“From the heart of the forest to the hearts of the English” – this could be the title of the next chapter in Nigel Farage’s political biography. Considered the father of Brexit and the founder of modern populism in Britain, he is on the verge of returning to the forefront of British politics.
Not just coming back From the Australian jungle, where she participated in the reality show “I’m a Celebrity”. The flamboyant populist recently reached the finals of the program – he came in third place, winning an impressive salary of €1.7 million (more than PLN 7 million). Now Farage is using his airtime to fuel speculation about a return to mainstream politics.
Circumstances couldn’t be better for him: while Farage was in the Australian jungle, a recent poll showed his popularity rose by five percentage points. This currently favors him over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
This marks a historic turning point in British politics the following year.
The end of 13 years of Tory rule is almost certain. Current opinion polls show them well behind Labour. It seems that to win next year’s election, Labor will have to do little more than avoid mistakes.
The development of these events was caused by the controversial and meaningless policies of the Tories, which weakened the British economy, failed to fulfill their promises regarding migration policy and damaged the reputation of their motherland abroad. In a climate of political discontent and Britain’s declining importance in the world Farage could deliver a decisive blow to the Tories. He had waited years for this moment.
At the Conservative Party conference in October, Nigel Farage was given a hero’s welcome by delegates – he spent a lot of time posing for photos and signing autographs. To the consternation of moderate Tories, he danced with influential people at a banquet reception. Finally, he maliciously announced that he could take the leadership of the Conservative Party within three years – or so he thought.
For Farage, however, the Tories are more enemies than friends. He left the party in 1992, protesting loudly against their signing of the Maastricht Treaty. Since then, he has led the right-wing populist rivals of his former party, the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), the Brexit Party (today the Reform UK Party) – taking more votes from the Tories and implicitly imposing their agenda. .
Stephen Rousseau/Press Association/Eastern News
Farage after the results of the 2016 referendum to leave the European Union were announced.
Today, in the face of devastating poll results, the Tories are reconciling: a new poll of party members on the Conservative Home website shows more than 70 per cent. Among them is Farage, who wants to return to the party if he applies for membership.
Since his appearance on the reality show, political events have picked up speed again. Cabinet dissolves – Prime Minister dismisses Home Minister Suella Pravarman. Sunak did not leave it without consequences to call the protests against Israel “hateful marches”. Public criticism of his immigration policy.
The British government also lost in court. Sunak wanted to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, regardless of their origin. London’s High Court ruled that it was illegal because asylum seekers in the East African country risked not getting a fair trial. At this point, the Rwandan law has already cost the resignation of three interior ministers and at least £140 million (over PLN 700 million), although it has yet to lead to a single deportation.
Perfect opportunity to come back
Farage knows Sunak has shot himself in the foot with this proposed legislation. According to the politician, the plan can only be realistically implemented if Britain leaves the European Court of Human Rights – for which she is getting applause from the Tories’ right-wing, who want even greater self-determination. MPs are planning to revolt against the Prime Minister in the upcoming polls. 10 Downing Street panicked.
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Even without Farage, his party has already made gains at the polls at the expense of the Tories and currently has 10% support. Mainstream opinion-making circles on the right have also ignored Prime Minister Sunak. Alison Pearson from the Tory-loyal Daily Telegraph told her readers: “The Conservative Party is dead to me.”
In addition, the party’s major donors have begun to shift course. Co-owners of Bristol Ports who have donated £640,000 to the Tories since 2001. pounds (over PLN 3 million), they recently paid PLN 100,000. pounds (approx. PLN 500,000) to the Reform UK Party.
The upcoming general elections will surely be the perfect opportunity for Farage to get back into the game. Everything points to him being able to achieve this without the involvement of the Tories.
Jonathan Brady/PA Images/Getty Images
Nigel Farage at Heathrow Airport after returning from Australia
Ironically, the red wall of so-called voters who have voted Labor for decades, ensuring victory for the Tories in 2019, could become the final nail in their coffin. A rumor of Farage’s return is enough to create a major political force. Who knows – it may reach a peak of popularity comparable to the French “En Marche” (a French political movement founded by Emmanuel Macron in 2016, today the Renaissance Party – version) of a few years ago. Clearly, the world needs another political fairy tale. Even if it starts in the forest.
