Farage is leader of the opposition

[Aladdinzane]

https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/general-election-live-updates-reform-labour-tories-3110227

Farage is claiming he is the de facto leader of the opposition and that he should get a head to head debate with Starmer. His party currently holds no seats.

What do you think?

Is someone positioning himself for something after the election?

I’ve seen this said a fair bit
why does that make a difference? (Genuine question )

He's a Political Mercenary.

As far as I understand in terms of standing for election it doesn’t make a difference.
Farage is not an elected leader though, he’s self appointed and owner of the party, which raises some red flags about how democratic Reform will be.

I’d like to understand more though.

No matter what the polls say he is NOT the leader of the opposition. Sunak is.

I am sick of the way this maniacal wanker with a one track mind (immigrashun!) is indulged.

Mumsnet is not an echo chamber of the Left. Those that say this actually deny that the same applies to the Right. There are plenty of Conservative voters on Mumsnet. Apparently, there are also plenty of Reform supporters. Its a lazy argument.

Don’t always agree with JP but this video is a pretty astute picture of NF.

Well, considering he's spent years banging on about 'the unelected, undemocratic elites' it does seem a wee bit...hypocritical?

I get that. Parties can choose whatever mechanic they like to elect leaders though, there’s no rule it has to be “democratic” even though most do have some form of election.

you vote for a party you’re implicitly accepting their internal rules

I would love to see him questioned on our changing climate.

His answer would be "China is worse so what's the point". Which is a bit fatalistic.

It absolutely is. There is significantly more people who lean towards Labour on here. Obviously there are some Tory and other party supporters on here, but I would say MN is generally a left leaning site. I’m surprised you don’t see this.

Doesn't it mean though that Farage can take any action he likes - however unpopular or and the party can't get rid of him? Once in power he is free to do whatever good or bad he wishes without any check on his behaviour. It's a bit of a dictatorship isn't it?

Is that right and is that good for the country.

He gets stuff thrown at him because people on the extreme left have this thing where they cannot control themselves around anyone who holds a different view to them so they throw things at people. Like toddlers.

He will be Tory leader in the not so distant future. It’s a terrifying thought.

The same as under our system the conservatives can remove and change leader according to their own internal rules without asking the electorate. Reform ltd can do the same.

we implicitly agree to this when we elect them

Whereas the extreme right just stab MPs to death in the street. Like terrorists.

I don't like Farage's politics. But he is the only politician who seems to be able to answer questions directly. And speaks like you get what he's on about, you can relate to him

I won't vote for him. But I get the appeal.

I can think of a very big historical example of where this worked

I hear people say this but when I watched the debate I didn’t find him at all impressive. Banging on about the same one issue, no new ideas or real policy. But the topic of immigration has been winning votes since time immemorial.

He successfully campaigned for Brexit and ruined the fucking country.

I can think of a very big historical example of where this worked

Which is very worrying.

Whereas the extreme right just stab MPs to death in the street. Like terrorists.

Well unless the UK can find a way to discuss issues and sort them like adults we’ll have more of that to look forward to 😞

No doubt you are a fan of failed attention seeker Ed Davey who keeps pointlessly jumping into rivers, presumably to deflect attention from his role in the abuse of post masters.
Well done Lib Dem fans!

Go Reform! 🎉
Love how Nigel is upsetting all the right people; the scores of anti semites and misogynists in the Green Party and the vile Lib Dems whose leader was complicit in the ruination of thousands of hard working postmasters!
Justice will be done.

I’m not so sure. The one thing that seems obvious to me is that for every vote that the Tories chase on the far right, they drop another couple to the centrist or moderate voters that are not impressed by xenophobic and populist policies. And that’s exactly why we’re here now.

Anecdotally, my parents (80s) are both die hard Thatcherite tories, mum is more centrist and appalled by the direction, voting green probably this time. Dad is ex city trader, pragmatist and sees Trump for the fraud he is, he’s not voting reform either as he sees Farage as a populist, lazy grifter, which is what of course he is. He probably won’t vote.

He's a self-important, deluded little wanker with nasty racist views. Can't imagine anyone with more than one brain cell voting for him.

Do your green-voting parents not have a problem with the horrendous anti Semitism in the Green Party or are they OK with racism?

Green voting parents lol, did you read my post or are you stupid

Are you aware of some of the incredibly AS things Nigel garages has said in his you? Shall I find them for you?