Reform UK is a new force banging on the door of 10 Downing Street with promises to be different to Labour and Conservatives – but we’ve been here before, writes Kevin Maguire
British politics is upended by charismatic leadership at the helm of an upstart party riding high in the polls.
A new force banging on Downing Street’s famous black door with declarations to be very different to Labour and the Conservatives. We have been here before, of course, when in 1981 a surging Social Democratic Party, led by Roy Jenkins and Shirley Williams, boasted it was breaking the mould before seven years later the shooting star party crashed and burned.
So tetchy Nigel Farage would have good reason to fear history repeating itself because Reform UK is far from assured of victory in a General Election unlikely before 2029.
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That is many, many of Harold Wilson’s long weeks in politics ahead for a thin-skinned, vulnerable hard -right veteran with more baggage than a Heathrow arrivals hall.
Indeed a fresh opinion poll found Reform dipping to only 25%, a slender three points lead over the Conservatives with Zack Polanski’s boosted Greens on 19, Keir Starmer’s struggling Labour 18 and Ed Davey’s becalmed Lib Dems 10.
Those totals and anti-Farage tactical voting would barricade Nasty Nigel’s route to No 10 unless, as Tory chair Kevin Hollinrake floated, the Cons and Reform’s Cons do a dirty deal.
But the fact is Reform is not sweeping the country even if it is still, just, out in front as scandals – from Farage as a man refusing to apologise to school pupils claiming he was a racist bully as a boy, to the poison and incompetence of too many of its councillors, candidates and MPs – take their toll.
In an age of ignorant rage, the party remains vulnerable under the spotlight, accountability and scrutiny enemies of plastic patriots.
Reform may be tipped to do well in Welsh and Scottish elections next May, plus across parts of England, yet there’s an unmistakable hiss of deflation, the air starting to go out of the party. Writing off Farage completely would be reckless, but Prime Minister?
I reckon not. Folk are finally wising up to the old fraud.