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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
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Kirsty Major

Welcome to the MrBeastification of British politics: the latest trick up Nigel Farage’s sleeve

Nigel Farage at a Reform UK rally, Newark, 19 January 2026.
‘Nigel Farage’s obsession with drilling in the North Sea would only keep us locked into volatile energy markets.’ Photograph: Temilade Adelaja/Reuters

You can already imagine the video.

A man stands in the middle of a suburban English street holding a wad of cash in his hands. Grinning at the camera he says: “I’m about to pay this entire street’s energy bills.” Cut to gliding drone footage of the neighbourhood. The man knocks on a front door and a bewildered looking woman answers in a fleecy dressing gown. “Congratulations, Carol. You’ve saved more than £1,000 this year!” High-energy electronic music swells to a climax as she gives him a hug. Then, a shot of the next neighbour receiving his prize, and another, and another, as a tally at the bottom right of the screen shows the total cash sum rising. Finally, the entire community is out on the street waving their hands with joy.

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