Nigel Farage Dubbed A ‘Part-Time Leader’ After Missing EU Debate To Go On Holiday

Posted on 20/05/2025 by Boris Clair

Nigel Farage has been dubbed a “part-time leader” after he missed a crunch Commons debate because he is on holiday.

The Reform UK leader confirmed he was taking his “first overseas break for three years” while Keir Starmer faced questions on the deal he has struck with the EU.

The leading Brexiteer has been notable by his absence since the PM finalised the agreement with Brussels bosses at a summit on Monday.

And the mystery deepened when he failed to turn up to quiz the PM in parliament today.

In a statement issued afterwards, Farage said: “There seems to be great consternation in the press that they have not seen me for 48 hours. Well, they will have to wait some time.

“After months of touring the UK in the run up to our hugely successful local election campaign I will resume travelling the country next week as Reform moves to the next stage.

“Meanwhile I am having my first overseas break for three years, the jungle excepted. Well I say break.. plenty of articles and fundraising calls!”

Ironically, parliament is in recess next week, meaning Farage would have been free to go on holiday then without missing any Commons debates.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “The part-time leader of Reform UK is sunning himself in Europe while parliament is sitting. He clearly doesn’t have the stamina to stand up to Starmer.

“Only the Conservatives are providing proper opposition to this disastrous Labour government.”

A Labour spokesperson said: “Nigel Farage clearly cares so passionately about this issue he’s decided he can’t get up from his sunbed to represent his constituents or his party.

“He’s not a leader – he’s an opportunist who just talks Britain down whenever it suits him.”

Nigel Farage Roasted By Emily Thornberry Over EU Deal ‘Surrender’ Claim

Posted on 18/05/2025 by Boris Clair

Emily Thornberry has thrown shade at Nigel Farage after he accused the government of “surrendering” to the European Union.

The Reform UK leader has already condemned a deal Keir Starmer is negotiating with Brussels to “reset” Britain’s relations with Brussels, even though it is yet to be finalised.

The prime minister will unveil the details of the agreement following a UK-EU summit at Lancaster House in London on Monday.

It is expected to include a youth mobility deal allowing 18 to 30-year-olds to travel more easily between Britain and the bloc.

British holidaymakers will also be able to use e-gates at European airports instead of having to queue for hours to have their passports stamped.

An agreement over veterinary and food rules will make trade between the UK and EU more easy.

The UK is also set to agree to give French fishermen greater access to British waters in return for a security and defence deal with Brussels.

Farage said: “The whole ‘reset’ is an abject surrender from Starmer and politically something he will come to regret.”

But appearing on LBC today, Labour MP Thornberry hit back at the arch-Brexiteer.

She said: “I don’t think the public thinks that’s relevant. I think they think it’s political elite talking to themselves and it’s not really about real life.

“They do want, if their neighbours run a small business, to be able to export sausages to France and for it not to be held up.

“They do want to be able to travel to Europe and not have their passport stamped and be able to go through e-gates and be able to travel more easily, and they want more money in the economy.”

Asked specifically about Farage’s “surrender” claim, Thornberry said: “Big word for him, isn’t it?”

She added: “Their’s 13 of these youth mobility schemes already with the UK and the sky hasn’t fallen in, and I think youngsters in Britain would like to be able to travel in Europe and so it has to be reciprocal.”

Farage Mocked After Reform Leave Liz Truss Off List Of Tory Leaders Who ‘Broke Britain’ – Exclusive

Posted on 13/05/2025 by Boris Clair

Nigel Farage has been mocked after Reform UK left Liz Truss off a list of Tory leaders who “broke Britain”.

The former prime minister, who only last 49 days in office, was conspicuous by her absence from a Reform election leaflet seen by HuffPost UK.

The pamphlet shows pictures of former Conservative PMs Theresa May, Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson and David Cameron, as well as current leader Kemi Badenoch.

Underneath it says: “In 14 years, the Conservatives broke Britain. Their record in government must not be forgotten.”

The Reform UK leaflet with no mention of Truss.

But Truss’s omission from the line-up has raised eyebrows, especially since Farage famously praised the disastrous mini-Budget in 2022 which crashed the economy and ended her premiership.

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Today was the best Conservative budget since 1986.

— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) September 23, 2022

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Today was the best Conservative budget since 1986.

— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) September 23, 2022

Farage was also roasted by Keir Starmer last month amid reports that Truss was advising Reform UK.

Meanwhile, a Reform UK “manifesto” published by Farage in the Daily Mail last Saturday also drew unfavourable comparisons with Truss’s time in office.

Mike Tapp, the Labour MP for Dover and Deal said: “It beggars belief that Nigel Farage is letting Liz Truss off scot-free on his leaflets.

“As he parades his new Truss-style unfunded ‘manifesto’, it appears he’s forgotten her disastrous mini-Budget crashed the economy and sent people’s mortgages soaring.

“Perhaps Nigel Farage thinks her time in office was a success. He’s copying her approach to economic vandalism, and backing her record. That’s a kick in the teeth for people still paying the price for her reckless time in office.

“The toxic Truss-Farage partnership would need nothing short of a disaster for Britain.”

Reform UK has been contacted for comment.

Reform UK Is Gaining Voters’ Trust Across The Country – But Is It Already Misleading The Public?

Posted on 09/05/2025 by Boris Clair

Nigel Farage’s success in last week’s local elections proved Reform UK can transform opinion poll leads into tangible results.

And it looks increasingly likely that the right-wing party’s leader – who was only elected to be the Clacton MP last July – just might be in with a chance of entering No.10 at the next general election, expected in 2029.

Even his rivals, such as Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden, have agreed he might be on course for a major electoral win unless they take drastic action.

Reform UK’s sudden popularity has shaken up Britain’s traditional two-party political system by comprehensively defeating both Labour and the Conservatives at last week’s local elections.

They even managed to overturn a 14,700 majority to win the Runcorn and Helsby by-election from Labour.

Voters are increasingly drawn to the insurgent party because they believe it will bring change the country after 14 years of disappointing Tory rule and 10 lacklustre months from Labour.

In fact, in January, 19% of potential Reform voters told YouGov they believe Farage’s party is better than its opponents.

A further 11% said they valued Reform’s new approach to politics and welcomed the change they brought, while 8% said they were honest or trustworthy.

But HuffPost UK has found at least five examples where the populist group has apparently misled the public…

‘Remove DEI from Lincolnshire council’

Andrea Jenkyns promised to remove Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) workers from the Lincolnshire county council when she was elected as Reform UK’s first mayor last week.

But, as a Freedom of Information request from the Independent proved, there are no DEI workers in this council.

Reform claims these employees are known as “outreach officers” in North Lincolnshire Council, and hidden under different titles in Lincolnshire County Council.

‘No more work from home’

Farage has repeatedly promised to introduce “no more work from home” which he claims would lead to “increased productivity.”

Reform claim it is unreasonable for staff paid from the public purse to be working from home.

It was then revealed that Reform UK has several paid jobs on offer right now, including “regional director” which include “home working with occasional travel”.

Labour MP Stella Creasy wrote on X that the hypocrisy was “glorious”, although Reform party chair Zia Yusuf replied that, “Reform has no plans to legislate against private companies letting their employees work from home”.

He also claimed Reform can only afford one office right now.

The party alleges that it is “unreasonable” to expect regional directors to be in London five days a week, but all employees based in the capital do work from the office every day.

Britain's Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage is interviewed by Associated Press at their headquarters in Clacton-On-Sea, Essex, England, Friday, June 21, 2024. — Britain’s Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage is interviewed by Associated Press at their headquarters in Clacton-On-Sea, Essex, England, Friday, June 21, 2024.

‘We need a British DOGE for councils’

Reform UK is keen to introduce a British version of Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency” (DOGE) and “send in the auditors” to all of the 10 councils the party now controls.

“The whole thing has to change. We need a British DOGE for every count and every local authority in this country,” Farage said.

Reform insists there are plenty of examples of councils wasting public money where funds can be redirected to fund vital local services like potholes, adult social care and SEND provision.

But the National Audit Office has previously warned many councils are already so overstretched, they are facing bankruptcy after years of cuts.

Head of the spending watchdog Gareth Davies said in February: “There have been repeated delays to local government finance reform and government can no longer resort to short-term solutions to support local authorities.

“Action to address this must resolve the systemic weaknesses in local government financial sustainability through a comprehensive, cross-government approach.”

Reform will ‘resist’ all asylum seekers

Farage has promised to “resist” asylum seekers being housed in all of the new councils that Reform controls.

He said these people were being “dumped into the north of England, getting everything for free”.

Reform councils have promised to use every legal opportunity, including judicial reviews, injunctions and planning laws, to stop this.

But the asylum system is managed by the Home Office, so it’s not clear if Reform UK could make good on its promise.

‘Net stupid zero’ is ‘destroying’ jobs

Farage’s party has promised to use “every lever” to block “net stupid zero” projects.

Claiming these policies destroy jobs and hinder economic growth, Reform UK says it wants to drill more in oil and gas in the North Sea.

The party argues this would make Britain self-sufficient with its energy supply, as the UK currently has some of the highest industrial energy prices in the world.

But the government is legally committed to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and the already depleted supplies in the North Sea are exported out of the country anyway – meaning more drilling there will not help reduce British energy costs.

Analysis from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit also found that, in Greater Lincolnshire alone, net zero industries add 12,209 jobs and around £980m to the local economy.

What does this mean?

Reform UK has already attracted significant scepticism around just how it will deliver on its long list of promises, especially as Farage has repeatedly dodged questions about how he intends to fund his party’s policies.

Paul Nowak, head of the Trade Union Congress, described Farage as a “political fraud and a hypocrite” who “makes Liz Truss look like a politician with integrity” last month.

HuffPost UK’s compiled list has drawn backlash from Reform’s opponents, too.

Sarah Olney, the Lib Dem Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “So far Reform UK have been too busy cosying up to Donald Trump and fighting amongst themselves to actually get anything done for local people.

“Instead of undermining our national energy security and being an apologist for Putin’s regime, Nigel Farage should be focusing on what really matters to communities from sorting out the SEND crisis to better community policing.

“The local elections showed that Liberal Democrats are the only party holding up against Reform, because we’re local champions who get the job done.”

A Reform UK spokesman said: “Reform UK made history in these local elections, being the first party other than the Conservatives or Labour in modern British history to win this set of elections.

“The British public have elected Reform councillors with a clear mandate to cut waste, improve services and bring about serious change. That’s exactly what we’re here to do.”

Only time will tell whether Reform’s inconsistencies will hamper their skyrocketing popularity.

Reform UK Accused Of ‘Sucking Up To Moscow’ Over Flag Ban

Posted on 05/05/2025 by Boris Clair

Reform UK has been accused of “sucking up to Moscow” after it announced that Ukraine flags will be among those banned from flying on council buildings run by the party.

Reform chairman Zia Yusuf said only Union Jacks and St. George’s Crosses will be flown from now on.

The party later clarified that Reform-run councils will still be allowed to fly their local county flags.

All other flags – including the Ukraine national flags which have been flown from council buildings across the country since Russia’s invasion in 2022 – will be banned.

Yusuf announced the move on X days after the party took control of 10 local authorities following its success at the local elections.

He said: “Reform controlled English councils will move at speed to resolve that the only flags permitted to be flown on or in its buildings will be the Union Jack and the St George’s flag.

“No other flags will be permitted to be flown on its flag-poles, balconies, reception desks or council-chamber walls.”

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Reform controlled English councils will move at speed to resolve that the *only* flags permitted to be flown on or in its buildings will be the Union Jack and the St George’s flag.

No other flags will be permitted to be flown on its flag-poles, balconies, reception desks or… pic.twitter.com/UngyJFgCh9

— Zia Yusuf (@ZiaYusufUK) May 5, 2025

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Reform controlled English councils will move at speed to resolve that the *only* flags permitted to be flown on or in its buildings will be the Union Jack and the St George’s flag.

No other flags will be permitted to be flown on its flag-poles, balconies, reception desks or… pic.twitter.com/UngyJFgCh9

— Zia Yusuf (@ZiaYusufUK) May 5, 2025

Reacting to the announcement, Mike Tapp, the Labour MP for Dover and Deal, said: “As VE Day reminds us, Britain has a proud history of working with allies to defeat dictators and tyrants.

“It tells you all you need to know about Nigel Farage’s Reform that their very first act after winning elections is to ban the Ukrainian flag from our town halls, in this of all weeks.

“But while it is sickening, it should come as no surprise: Farage told us that Vladimir Putin is the world leader he most admires.

“Farage and Reform councillors should stop sucking up to Moscow and drop their ban on flying the Ukrainian flag immediately.”

A Reform UK spokesman said: “Reform UK will proudly fly the Union Jack, St George’s Flag and county flags. Unlike the Tories and Labour, we are proud of our country and history.”

Tony Blair Accused Of ‘Mimicking Nigel Farage’ Over Net Zero Comments

Posted on 30/04/2025 by Boris Clair

Tony Blair has been accused of trying to “mimic Nigel Farage” after claiming the government’s attempts to tackle climate change are “doomed to fail”.

The former prime minister said Labour’s attempts to achieve net zero by 2050 would only have a “minimal” impact on global warming.

His comments, in the foreword to a report by the Tony Blair Institute, triggered an angry backlash from No.10.

A source told HuffPost UK: “Net zero is a growth opportunity, and as the PM said last week at the energy summit, we are already seeing the benefits.”

Labour insiders are also furious that his comments emerged on the eve of the local elections, handing the Tories and Reform UK ammunition to attack the party.

In an attempt to defuse the row, the TBI insisted that its report supported what the government is doing on climate change.

A spokesperson said: “The report is clear that we support the government’s 2050 net zero targets, to give certainty to the investors and innovators who can develop these new solutions and make them deployable.

“People support climate action, and it is vital that we keep the public’s support for how we do it.”

But Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party, said: “Tony Blair has decided to mimic Nigel Farage on net zero and sounds like he is speaking on behalf of petrol-states like Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan for whom he has lobbied for more years than he was prime minister.

“It is vital that the government distance itself from this latest dodgy dossier from Blair.”

She added: “Labour must not allow yesterday’s man to drag us back into the dark ages. The government must press ahead with the drive towards clean energy and the green economy and all the advantages that will bring in creating good quality jobs, cutting energy bills and creating a healthier society.”

A spokesman for Keir Starmer also defended the government’s backing for net zero.

He said: “The PM has said previously that we will deliver net zero in a way that treads lightly on people’s lives, not telling them how to live or behave.

“We are focused on our mission to be a clean-energy superpower.”

Farage Slammed Over 1 ‘Wildly Inaccurate’ Claim About Children’s Health

Posted on 24/04/2025 by Boris Clair

Nigel Farage has been called out for claiming children in the UK are being “over-diagnosed” with “mental illness problems and other general behavioural disabilities”.

The Reform UK leader told a press conference today that the rising number of children diagnosed with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is a “massive problem”.

He said: “I think we are massively – I’m not being heartless, I’m being frank – I think we are massively over-diagnosing those with mental illness problems and those with other general behavioural disabilities. And I think we’re creating class of victims in Britain that will struggle ever to get out of it.”

The Clacton MP also claimed that it’s a “massive mistake” to let family GPs diagnose SEND children.

But his comments have sparked significant backlash, with Mel Merritt, head of policy and campaigns at the National Autistic Society, accusing the MP of perpetuating “stigma”.

Merritt said: “Nigel Farage’s comments are wildly inaccurate and show that he’s completely out of touch with what autistic children and adults have to go through to get a diagnosis or any support at all.

“For the record, absolutely no one has got an autism diagnosis through the GP – this is just incorrect, wrong, fake news.

“Children with SEND and disabled adults, including autistic people, are not victims who are being ‘over diagnosed’.

“They are people who face huge delays and long fights to get the most basic support across every aspect of their lives, including diagnosis, education, health and social care.

“Spreading misinformation only perpetuates stigma and makes life harder. We’re calling on all politicians to drop the political point scoring and stand up for their autistic and other disabled constituents.”

Similarly, Guardian columnist John Harris – who has written about his autistic son and their shared love of music – wrote on BlueSky: “Farage talking arrant and nasty shit here.

“You can’t get an autism/SEND diagnosis from a GP. People are having to wait years for one.

“This is just Trump/Kennedy stuff, with a flavour of Badenoch & the right wing UK media.”

Minesh Patel, Associate Director of Policy and Campaigns at Mind, told HuffPost UK: “The only victims in this discussion are facts – which are continuously overlooked in favour of fuelling culture wars.

“We agree that disabled people, people on benefits and those out of work are more likely to struggle with their mental health.

“And evidence shows three quarters of all mental health problems are established by the age of 24. But instead of asking what is driving this, our politicians choose to demonise those who are struggling most in our society.”

He added that “mental health does not exist in a vacuum” and pointed to the current squeeze on public finances, the pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis.

“We will not solve the mental health crisis by stigmatising people who are already suffering,” Patel said, adding: “It is time to face the facts.”

Ahead of next week’s local elections, Lib Dem education spokesperson Munira Wilson accused Farage of “laying the groundwork to axe crucial special needs provision in councils he’s got his eye on”.

She said: “If Nigel Farage had spent any time speaking to parents in his constituency, he’d know he’s barking up the wrong tree.

“The special needs crisis needs urgent repair – not his lazy rhetoric. We need a National Body for SEND to end the special needs postcode lottery now.”

Nigel Farage Dubbed ‘A Con Artist’ For Suggesting Climate Change May Not Be Man-Made

Posted on 23/04/2025 by Boris Clair

Nigel Farage has been dubbed “a con artist” after he suggested climate change may not be man-made.

The Reform UK leader also called for the government to ditch its net zero policies because they “make no difference whatsoever” to global warming.

Asked on Radio 4′s Today programme if he accepted climate change was at least partly man-made, Farage would only say: “It may well be.”

He added: “Let’s go with the scientists. Let’s say that the 3% to 5% of CO2 emissions in the world every year that are man-made, as opposed to natural, are having a detrimental, or at least a warming effect on the world. Let’s start from that position.”

However, he avoided the question when asked if that was his own position.

Farage also said politicians should not “commit economic hara-kiri” in order to tackle the problem.

“I think we should scrap the net zero targets, yes, absolutely. I think they’re going to make zero difference in the world,” he said.

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay condemned Farage, and challenged him to a public debate on climate change.

He said: “Nigel Farage is a performer, a con artist. He will say or do anything. He will happily dance to a populist tune regardless of its impact.

“This morning’s performance suggested he hasn’t got the slightest grasp of even the most basic climate science. But I think it’s worse than that. He understands all too well human-made climate change, but he is willing to pretend he doesn’t and stand in the way of climate action for his party’s populist agenda.

“If he really does believe what he says, let’s see if his ridiculous rhetoric stands up to actual scrutiny – let’s see if he is prepared to take part in an hour-long TV debate about climate change and the challenge of reaching net zero?”

Shock Poll Shows Reform UK On Course To Win Next General Election

Posted on 20/04/2025 by Boris Clair

Reform UK are on course to win the next general election, according to a shock mega-poll.

Nigel Farage’s party would emerge with the most MPs in what would be a major political earthquake.

The More in Common think-tank asked more than 16,000 people who they would vote for if the election – expected in 2029 – was taking place tomorrow.

It showed that Reform, Labour and the Conservatives all have around 24% support among the electorate.

Using the so-called “MRP” method to give a seat-by-sea breakdown of that result, it showed Reform would have 180 MPs, a staggering 175 more than they got elected last July.

Labour would lose 246 seats leave them on just 165, the same number as the Tories.

Keir Starmer’s party would suffer “historic losses” in traditional heartlands in Wales, Greater Manchester and Yorkshire, with 10 cabinet ministers losing their seats.

Among the big names who are at risk are deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, health secretary Wes Streeting, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden and home secretary Yvette Cooper.

The Lib Dems would lose five seats to leave them on 67, while the SNP would once again re-emerge as the biggest party in Scotland, surging by 26 to leave them with 35 MPs.

A total of 10 independent MPs would be elected, according to the poll, with Plaid Cymru up one on five seats, with the Greens unchanged on four.

The result throws up the possibility of Farage becoming prime minister at the head of Reform-Tory coalition.

However, Labour could also try to piece together a rainbow coalition with the Lib Dems, SNP and Greens.

Luke Tryl, More in Common’s UK director, said: “We are a long way from a General Election and trying to predict the result is a fool’s errand, but what we can say for certain is that as of today British politics has fragmented to an unprecedented level. The coalition for change that elected Keir Starmer’s government has splintered right and left.

“Nigel Farage’s Reform UK emerges as the biggest winners of this parliament so far, with our model suggesting that they could well become the largest party in parliament, something almost unthinkable a year ago.

“Though the party remains a long way from being able to secure a majority, it is clear Reform’s momentum is real and the question is whether their new level of support represents the start of a path to government or a ceiling that Farage’s polarising brand finds hard to overcome.”

Tryl said Labour “find themselves on the wrong side of a disillusioned electorate frustrated at the slow pace of change and some of the government’s early missteps”.

He added: “The Conservatives meanwhile may breathe a sigh of relief they haven’t been entirely wiped out, but despite Labour’s unpopularity their seat total would only return to 1997 levels and they would suffer further losses to Reform UK, while winning back few of their Liberal Democrat losses in the home counties.

“But the truth is the nature of a splintered electorate more than anything means elections for the next few years will be highly unpredictable with candidates winning on small shares of the vote and knife-edge results.

“The test for all three main parties will be which one can prove to the electorate that they can really deliver the change the public so desperately wants to see.”

Can Nigel Farage Break Down Labour’s Re-Built Red Wall – Or Will Voters ‘Smell His Bull****’?

Posted on 18/04/2025 by Boris Clair

Nigel Farage can hardly be accused of not making his intentions clear.

“Reform are parking their tanks on the lawns of the Red Wall,” he told activists and candidates at a working men’s club in County Durham last week.

“Today is the first day I’ve said that, but I absolutely mean it – we’re here, and we’re here to stay.”

With local elections – and the crunch Runcorn by-election – looming on May 1, Farage is turning on the charm as he tries to woo traditional Labour voters to the Reform cause.

Somewhat bizarrely for a man who has made no secret in the past of his admiration for Margaret Thatcher, Farage is now talking about “reindustrialising” the UK, demanding the nationalisation of British Steel and even cosying up to the trade unions.

It is all part of a strategy of winning over those Labour voters in the North and the Midlands who backed Brexit in 2016, supported Boris Johnson’s Tories in 2019 and then, disillusioned, returned to the Labour fold last year.

Millions of votes and dozens of Red Wall seats are up for grabs at the next general election as Farage sets his sights on 10 Downing Street.

Former Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth, now chief executive of the Labour Together think-tank, believes Farage is on a hiding to nothing, however.

He told HuffPost UK: “Northerners aren’t daft and will smell Farage’s bullshit from a mile away.

“Farage has spent his whole political career backing Thatcherite economics which devastated industrial communities. He opposes workers’ rights and decent pay rises. It’s clear as day the NHS will never be safe in Reform hands.

“All Reform offers the so-called Red Wall is a route to helping the Tories back into power, leaving working people paying the price.”

A No.10 source, meanwhile, said: “While Nigel Farage was in CountyDurham pretending to care about the working class, [business secretary] Johnny Reynolds was literally at Immingham Port watching the raw materials being unloaded to keep British Steel going.

“And when the PM visited Scunthorpe he got a standing ovation from the workforce, so this idea that we can’t win there now is nonsense.”

Nigel Farage shows a mug that was presented to him before signing a book of condolence for Margaret Thatcher after her death on 2013.

Exclusive analysis for HuffPost UK by pollsters Ipsos shows there is potential for Reform to make real inroads into Labour’s heartlands.

In former manufacturing and mining areas in the north of England and south Wales, there is a strong feeling among voters that they have been left behind by successive Tory and Labour governments.

Jobs, policing, public transport and affordable housing are all areas of concern for these voters, while only 24% think public services will improve in the next two to three years.

Gideon Skinner, the firm’s senior director of UK politics, said there is “fertile ground of public discontent for Reform UK to take advantage of, both nationally and in their target areas”.

“In particular, people are attracted to Reform because they see it as a party that will deliver change, and keep their promises,” he said. “They have a leader in Farage who is seen as strong with a lot of personality, who understands the problems facing Britain – especially on getting immigration under control – and who represents traditional British values.”

So far, Labour’s strategy for dealing with the Reform threat has been to highlight Farage’s past comments about moving the NHS to a French-style insurance model and to accuse the party of being “Putin’s poodles”.

Farage’s well-known support for Donald Trump is also seen as another weak spot, something he has appeared to acknowledge by criticising the US president in recent weeks.

Skinner added: “Reform UK still have work to do to correct some of the more negative views about them, which makes these local elections an important test for them.

“Nationally, while they lead on immigration and are neck-and-neck on crime, they trail Labour on other key issues like the NHS, the economy, housing, transport, and education.

“People are worried that a Nigel Farage-led government would be divisive, too close to Donald Trump, and that Reform doesn’t have enough talent to build a competent administration. And overall Keir Starmer still leads Nigel Farage in the public’s mind as best prime minister.”

One Labour Party veteran said: “While our attacks on Farage about the NHS are not the silver bullet, they are cutting through and damaging Reform. It is definitely better than calling them far right and putting our heads in the sand.

“There isn’t much point going after Farage in the way there wasn’t with Boris; he needs to blow himself up, and he will. The Reform attack needs to be nuanced and should develop into a wider critique of their bonkers economic policies, or lack of them to be more precise.”

Keir Starmer received a hero's welcome when he visited Scunthorpe after the government stepped in to save British Steel. — Keir Starmer received a hero’s welcome when he visited Scunthorpe after the government stepped in to save British Steel.

The local elections on May 1 will tell us more about which of Reform’s main rivals has more to worry about at the moment.

The Tories are defending more than 900 seats and, by Kemi Badenoch’s own admission, are heading for a bad night. Around 600 fewer Labour seats are up for grabs, meaning they won’t sustain as much damage.

Whatever happens, it seems certain that Reform are on course for major gains – as a Survation poll for The Sun appeared to confirm last week.

But an ally of Keir Starmer told HuffPost UK that the political landscape will look very different come the next general election.

“The Tories and Reform are either going to have to kill the other or merge before the next election,” he said. “If Reform kill the Tories, then the choice is whether you want Keir or Farage to be prime minister.

“We win in that scenario because millions of people who cannot stand the thought of Farage in No.10 will vote Labour to stop it happening.

“But if the Tories kill Reform then that is potentially a problem for us because they are more likely to unite that centre-right and right-wing vote.

“Basically, the people who voted Reform last year are never going to vote Labour. We need to attract those who didn’t vote Reform but could drift off to them next time.”

The defining battle of the next four years in British politics could well be whether or not Labour succeeds in preventing Nigel Farage from painting the Red Wall turquoise.

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