Where’s Nigel?

Did anyone see Robert Jenryk seeking to defend Farage on Laura Kuensberg show his morning?

As soon as Jenryk said the words- "The Times is a Labour Party supporting newspaper" he must have realised he was clutching at straws and trying to defend the un defensible.

The Times newspaper is generally considered a centre right newspaper that has historically taken a Conservative editorial stance 🤷‍♀️

I think the Times is on the right, and it remains as one of the more trustworthy papers, it has retained its investigative journalism standards, so that really is clutching at straws on Jenrick’s part Lemonjam.

Clutching at straws indeed. Associatiing the Times Newspaper with the Labour Party seems to be the Reform party line this morning as reported in a different newspaper :

‘A Reform spokesperson said on Sunday: “It comes as no surprise that the Sunday Times has chosen to publish this baseless and contrived story, covering a period of time when Nigel Farage was not even an active politician let alone an elected one, given that the newspaper backed the Labour party at the last general election.

“Contrary to the story’s tone, no parliamentary rules have been broken.”

The Times does change political allegiance but it’s irrelevant.

Gabriel Pogrund is an investigative journalist and there’s a story here.

A spokesperson for Farage called this “a baseless and contrived story”.

Jenrick speaks to the BBC and acknowledges that Farage had staff paid for by George Cottrell, had security paid for by George Cottrell and stayed at the home of George Cottrell …

… none of which has been declared.

Just one extract from the story:

Farage decided he would professionalise his operation, bolster his brand and reach beyond his natural audience. That would serve his interests whatever came next.

In September [2023], Cottrell recruited a young man who could do just that: Jack Anderton, 25, a right-wing political activist from Liverpool. Anderton had created his own polished social media videos presenting immigration as a problem affecting young people. He said he could do the same for Farage, especially on TikTok, a platform which a third of young voters use as their primary source of news. Cottrell paid him a salary equivalent to around £55,000 a year.

He also paid Tom Dupre, 31, a Paris-based British writer once affiliated with Generation Identity, described as a “hipster far-right” movement. Dupre created a website, nigelfarageoffice.com, and assisted with recruitment and other back office operations.

And Cottrell recruited a third person, Leah Thornton, who became Farage’s assistant.

All within 12 months of Farage being elected as MP for Clacton.

Not the first time senior Reform people can’t get their story straight.

Jenrick has his eye on being party leader, that’s for sure.

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/revealed-nigel-farage-secretly-funded-by-convicted-criminal-j0brtrlnk

Not sure if that will work…

Graphite- watching Jenrick this morning, I agree with your. opinion that Jenrick has his eye on being Reform Party leader.

Jenrick spent a lot of the interview with Laura deflecting questions about Farage to promote Reform.

Jenrick wanted to be leader of the Tory party, failed and was kicked our by Badenoch. He isn’t stupid. He knows that Farage is a liability and his days are numbered.

It will be a miracle if Farage isn’t suspended from the HoC and subject to a recall petition. If Clacton were to return him again, he’s still tainted by all that has been revealed and his repeated breaking of Parliamentary rules.

After last week’s Westminster Hall Commons debate on MPs second jobs, we can expect that movement to gain momentum. Richard Burgon’s Private Member’s Bill stalled in 2021 but it could get a second reading in the next session of Parliament. Both he and Labour Party Chair Anna Turley have got the bit between the teeth over this.

Given a choice between his multi-million pound side hustles and being and MP or even PM- a job Farage is wholly unsuited to do - he’d chose the money.

However, repeated polls have said that Jenrick could lose his Newark seat at the next election as could Braverman and Kruger.

I’m now believing the speculation that Farage will quit, rather than wait for the highly likely suspension and recall petition. He won’t want more crawling over his business dealings by the media, or the risk of prosecution, and will return to his view of the world being fed in from outside.

If politicians take money from people who might expect something in return, we should know about it.
One of the expectations of journalists is that they probe. If they find something that we, the public, should know, then it is to be expected that this should be published.
Jonathan Aitken, unwisely, took exception to being outed as a recipient of money he had not declared, and took the matter to court.
He served a jail sentence as a consequence.

AGAA4

Jenrick spent a lot of the interview with Laura deflecting questions about Farage to promote Reform.

I’ve noticed that some politicians seem to be resentful of not being elected as party leader. Some leave parliament and find lucrative posts elsewhere. Some start other parties. And some switch party in the hope that the new party will give them the job. I’ve come to rather revere the ones that continue to carry on as constituency MP’s without switching party or plotting within their own party. Must admit that Jeremy Hunt has gone up in my estimation over the past couple of years for that reason ( unless he’s biding his time hoping that Badenoch’s temper finally gets the better of her). Much as I used to love Rory Stewart on TRIP’s I found his loathing of Keir Starmer made me think that he resented him for getting the top job in his party and rather put me off him.

It would be ironic if Jenrick, or one of the other ex Tory MPs became the leader of Reform, they would not be able to complain about the appointment of Andy Burnham as Labour leader, as they were not even elected to serve the party they now represent, which is a criticism they can’t level at him.

Wondering what will come out next about Farage.

Apropos that, has anyone access to the Sunday Times, as 2 hours ago it announced "GB News to cut more than a third of staff"

But not axing Farage.

Good.

Good

Various reports this morning that Farage is currently in Washington ( again) and as a result over reporting over the weekend, Reform HQ is riven with infighting, plotting and jostling for Farage's position meanwhile. Ie who will be his successor if Farage is suspended and there is a by election in Clacton that he loses.

Reform insiders report that Farage has been largely absent from Reform HQ ( and he is indeed currently in US) though Reform publicly says he's at HQ every day. Farage has also taken a break from his 7pm GB news slot.

Zia Yusef clashing with Jenrick. Farage saying the Labour supporting Times (really?!) is out to get him etc. He's always been happy for. that to happen to others and gone on record "they cant come back from this..." one rule for him and another rule for others.

It's all a bit of a mess. Meanwhile other parties are gearing up to determine who they would put forward as an MP contender for a Clacton by election. Now that is one by election Farage really would not want to lose....

Today's Times The Story podcast is entitled, Introducing Posh George, the criminal behind Farage. It is very interesting, especially the links that George Cottrell has with Russian oligarchs and Russians with rather murky financial interests. Cottrell is very close to Farage so I very much doubt that he doesn't know about his criminal links as well as his Russian contacts and attempts to launder money through cryptocurrency. More episodes to follow!

It’s another reason to question Farage’s judgement I agree foxie48:

1) why does he choose to have financial beneficial friends/ associates with known criminal convictions- that has toppled other politicians2) why does Farage’s not understand the public has a right to know origin of financial benefactors gifts as a result of his long standing public facing political roles?

I seem to recall that it was noted that during the EU referendum campaign Farage visited the Russian embassy a few times.

There have always been suspicions about Russian money funding some of the Leave campaign.

MaizieD

I seem to recall that it was noted that during the EU referendum campaign Farage visited the Russian embassy a few times.

There have always been suspicions about Russian money funding some of the Leave campaign.

I think Putin is behind a lot of things and has been for many many years…

According to Jenrick Farage's Christian faith has allowed him to forgive Cottrell for prec

Sorry posted too soon. Farage to forgive Cottrell for his previous convictions. Very convenient.

I wondered how long it would be before Mr Farage started to talk about his Christianity. It's a much used trope in the USA.

🤬