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‘Strong confrontation’ comes at fragile moment for Reform’s relations with rightwing media as coverage turns negative. The exchange, which is said to have included an expletive aimed at Tony Gallagher, was triggered by the Reform UK leader’s outrage that the paper was planning to run a story about his houses, which he said endangered his family.
It is a fragile moment for Reform’s relationship with Britain’s rightwing media, whose coverage of Farage and his byelection gamble has taken a negative turn since questions were raised about his funding and finances. Coverage by the Times and the Sun, part of Rupert Murdoch’s News UK stable, as well as the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail, has made for tough reading for Reform in recent days.
The Telegraph has described Farage’s decision to subject himself to a “people versus the establishment” by election in Clacton as a “summer gamble” and “a farce”. Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch appeared in its pages stating the Conservative party “is for serious people, not a retirement home for failed politicians” – a jibe at Reform’s collection of Tory defectors.
The Mail has run an editorial that read: “How quickly times – and political fortunes – can change. It is only weeks since Reform UK’s rise appeared almost unstoppable. But two by election defeats and concerns over leader Nigel Farage’s financial affairs have significantly altered the landscape.”
In recent days, a damning verdict on Farage’s current predicament was delivered by Trevor Kavanagh, the Sun’s veteran political commentator and a figure close to Murdoch. “We are witnessing the sudden death of a political movement which began as the UK Independence party, morphed into the Brexit party, and now Reform,” he wrote. “Or, to simply name names, Nigel Farage.”
A Times spokesperson said: “We stand by our journalism, and do not accept that the published photograph identified the location of any property or presented a security risk.”
One senior editor said Farage had abandoned attempts to build broad support in favour of appealing to his base, resulting in attacks on the press. “It’s straight out of Trump world,” they said. “Demonise the messenger, rally the base, undermine the MSM.”
Should scepticism continue among the other newspapers on the right, it would put a serious dent in Reform’s grander ambitions of power
MaizieD
Is no-one interested in Dan Neidle's suggestion re the £5million?
Sorry, I meant to say that I had read that, it’s been in public domain for a bit now.
Always follow the money.
That is why his properties are attracting so much interest. Laundered money is frequently invested in property.
FriedGreenTomatoes2
I don’t think he is a fake
Just because he is wealthy does not preclude him from seeing what is happening in the UK. And how things could be better.
What is happening?
I’m increasingly sure that Farage is done. I question whether he will stay to fight his corner, I don’t think he will.
Fake?
Claiming to be a 'man of the people'.
A man of the crypto billionaire people, perhaps?
Has he actually signed up for this contest?
The 17th was the deadline.
Anyone know?
Maremia
Has he actually signed up for this contest?
The 17th was the deadline.
Anyone know?
Yes, he has. There was a list of the 34 candidates posted on the media.
Is no-one interested in Dan Neidle's suggestion re the £5million?
I am, Maizie.
Reform sources (he really should be careful who he p*sses off) have told The Guardian that Farage believed, that if he entered Parliament, he would be forced to give up his lucrative GB News presenting role, which then paid him more than £1m a year.
I believe he still earns around £400,000 a year from GB News so he’s £600,000 down a year. Five years of a full term government. £5 million. Some coincidence.
Disguised remuneration under Part 7 ITEPA. The disguised remuneration rules were introduced to prevent tax avoidance arrangements where employment income is provided by an intermediary rather than directly by the employer. PAYE and Class NIC (employer and employee) apply.
The rules apply to relevant steps taken on or after 6 April 2011.
If HMRC were to prove this then he might argue that had it been paid by GBNews he would have funnelled it through his Thorn in the Side company (which Edwina Currie, having a bit of fun with Farage on X has taken to calling TITS) to pay lower corporation tax instead but that would be a matter for negotiation.
Those terrible Tories for bringing in this pesky anti-avoidance legislation. Clearly, an establishment plot to take down Farage fifteen years later.
Yes, I saw about that on YouTube Graphite. I think it’s one of a number of theories as to what might happen, the one I thought was interesting was from Rory Stewart, questioning whether Christopher Harborne is likely to be questioning the value of his investment.
MaizieD
Is no-one interested in Dan Neidle's suggestion re the £5million?
Yes- I suspect this may be considered in the ( currently suspended ) investigation once it resumes?
Frage will still have a lot of explaining to do after the Clacton election- if he is voted back as MP- once it resumes....
The fact that he has undermined the investigation in itself aggravates his situation.
Thanks for the update, Casdon.
The Sunday Times has published a front page story today with yet further concerns about Reform UK donations received via obscure, overseas payments with via George Cottrell ( the convicted criminal, not on the UK electoral role) and his associated company Unify, that moves crypto currency across borders- a conduit that can not be traced by the NCA.
According to The S Times, an initial £1 million from Cottrell via this conduit was then deposited into British Means Business a company owned by Richard Tice. Richard Tice then transferred £500k to Reform UK and listed the £500k donation under his name I wonder what happened to the other £500k and whether Tice declared that?
Perhaps TICE will be the next Reform MP made subject to investigation? Perhaps TICE will resign summarily subjected himself to a by election, alleging he is also subject to a right wing establishment stitch up and ask the voters of Boston and Skegness to judge him?
Luckygirl3
*Farage was born into wealth, attended two elite exclusive indecent schools* - indecent!! heaven forbid!!
I am surprised that the right wing press has taken so long to realise what and who NF really is ..... or has it suddenly become in their interests to acknowledge this?
I know! I only realised my “mistake” afterwards! I have apologised and laughed at good old auto-correct! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
To be honest, maybe the question should be, “is this the beginning of the end for Reform”
The mad thing is that if Farage hadn’t continuously courted publicity, all of these things might have gone unnoticed.
It’s yet another episode of “Rules don’t apply to Reform”
At least in the case of Rayner, she stepped down from the cabinet, accepted the investigation and kept her mouth firmly shut!
There are 3 who should resign now and not try to pop back up again. Farage, Jenrick and now Tice.
Any others I wonder.
I agree that the right wing press gave Farage a free pass for way too long, perhaps now they realise that even right wing public opinion is hardening in light of recent disclosures about Farage and his crypto buddies so they are playing to the gallery with a different tune, one that hopefully swings back to the Tories as the party of right wing choice, as it should be.
Badenoch would not have Jenryk back in the C party. If Farage/Tice/Reform UK goes under Jenryk is toast.
I saw that too, Casdon, Stewart musing about what Harborne must be thinking about all this as the net closes on Farage and Reform.
However, Farage, Harborne, Cottrell and Tice all seem to be in bed together. As more and more emerges about the Cottrells involvement in Reform finances, criminal proceedings look more and more likely.
x.com/david_hollas/status/2078565002232140118
Jacob Rees Mogg at the lacklustre CPAC: There is no Reform without Nigel Farage.
Nathan Gill might soon have some company at HMP.
Graphite
I saw that too, Casdon, Stewart musing about what Harborne must be thinking about all this as the net closes on Farage and Reform.
However, Farage, Harborne, Cottrell and Tice all seem to be in bed together. As more and more emerges about the Cottrells involvement in Reform finances, criminal proceedings look more and more likely.
x.com/david_hollas/status/2078565002232140118
Jacob Rees Mogg at the lacklustre CPAC: There is no Reform without Nigel Farage.
Nathan Gill might soon have some company at HMP.
We can but hope!
Graphite, I am interested in the funding of gbnews, following your post about the salary that Mr Farage receives for his presenting role there.
I understood that the channel runs at a significant loss, but seems able to pay large sums to presenters.
Presumably, there is a degree of bankrolling for this to be so: is this permitted?
Cossy Farage went to two ‘indecent’ schools? He must have had fun😂😂
GB News is funded by this guy, Paul Marshall
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Marshall_(investor)
He also owns the Spectator.
He appears to be happy to continue to bankroll it despite it running at a loss.
Lots of information here in search results
duckduckgo.com/?q=paul+marshall+gb+news&t=chromentp&ia=web
Also about its losses
duckduckgo.com/?q=why+does+GB+News+run+at+a+loss%3F&t=chromentp&ia=web
Most of those funding GB news, and there are others, live in Dubai. Why do they want this news channel to carry on despite it running at a loss?I doubt I would like the answer.
Thanks for that, Maizie. I was just about to reply but I’d post anyway.
To CLG. You can see a sample of Farage’s declarations of his income from GB News here, which averages around £35,000 to £40,000 a month.
www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/26352/nigel_farage/clacton/register#category-house-of-commons1.2
It’s paid into his company Thorn in the Side Ltd so he only pays tax at 25% not the top rate of income tax which is 45%.
Read Karma Bales piece for Byline Times -
EXPOSED: How Viktor Orbán Bankrolled the Network Around Reform UK
bylinetimes.com/2026/04/14/exposed-how-viktor-orban-bankrolled-the-network-around-reform-uk/
Many of the people mentioned there were at Liz Truss's CPAC although most speakers were talking to a sparsely populated room. There were even empty seats for Farage's well-worn routine.
I think another pressing question, aside from where the money to bankroll GB News is coming from, is should it even be paying MPs to present regular programmes? Farage was asked to attend the recent Westminster debate about whether MPs should have second jobs but he didn’t attend although he was in Parliament that day for PMQs. Running away from scrutiny as usual.
PamelaJ1
Cossy Farage went to two ‘indecent’ schools? He must have had fun😂😂
I know!! I did realise, have apologised and had a good laugh at both myself and the thought!
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