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Reform catches Vance’s eye

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Support for Nigel Farage’s Reform party is surging in the UK, and it appears the group is making waves across the pond too. As reported by the Telegraph, US Vice-President JD Vance is getting interested in Farage’s outfit, even quizzing UK ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson about the rise of Reform. It’s one sign your campaign is cutting through, eh?

During a recent chat, it transpires that Vance questioned Mandelson: ‘So what’s going on with Reform? I see that they’re doing very well.’ Certainly Reform is continuing to top polls, while YouGov’s recent MRP suggests, just a year on from Sir Keir Starmer’s landslide victory, that if an election were called now, Farage’s lot would come out on top. The data projects Reform UK to pick up 271 seats, while Labour would lose more than 230 to become the second largest party on 178 – while the Tories would slump to a meagre 46. Good heavens…

Vance is known to have a keen interest in British politics and the Vice-President hasn’t been shy about his thoughts on the UK. He took a swipe at Britain during a speech at the Munich Security Conference over his concerns about the country’s erosion of free speech, warning attendees: ‘What I worry about is the threat from within. The retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values, values shared with the United States of America.’

As Labour continues to shed voters disappointed at U-turns and ‘broken promises’, it may be wise for the US administration to keep tabs on the party of government’s top rivals ahead of the next election…

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Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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