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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Robert Ford

Nigel Farage has been a threat to every recent UK prime minister. But this is something new

Nigel Farage makes a speech, his hand stretching towards the camera
Nigel Farage speaks at a press conference in Westminster on 5 February as his party chairman Zia Yusuf looks on. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPA

Nigel Farage is making trouble again. Reform, his latest political vehicle, has surged in the polls, moving into first place with some pollsters, and ruffling feathers on Labour back benches.

While Farage has caused headaches for every prime minister since David Cameron, his recent rise is something new. Reform scored an average of almost 25% in January polls, past the peaks achieved by Ukip or the Brexit party in earlier parliaments. And while past Farage surges were spikes driven by circumstances – European parliament elections, the EU referendum, the collapse of Theresa May’s ­government – the current rise is more sustained. This Farage boom is no bubble.

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