Nigel Farage has a history of understanding UK voters and politics could be in for an almighty earthquake.
Nigel Farage has identified two huge public concerns (Image: PA)
Nigel Farage brought the house down at the Norfolk Showground last night. The Reform chief already laid the groundwork for his blockbuster speech just outside Norwich, having excoriated Norfolk County Hall in the local newspaper earlier that day. Writing in the Eastern Daily Press, Farage attacked the Tory-led county council which he claimed has run up £884mn worth of debt, with over £32.5 million a year in interest or around £90,000 per day, all at Norfolk taxpayers’ expense.
No shock surprise given Norfolk County Council splurged £476,000 on translators in 2022-23 alone or £300,000 on consultants to devise a strategy to achieve net zero by 2030. It’s a familiar tale we hear up and down the land, with potholed roads, and refuse and other public services neglected, all the while the local council wastes taxpayers’ money on nonsense as well as a local authority CEO who outearns the PM.
Speaking last night, Farage argued that Reform councillors would work tirelessly to spend taxpayers’ money properly. Again, he made the case for ‘no taxation without representation’ given the Government only caved into pressure to let local elections go ahead following pressure from his party.
Speaking with Farage beforehand, the Reform leader is clearly relishing the fight. He sees this election as existential for both Labour and the Tories. As for criticism about flip-flopping on state ownership of key industries, Farage maintains his approach has been consistent: no return to 1970s failures but instead looking to a Singapore model of commercial public-private partnerships.
As for Reform’s top team, Farage sees this as evolving organically: no longer a one-man band, Reform instead is preparing for government, possibly as early as 2027. Farage sees an economic crisis of the Government’s own making catalysing both a Labour civil war and an early election.
These are exciting times for Reform and Farage is clearly relishing every minute. And it was a busy Tuesday, even by his standards. That morning, Robert Jenrick (who also spoke last night) and he were at Heathrow, laying out the case for slashing air passenger duty.
It is clear Reform sees cost of living and cost of migration as the twin pillars on which this local and a future national campaign will be fought. In just a few weeks, British politics could be in for an almighty earthquake.