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There’ll be a tetchy postmortem taking place at Reform HQ this morning. Its party conference appears to have been a disaster, as scandal once more dogs Nigel Farage and his coterie. Instead of policy announcements and set-piece speeches generating attention, all eyes remain on footage: in which senior Reform figures—Farage included—appear to play fast and loose with legal process and parliamentary procedure. Two big names have already been suspended, raising further credibility questions for the party and Farage himself—claiming plausible deniability is tricky when you’re caught on camera.
The story has dominated ever since, despite Reform’s best efforts. The police and Electoral Commission are both investigating. Pippa Crerar, Guardian political editor, was at the conference and found its supporters to be unfazed and fiercely loyal. Among Reform’s base, allegations of financial wrongdoing are seen as a “hoax” and “an establishment plot,” fueling loyalty to Farage and the party. However, the mood is different at the top. Farage admitted the row “looks bad,” and the leadership feels shaken.
At 2:30 AM on Friday morning, both James Orr and Dan Jukes were swiftly removed from their positions. Jukes, a long-time aide to Farage, is a massive blow to his political project. Orr, a Cambridge academic with far-right views, provided Reform with a “deeply ideological intellectual heft.” Farage’s approval ratings have plummeted, and he faces pressure to survive amid scandals.
Polling shows Reform remains a serious electoral force, roughly equal to the Tories, but a steep decline from where the party sat just months ago. Farage wants a route to power but needs to secure support beyond his devotees. Labour’s arrival and scandals have temporarily offered Labour and the Tories some reprieve. Farage risks alienating his most loyal supporters if he gives too much ground.
The weekend roundup included: - Germany: The populist, far-right, anti-immigration Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) surged in a state election, falling just short of winning a majority. - Ukraine: US peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner headed to Kyiv following talks in Moscow. - US-Israel war on Iran: The US military struck three Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks, escalating tensions. - UK news: Far-right activists blocked Dover port, chanting “England til I die,” and intercepted a boat with asylum seekers in Portsmouth. - Brexit: Travellers to the EU could face renewed border queues as flexibility measures end, though biometric checks won’t be enforced by all member states.
In-depth analysis: Reform’s leadership feels shaken, with Jukes and Orr’s departures signaling a crisis. Farage’s defiance and denial of wrongdoing contrast with the shifting positions among his upper echelons. The party’s future depends on balancing loyalty to Farage with addressing public discontent.
Source: The Guardian
