NIGEL FARAGE feels the shifting sands in British politics every time he pops to the shops.
“I have this thing called the ‘supermarket test’,” he explains.
Simon JonesReform boss Nigel Farage would take the most seats if an election were called tomorrow[/caption]
GettyFarage feels the shifting sands in British politics[/caption]
AFPThe Reform leader beams as he enjoys a pint in Wetherspoons[/caption]
Ten years ago people would clock him in the aisles, discreetly sidle up with their trolley, whisper a supportive message, and hope their neighbours hadn’t seen them.
“I was like their guilty secret, in a sense,” he says. “And as the years have gone by, I’ve had different reactions.
“The common reaction now from people is: ‘You’re the last chance, mate. If you don’t get in, we’re screwed’.”
The polling backs him up. One year ago today the Reform boss emerged blinking into the sunlight of a new Labour dawn with just five MPs despite taking 14 per cent of the vote.
Today he commands around 30 per cent in the polls and would land the most seats if an election were called tomorrow.
The country is slowly waking up to the fact that a Prime Minister Farage — once unthinkable — is now a very real prospect.
‘We’re not mucking around’
Does the man once derided as leading a fringe rabble of “fruitcakes and loonies” really have what it takes to lead a G7 nation?
“Yeah I do, I really do,” he tells me bluntly. “I’ve got more breadth of life experience than anyone who’s done that job in recent times. I’ve lived in the real world.
“I’m part of the real world. I’ve seen life’s ups, I’ve seen life’s downs.
“I’m in politics, not because I want to be Prime Minister. I’m in politics because I’d like to use that position to change things.”
The job of PM is enormous and — having seen several up close — it can take a gruelling physical toll.
Does chain-smoking, pint-drinking 61-year-old Nigel really have the stamina?
“That’s good for you,” he smiles.
I’ve got more breadth of life experience than anyone that’s done that job in recent times. I’ve lived in the real world
Nigel Farage
While he has actually cut down on the booze (although he tells me he could never give up cigarettes), Farage is still a loyal devotee of the “PFL”: the Proper F***ing Lunch.
Surely these well-refreshed meals would have to stop if he were actually running the country? How could he make life and death decisions while half-cut?
He looks genuinely appalled at the suggestion.
“What better opportunity do you have with potential foreign investors, with ambassadors, with your own backbenchers than to use the No10 dining facilities at lunch?
PAFarage says Sir Keir Starmer is a ‘puppet’ who ‘believes in nothing’[/caption]
AFPFarage says he and King Charles have ‘had a good laugh’ about their differences[/caption]
“Churchill lunched every day during the war and he used it for purpose.
“We’ve kind of forgotten in the modern world that people taking a bit of time out and chatting and not being on their computers and not being on their phones, it’s quite a good way to get things done.”
Would he be willing to press the nuclear button? “I don’t think anybody can become Prime Minister unless they accept that premise. That’s probably what did for Corbyn in the end.”
And what about his weekly audiences with the King? One would imagine Farage and Charles would not see eye to eye on much, least of all Net Zero.
“Look, I’m not scared of anyone,” he says. “I know the King. We’ve had our disagreements in the past. We’ve had a good laugh about it.”
“He’s a very decent man. There’s no question, and I wish him well with his health.”
I’m in politics, not because I want to be Prime Minister. I’m in politics because I’d like to use that position to change things
Nigel Farage
As I probe into what the first 100 days of a Reform administration would look like, Farage cautions that I’m “running a bit ahead”. And maybe I am.
Because despite the polls, there is a school of thought in Westminster — clung to by Labour and the Tories — that when push comes to shove, voters would just not trust him to be PM.
I cast his mind back to his days leading Ukip, the anti-EU party that would triumph in European elections but crash in the General.
Farage has mixed feelings about his former tribe. On the one hand, he says it will go down as the “most successful political party in history” for bringing about Brexit.
But he is also frank that it never stood a chance of taking power, lacking the professionalism that is now the watchword at Reform HQ.
He speaks to me just days after settling into the party’s new offices in one of the upper floors of London’s Milbank Tower.
Pass through the reception, White House-style press room, live TV studio and City-style boardroom and you will come to a door emblazoned with the sign “The Office of Nigel Farage”.
GettyFarage has cut down on the booze but says he could never give up cigarettes[/caption]
Refer to CaptionFarage admits speaking to US President Donald Trump ‘less’[/caption]
Push through and there is a large table manned by the leader’s gatekeepers who guard all access to the man himself.
“We’re not mucking around”, he tells me during our chat in his study.
But it is not simply a swanky office and high-roller donors that have seen him leapfrog Labour and the Tories.
“I met a lot of those shoppers in the supermarket, and the reason I really came back last year is I think this country’s in a perilous state. Nothing works. We’re getting poorer.
“GDP per capita falling quite consistently. Crime is now at a level where most people don’t even report it — 57 per cent of women are scared to walk the streets of London. We’re in big trouble.
“We’re in cultural trouble. We’ve got completely new politicians growing up with sectarian voting along religious lines. We have, every day, got people who commit sex crimes, terrorism crossing the English Channel.”
Farage is on comfortable turf on topics such as illegal migration but how would he actually solve it?
Leave the European Convention on Human Rights, tow the boats back to France and deport anyone who crosses the Channel illegally, he says categorically.
In recent months, his friend-turned-foe Rupert Lowe has accused him of going soft on his pledge to deport all illegal immigrants after conceding it would be impossible.
We are losing any sense of what we are, of who we are, of shared history, of shared commonalities
Nigel Farage
Farage irritatedly waves him away: “I’m really sorry, but, you know, you get the odd nutter in politics.”
As Nigel looks over at the TV where England are taking on India in the cricket, we rattle through some other topics.
Did he see the recent stats showing 40 per cent of all babies last year were born to at least one foreigner?
“We are, piece by piece, losing any sense of what we are, of who we are, of our shared history, of shared commonalities. It’s happening very, very quickly.”
And how would he end the scourge of two-tier justice he rails against?
“Not having the European Convention on Human Rights written into British law which distorts everything. And number two, having a judiciary that is neutral.”
He says the differences in treatment between Southport tweeter Lucy Connolly and Glastonbury rappers Bob Vylan shows two-tier justice is “embedded”.
And what of his old mucker Donald Trump? The pair don’t seem as chummy as they once were.
He admits speaking to the US President “less”, saying contact has been “more difficult” given Trump has to deal with Starmer.
I ask what he thinks of the leaders in this country but feel I already know the answer.
Starmer is a “puppet” who “believes in nothing” while Kemi Badenoch is leading a “finished” party.
Some Brits might be equally as rude about him. After all, he is probably the best example of a Marmite politician we have.
Is it not a glaring issue that large swathes of the electorate will simply never stomach him?
“Do 25 per cent of the country hate me?” he asks. “Well, I hope so.”
Simon JonesWe spoke to Farage just days after he settled into his party’s new offices[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
