In truth, there was little that was new in Nigel Farage’s speech today. For more than a decade, he has positioned himself as commander of the ‘people’s army’, fearlessly ‘parking our tanks on Labour’s lawn.’ First, it was Ukip, then it was the Brexit party. Now, his chosen vehicle to crush the establishment is Reform. All the greatest hits were played at today’s party rally: taxes are too high, migration is out of control and working class strongholds have effectively been abandoned. His Durham members lapped it up appreciatively, buoyed by a week in which Reform outflanked the government on British Steel.
But while the songbook was familiar, Farage offered some new remixes too.
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