Answers to Your Inquiries Regarding Farage – from Potential Prime Minister Candidacy in 2029 to Reasons for the Proliferation of Reform Leader’s Media Presence
On Monday, Mr Farage predicted he would become prime minister after the 2029 election as he unveiled Reform UK’s “contract with the people”.Answers to Your Inquiries Regarding Farage – from Potential Prime Minister Candidacy in 2029 to Reasons for the Proliferation of Reform Leader’s Media Presence
While right-wing supporters cheered Reform UK’s pledges, economists and experts criticised the manifesto for its unrealistic economic plans and environmentally harmful anti-net zero policies.
Reform’s pledges came as Mr Farage was pegged to win his constituency of Clacton in Essex by pollster Ipsos.
Amid the growing conversation around the former Ukip and Brexit Party leader, many have been left asking how Mr Farage – who has failed to secure a seat in Parliament seven times – gets “so much airtime” and if he could feasibly be prime minister in 2029.
Here are nine questions from Independent readers – and my answers from the “Ask Me Anything” event.
the Answers to Your Inquiries Regarding Farage – from Potential Prime Minister Candidacy in 2029 to Reasons for the Proliferation of Reform Leader’s Media Presence
Q: Why does anybody imagine that Nigel Farage has anything interesting to offer?
Swayne
A: Whether we like Farage’s views or not, it is hard to ignore his influence on British politics. Brexit would not have happened without him and his two parties (Ukip and the Brexit Party). While for his critics he appears to be a clown and a caricature of a cartoon-like right-winger, for others he is a hero.
He is willing to take on issues where normal politicians fear to tread. He was the one who put the small boats on the agenda and then took on the banks cancelling people’s bank accounts. The latter was arguably a public service that helped a wider community than the Brexiteer core he normally represents.
Another journalist from the BBC remarked to me a few months ago that they believed Farage to be the most influential UK politician of the 21st century. I would argue it was Blair but Farage is certainly a close second. He once told me when we met in Washington DC at the CPAC conference that he was “the father of populism”. I think that is true in that Trump, Melones and others followed Farage.
When Le Pen remodelled her father’s fascist party and tried to make it more acceptable, she followed Farage’s playbook and based the National Rally on Ukip. What we are seeing worryingly emerge in Europe with right-wing parties is linked to the Farage effect.
It is proof that you don’t need to be elected to parliament to be influential. They may see him as an irrelevant extremist, but they ignore or discount him at their peril.
Q: Why is he given so much airtime? There are other smaller parties with arguably more sensible policies to offer.
Petresy
A: The broadcasters have a public service obligation to provide balance in their coverage and be impartial. Similar complaints have been made against the Greens in the past. The simple answer is that while the party he has led has only won one seat at the general election (Clacton in 2015) and two in by-elections, his parties have polled highly.
He also led Ukip to victory (biggest party) in a European election (2014) and repeated that with the Brexit Party (2019). There is an argument to be made that, whatever people think of his policies, he is the most influential British politician since Tony Blair.
Of course, his most recent airtime was as an employee of GB News, but in this election, with Reform running third in the polls consistently and second to Labour in two polls, it is hard to exclude him from the airwaves. Doing so would probably fuel his argument that there is an establishment conspiracy trying to silence the views of ordinary British people.
It is rather ironic that he comes from the establishment himself. Yet, on the European continent and in the US, the populist argument is gaining a lot of traction. To deliberately exclude people like Farage from the airwaves is only making his case appear stronger.
one more Answers to Your Inquiries Regarding Farage – from Potential Prime Minister Candidacy in 2029 to Reasons for the Proliferation of Reform Leader’s Media Presence
Q: Reform is a limited company and not a party. This played a part in the election: What do voters need to know? What could it mean for the future of Reform? The answer: We need to find out.
Shila Ledbrook
A: This is a question which needs addressing after the election. Reform is certainly not democratic in the way it is run. We saw that when Nigel Farage decided to ditch one of its policies live on air without any consultation.
He and Richard Tice are the two major shareholders. (in the context of this business) There is a serious question over whether a political party can be run (without any proper accountability to its members).
Certainly, if Farage wants to lead a new Conservative Party or party of the centre-right then he will have to get used to an organisation where he cannot be a mini dictator deciding policy on the hoof and have one where members can hold the leadership to account.
To a certain extent, this issue is relevant to the Tories.Though it is relevant to Labour, it is especially significant in the way they imposed friends and allies of their leadership on constituencies. The relevance of the issue to Labour is important, but what stands out most is their imposition of leadership allies on winnable constituencies.
the other Answers to Your Inquiries Regarding Farage – from Potential Prime Minister Candidacy in 2029 to Reasons for the Proliferation of Reform Leader’s Media Presence
Q: Why isn’t the MSM not pointing out the numerous lies that came from Remain supporters?
BrummieGuy
A: I think the mainstream media is doing that. One of our front pages this week talked of the delusions of Farage, for example.
His predecessor, Richard Tice, was facing heavy pressure from GB News. The way the “contract with the people” added up was being questioned.
Farage is known for being a very skilled politician. He has heard every question before and doesn’t need an autocue. He enjoys being counter-cultural and upsetting people in polite society.
Like many effective populists, he can reframe questions as being part of the establishment or mainstream. Including Trump, Meloni, Le Pen, Orban, and Wilders, he can frame questions as conspiring against ordinary people.
The focus is always on them when it comes to glory. However, the truth is that all attacks impact hard-working people.
some more Answers to Your Inquiries Regarding Farage – from Potential Prime Minister Candidacy in 2029 to Reasons for the Proliferation of Reform Leader’s Media Presence
Q: What do people have to lose by voting for Reform? Why on earth would any sane person vote Lib-Lab-Con, given the mess they’ve already made of everything?
Andrew Andrew
A: This is Farage’s main offer. The others are mostly the same, trying to occupy the same ground. That is why he is so effective and why so many Tory voters appear to have switched.
We will see, though, if they really do vote for Reform on 4 July. After all, there is only one poll that counts.
here the Answers to Your Inquiries Regarding Farage
Q: In a mythical reform government, who would be chancellor? Home secretary? Foreign secretary? Would Farage fill all these positions?
RG50
A: Politics in five years could be very different. People none of us know about currently are likely to emerge.
Q: On Farage’s statement that he’ll run for PM in 2029: “Don’t you need a majority government before you can run for PM?”
ElectricWorm
A: If the centre-right forms the majority and he is leader then the King will have to ask him to form a government.
A lot of “ifs” there though.
Q: What’s the likelihood of Reform chipping away enough of the Tory vote for them to consider inviting him to join/lead their party?
Jimmy
A: If the Tories win fewer than 100 seats: If someone on the right is elected leader: There is a good chance Farage would be invited to join.
What happens then? Farage does not like following others. So yes, there is a path for this to happen even if other outcomes are more likely.
it the Answers to Your Inquiries Regarding Farage
Q: After his current moment of fame in the UK, will Farage be off to the USA for another moment of fame in the autumn?
Horatio
My answer:
A: I think the issue here is will Farage win his seat?If he does try to build a coalition on the right with the Tories, he may face a five-year endeavor. His bid to become prime minister could also be a part of this lengthy process. Even if that does not work, he will be stuck in parliament and using that as a platform.
If he loses in Clacton, he might consider moving to the United States. Rishi Sunak is also reportedly planning a trip there. There is no doubt: Farage is happy in the United States.He is immensely popular there. However, he faces no physical danger. This is why he can go nowhere in the UK without security.
Trump would almost certainly give him a job, and the two are great friends. Even if Trump does not win, he could be part of the rebuild of the Republican populist right.
These questions and answers were part of an ‘Ask Me Anything’ hosted by David Maddox. Some of the questions and answers have been edited for this article. You can read the full discussion in the comments section of the original article.
Our chief political commentator John Rentoul sends a weekly Commons Confidential newsletter exclusive to Independent Premium subscribers, taking you behind the curtain of Westminster. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, head here to find out more.
So these are the Answers to Your Inquiries Regarding Farage – from Potential Prime Minister Candidacy in 2029 to Reasons for the Proliferation of Reform Leader’s Media Presence
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