Guido was given an exclusive interview with Nigel Farage, Leader of Reform UK, to get his thoughts on some of the most pressing issues in this election. Naturally, the interview took place outside of a pub in Clacton…
First off, the EU. When asked if Starmer would march Britain back into the bloc, Farage didn’t his mince words: “No, no, of course not,” he scoffed. It would split Labour right down the middle. Though he did reckon the UK might join the European Defence Union and toe the line on the single market. “Wouldn’t be that different from now,” he mused.
Immigration? Front and centre of Reform’s campaign, the Rwanda plan is a gimmick, deportation is the real answer. He reminded Guido that back in Labour’s last year, the UK booted out 45,000 illegal immigrants. “We used to do this!” he exclaimed. How would net zero immigration work? “Dead easy,” he claims. Cut out the dependents and get Brits back to work.“125,000 people have been allowed to come as dependents of students. What are you, bringing your mom or something? The whole thing is crackers!”
Speaking of his time in the City of London – he reminds Guido he’s the son and grandson of two stock brokers – we need to “deregulate” the London Stock Exchange. We can’t guarantee an 80s-style boom, but we need “radical change” in the finance industry – “it’s about getting rid of the old boys club rules” that exist and opening London up to an international market. Britain needs innovation, he says, pointing to that fact “We’ve turned our back on crypto[currency]”, missing a “massive opportunity”. If you can “buy a Ferrari” with crypto in America, you should be able to here as well…
Would he welcome any Tories into Reform? “As long as they don’t bring the poison of their party with them”. So that’s a yes, he would allow some household names in his party (though he points out they may only be household to Guido, not the public). Asked if he’s been in any talks with potential defectors, he bats off the subject – “it’s not top of my bucket list…I always joke with them, I always say look in the end we’re all going to be in the same party, we just don’t know what name it is.” A non-denial…
On ambitions to be Prime Minister, he chuckles. “The ultimate goal is to win!” He’s not fussed about titles or ranks. What gets him excited is “waking people up, making people think, shifting opinions, and turning minority views into majority views.” Why trust him over Rishi’s promises? “I’ve been consistent since before you were born!”
Asked for a kind word about Keir Starmer, Farage concedes, “I’m sure Keir is profoundly decent. Over a couple of beers, he might lighten up.” Though he struggles to say anything nice about “Slippery Sunak,” mocking his supposed number-crunching skills. “He’s in the wrong job.”
And his polling day plans? “No idea!” But he’ll be in Clacton, raising a few pints. Farage is confident Reform will snag many more votes and seats than UKIP did in 2015. “I think we’ve got momentum.” Time will tell…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”