries – like El Salvador

Farage suggested sending British prisoners overseas to countries like El Salvador in Central America to complete their sentences.

This is one of the arguments Reform has presented as part of the argument in favour of leaving the European Convention on Human Rights.

Farage told the media today: “We can send some of our worst violent criminals overseas to serve their terms.

“If that means that [child murderer] Ian Huntley goes to El Salvador…our attitude is so be it.”

When reminded that the detainees in El Salvador have questionable human rights – they are isolated, do not have access to significant legal recourse and held in concerning conditions – Farage quickly backtracked, calling it an “an extreme example.”

Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin then jumped in: “If they [offenders] lose some human rights about family visiting or whatever else it might be, Sky News in the cell. then it’s a good thing, because it’s about time we got tougher with these people.”

But veteran broadcaster Andrew Neil still slammed the idea on Times Radio, saying: “I don’t like his idea of sending prisoners to El Salvador, to some godforsaken hellhole, we’re a civilised nation we shouldn’t be doing that.”

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\"I don’t like his idea of sending prisoners to El Salvador, to some godforsaken hellhole.”

Nigel Farage’s proposal to send prisoners to El Salvador is inhumane for a “civilised nation” like Britain, says @AFNeil. pic.twitter.com/gbC3Zn0nqb

— Times Radio (@TimesRadio) July 21, 2025

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“I don’t like his idea of sending prisoners to El Salvador, to some godforsaken hellhole.”

Nigel Farage’s proposal to send prisoners to El Salvador is inhumane for a “civilised nation” like Britain, says @AFNeil. pic.twitter.com/gbC3Zn0nqb

— Times Radio (@TimesRadio) July 21, 2025

Nightingale prisons

According to Farage, pop-up prisons inspired by the Nightingale hospitals set up during the Covid pandemic would help ease the capacity crisis in Britain’s justice system.

He said 12,400 offenders who have committed low-level crimes could be put up in these new constructions at the cost of £5bn over a five-year parliament.

But Farage overlooked how many of the Nightingale Covid centres never had a patient – as the Guardian reported in 2020 – and that two-thirds of those beds were allegedly unfit for use.

Reform would also unveil 100 pop-up custody centres for crime hot spots, and reopen 50 “mothballed premises” for use as courts.

Borrowing from Rudy Giuliani

Farage admitted his party’s attitude would be inspired by Rudy Giuliani’s crackdown on crime during his time as New York mayor three decades ago.

In his famous “broken windows” theory, Giuliani famously focused on lower level crime in an effort to deter larger criminal operations.

The Reform UK leader said they were “borrowing from the Giuliani playbook unashamedly”.

“What Rudy Giuliani did to New York in the 1990s was nothing short of a blooming miracle,” he said.

Giuliani, formerly a lawyer for Donald Trump, was disbarred in New York earlier this year when he was found to be in contempt of court for falsely accusing officials in Georgia of committing election fraud in 2020.

Inspired by Miliei

Although this plan would cost £17.4bn over a five-year parliament, Farage said:“It’s not really a question of ‘can we afford to do this?’ It’s a question of ‘can we afford not to do this?’ That’s just how grim and serious the situation is.”

“Of course you’re going to say where is the money going to come from,” he noted, before suggesting the funds would come from abolishing the HS2 project, Net Zero and diversity, equality and inclusion programmes.

He then pointed to Javier Milei, Argentina’s libertarian president.

He said Milei was accused of being a “madman” but “look what’s happening”.

Farage continued: “He has cut the size of the public sector by about 15%, 20% in some cases. Argentina is beginning to see the beginnings of an economic miracle.”

Miliei has undoubtedly improved the country’s struggling economy – its high inflation has cooled and its currency controls have fallen – but public sector salaries have also declined in response, and protests have become a weekly occurrence.

Wait, what ‘societal collapse’?

Of course, all of Farage’s proposals are based on several assumptions.

Firstly, that the country is on the cusp of “nothing short of societal collapse” due to its high crime rate.

Secondly, he set out the premise for his plan by saying: “The crime survey for England and Wales is based on completely false data. If you look at police recorded crime… there are some significant rises in crimes of all kinds, particularly crimes against the person.”

There was a 14% increase in crime last year on the year before – but prior to that, there have been significant successive falls over the last three decades.

Thirdly, the MP for Clacton also claimed “tourists are increasingly reluctant to come to London”.

Actually, out of all the city destinations in the world, London had the second highest rate of international arrivals in 2023 with 18.8 arrivals, according to the UN World Tourism Organisation.

Is this all just ‘headline-chasing’?

Naturally, Farage’s political opponents were quick to tear into the announcement.

Labour Party chair Ellie Reeves said: “Nigel Farage repeatedly tried to block tough measures to make our streets safer.

“Reform is more interested in headline-chasing than serious policy-making in the interests of the British people.”

Chris Philp the Tories’ shadow home secretary, said: “Nigel Farage is writing his own crime fiction.

“Their own document admits it is unfunded – which means they are not being honest about the price you will pay for their policies just like Labour.

“This is the same Nigel Farage who calls immigration enforcement ‘divisive’, wants an amnesty for illegal immigrants who’ve ‘integrated’, and says mass deportation is a ‘political impossibility’. You cannot trust a word he says.”

And former chief inspector of prisons, Nick Hardwick, told Times Radio: “Where I think what he’s saying just doesn’t add up is that first of all, what he’s proposing will cost far, far more than he’s suggesting and secondly, I don’t actually think it will address the real concerns that people have got about crime.”

Nigel Farage Makes Light Of Concerns Over A Reform Mayor’s Huge Pay Rise. No One Else Is Laughing.

Posted on 20/07/2025 by Boris Clair

Nigel Farage just laughed and insisted he had “no idea” when asked about how a Reform UK mayor just received a huge pay rise – and was instantly torn apart on social media.

Reform UK has made no secret of its ambitions to win the next general election, and is currently leading in the polls.

So far, it has an outright majority over 10 local authorities after a major victory in May’s local elections.

But, judging by the Reform leader’s response to a development in Scarborough council, handling any more than that may prove difficult.

On the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the presenter asked for his response to reports that Scarborough town council have given its Reform mayor, Thomas Murray, a 600% pay rise.

But Farage immediately hit back: “I’ve no idea! Whether what you say is true or not, I’ve no idea.”

“Is that the right thing to do in principle?” Kuenssberg asked.

“I’ve no idea, it’s a town council – 600%, what is it from what?” Farage said.

She replied: “A payment of £500 up to £3,500 –”

“I don’t know, is he or she doing it as a full-time job? I’ve no idea,” he said dismissively.

But Kuenssberg kept pushing: “In principle is that the right thing to do?”

He replied: “What we could do is get multi-millionaires to stand as candidates everywhere, and indeed our [government waste] DOGE team are doing the work, unpaid, right?

“If people have got resources and they want to do it for free, that’s great. I don’t know the Scarborough circumstances.”

The Reform-run council defended the hike, which was approved in a meeting last Wednesday, saying the mayor should not be left “out of pocket” for an unpaid position considering it involved an increase in responsibilities.

They also noted that savings had already been made elsewhere – ignoring the irony that Reform has reportedly promised to give council taxpayers “better value for money and reduce excessive expenditure”.

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#bbclaurak: What about Scarborough town council

Nigel Farage: I’ve no idea

LK: Scarborough TC have given its Reform mayor a 600% pay-rise… is that the right thing to do?

NF: I’ve no idea… I’ve no idea… pic.twitter.com/2YU3Ys5M5m

— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) July 20, 2025

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#bbclaurak: What about Scarborough town council

Nigel Farage: I’ve no idea

LK: Scarborough TC have given its Reform mayor a 600% pay-rise… is that the right thing to do?

NF: I’ve no idea… I’ve no idea… pic.twitter.com/2YU3Ys5M5m

— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) July 20, 2025

His responses impressed very few people on social media as the public raged over his “unserious” reaction – and even accused him of “running” from problems…

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Yeah if you can’t keep a handle on 10 councils, you probably shouldn’t attempt four nations, 350 constituencies and 26 government departments. https://t.co/NQuVbcMUNr

— A-Aron (@aaronlspence) July 20, 2025

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Yeah if you can’t keep a handle on 10 councils, you probably shouldn’t attempt four nations, 350 constituencies and 26 government departments. https://t.co/NQuVbcMUNr

— A-Aron (@aaronlspence) July 20, 2025

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Doesn’t know. Doesn’t care. Never has done. Complete fucking charlatan. Will this country ever move on from this reductive gobshite? https://t.co/8tRQ7E8Oce

— Adam Abbott (@adrock73) July 20, 2025

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Doesn’t know. Doesn’t care. Never has done. Complete fucking charlatan. Will this country ever move on from this reductive gobshite? https://t.co/8tRQ7E8Oce

— Adam Abbott (@adrock73) July 20, 2025

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Firstly, why is he getting still more air time? Secondly, what do you expect? Nothing is ever down to him. Not me mate, big boy done it and ran away. https://t.co/TOtWsZ1oTV

— Barbara Nadel (@BarbaraNadel) July 20, 2025

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Firstly, why is he getting still more air time? Secondly, what do you expect? Nothing is ever down to him. Not me mate, big boy done it and ran away. https://t.co/TOtWsZ1oTV

— Barbara Nadel (@BarbaraNadel) July 20, 2025

Farage also seemed dismissive of other, much larger, questions about money elsewhere in the interview when he was asked how much it would cost to privatise 50% of the water industry – one of Reform’s major policy proposals.

He just said it “doesn’t need to be a big sum of money.”

So commentators on X quickly drew attention to the way Kuenssberg scrutinised Reform’s economic credibility…

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Straight out the Trump playbook – say something that sounds good but have no way of backing it up. I understand that people are disillusioned with existing establishments parties, but to just blindly start following and voting for Farage will be a catastrophic mistake. https://t.co/bmtDm6NNOD

— Stuart Wright (@weebaldy79) July 20, 2025

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I understand that people are disillusioned with existing establishments parties, but to just blindly start following and voting for Farage will be a catastrophic mistake. https://t.co/bmtDm6NNOD— Stuart Wright (@weebaldy79) July 20, 2025\n\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Stuart Wright on Twitter / X","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/weebaldy79/status/1946881039864877512","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"originalEdition":"uk","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isAdsFree":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"687cbbc2e4b06691ec24955a","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/farage-downplays-outcry-over-mayors-salary-boost_uk_687cbbc2e4b06691ec24955a","entryTagsList":"bbc,nigel-farage,reform-uk,@ai_seo_headline","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"isShopping":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"16b0ecc6-802c-4120-845f-e90629812c4d","clickToPlayPlayer":"823ac03a-0f7e-4bcb-8521-a5b091ae948d","videoPagePlayer":"05041ada-93f7-4e86-9208-e03a5b19311b","defaultPlaylist":"2e062669-71b4-41df-b17a-df6b1616bc8f"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":6},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"687cbbc2e4b06691ec24955a","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":"bbc","slug":"bbc","links":{"relativeLink":"news/bbc","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/bbc","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/bbc"},"relegenceId":4179017,"section":{"title":"News","slug":"news"},"topic":{"title":"BBC","slug":"bbc","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/bbc/"},{"name":"nigel farage","slug":"nigel-farage","links":{"relativeLink":"news/nigel-farage","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nigel-farage","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nigel-farage"},"relegenceId":3592238,"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nigel-farage/"},{"name":"reform uk","slug":"reform-uk","links":{"relativeLink":"news/reform-uk","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/reform-uk","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/reform-uk"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/reform-uk/"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","enableIncontentPlayer":false,"bodyAds":["

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Straight out the Trump playbook – say something that sounds good but have no way of backing it up. I understand that people are disillusioned with existing establishments parties, but to just blindly start following and voting for Farage will be a catastrophic mistake. https://t.co/bmtDm6NNOD

— Stuart Wright (@weebaldy79) July 20, 2025

Even Some Reform Voters Think Nigel Farage Is An ‘A******e’, So What Is His Appeal?

Posted on 11/07/2025 by Boris Clair

Nigel Farage is the very definition of a Marmite politician.

His opponents harbour feelings for him which range between contempt and outright hatred, while his supporters believe he can do no wrong.

The Reform UK leader’s ability to divide opinion was demonstrated at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, when opposing MPs heckled him as he tried to ask Keir Starmer about the small boats crisis.

At one point, a Reform MP could be heard shouting “will you shut up” at his detractors as Farage continued to make his point.

Moments like that do Farage no harm at all. He presents himself as the anti-establishment politician speaking up on behalf of ordinary voters. How better can that be demonstrated than by MPs from the governing party trying to drown him out in the Commons?

And while Reform UK suffer blows which would be hugely damaging for other parties, they continue to lead in the polls and take council seats off their opponents.

In the past week alone, their number of MPs was once again reduced from five to four following James McMurdock’s decision to sit as an independent following allegations about his business dealings prior to entering politics.

And yet, a new poll published on Friday by Techne UK showed Reform’s lead over Labour is actually growing, with the Tories languishing 11 points behind Farage’s party in third place.

According to Luke Tryl of the More in Common think-tank, voters’ misgivings about Farage and his party are outweighed by their unhappiness with both Labour and the Tories.

He said: “There is a difference between Reform’s previous voters are their newer voters. Their previous voters are much more ideologically motivated, their newer voters are much more likely to say they are disillusioned by mainstream parties. They are the group I like to call the ‘roll the dice’ voters.

“We did a focus group in Lanark before that by-election, which Labour gained from the SNP but was a reasonably close three-way race.

“I spoke to someone who was voting for Nigel Farage, who said ‘personally I think the guy’s an arsehole, but I’m going to give him a shot because he can’t be any worse than the others’.

“I think that’s the attitude which is driving it. Lots of people say they don’t have any confidence in any politician of any party, but we may as well roll the dice on something new.”

There is no doubt that Labour’s less-than-stellar start to life in government has helped Farage.

Voters who backed Keir Starmer a year ago and are backing Reform “are more likely to say that they’ve switched because the government have failed to get immigration under control”, said Tryl.

He added: “It isn’t that the government hasn’t done a lot of popular things, but they’re drowned out by winter fuel, prisoner releases, farmers’ tax and the benefits cuts – they have defined in the public’s mind that the government has done so far.

“The government isn’t protecting the people that the public would like them to.”

This view was typified by Tim, a teacher who has switched from Labour to Reform in the past 12 months.

He told a More in Common focus group that Labour was “taking money off people with benefits and making life harder for them, but still letting the energy giants have huge bonuses every year”.

And while just one-third of voters say Farage respects people like them, that is still far more than the third who feel the same way about the prime minister and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

A former Tory cabinet minister pointed outthat the normal rules of politics do not apply to Farage and Reform, and until his party and Labour wake up to that fact, nothing will change.

“The establishment parties are still playing into Reform’s hands,” he said. ”Reform are controlling the game at the moment. As we head into the summer recess, they’re still setting the agenda.

“Colleagues are getting bogged down on this nonsense about an MP leaving Reform – it doesn’t matter out there in the real world. A Reform councillor doing something appalling doesn’t matter. It might have some local impact but in the grand scheme of things it doesn’t matter.”

The solution, the MP said, was for Labour and the Tories to keep their promises to the electorate.

“Politicians have to do what they say they’re going to do,” he said. “You might not agree with Donald Trump, but voters like the fact that he does what he said he was going to do.”

Farage pulled off another coup by recruiting former Tory chairman Jake Berry to the Reform ranks this week.

Berry, who served under three Conservative PMs, including his close friend Boris Johnson, said the mainstream parties had “broken Britain”.

But one of his former Tory colleagues said the significance of his defection had been overstated.

The MP said: “People like Jake Berry and [former Tory minister now Reform UK mayor] Andrea Jenkyns were not popular people. They are evidence of the mistakes of the past.

“If they were defections by people who were respected then that is a different kettle of fish. But their motivations are pretty transparent – she did it to become mayor of Lincolnshire and he wants to be mayor of Lancashire.

Nevertheless, Berry’s defection undoubtedly put further wind in the Reform sails.

If more senior Tories followed, and were joined by some from Labour, then Farage will be smiling again – regardless of what some of voters think of him.

Panel Of 2024 Labour Voters Name The 1 Turning Point They Began To Like Farage

Posted on 06/07/2025 by Boris Clair

A panel of 2024 Labour voters said they started to like Reform UK after watching its leader Nigel Farage on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!.

Back in late 2023 before he was elected to parliament, Farage caused a huge stir by appearing in the hit reality TV show.

Even the programme’s hosts Ant and Dec urged producers to take a break from having politicians as contestants.

But, Farage still won over voters and ended up in third place.

More than 18 months later, a panel of voters who backed Labour last July told pollsters that his appearance on the show marked the moment they started warming up to the MP for Clacton.

In footage aired by the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, one voter told pollsters More in Common: “I really like Reform.

“I didn’t [like him], but it was I’m A Celeb… which turned my head for Nigel.

“I really saw a different side to him and I think he’s very misunderstood.”

“He’s more relatable to people, to the average person,” another woman said. “Whereas some politicians at the present seem far removed, they’re so in another world, because they are public school educated, they can’t relate to the average person.”

However, a different person did jump in at this point, saying: “Nigel Farage was publicly educated, while Keir Starmer is working class but he does present that.

“So Nigel Farage puts on this image of being one of the people, but actually he went to private school.”

Even so, some voters suggested they would fire Starmer for his “disappointing” performance over the last year unless he starts to “try harder”.

Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid also told the BBC that this conversation demonstrated how voters “need to feel a material difference in their lives”.

She noted that they are still struggling with food inflation and cost of living, so the “government are getting this wrong”.

“Perhaps Sir Keir Starmer needs to go on I’m A Celebrity… or Strictly, in order for voters to know who he is,” Reid suggested. “The words that kept coming out of their mouths were: I don’t know who he is.”

The focus group’s findings were published to mark the anniversary of Labour’s landslide victory in the general election as political pundits look at how Starmer has fallen down in the polls ever since.

Sky News had its own devastating way of portraying Labour’s first year in office with some brutal word clouds, again from More in Common.

The pollsters asked the public: “In a word or two, what would you say has been Labour’s biggest achievement in government?”

The largest word by a healthy margin was “nothing”, although – in much smaller fonts – NHS, welfare, winter, election and Ukraine were all visible too.

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Category Archives: nigel farage

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How Does Farage Want To Protect The UK From ‘Collapse’? By Sending Prisoners To El Salvador, Of Course

Utilising other countries – like El Salvador

Nightingale prisons

Borrowing from Rudy Giuliani

Inspired by Miliei

Wait, what ‘societal collapse’?

Is this all just ‘headline-chasing’?

Nigel Farage Makes Light Of Concerns Over A Reform Mayor’s Huge Pay Rise. No One Else Is Laughing.

Even Some Reform Voters Think Nigel Farage Is An ‘A******e’, So What Is His Appeal?

Panel Of 2024 Labour Voters Name The 1 Turning Point They Began To Like Farage