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Nigel Farage could be the big winner from Bregret

Will Mr Brexit make a comeback? Credit: Getty

January 31, 2023 - 11:40am

When Nigel Farage decided to rechristen the Brexit Party as Reform UK in January 2021, many people saw this as a rare error from a canny political strategist and campaigner. In one sweep, his nascent party appeared to lose its branding, its raison d’être and — in March 2021 — its leader, when Farage himself stepped down. 

That decision does not look so foolish today. Polling from Focaldata for UnHerd this week, the most detailed since 2019, shows how most of the country now believes it was wrong to leave the EU. Based on the findings, we see that ‘Bregret’ has risen faster among older voters and in many of the poorer areas that voted to leave in 2016. Perhaps more interesting, though, is the large minority, 29%, of Reform UK supporters now saying that Britain was wrong to leave the EU.

This change in attitude to Brexit is significant, and encompasses voters from Hartlepool to Clacton where Reform UK and its antecedents have long prospered. In June 2016, 5% of UKIP voters voted to remain in the EU, but today, nearly one in three Brexit Party/Reform UK supporters expressed at least some Bregret. This is a noteworthy shift in the nature of support for the party to the Conservatives’ Right. 

 

The idea that the general gloom and doom surrounding Brexit provides ripe conditions for Farage, Mr Brexit himself, to re-enter the political fray is counter-intuitive. Yet there remains a broad expectation in Westminster that Rishi Sunak should be very worried by the possibility of a surge for Reform UK. The rump of voters that are keeping the Conservative Party (just about) still in the game are much older and more concerned about high tax rates than the 2019 coalition the party held together. 

If Sunak loses those voters who remain in the fold, it could mean a wipe-out for the Tories. That hypothetical risk could become an existential danger if Farage — who is, by the way, two years younger than Keir Starmer — really does decide 2023 is the year for his third and final act in British politics. 

Key to how Farage might navigate this new terrain is that, while the referendum used to be the great divider in British politics, the idea that the result has not delivered what was initially promised now appears to be something approaching a consensus. A very British sense of disillusion that unites those who think Brexit was a terrible idea to begin with, and those who think it was a great idea executed badly. In turn, this could lay the groundwork for a Reform UK general election campaign: a populist appeal to get a grip on illegal immigration, reduce unspecified regulation and lower taxes. Brexit without the Brexit, in other words. 

It is worth remembering that what first attracted a significant swathe of the population to UKIP a decade ago was not necessarily the desire to leave the EU. Instead, it was a prevailing sense that the country was going in the wrong direction, and that a corrupted and clueless political class had no way to change course. It is notable that the party’s comprehensive policy statement this month did not contain the B-word at all. 

The success of this is made more, not less, likely by the sense of decay around the Tory Party — one symptom of which is this new polling on ‘Bregret’. So depending on your point of view, this is either a story of admirable opportunism or dark irony: Nigel Farage and Reform UK ending up as among the few participants on the political stage to profit from a collapse in confidence in the Brexit project.


Dr Alan Wager is a political scientist based at Queen Mary University of London and the Mile End Institute.
DrAlanWager

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Andrew Buckley
Andrew Buckley
1 year ago

The morning after the referendum I picked up a mate to go and play golf. A committed Europhile he was in tears (he now lives in Germany).
I remember saying “Not to worry, probably would never happen anyway”.
And where are we now? Well technically “left” but in a way that really did not follow the spirit of a referendum. I agree with Daniel Lee that the slow walk of remainers has left us with an odd situation.
The first time in my life that any voting really was “one man, one vote”, everyone’s vote counted the same (not counting the 1975 confirmatory referendum as this was a real fudge in my view).
And then money, vested interests, power, media all decided that one man, one vote was a silly idea and really didn’t count as “people didn’t know what they were voting for”.
And May really didn’t have her heart in any sort of leaving and then………..
We are where we are. What a mess.

Chris W
Chris W
1 year ago
Reply to  Andrew Buckley

Why not go all the way – rejoin, get rid of the pound and be happy ever after. Oh, and very, very bored.

Reece Hudson
Reece Hudson
1 year ago
Reply to  Chris W

after 12 years of the Tory disasters I’m looking foreward to being bored and ruled by honest competents, you know like Norway, Swtizerland etc

Reece Hudson
Reece Hudson
1 year ago
Reply to  Chris W

after 12 years of the Tory disasters I’m looking foreward to being bored and ruled by honest competents, you know like Norway, Swtizerland etc

Julian Pellatt
Julian Pellatt
1 year ago
Reply to  Andrew Buckley

I too had precisely the same feeling as you apparently did: that, for the first time ever, my tiny, isolated, personal vote really counted. It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in general and local elections, before and since. In the 2016 Brexit referendum my vote really did matter and gave me a democratic ‘ticket’ that carried weight. For this reason I decided that I would unequivocally respect the democratically validated outcome of the referendum, whether it was LEAVE or REMAIN.
But, as you rightly averred, the Woking Class elite with its “money, vested interests, power and media” decided that the process of true democracy, represented by the impact of the “little people’s” individual votes in that referendum, was abhorrent. The ‘One Man, One Vote’ principle that this class supported in Africa in the 1960s and 1970s was good enough for those remote populations, but not apparently for the UK electorate half a century later. The Woking Class hurled everything that they could (including extreme and offensive online abuse) at ‘Leavers’ to destroy, undermine and dilute the Brexit result, with the BBC leading the field, then and now. It is their contempt for democracy that has left Brexit in tatters and Britain in an unfathomable mess today: illegal immigration out of control, an NHS that is broken and laws increasingly made or determined by unelected judiciaries, in the UK, The Hague and Strasbourg, that have strangled and reduced the human rights of the majority in favour of minorities. Apart from QE2’s magnificent funeral, there is little or nothing about which to feel good in recent years – except for the stunning outcome of the Brexit referendum, no matter how it has been trashed since.
To say that I am utterly disillusioned with our so-called ‘British democracy’ would be an understatement!

Reece Hudson
Reece Hudson
1 year ago
Reply to  Julian Pellatt
Reece Hudson
Reece Hudson
1 year ago
Reply to  Julian Pellatt
Reece Hudson
Reece Hudson
1 year ago
Reply to  Andrew Buckley

 “the spirit of a referendum”
we voted yes or no, nothing about detail

John Wilkes
John Wilkes
1 year ago
Reply to  Reece Hudson

But the devil is always in the detail, if you can call £350 million a week for the NHS a ‘detail’. It was that kind of detail that persuaded an angry, baffled population that something radical could be done, and had to be done, mainly about immigration from cultures seen as inimical to British life and the perception that law and order was in danger.
The result is an excellent example what happens when one ignores ‘details’. No one ‘sabotaged’ Brexit. The thing was inherently a disaster, but only a scrutiny of details could have cut through the lies, and the Remain campaign failed utterly to do so.
And, while we are at it, Farage has done so much damage to this country, that the prospect of him being free to do more is even worse than the awful vision of Boris getting back into power.

Peter Shaw
Peter Shaw
1 year ago
Reply to  John Wilkes

The increase in money given to the NHS since the Referendum actually exceeds £350 a week

Peter Shaw
Peter Shaw
1 year ago
Reply to  John Wilkes

The increase in money given to the NHS since the Referendum actually exceeds £350 a week

John Wilkes
John Wilkes
1 year ago
Reply to  Reece Hudson

But the devil is always in the detail, if you can call £350 million a week for the NHS a ‘detail’. It was that kind of detail that persuaded an angry, baffled population that something radical could be done, and had to be done, mainly about immigration from cultures seen as inimical to British life and the perception that law and order was in danger.
The result is an excellent example what happens when one ignores ‘details’. No one ‘sabotaged’ Brexit. The thing was inherently a disaster, but only a scrutiny of details could have cut through the lies, and the Remain campaign failed utterly to do so.
And, while we are at it, Farage has done so much damage to this country, that the prospect of him being free to do more is even worse than the awful vision of Boris getting back into power.

Chris W
Chris W
1 year ago
Reply to  Andrew Buckley

Why not go all the way – rejoin, get rid of the pound and be happy ever after. Oh, and very, very bored.

Julian Pellatt
Julian Pellatt
1 year ago
Reply to  Andrew Buckley

I too had precisely the same feeling as you apparently did: that, for the first time ever, my tiny, isolated, personal vote really counted. It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in general and local elections, before and since. In the 2016 Brexit referendum my vote really did matter and gave me a democratic ‘ticket’ that carried weight. For this reason I decided that I would unequivocally respect the democratically validated outcome of the referendum, whether it was LEAVE or REMAIN.
But, as you rightly averred, the Woking Class elite with its “money, vested interests, power and media” decided that the process of true democracy, represented by the impact of the “little people’s” individual votes in that referendum, was abhorrent. The ‘One Man, One Vote’ principle that this class supported in Africa in the 1960s and 1970s was good enough for those remote populations, but not apparently for the UK electorate half a century later. The Woking Class hurled everything that they could (including extreme and offensive online abuse) at ‘Leavers’ to destroy, undermine and dilute the Brexit result, with the BBC leading the field, then and now. It is their contempt for democracy that has left Brexit in tatters and Britain in an unfathomable mess today: illegal immigration out of control, an NHS that is broken and laws increasingly made or determined by unelected judiciaries, in the UK, The Hague and Strasbourg, that have strangled and reduced the human rights of the majority in favour of minorities. Apart from QE2’s magnificent funeral, there is little or nothing about which to feel good in recent years – except for the stunning outcome of the Brexit referendum, no matter how it has been trashed since.
To say that I am utterly disillusioned with our so-called ‘British democracy’ would be an understatement!

Reece Hudson
Reece Hudson
1 year ago
Reply to  Andrew Buckley

 “the spirit of a referendum”
we voted yes or no, nothing about detail

Andrew Buckley
Andrew Buckley
1 year ago

The morning after the referendum I picked up a mate to go and play golf. A committed Europhile he was in tears (he now lives in Germany).
I remember saying “Not to worry, probably would never happen anyway”.
And where are we now? Well technically “left” but in a way that really did not follow the spirit of a referendum. I agree with Daniel Lee that the slow walk of remainers has left us with an odd situation.
The first time in my life that any voting really was “one man, one vote”, everyone’s vote counted the same (not counting the 1975 confirmatory referendum as this was a real fudge in my view).
And then money, vested interests, power, media all decided that one man, one vote was a silly idea and really didn’t count as “people didn’t know what they were voting for”.
And May really didn’t have her heart in any sort of leaving and then………..
We are where we are. What a mess.

Albireo Double
Albireo Double
1 year ago

There have been 7 years of concerted sabotage of Brexit by parliament, by government, by the media, and the whole rotten establishment. If Nigel Farage were to stand with Reform, I think he would do very well.

At the very least he would, once again, probably influence the Conservatives briefly into something like their former political position.

The problem is now, that we know we can’t trust the Conservatives to maintain any such position. The Conservatives have to go now. The betrayal has been too great.

Last edited 1 year ago by Albireo Double
Albireo Double
Albireo Double
1 year ago

There have been 7 years of concerted sabotage of Brexit by parliament, by government, by the media, and the whole rotten establishment. If Nigel Farage were to stand with Reform, I think he would do very well.

At the very least he would, once again, probably influence the Conservatives briefly into something like their former political position.

The problem is now, that we know we can’t trust the Conservatives to maintain any such position. The Conservatives have to go now. The betrayal has been too great.

Last edited 1 year ago by Albireo Double
Ian Stewart
Ian Stewart
1 year ago

Jeez Unherd consolidates it’s MSM position as calling Brexit a failure after 3 years.

No one thought it would be a success for 10-15 years, and it’s incredibly disappointing that the intelligent journalists of Unherd are jumping on the short termist news media bandwagon declaring it a failure already.

Ian Stewart
Ian Stewart
1 year ago

Jeez Unherd consolidates it’s MSM position as calling Brexit a failure after 3 years.

No one thought it would be a success for 10-15 years, and it’s incredibly disappointing that the intelligent journalists of Unherd are jumping on the short termist news media bandwagon declaring it a failure already.

chris Barton
chris Barton
1 year ago

We still haven’t left because the Tories true to form betrayed their voters again. I voted to leave the EU but didn’t trust the Pro EU Tory party to oversee the exit.

chris Barton
chris Barton
1 year ago

We still haven’t left because the Tories true to form betrayed their voters again. I voted to leave the EU but didn’t trust the Pro EU Tory party to oversee the exit.

Douglas McNeish
Douglas McNeish
1 year ago

Remain would have meant subservience to Germany, it’s energy and foreign policy, and entaglement with Russia, because they underwrite the profligacy of the growing group of unproductive and heavily indebted members.

The UK tried to form a counterbalance, with occasional support from some northern members, but too much of the EU is addicted to the German economic motor and it’s fiscal support. We would have been increasingly marginalised, and as Brexiteers rightly perceived, bullied by France and Germany who like to see themselves as the primus inter pares of members.

No, staying in was not an option. The road ahead will be a difficult one, but for those who believe in the ability of the British people to reinvent themselves apart from the bureaucratic morass of Brussels, this is an opportunity. Seize it.

Douglas McNeish
Douglas McNeish
1 year ago

Remain would have meant subservience to Germany, it’s energy and foreign policy, and entaglement with Russia, because they underwrite the profligacy of the growing group of unproductive and heavily indebted members.

The UK tried to form a counterbalance, with occasional support from some northern members, but too much of the EU is addicted to the German economic motor and it’s fiscal support. We would have been increasingly marginalised, and as Brexiteers rightly perceived, bullied by France and Germany who like to see themselves as the primus inter pares of members.

No, staying in was not an option. The road ahead will be a difficult one, but for those who believe in the ability of the British people to reinvent themselves apart from the bureaucratic morass of Brussels, this is an opportunity. Seize it.

Daniel Lee
Daniel Lee
1 year ago

Wasn’t Britain the country that almost immediately after WWII booted from office the man who essentially rescued them from joining the rest of Europe under the thumb of Nazi despotism? The nation seems to have a habit of discarding today what they loved yesterday. It seems the Remainers who despite the referendum insisted they had the right and even the duty to slow-walk Brexit until the British inevitably changed their minds were right on target.

Reece Hudson
Reece Hudson
1 year ago
Reply to  Daniel Lee

What singlehanded Churchill won the war? ha >
no, lots of good reasons he was booted out
https://www.military-history.org/feature/5-key-reasons-churchill-lost-the-1945-general-election.htm

Reece Hudson
Reece Hudson
1 year ago
Reply to  Daniel Lee

What singlehanded Churchill won the war? ha >
no, lots of good reasons he was booted out
https://www.military-history.org/feature/5-key-reasons-churchill-lost-the-1945-general-election.htm

Daniel Lee
Daniel Lee
1 year ago

Wasn’t Britain the country that almost immediately after WWII booted from office the man who essentially rescued them from joining the rest of Europe under the thumb of Nazi despotism? The nation seems to have a habit of discarding today what they loved yesterday. It seems the Remainers who despite the referendum insisted they had the right and even the duty to slow-walk Brexit until the British inevitably changed their minds were right on target.

Chris W
Chris W
1 year ago

Everybody is wishing one of two things: we should rejoin Europe and be happy for ever or we should stay out of Europe and be happy for ever.
The UK has a choice. We can give up being in charge of our own destiny or we can find a destiny of our own. Nobody has any ideas about the latter choice. Therefore, by default, we have no choice (do we?).
All of the history in the world will not create a destiny. BJ is swanning around talking about fighting Russia but that seems less than wise. What can the UK do in the future in order to be successful? What can we manufacture? Banking is only for London and doesn’t solve the problem.
Tourism? I would suggest that the way things are going, the UK will have one of the best climates in the world.
Gambling – how about the biggest casino outside of the USA, situated smack-bang in the middle of Wales?
My own belief, as power costs increase inexorably, is that we should be using our tides to generate electricity. This was put off previously for (official reason) the unit cost would be too high. The unofficial reason is that the Welsh Assembly does not want support from Westminster because, ultimately, Wales will be in position to sell the power back to England.

Chris W
Chris W
1 year ago

Everybody is wishing one of two things: we should rejoin Europe and be happy for ever or we should stay out of Europe and be happy for ever.
The UK has a choice. We can give up being in charge of our own destiny or we can find a destiny of our own. Nobody has any ideas about the latter choice. Therefore, by default, we have no choice (do we?).
All of the history in the world will not create a destiny. BJ is swanning around talking about fighting Russia but that seems less than wise. What can the UK do in the future in order to be successful? What can we manufacture? Banking is only for London and doesn’t solve the problem.
Tourism? I would suggest that the way things are going, the UK will have one of the best climates in the world.
Gambling – how about the biggest casino outside of the USA, situated smack-bang in the middle of Wales?
My own belief, as power costs increase inexorably, is that we should be using our tides to generate electricity. This was put off previously for (official reason) the unit cost would be too high. The unofficial reason is that the Welsh Assembly does not want support from Westminster because, ultimately, Wales will be in position to sell the power back to England.

Andrew Fisher
Andrew Fisher
1 year ago

Vague aspersions about not meeting the ‘spirit of Brexit’ or something just don’t cut the mustard. Despite the long constitutional crisis, and an undoubted attempt to prevent Brexit by forcing a second referendum (which by the way, a certain Mr Farage once favoured!) the UK as a whole did leave the EU 3 years ago, on what would have been once called a pretty ‘hard’ basis. The exception was Northern Ireland, which nonetheless still left the EU, and frankly, how many British voters cared all that much about them?!
That was all the referendum vote was about; we were not voting for any positive set of arrangements with our European neighbours, still less about a deregulation and supply side reforms, or whatever some Brexiteers have convinced themselves meant Brexit, and which would definitely not been a priority for – of even wanted by – Red Wall voters. The recent chaotic verging on incompetent government – a national embarrassment – can’t really be blamed on Remainers, who had been largely purged, or the EU. Some of this was not the government’s fault, as with the pandemic, it is difficult to argue that none of it was.
Brexiteers were divided on what they wanted to achieve or prioritise – especially free market reforms versus reducing immigration (which business rather likes as a whole). They were also cavalier (to put it mildly) about how easy it would be to leave an economic and political union we had been members of for 40 years.

Andrew Fisher
Andrew Fisher
1 year ago

Vague aspersions about not meeting the ‘spirit of Brexit’ or something just don’t cut the mustard. Despite the long constitutional crisis, and an undoubted attempt to prevent Brexit by forcing a second referendum (which by the way, a certain Mr Farage once favoured!) the UK as a whole did leave the EU 3 years ago, on what would have been once called a pretty ‘hard’ basis. The exception was Northern Ireland, which nonetheless still left the EU, and frankly, how many British voters cared all that much about them?!
That was all the referendum vote was about; we were not voting for any positive set of arrangements with our European neighbours, still less about a deregulation and supply side reforms, or whatever some Brexiteers have convinced themselves meant Brexit, and which would definitely not been a priority for – of even wanted by – Red Wall voters. The recent chaotic verging on incompetent government – a national embarrassment – can’t really be blamed on Remainers, who had been largely purged, or the EU. Some of this was not the government’s fault, as with the pandemic, it is difficult to argue that none of it was.
Brexiteers were divided on what they wanted to achieve or prioritise – especially free market reforms versus reducing immigration (which business rather likes as a whole). They were also cavalier (to put it mildly) about how easy it would be to leave an economic and political union we had been members of for 40 years.

Davy Humerme
Davy Humerme
1 year ago

interesting to see that remainders see Brexit as a manifestation of British declinism and so do leavers.

Davy Humerme
Davy Humerme
1 year ago

interesting to see that remainders see Brexit as a manifestation of British declinism and so do leavers.

ben arnulfssen
ben arnulfssen
1 year ago

Britain was certainly wrong to leave the EU in the manner it was done.

Emmanuel MARTIN
Emmanuel MARTIN
1 year ago
Reply to  ben arnulfssen

The reality is that Brexit had to be carried despite overwhelming opposition and sabotage attempts from Briish ruling classes.
Bad Brexit is strictly bettter than no Brexit (or Brino)

Ian Stewart
Ian Stewart
1 year ago

Yup in 5-10 years we’ll be so pleased we made the decision to leave. Short termists can’t think that far ahead.

Ian Stewart
Ian Stewart
1 year ago

Yup in 5-10 years we’ll be so pleased we made the decision to leave. Short termists can’t think that far ahead.

Emmanuel MARTIN
Emmanuel MARTIN
1 year ago
Reply to  ben arnulfssen

The reality is that Brexit had to be carried despite overwhelming opposition and sabotage attempts from Briish ruling classes.
Bad Brexit is strictly bettter than no Brexit (or Brino)

ben arnulfssen
ben arnulfssen
1 year ago

Britain was certainly wrong to leave the EU in the manner it was done.

Jaden Johnson
Jaden Johnson
1 year ago

Brexit was borne of a sense that the world, and Britain’s place in it, wasn’t arranged in the way that Brexiteers thought it should be. But their attempts to re-arrange the world have proved – so far – to be in vain and it’s not as if we can send a gunboat to bend recalcitrant foreigners to our will… Anyway, maybe the world just can’t be re-arranged to suit the UK, whatever Farage promises?

Last edited 1 year ago by Jaden Johnson
Reece Hudson
Reece Hudson
1 year ago
Reply to  Jaden Johnson

Yes , Brexiters were and are stuck in some colonialist dream.
The Brexit vote to become ‘billy not mates’ has succeeded and we are seen as no longer relevant
They forget than since WWII the western world has moved to reduce problems between countries, be it trade, diplomacy etc through global institutions and rules: UN, IMF, IMO, UNHCR etc. Now the UK sits on its own as a minnow opposite the major powers of US EU and China

Albireo Double
Albireo Double
1 year ago
Reply to  Reece Hudson

This attitude always amuses me. Most pro-EU fanatics are leftists and yet they yearn nostalgically for what they describe as our place on the “world stage”, our influence, and our power during the colonialist glory days of the EU.

Many of us who voted to leave actually want to stop trying to tell other countries how to live their lives and simply be a good neighbour, trading partner and friend to the rest of the world – outward – looking rather than inward – looking.

This seems to be entirely incomprehensible to the euro-loons

Kat L
Kat L
1 year ago
Reply to  Albireo Double

well stated.

j watson
j watson
1 year ago
Reply to  Albireo Double

Strange that. Who was banging on about ‘Global Britain’? Err, was it the Brexiteers?

Kat L
Kat L
1 year ago
Reply to  Albireo Double

well stated.

j watson
j watson
1 year ago
Reply to  Albireo Double

Strange that. Who was banging on about ‘Global Britain’? Err, was it the Brexiteers?

Rob N
Rob N
1 year ago
Reply to  Reece Hudson

So does that mean that the brave soul who leaves their group (when they see it has become a gang and a bully, a force for evil etc) in an attempt to get rid of gangs and promote individual freedom is wrong. It will be a hard fight but if we don’t fight then before we know it either our gang will have been beaten or it will beat the others. Either way there will be war, disaster and, quite possibly, a New World Order.

Albireo Double
Albireo Double
1 year ago
Reply to  Reece Hudson

This attitude always amuses me. Most pro-EU fanatics are leftists and yet they yearn nostalgically for what they describe as our place on the “world stage”, our influence, and our power during the colonialist glory days of the EU.

Many of us who voted to leave actually want to stop trying to tell other countries how to live their lives and simply be a good neighbour, trading partner and friend to the rest of the world – outward – looking rather than inward – looking.

This seems to be entirely incomprehensible to the euro-loons

Rob N
Rob N
1 year ago
Reply to  Reece Hudson

So does that mean that the brave soul who leaves their group (when they see it has become a gang and a bully, a force for evil etc) in an attempt to get rid of gangs and promote individual freedom is wrong. It will be a hard fight but if we don’t fight then before we know it either our gang will have been beaten or it will beat the others. Either way there will be war, disaster and, quite possibly, a New World Order.

Martin Terrell
Martin Terrell
1 year ago
Reply to  Jaden Johnson

You could say the opposite. Brexit was also about being content with out own land and not trying to fix every other country’s problem, thinking we’re more important than we are by being in a special club.

Albireo Double
Albireo Double
1 year ago
Reply to  Jaden Johnson

How the insular EU fanatics, those “Little Europeans” yearn nostalgically for its imperialism, its colonies, and their slave-class of Eastern European nannies, cleaners, and drivers.

It’s okay guys. Let go of your safety net and dare to join the rest of us looking outward into the world…

Last edited 1 year ago by Albireo Double
Reece Hudson
Reece Hudson
1 year ago
Reply to  Jaden Johnson

Yes , Brexiters were and are stuck in some colonialist dream.
The Brexit vote to become ‘billy not mates’ has succeeded and we are seen as no longer relevant
They forget than since WWII the western world has moved to reduce problems between countries, be it trade, diplomacy etc through global institutions and rules: UN, IMF, IMO, UNHCR etc. Now the UK sits on its own as a minnow opposite the major powers of US EU and China

Martin Terrell
Martin Terrell
1 year ago
Reply to  Jaden Johnson

You could say the opposite. Brexit was also about being content with out own land and not trying to fix every other country’s problem, thinking we’re more important than we are by being in a special club.

Albireo Double
Albireo Double
1 year ago
Reply to  Jaden Johnson

How the insular EU fanatics, those “Little Europeans” yearn nostalgically for its imperialism, its colonies, and their slave-class of Eastern European nannies, cleaners, and drivers.

It’s okay guys. Let go of your safety net and dare to join the rest of us looking outward into the world…

Last edited 1 year ago by Albireo Double
Jaden Johnson
Jaden Johnson
1 year ago

Brexit was borne of a sense that the world, and Britain’s place in it, wasn’t arranged in the way that Brexiteers thought it should be. But their attempts to re-arrange the world have proved – so far – to be in vain and it’s not as if we can send a gunboat to bend recalcitrant foreigners to our will… Anyway, maybe the world just can’t be re-arranged to suit the UK, whatever Farage promises?

Last edited 1 year ago by Jaden Johnson
Frank McCusker
Frank McCusker
1 year ago

It’s possible – Farage is a cynical opportunist, and will hitch his wagon to anything, regardless of his own complicity in creating the issues he then rails about.  

Steve Murray
Steve Murray
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank McCusker

But isn’t he doing precisely what you’re imploring others to do, i.e. come up with ideas and potential solutions to the problems that ail us? I’d have thought you’d welcome his input.

Chris W
Chris W
1 year ago
Reply to  Steve Murray

I sometimes think that UnHerd stifles ideas. You have to say, “The Left is bad.” If you have an idea it is automatically bad. You are either a Remoaner (bad) or you think that Britain is still great (good).

Chris W
Chris W
1 year ago
Reply to  Steve Murray

I sometimes think that UnHerd stifles ideas. You have to say, “The Left is bad.” If you have an idea it is automatically bad. You are either a Remoaner (bad) or you think that Britain is still great (good).

Rocky Martiano
Rocky Martiano
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank McCusker

Sounds like a perfect description of Sunak to me. The inflation arsonist posing as a fireman.
But I’m interested to know your view on how Farage was complicit in creating the issue of uncontrolled illegal immigration?

Emmanuel MARTIN
Emmanuel MARTIN
1 year ago
Reply to  Rocky Martiano

Before Farage, no politician talked about this topic ar at least made it a priority to tackle the problem. It was not mentionned in the press.
Therefore Farage is the cause of mass immigration, amiright ?

Emmanuel MARTIN
Emmanuel MARTIN
1 year ago
Reply to  Rocky Martiano

Before Farage, no politician talked about this topic ar at least made it a priority to tackle the problem. It was not mentionned in the press.
Therefore Farage is the cause of mass immigration, amiright ?

j watson
j watson
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank McCusker

Distinctly possible.
Bloke was all for a Norway arrangement early on, and then switched to a harder version when getting outflanked.
Sorted out his daughters EU/German Visa’s I think too.
One suspects he’s making too much money now to risk getting elected to Parliament where he’d have to declare it all.
Heard he tweeted the other day too ‘bremoaning’ about Bankers moving to Milan. You couldn’t make it up.

Steve Murray
Steve Murray
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank McCusker

But isn’t he doing precisely what you’re imploring others to do, i.e. come up with ideas and potential solutions to the problems that ail us? I’d have thought you’d welcome his input.

Rocky Martiano
Rocky Martiano
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank McCusker

Sounds like a perfect description of Sunak to me. The inflation arsonist posing as a fireman.
But I’m interested to know your view on how Farage was complicit in creating the issue of uncontrolled illegal immigration?

j watson
j watson
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank McCusker

Distinctly possible.
Bloke was all for a Norway arrangement early on, and then switched to a harder version when getting outflanked.
Sorted out his daughters EU/German Visa’s I think too.
One suspects he’s making too much money now to risk getting elected to Parliament where he’d have to declare it all.
Heard he tweeted the other day too ‘bremoaning’ about Bankers moving to Milan. You couldn’t make it up.

Frank McCusker
Frank McCusker
1 year ago

It’s possible – Farage is a cynical opportunist, and will hitch his wagon to anything, regardless of his own complicity in creating the issues he then rails about.