While I don't disagree with Nick's analysis, it seems to me that the control freak and party dictator that is Farage, cannot hold together this fractious bunch indefinitely. The Faragists are a magnet for racists, little ingerlunder nationalists and conspiracy theorists. They are inexperienced at even the most base level of power or representation, e.g. in councils and are already all over the place on positioning and displaying their inexperience. One of their mayors is going with a Green energy scheme, despite the party opposition, disreputably funded as it is by fossil fuel interests.
The late Alvin Toffler's great 1970's book, the Third Wave, forecasted a period of conflict between the new industries being born, such as Green energy and the backlash from the old ones, such as fossil fuel interests. ReFUK are the main UK backlash. He also forecasted that they would ultimately lose. Already, green energy is massively cheaper, is limitless and non polluting. It will win and ReFUK will ultimately fall apart and lose.
Uh Huh, well the first question in my mind is who poked Sarah Pochin to ask the question she did? She could have asked, as her first question to the PM, something intensely relevant to her constituency, which would have acknowledged her support at the by-election and shown she had them in her mind.
Instead she asks a deeply divisive and hate mongering question, basically a dog whistle, trying to dress it up with international importance by referencing EU nations. Why? It's not party policy. It's an issue that only really worries a small percentage of extreme right wing loons.
Did she think the PM would tell her it was an important issue and he was glad she'd raised it? Who knows? As we saw the PM simply shut it down and refused to debate it - and exactly the right response.
So who provoked this little incident. Pochin is not a previous MP, and so she's a stranger in the house, and likely very reliant on her party to help guide her first steps.
Somebody wound her up for this and set her up. My money is on the unhinged lightweight Reform Chief Whip - who later tweeted his support on this farce.
It obviously upset Yusuf, this is a dog whistle shout linked to his family's faith and culture, and we can all see what happened.
Farage has had to dress up his response with sympathy and understanding as if he's lost an old friend but I personally don't believe a word of it. Arron Banks for Chairman before you can say 'deportation'.
Also whilst writing I would lay money on Luke Campbell leaving Reform behind to continue as an independent before long. Why? Well two things mainly. His body language and facial expression at the last press conference where he was required to sit at the front like a dummy. And, watching his performance as Mayor and the PR around the early days I get the sense he realises that its a real proper job that requires so much more from him than the performative shouting you get dressed up as policy from Reform. He's been careful since the election to avoid name checking Reform at all. Watch this space.
Probably true - depressing thought of a Reform govt esp since it is clear how awful Reform councillors actually are in local government so far. I wonder though how easy it will be for Farage to keep his activists & elected representatives in the centre of politics - because they are just not as the new MP showed, no matter how moderate Farage & Tice try to sound
An excellent piece, Nick. I think your analysis is spot on.
Is there a world where the Tories end up to the right of Reform?
Absolutely. In fact, I don't think we are particularly far away from that being the case now.
While I don't disagree with Nick's analysis, it seems to me that the control freak and party dictator that is Farage, cannot hold together this fractious bunch indefinitely. The Faragists are a magnet for racists, little ingerlunder nationalists and conspiracy theorists. They are inexperienced at even the most base level of power or representation, e.g. in councils and are already all over the place on positioning and displaying their inexperience. One of their mayors is going with a Green energy scheme, despite the party opposition, disreputably funded as it is by fossil fuel interests.
The late Alvin Toffler's great 1970's book, the Third Wave, forecasted a period of conflict between the new industries being born, such as Green energy and the backlash from the old ones, such as fossil fuel interests. ReFUK are the main UK backlash. He also forecasted that they would ultimately lose. Already, green energy is massively cheaper, is limitless and non polluting. It will win and ReFUK will ultimately fall apart and lose.
Uh Huh, well the first question in my mind is who poked Sarah Pochin to ask the question she did? She could have asked, as her first question to the PM, something intensely relevant to her constituency, which would have acknowledged her support at the by-election and shown she had them in her mind.
Instead she asks a deeply divisive and hate mongering question, basically a dog whistle, trying to dress it up with international importance by referencing EU nations. Why? It's not party policy. It's an issue that only really worries a small percentage of extreme right wing loons.
Did she think the PM would tell her it was an important issue and he was glad she'd raised it? Who knows? As we saw the PM simply shut it down and refused to debate it - and exactly the right response.
So who provoked this little incident. Pochin is not a previous MP, and so she's a stranger in the house, and likely very reliant on her party to help guide her first steps.
Somebody wound her up for this and set her up. My money is on the unhinged lightweight Reform Chief Whip - who later tweeted his support on this farce.
It obviously upset Yusuf, this is a dog whistle shout linked to his family's faith and culture, and we can all see what happened.
Farage has had to dress up his response with sympathy and understanding as if he's lost an old friend but I personally don't believe a word of it. Arron Banks for Chairman before you can say 'deportation'.
Also whilst writing I would lay money on Luke Campbell leaving Reform behind to continue as an independent before long. Why? Well two things mainly. His body language and facial expression at the last press conference where he was required to sit at the front like a dummy. And, watching his performance as Mayor and the PR around the early days I get the sense he realises that its a real proper job that requires so much more from him than the performative shouting you get dressed up as policy from Reform. He's been careful since the election to avoid name checking Reform at all. Watch this space.
Thanks for reading.
But, Farage DOES support banning the burkha, he had no issues w Pochin's question at PMQs.
Now Yusef is back to administer DOGE!
Probably true - depressing thought of a Reform govt esp since it is clear how awful Reform councillors actually are in local government so far. I wonder though how easy it will be for Farage to keep his activists & elected representatives in the centre of politics - because they are just not as the new MP showed, no matter how moderate Farage & Tice try to sound
So why was deputy leader Richard Tice all over the media yesterday agitating for a national debate on the burka??
Get your bets on farage being next pm before the odds shorten.