Although many voters will be horrified at the idea that Nigel Farage could become prime minister, Reform UK’s consistent lead in the opinion polls means the prospect must be taken seriously. In his latest pitch, Mr Farage has struck an unlikely pose as the leader who can save our democratic system from an extreme right-wing government much more dangerous than a Reform-led one.
His argument is nakedly self-serving. Mr Farage wants to build on Reform’s growing support by making his party more respectable to voters who have not made the leap. He has distanced himself from the right-wing criminal Tommy Robinson, but said that, while he is not in the camp of Andrew Tate, the misogynist influencer, he can “see why he’s doing well”. Mr Farage told The Sunday Times he hopes young men will turn to him to give them a voice “because if I don’t, you wait till what comes after me”. He added: “Those who try to demonise me could be in for a terrible shock once I’m gone. That’s why we say we believe that we are the last chance to restore confidence in the democratic system, to change things.”
