Why is no one talking about Farage's £5 million gift/bribe?

I’m not sure trying to convince anyone that one criminal is better than another is great!

Louise haigh is shameful but that’s for another thread surely

https://bsky.app/profile/philbrickellmp.bsky.social/post/3mpvjb7tx2f2i

"Back in 2016, Cottrell was indicted in the US on 21 counts for crimes including money laundering, fraud and blackmail. He served eight months in prison for wire fraud after being caught in an FBI sting offering his services to undercover agents posing as drug traffickers.

You were not bothered about Jeremy Corbyn's 'Russia links' - his multiple appearances on Russia Today, Seumas Milne, his Director of Communications. Why are you bothered now?

It's a pathetic comparison

According to reports, Cottrell was only convicted of one count of wire fraud - offence committed in 2014, aged 20. The other charges were dropped.

Louise Haigh was convicted of fraud - offence committed in 2014, aged 28.

incorrectly telling them

Incorrectly? She pleaded guilty to fraud.

Refotm supporters didn't seem too bothered about Farage's school days racism, or the racism posted by many of their councillors, but sure, not all Reform voters are racist.

George Cottrell, close personal friend of Farage and financial supporter of Reform, has settled in Montenegro.

Christopher Harborne, large-scale financial supporter of Farage, has settled in Thailand, where he adopted a Thai name.

Richard Tice, Deputy Leader of Reform, lives part of the time in Dubai where his partner Isabel Oakeshott has settled.

Yep. They really live their English values and culture, and don't like being surrounded by foreigners and foreign culture – especially not Muslim culture which is anathema to them. They're also really dedicated to protecting the UK's sovereignty from overseas actors.

Uh-huh.

well both can be untrustworthy crooks without comparing tbh. Says a lot about our political class tbh

I'm glad the house of cards is starting to collapse but I do think it would be a mistake not to consider why reform had so much support - dismissing their voters as racist doesn’t win the argument. We can’t expect to live in a society that is told what to think because they will be berated otherwise - we need to convince people because we are confident in our position

'Posh George': Who is aristocrat and convicted criminal at heart of Farage controversy?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yzzw5vk8vo

It's a pathetic comparison

Cottrell, money laundering, fraud, blackmail and extortion.
Haigh, false report to the police after incorrectly telling them her work phone was stolen during a mugging in 2013

Has 'honest Bob' forgotten about the Westferry Printworks?

Because his supporters would be happy if he had killed their Nan as long as ‘furrinners, sovringteee, English values and culture’.

convicted fraudster

Thought I'd seen that description before;

Robert Jenrick
4d ago
Not surprised that the convicted fraudster, Louise Haigh, is still faking it.
I am, however, surprised that Burnham wants to put her into his cabinet...

Which is why Restore will inherit Reform’s voters if it disappears.

Does anyone represent working people these days?

his target market seems to be conspiracy theorists

And their response to the Times article? The Times? ‘They supported Labour last time’.

Why oh why do people think he represents working people???

I commented a while ago that Burnham going from citizen to PM (?) in less than 5 weeks must have really caused some awkward questions for a certain Nigel "here's £5,000,000 to be PM" Farage.

I don't think the media or political pundits have quite realised what actually happened. I can't think of any similar parallel in British history.

I think a lot of reform voters would go back to the tories as they would find restore too much

I’m just speculating on possible scenarios if it continues. I think Farage would rather burn it to the ground than let Lowe anywhere near it. Most of its voters would automatically move to Restore if Reform bit the dust so why would Lowe bother paying for it? A bit like Reform donors must be a bit miffed that they’ve given so much money to try to get Farage into Downing Street when Burnham’s done it for nothing.

You write as if Reform have some sort of physical imperative to exist. There really is nothing stopping Farage from winding it all up and fuck the people who gifted him their membership fees.

Of course he may sell the Reform party and brand to the highest bidder, Maybe Rupert Lowe to allow him to neutralise the opposition.

He’ll move into the next grift I suppose - trump has a couple more years so he could go and make money over there for a while.

and then pop up every time things are really shit in this country

as for reform, quite timely that Kemi came out today to say there’s no way back for the defective. What a pickle

You’re right. I’d forgotten that. So in the event of Farage disappearing Tice gets it again? Surely even Farage knows the degree of loathing Jenrick provokes?

How ?

Farage owns Reform. Only he - and he alone - will decide it's leader, personnel and policies. (This is one of the things behind the Yusuf-Farage spat).

Unless as part of his criminal sentence, his assets are removed, he retains absolute control over Reform. Think Charles I ....

Jenrick obviously realised. If Farage is brought down by this Tice, Yusuf and Jenrick will be fighting for the leadership and I doubt it will be pretty.

I wonder if the defected tories realised quite what a grifter he is

perhaps he will step down in a fit of pique and jenrick will become leader and the party will limp on a bit

I get the distinct impression the people around him do too.

I really found it hard to shake the idea that Jenrick was wheeled out to defend Farage while Farage himself is preparing to cut and run.

If cr*pto exchanges have been compromised, there will be a lot of squeaky bums all over.