Nigel Farage has always been a divisive figure in British politics. To some, he is a hero, a champion of the people, and a voice for the disenfranchised. To others, he is a villain, a symbol of hate and bigotry, and a threat to the very fabric of our society. Love him or hate him, there is no denying that 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. This polarizing effect was on full display at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, when opposing MPs heckled Farage 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.
But moments like that do Farage no harm at all. In fact, they only serve to reinforce his image as an 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? It is a clear sign that Farage is seen as a threat to the status quo, a voice that cannot be silenced.
And while Reform UK may suffer blows that would be hugely damaging for other parties, they continue to lead in the polls and take council seats off their opponents. This is a testament to the strength of Farage’s message and the loyalty of his supporters. Despite facing constant opposition and criticism, he and his party remain a force to be reckoned with.
In the past week alone, Reform UK’s 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 that Reform’s lead over Labour is actually growing, with the Tories languishing 11 points behind Farage’s party in third place. This is a remarkable achievement for a party that has faced so much adversity and criticism.
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 and their newer voters. Their previous voters are much more ideologically motivated, while 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.”
This sentiment was echoed 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”. This is a clear indication that voters are looking for a change, and they see Farage and his party as a viable alternative to the mainstream parties.
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 out that 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 is controlling the game at the moment. As we head into the summer recess, they’re still setting the agenda.”
This is a wake-up call for the mainstream parties. As long as they continue to ignore the concerns and frustrations of the public, they will continue to lose ground to Reform UK. The solution, the MP said, is 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”. This is a damning indictment of the state of British politics and a clear indication that voters are
