As the exit poll broke on Thursday night, predicting a vast Labour majority and 13 MPs for Reform UK, GB News cut to a roomful of its viewers. “Who is happy about that Labour landslide tonight?” asked presenter Michelle Dewberry, prompting grumbles and low boos. “And what about those Reform seats?” she countered, raising a cheer.
Right-wing commentator Darren Grimes continued the Reform celebrations: “I’m going to do 13 shots at the bar as soon as I get off,” he joked. Even as the number of Reform MPs turned out to be five, the feeling on the channel, which has employed Nigel Farage, Richard Tice and Lee Anderson in recent months, was less a wake for the outgoing Tories, and more a party for the rise of a new right-wing entity.
