Farage’s furious clash with Times editor stuns figures close to him. This will not end well…

Farage's dodgy dealings have been known about for some time, journalist Carole Cadwalladr has been writing about it but it wasn't picked up by the mainstream press. Perhaps now that Nathan Gill is paying for his crimes the mainstream press is less keen to turn a blind eye.

Doesn't he already have stacks of money in the form of a pension from the EU? Plus his £5million, which at the very least he should pay tax on.

I'm delighted he is being exposed as the turd he really is and sincerely hope he looses his seat to a bin next month.

spabbygirl

Farage's dodgy dealings have been known about for some time, journalist Carole Cadwalladr has been writing about it but it wasn't picked up by the mainstream press. Perhaps now that Nathan Gill is paying for his crimes the mainstream press is less keen to turn a blind eye.

Doesn't he already have stacks of money in the form of a pension from the EU? Plus his £5million, which at the very least he should pay tax on.

I'm delighted he is being exposed as the turd he really is and sincerely hope he looses his seat to a bin next month.

👏👏👏👏👏

GrannyGravy13

The media has always fallen in and out of love with politicians and others in the public eye.

Being gleeful when it is someone you neither support or approve of is not a good look.

I hope that the same applies when Andy Burnham’s honeymoon period is over, as I predict it will not last very long.

Disclaimer- I am not a Reform supporter

Yes, but he's not really a politician, but a demagogue. 'A demagogue is a political leader who gains power by exploiting the prejudices, fears, and emotions of the public, rather than using rational argument or offering practical solutions. '
As such, if you cut of his line to the public, you cut off his oxygen. So hopefully his little project will implode.

More on Paul Marshall, whose money keeps loss-making GBNews going.

GB News and Spectator owner Paul Marshall’s hedge-fund, Marshall Wace, increased its fossil fuel stakes to $2.8 BILLION in early 2026, as renewable holdings declined. Can't think why his media empire is propaganda for anti-Net Zero Reform UK.

x.com/docrussjackson/status/2079124855644147713

On the Clacton by-election. Standing as an Independent is Pamela Kay Walford. In 2024, she stood for Reform in Maldon, Essex. In 2025, she was election agent for major UkiP, Leave and personal donor to Farage, Arron Banks when he was a candidate for West of England Mayor.

I'm wondering just how independent she is or whether she's a stalking horse for Reform in case Farage walks away or is arrested before 13 August.

She was formerly a Tory councillor in Colchester then in Frinton and Walton which is in the Clacton constituency. When she stood for Reform in 2024 her manifesto was:

We all know that immigration must be tightly controlled for the sake of each and everyone of us. Those coming in illegally have been allowed and even welcomed by many in power and certain charities and it seems they have priority over all of us. I fully support Reform UK's policy of bringing this to a halt.

Likewise we have a wonderful health service which is constantly being stretched to the limit as are all the medical staff by the extra demands put upon it by mass immigration into this country. Again something Reform UK and I are dedicated to change.

Unless she has had an epiphany in the last year, she’s still Reform, isn’t she?

Farage has played the victim too many times.

The real 'victims' are his constituents in one of the most deprived areas of the UK - he's done precious little for them.

Oh, he's held regular surgeries for businesses - but how much that has actually helped the ordinary bloke in the street - the one which NF attempts to emulate - could be up for debate.

He regularly swans off to the US for political lobbying, right-wing media appearances, and lucrative public-speaking engagements.

He also uses this 'platform' to influence US policy and - according to Google research - rally conservative American politicians against UK and European governance.

And of course, to discuss 'global politics' with Trump at the Oval Office and Mar-a-Lago.

... doubt much of this will positively affect the lives of his Clacton constituents. But, let's see how they vote. Maybe a Bin would be more useful...

PS I'm not a natural Conservative voter, however my local Tory MP has done so much for the town; he's taken on board almost all of the residents' concerns, stopped the closure of the local A&E department - which would have had devastating consequences for the majority of his constituents, and at least addressed many of the other issues. He works tirelessly, and still manages to turn up in the House.

I'm not a fan of Kemi B either - however, she is turning out to be a credible leader of the Conservative party. I will always remember her graciousness toward K Starmer's family during his closing discourse with her - when he revealed that she had, privately, given help and lent her support to him on two occasions - one when there was an attempt to set fire to his home, and publicly thanked her. At the same time acknowledging that being the leader of the Opposition was a very difficult job. I'm a bit old-fashioned, but those moments were British 'politics' at their best IMO.

With those like my local MP and KB - having the calibre of what's required for 'statesmanship' - perhaps the Tory party can now shed its tawdry past and become a credible party again, and a strong Opposition?

Yes, I know - a two-party State. But what have the outlier parties achieved, apart from division? and, in some instances, mayhem?

I find myself in a similar position to you, Dickens.
My own MP is new in post - she's Labour and is frequently in the House of Commons, raising matters relevant to her constituents, holds regular surgeries, and is often in the area at events. I believe that she is working hard for us.
All of this is true of the MP of my neighbouring constituency, an old - school Conservative, and a man of integrity.
I would have found it difficult to vote against him.

Chocolatelovinggran

I find myself in a similar position to you, Dickens.
My own MP is new in post - she's Labour and is frequently in the House of Commons, raising matters relevant to her constituents, holds regular surgeries, and is often in the area at events. I believe that she is working hard for us.
All of this is true of the MP of my neighbouring constituency, an old - school Conservative, and a man of integrity.
I would have found it difficult to vote against him.

I would have found it difficult to vote against him.

I was in a similar position.

It might be a 'nostalgia' of sorts, but I'd like to see a return of the - what you've called old-school Conservative.

Maybe that's simply my reaction to what I see as right-wing extremism and, in fact, what's also regarded as left-wing extremism.

The rise of individualism (brought about by the Thatcher government, I believe) and then, later, identity politics has fractured us as a nation, I think.

I'm old enough to remember the "One Nation Conservatism" under Macmillan's premiership - the era of post-war consensus - that's what I mean by 'nostalgia'!

But, we can't put the genie back in the bottle now.

Very interesting discussion with Dan Hodges from the Mail, on Times Politics radio today, discussing Rupert Lowe’s offer to join forces with Reform, and the discussions senior party figures are having about Reform post Farage.

It’s worth a listen.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cuBluReQiM

Casdon

Very interesting discussion with Dan Hodges from the Mail, on Times Politics radio today, discussing Rupert Lowe’s offer to join forces with Reform, and the discussions senior party figures are having about Reform post Farage.

It’s worth a listen.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cuBluReQiM

He’s not wrong but the whole Restore/Reform gang are basically rats in a sack. I live in hope they’ll all gobble each other up eventually

If a new party does evolve who will become the Alpha?

Thank you for that link, Casdon.

I think Dan Hodges is right, that Farage will walk and take Yusuf with him. He's the archetypal narcissist's flying monkey.

I wonder why Farage protects Yusuf while evidently not letting him stand for Parliament? I wonder how much he knows about the murky finances and where the money's hidden.

Farage is fair game the same as other politicians, and I do hate the way the press eviscerate someone who has fallen out of favour for whatever reason, but it has happened to a many over the years.
Corbyn was a good example of someone the polar opposite of Farage who was ruthlessly crucified in the press from day one. There was no honeymoon period for him. I didn’t support him just as I don’t support Farage but I dare say those who are now loathed to support the press in hounding Farage would be among the first to have cheered the press on with Corbyn.
You can’t whinge now if you whooped before.

As soon as Starmer went Farage started on a downward spiral I think. He was very popular because Starmer wasn’t. Now there is more hope, justified or not, people won’t want to take a risk with Nige. Fair to him or not.

I think this situation is quite different to Corbyn Fallingstar. It’s about corruption, and whilst the media was keeping a lid on what it knew until recently, the genie escaped the bottle, and won’t go back in, even though some of the media have tried to make that happen. The problem for Farage is that he hasn’t mounted a defence, and when you don’t do that the speculation just keeps growing.

I agree- the media has largely decided not to keep a lid on Reform UK and its leader's corruption and murky financial dealings. Farage thought he could (because he got away with it for so long...) but he couldn't escape media scrutiny forever or in the way that all other politicians are subjected to.

Farage's downfall began in the Spring, irrespective of either Starmer or Burnham, when detail of Farage's personal payment £5million payment from Reform's Thailand benefactor was published in the media. That outstanding sum started the scrutiny ball rolling....

Farage chose to neither clearly explain nor defend his decision not to declare the £5million payment. Instead he chose to pitch himself as a victim which was he intentionally exacerbated by his decision to resign from his Clacton MP role and call a by election. Pitching himself again as a victim standing against the establishment That decision backfired within hours. Farage has not in fact pitched himself against the establishment instead against a man who wears a bin over his head. His Clacton electorate maybe thinking they would also like to be a victim if it means receiving a $5million sum to spend as they wish!

The culmination of Farage's personality and decisions in this context coincidently coincided with Starmer's resignation and AB becoming PM- horrific and unwise timing to call for a by election.

Last year Farage delighted in and enjoyed dominated the media during the summer express by calling weekly news conferences. Reform ratings climbed and continued to do so. This summer Andy Burham is enjoying his PM honeymoon period and dominating the media with a variety of policy announcements etc. Farage can only work or not work to hold onto his Clacton MP seat and avoid media scrutiny of his relationships and £5million personal undeclared payment from a political donor who does not reside in the UK.

Meanwhile back at Reform UK- they sit and weep, speculate, sob at the Reform UK continuing fall in ratings, watch Resoire UK ratings gradually climb. Reform UK recently celebrated local election victories on the back of the UK not liking Starmer. Now Reform UK can see the same possibility of loosing its foothold if Farage stays as leader as Farage's personal poll ratings dive. What happened to Starmer could happen to Farage. But I doubt Farage's ego would cope, he is motivated by money and he is more likely to walk away.

The Clacton by election vote and turn out rate will be illuminating and may act as a trigger for various Reform UK factions, including Farage himself?

express= summer recess

LemonJam

I agree- the media has largely decided not to keep a lid on Reform UK and its leader's corruption and murky financial dealings. Farage thought he could (because he got away with it for so long...) but he couldn't escape media scrutiny forever or in the way that all other politicians are subjected to.

Farage's downfall began in the Spring, irrespective of either Starmer or Burnham, when detail of Farage's personal payment £5million payment from Reform's Thailand benefactor was published in the media. That outstanding sum started the scrutiny ball rolling....

Farage chose to neither clearly explain nor defend his decision not to declare the £5million payment. Instead he chose to pitch himself as a victim which was he intentionally exacerbated by his decision to resign from his Clacton MP role and call a by election. Pitching himself again as a victim standing against the establishment That decision backfired within hours. Farage has not in fact pitched himself against the establishment instead against a man who wears a bin over his head. His Clacton electorate maybe thinking they would also like to be a victim if it means receiving a $5million sum to spend as they wish!

The culmination of Farage's personality and decisions in this context coincidently coincided with Starmer's resignation and AB becoming PM- horrific and unwise timing to call for a by election.

Last year Farage delighted in and enjoyed dominated the media during the summer express by calling weekly news conferences. Reform ratings climbed and continued to do so. This summer Andy Burham is enjoying his PM honeymoon period and dominating the media with a variety of policy announcements etc. Farage can only work or not work to hold onto his Clacton MP seat and avoid media scrutiny of his relationships and £5million personal undeclared payment from a political donor who does not reside in the UK.

Meanwhile back at Reform UK- they sit and weep, speculate, sob at the Reform UK continuing fall in ratings, watch Resoire UK ratings gradually climb. Reform UK recently celebrated local election victories on the back of the UK not liking Starmer. Now Reform UK can see the same possibility of loosing its foothold if Farage stays as leader as Farage's personal poll ratings dive. What happened to Starmer could happen to Farage. But I doubt Farage's ego would cope, he is motivated by money and he is more likely to walk away.

The Clacton by election vote and turn out rate will be illuminating and may act as a trigger for various Reform UK factions, including Farage himself?

I agree.
And I imagine Farage will walk away, he has done so before, tbh he has only ever really been a fire starter, starting up little fires that other parties then have to seek to extinguish, except now the press are helping to damp down the flames rather than fuelling them.

Fire starters, particularly those who have spent a life time doing so, run the risk of overstep and self combusting.

Alternatively they may eventually get caught, convicted of arson and face sanction.

It was always said that Rupert Murdoch chose the next government but then someone said ( might have been on TRIP) that it was more that he saw the way to mood of the electorate was going and went with it. Maybe it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other.

Farage couldn't resist though, he cant help missing the media attention. Possibly triggered by Rupert Lowe stealing the media spotlight highlighting his offer to Reform/Farage (with conditions to eject Conservative Party defectors etc) to work in partnership. Farage called a news conference this morning to rehash/rinse/repeat his idea to intercept small boats that cross the channel- Operation Fortress late this morning.

Operation Fortress will the biggest joint UK military operation with commands from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, RAF and British Army since world war 2 apparently. The plan would be to intercept any unauthorised boats and detain their occupants before returning them back to France or Belgium under escort on navy vessels. A few small problems though:

1) there is an absolute universal human right, under domestic and international law to claim asylum and the navy is not legally entitled to abrogate that law
2) its simply not possible for the RN to directly engage with a typical small vessel/dingy in the channel- either towing them away, pushing them back towards French waters or towing them back to France.
3) That is if the RN caused somebody on a small vessel to die or be injured that is a common law offence given the UK literally is not at war and irregular immigration is a civil issue
4) there are multiple international conventions to save lives at sea - it is hardly likely RN will agree to endanger lives
5) Pushing people and vessels into French waters violates French sovereignty and invites retaliation and resistance. Things could escalate into a mini Cold War between the UK, France and the wider EU. Trade and much else would be endangered and impact the UK economy.

The RN was in charge of commanding border Force a few years ago, didn't like it and said it made no difference. The RN said it has better things to do, lacks resources and will refuse to endanger the lives of civilians, let alone attack and drown them.

Reform UK would need to remove the UK from all relevant international conventions, amend domestic laws and find RN and RAF commanders actually willing to engage with Operation Fortress. It would seriously damage the UK's international relations.

As Tom Sharpe, retired RN commander, simply put it to the BBC in response; "UK Border Force is better suited to managing migrant arrivals than the Navy. Warships designed for tasks including anti submarine defences are not best used for ferrying people around. You're better off using a ferry".

Oh well at least Farage got some media attention even if he had nothing new to offer.....

Meanwhile continuing clashes- an average Monday for Farage and Reform UK?

1) Senior naval figures and the French authorities dismissed Reform’s plans to use military vessels to stop small boats crossing the Channel, saying the proposals “lacked substance” and amounted to a violation of maritime law and international law.

2) Farage continued to face a challenge from Rupert Lowe’s Restore party, with Lowe accusing him of lying over an exchange of messages between the pair over an offer to work together.

3) Parliament’s standards watchdog opened an investigation into Reform’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, over, Tice said, “whether I should have referenced my register of interests at the start of a debate on UK democracy and Israeli influence”

4) By- election mid day Hustings have commenced in Clacton- Farage nowhere to be seen. Count Bin Face said: “I’m very sorry to have disappointed the candidates who took part, and I’m even sorrier to have disappointed any constituents who came to listen. If I’d known about the event, and if I couldn’t have made it, I would have at least sent through a written statement as I have done at previous elections. I did visit the constituency last week and really enjoyed meeting local residents in Clacton and Frinton, and I’m hoping to be able to do more in the days ahead. I can certainly say already that the people and the area are fantastic, and whoever wins the by election, they deserve a devoted MP.”

5) A French official has responded to that Reform UK Operation Fortress plans would be “unacceptable”. The [French] government would clearly not expect a key ally such as the UK to infringe on territory or waters without consent the official said.

6) On the not insignificant hurdle of of the likelihood of the French authorities not agreeing to allow the Royal Navy to dump people on their shores- Reform’s spokesperson for home affairs, Zia Yusuf has said today: “If the French disagree, what will end up happening is we’ll end up having something of an argument with the French

7) Yusef claimed that French authorities refusing to allow people to disembark on its shores would be a crime against humanity. Yusuf added: “This is a boat full of innocent civilians who are being rescued as part of a humanitarian mission.” He did not explain how his party’s policy of refusing to allow any to make it safely to the UK’s shores would not constitute the same crime against humanity

8) Yusuf claimed Reform had sought legal opinion that its plan would be lawful, saying it would define people making the Channel crossing by irregular means as being in distress at sea – obliging the navy to rescue them. He said his party would also tell French authorities they must abide by obligations under international law to process those people’s asylum claims “because it is a safe country”. He did not explain what Reform’s stance would be if France simply said the same to the UK

Listen to the end of Farage’s speech here, where he talks about working with Rupert Lowe. If he isn’t alluding to standing down, I’m a monkey’s uncle (phrase for the thread about phrases young people don’t understand?).

news.sky.com/video/reforms-nigel-farage-proposes-bold-plan-to-tackle-small-boats-but-how-realistic-is-it-13569499