Reform UK

  • What must Heseltine be thinking now?

    Nigel Farage? Destroy him.

    Reform is fascist. We must stop Nigel Farage.

    Nigel Farage in power would be appalling.

    Such is the diary of Lord Heseltine, a Tory grandee and rogue in the Upper House. He sees Farage and Reform UK as something akin to 1939. And his position? Churchill, in character and attitude.

    He lacks the action, though.

    A once powerful figure in Conservative politics, governing rather than following while in Cabinet positions, he now reflects on the position of younger (and youthful) hopefuls in the same political system.

    He sounds as sure as Winston, but lacks the accuracy.

    He’s a nice enough man, and amicable in person to all who meet him from any political persuasion, but his analysis falls far short. He can’t honestly see this – as innocent, perhaps naïve as it is – in such terms as these?

  • Farage MP needs to up his game

    Nigel Farage MP (Clacton/Reform UK) may have taken up much more media time slots more often recently since his election to the House of Commons, but his appearance in the Chamber is often subject to the most scrutiny.

    It’s a point that many experts on Parliament make to illustrate how our political system is being used by those that want to be in it most. It’s almost a litmus test of truth, integrity, and commitment to the system by those that know it best.

    Farage has a vote participation rate of 33.5% (according to Public Whip), and that is 69 out of 206 times he could have voted. It’s somewhat low, but for a leader that is active in expanding his party’s presence, it counts as a valid effort.

    Ed Davey MP (Kingston and Surbiton/Liberal Democrats), as leader of the Liberal Democrats, has a marginally higher rate of attendance. He shows 44.2% – just over 10% more than Farage since July 2024. It’s not a huge difference between them, but he has more duties.

    If Farage is to lead a significant rebellion of seriousness on policy he needs to pay attention to this fact. Reform UK may grow in size – and outside effect – but its progress needs to be matched in the House to provide any sort of return for its voters.

  • Prime Minister’s Questions

  • New Hull Mayor thanks supporters

    Luke Campbell MBE has thanked the people of Hull and East Yorkshire for his election as Mayor. He posted his comments on X, noting he wants to act and not talk.

  • Prime Minister’s Questions

  • MP’s safety (National News Report)

  • Reform UK tops 200,000

    Reform UK has rapidly increased its membership of late. It now surpasses 200,000. It’s a powerful surge of support since its inception, and election of five MP’s last July.

    It needs more than 100,000 members to surpass Labour. It’s no mean feat. Yet the party has shown its potential to grow support organically outside of an election cycle.

  • Farage puts conditions on immigration

    Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has suggested conditions on immigration would save the system and benefit the wider UK. In an interview for a Bloomberg UK podcast episode, he noted crypto trading as being one example of a draw for talent in particular.

    “What we’re talking about is not to have overall population explosion due to immigration. So there’s still plenty of room for people to come on either work visas or, in some cases, come to settle … We are not putting up the barriers entirely. What we are saying is that low skilled migration and those people bringing dependants has – net – been a negative for the UK economy.”

    Farage also said higher skilled immigration results in better levels of integration in the country than among the lower skilled immigrant population. He also claimed that 22% out of 3 million non-EU citizens are still out of work after moving to the UK.

  • Any dream will do for conservatives?

    In the ensuing months of the leadership of Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex/Conservatives), and the ongoing work of Reform UK, it’s worth asking where conservatism will go next.

    The blogging warriors will ask if any of their ideas, or the views of supporters, matter anymore. It’s also worth remembering backbenchers who always know what’s needed in a crisis.

    The work ahead is tough for the two parties, in part because Labour have such a clear agenda. They know it’s about public services, pay, and social justice at home, and overseas. It’s an easy job.

    The Conservatives and Reformer’s among us, however, are not sure how to tackle the real issues out of power. An obvious example is the Channel crossings, being powerless to stop it.

    The place of the official opposition of His majesty, and fourth largest party, are not good starting points. Meanwhile, it’s a blessing the Prime Minister is hard at work smashing the gangs.

  • Farage vs the Conservative Party

    A look at the results for Nigel Farage MP in his previous electoral runs since 1994 reveals an interesting upward trend. If compared to the incumbent Conservative Party front-runner that same year (excluding two by-elections), however, it doesn’t show such a confident upward streak.

    Farage/Conservative Party vote share

    The fact is Nigel Farage needs to win against a Conservative leader in future to take the reins of conservatism. He would need to look beyond Rishi Sunak’s result this year and see he falls far short by thousands. This is based on a showing of his own constituency results and no other’s.