Welcome to The Farage Show
During this European Election campaign, both major parties have been rarely seen or heard on radio or television, and have been completely overshadowed by the dominant ramblings of the Brexit Party leader.
This European election campaign has been a strange one, as the Brexit Party has revelled in their success in opinion polls by hosting many chauvinistic rallies, which frequently feature Anne Widdicombe; now strutting here stuff on stages again instead of the dance floor. She has acted as a jingoistic preacher, advocating the mainstays of ‘No-Dealers’ by presenting the idea that the EU is treating the UK with contempt. This has obviously been met with rapturous applause from crowds in attendance.
Farage meanwhile – in the midst of claims regarding funds paid to him by Aaron Banks after the 2016 referendum which would go against his man of the people card – has been strutting around the country and enjoying the latest rise of his latent popularity. It has, therefore, became incredibly hard for one avoid his messages in recent weeks. A record 32nd appearance on Question Time (09/05/19) and a ‘ludicrous’ and ‘ridiculous’ interview on the Andrew Marr Show – during which he received a grilling regarding his past statements – shortly afterwards (12/05/19), and many news packages have ensured this.
Like Change UK, he claims that our politics is broken. They both cite different reasons, of course. Farage spouts tribalistic and inflammatory language such as ‘betrayal’, and has urged a fightback on a scale large enough to shock Westminster – currently at an impasse with a Meaningful Vote 4 scheduled for the first week of June – into action in regard to Brexit’s delivery.
A No Deal Brexit is what he, and most of his supporters, desires. Anything else is Brexit in name only, and a massive victory has been widely predicted for the former UKIP leader’s fledgling party due to widespread passionate support for this outcome. Be that as it may, they will most likely remain disappointed and frustrated, as there is no majority for this in the House of Commons. Moreover, it depends on who wins the Tory leadership contest, which is now undoubtably due soon as May has stated that she will leave her post after the next meaningful vote.
If a soft Brexiteer – such as Sajid Javid, Amber Rudd or Michael Gove – enters Number 10, they will definitely not press for a No Deal, as they believe a relationship as close as possible to the EU would be beneficial for the country in the long term. Combined with a parliament mostly sympathetic to this view, which has voted against a No Deal exit, this will ensure that the hardest of Brexiteers will remain the most irritated.
Even in an alternate situation, in which the Conservative Party choose a hard Brexiteer – such as Penny Mordaunt, Andrea Leadsom, Dominic Raab or Boris Johnson – takes the helm, the ERG will be on side, but their small number will not be substantial enough for a bill to pass. Debates are currently in full flow as to whether a Johnson premiership will be as pragmatic as the Trump presidency has been. Also on the minds of members will be whether he has an appeal wide enough to ensure that the Conservatives win a General Election with him as leader. His immense popularity on the party’s right would not be enough. Consequently, he would presumably have to adapt his discourse and policies in a more moderate direction.
One thing is relatively certain, what is in store this month is a backlash against Labour and the Tories from voters in response to the government’s diabolical handling of Brexit negotiations and consequential meaningful votes. The splitting of the remain vote – between the Greens, Change UK and the Liberal Democrats – and the success of the Brexit Party’s simple message during their highly effective campaign will result in exasperation and discontent expressing itself in a similar manner to this year’s local elections and the 2016 referendum, which began this very political saga.
The main parties, who have been judged as traitors, useless or both by many, will suffer another huge blow. Although, this time it is expected and has resulted in their campaigns being conducted with the enthusiasm of already relegated football teams during the final game of the season.
