Without Nigel Farage, Reform UK wouldn’t have won a single seat in the 2024 election. His return as leader – the most dramatic moment in the entire election – energised his party in a way that Richard Tice, the dull previous leader, never could.
The election caught fire, but one finding in the reams of data produced during the contest augured trouble for Farage, trouble that is now coming home to roost. One poll in 2024 showed only 24 per cent rated Farage favourably, compared with 64 per cent unfavourably. Those figures are pretty much the same today. Almost three times as many people dislike Farage as like him. That’s quite a handicap.
And now, with Labour and Conservative leaders rejuvenating their parties, Farage’s negative personal standing seems more pertinent amid the numerous allegations against him and his party. And Reform’s progress looks on hold while Farage is diverted by a ridiculous by-election in Clacton against the comedian Count Binface.
Reform has lost its oomph and momentum, and its increasingly tetchy and bad-tempered leader seems under huge pressure and tired.
And the welter of current allegations unearthed by journalists against Reform isn’t confined to Farage. Media revelations paint a picture of Reform’s leadership operating more like mafiosi rather than potential ministers. In his increasingly implausible explanations, we see the side of Farage he would rather hide. Yesterday it was reported by The Sunday Times that he had planned his supposedly spontaneous June 2024 comeback several months beforehand, and struck a deal with Tice (in which Tice’s company’s loans to Reform would be written off or repaid) to return to the leadership.
Perhaps it’s his spending so much time with dubious millionaires and billionaires around the Trump White House, but Farage’s judgement seems to have gone astray, especially over money matters. Did Farage never think how bad it looks to take a £5m gift from a crypto-billionaire living in Thailand – Christopher Harborne – or to take costly benefits from his convicted fraudster friend George Cottrell, who is now believed to be involved in an online betting business in Montenegro?
Damaging new details emerge week by week. Farage and his colleagues are under investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner (though the investigation into Farage is currently suspended as he is no longer an MP) and the Metropolitan Police, while some of Reform’s transactions have been reported to the National Crime Agency (NCA).
The parliamentary commissioner’s inquiry – on whether he should have registered the £5m gift from Harborne – is on hold but likely to be resumed if Farage wins his by-election. But that could be the least of Reform’s problems.
Much more serious is the Met investigation into whether offences were committed under section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 in connection with donations to Reform in the run up to the 2024 election. This complicated and somewhat arcane sounding rule boils down to whether attempts have been made to evade restrictions on the sources of political donations. Two people have been interviewed under caution by the Met.
Separately, banks reportedly filed suspicious activity reports with the NCA concerning several transactions linked to senior Reform figures, after identifying potential money-laundering concerns. These reports in themselves are not evidence that a crime has occurred. Reform denies wrongdoing.
Yet for all Reform’s difficulties, it’s striking how little they’ve suffered in opinion polls. A small Burnham bounce has seen Reform fall behind Labour in some surveys, but overall the two parties are roughly neck and neck. Despite Kemi Badenoch’s progress in reviving the Conservatives, Reform remains the most popular party on the right. It’s now 16 months since any poll had the Tories ahead of Reform.
It suggests that since that momentous announcement in June 2024, Farage’s team have built a solid base of around a quarter of the electorate which other parties will struggle to erode. People who have abandoned the traditional parties will choose Reform come what may, even if Farage, Tice and co get into trouble with the Commons authorities or the courts.
Yesterday saw an intriguing development when Farage had a video approach to “work together” from Rupert Lowe, a former Reform MP. Lowe had a big bust-up with Farage last year and established a more right-wing rival party, Restore Britain. Lowe’s party got almost 7 per cent in the Makerfield by-election in June – their first ever parliamentary contest – and almost 9 per cent in last week’s Greater Manchester mayoral by-election. Astonishing results.
Farage might baulk at some of Lowe’s five tough terms for co-operation – including “mass deportations” of “millions” of migrants, but if the two men could repair what Lowe calls “a patriotic right that’s hopelessly divided”, they might create a formidable base of around 30 per cent. The problem is most Restore supporters aren’t doting fans of Nigel Farage – a YouGov poll last month suggested 59 per cent of Restore backers view Farage either “very” or “somewhat” unfavourably.
Lowe’s weekend offer does raise the possibility of reconciliation before the next election. That will concern the traditional parties, especially Labour, whose current support could easily crumble if Burnham’s un-costed and vague policy promises unravel, and the economy deteriorates.
Farage and his party still have the potential to be serious and permanent players in British politics, but only…
If Farage, Tice and Cottrell can survive whatever the investigators throw at them.
If they can adopt a frank, transparent and honest approach to how they’re funded.
And if Farage can rediscover his famous mojo.
Three pretty substantial ifs.
Hence then, the article about farage s political future hangs on three big ifs was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Farage’s political future hangs on three big ‘ifs’ )
Also on site :
- Walmart’s 'Sleek' 4-Tier Bookshelf With a Drawer Is a Clever Way to Squeeze More Storage Into Small Spaces
- WWE SummerSlam 2026 Highlights Night 2: Roman Reigns conquers Seth Rollins & pays homage to Dean Ambrose (Jon Moxley); Kevin Owens returns; Chad Gable wins & more
- After canceling Iran strikes, Trump says negotiations will resume Monday afternoon while Tehran continues Hormuz talks with Oman