October 4, 2023 - 2:30pm
At this week’s Conservative Party Conference, the only real star wasn’t a cabinet minister, an MP, or even a party member — it was Nigel Farage. The former Ukip leader — architect of Brexit and perpetual thorn in the side to the Conservatives — rocked up to Manchester and largely stole the show. Crowds followed him around, begging for photos. They swamped any event at which he was expected, and he revelled in the attention.
It was striking compared to the apathy surrounding key Tory figures. Cabinet ministers swept through the Midland Hotel unbothered by selfie hunters, and perhaps only Liz Truss’ Rally for Growth got similar amounts of attention — though most of that could be explained by morbid curiosity. Farage’s reputation seems to outstrip that of anyone among the Tory base, especially now Boris Johnson has sunk into ignominy.
Farage’s presence has renewed questions about his formal relationship with the party. Some talked up the idea of him rejoining, maybe even seeking election. Ministers said that they would let him return — but the man himself pulled the trump card, saying he had no interest in doing so while getting in a few jabs about their current listlessness.
This feels like the most that they will get from him. There is no real reason for Farage to join the Tory Party. He can get what he wants from outside, without having to make even the pretence of conciliation. He can dangle the prospect of his support, and in turn the voters who back him, without having to play nice with more liberal Tories or dance to any sort of party line.
Farage has ultimately always been a disruptor. When he came to Ukip, he hijacked it to make his own name, letting it wither when it no longer suited him. He did the same with the Brexit Party, and as it merged into Reform UK. He’d bristle at the control that a Tory Party would want to exert over him, and ultimately seems to have little interest in the formal power it could offer him. He seems to much prefer the acclaim — and the income — he can achieve as a media gadfly, compared to slugging around the Commons.
As the Tory Party looks set to go into opposition, and on a journey of self-discovery, Farage is unlikely to want the drudgery of being a backbench MP. He’d much rather hover around the outside of the party, soaking up plaudits from his fans and flexing his popularity. The Tories are once again already dancing to his tune on many issues: he has little to gain from a reconciliation with them.
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SubscribeWhy indeed would Mr Farage ever wish to rejoin the so called Tory Party?
There are NO proper Tories left there. Rather, just a bunch of very embarrassing poseurs and arrant frauds.
The Tories need to be bit more tóraidhe in their thinking.
Precisely!
Much more ‘profit & plunder’ and FAR less ‘inclusiveness & diversity’.
Farage is a classic shit-stirrer. Not for him the drudgery of responsibility.
Farage is an unelectable clown. Whether he joins the soon-to-be annihilated Tories or continues to float around their far right alternatives makes little difference.
He was elected to the European Parliament, as I recall.
What an achievement….
How many times did he stand unsuccessfully for Westminster?
Maybe, but he was one of the principal architects of Brexit, so we have to thank him for that.