Can Nigel Farage ride the wave of right-wing populism? – POLITICO Europe

Farage himself may have given a hint of his disruptive desires during an interview with the Suns Never Mind the Ballots YouTube show in May.

Referring to his friend Trumps MAGA takeover of the Republican Party, he said: What Trump did, of course, is he was able to hijack the conservative party in America. Id love to have had a crack at that here in this country.

But of course, theres no open primary in this country. The Conservative Party, several times, said they wouldnt have me as a member

For some Tories, a change of heart may be underway, amid a feeling on the right of the party that Farage would be at home in their faction and could unite the countrys right-leaning voters too. Those who argue in favor of allowing Farage in include expected leadership contender Suella Braverman.

Tory MP Edward Leigh, now the Father of the House as parliaments longest-serving member, told the BBC on Friday that the Tories must invite Reform voters and Farage to join us.

Because otherwise in five years time, we are going to have a similar debacle. We cant have a divided right-wing vote, he said.

Others disagree. Robert Goodwill, an ex-Tory MP who stood down at the election, told POLITICO: We either tack right and cozy up to Farage or stay in the center where elections are won.

Tom Lubbock, former Tory Party data chief and founder of JL Partners polling firm, said the lego bricks theory of adding the two votes of Conservatives and Reform together is actually quite appealing and has taken hold in the party.`

He said that while most leadership contenders had ruled this out before the election, he believes the final results may change perspectives among senior Tories.

The exit poll and result was a cleansing fire, which will reset a lot of peoples thinking on Reform, Lubbock said.

Whatever conclusion the Tories come to may be a moot point, however; given his strong position, Farage could well fancy riding the Western wave of populism without the help of the Conservative Party.

As well as Reforms strong performance in the U.K. general election, recent international events may lead Farage to have a change of heart about the best vehicle for his ambitions.

The rise of Le Pens National Rally, which finished top in the first round of the countrys legislative elections, and its quest to replace Frances version of the Tory Party (the Republicans) presents an apt model for him to emulate.

Surging populist right-wing parties in places including Germany and the Netherlands could also portend a unique moment for upstart right-wing parties in Europe.

The official Reform line is that the party has no interest in joining forces with the Conservatives, and that its end goal is to dominate the right all by itself.

Farage told the Independent Saturday that the Tories can join us if they want but we dont need them and wont be chasing them.

We dont really need the poison they will bring, he said.

Howard Cox, Reforms defeated candidate in Dover and Deal, told POLITICO: A center-right party will now evolve led by Nigel Farage with those true Conservatives who have been betrayed by Sunaks regime.

Real Tories with Thatcherite values of low taxation, small state and strong borders will join Nigels revolution.

A Reform official, granted anonymity to comment candidly on the election fallout, was more blunt.

There is no chance anybody is joining that rabble they are already ripping shreds off each other, they said.

Bethany Dawson and Esther Webber contributed reporting.

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Can Nigel Farage ride the wave of right-wing populism? - POLITICO Europe