Nigel Farage, the former leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and key figure behind Britain’s exit from the European Union, could be set to make a return to frontline politics, according to Richard Tice, leader of the Reform UK party.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Tice stated that Farage may take on a more prominent role within Reform UK in the lead up to the next general election, which is expected to take place in 2024.
“Nigel is very well trusted [on migration]. He needs to make the judgment – does he want to come back full-time into politics? The more help, as far as I’m concerned, the better. I think he will find it very hard to resist. The opportunity once and for all to punish the Tories will be unbelievably tempting to him,” said Tice.
According to Express, Farage has kept a lower political profile in recent years, focusing instead on media appearances and commentary, but speculation has been growing that he may leverage his fame from appearing on the reality show I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! into a political comeback.
Some Conservative MPs have even floated the idea of Farage potentially rejoining their party, with one suggesting he could be made Home Secretary. However, Tice believes Farage is more likely to return to Reform UK, which he co-founded after the Brexit Party was disbanded.
Tice claims that Reform UK is well positioned to challenge the Conservatives on the key issue of immigration in the upcoming election.
“This will be an immigration election, whether the main parties like it or not. It is a great opportunity for Reform,” he stated.
Recent polls have shown growing support for Reform UK, now neck-and-neck with the Liberal Democrats at around 7% nationally. This could be enough to cost the Tories critical seats at the next election.
Political commentators note that while Farage has hinted at returning to politics previously, he has reasons not to commit fully – notably, he has suggested joining the Conservative Party to potentially become leader in the future.
However, the opportunity to lead Reform UK in an election campaign against a flailing Conservative government may prove too tempting for the veteran Eurosceptic.
Farage first rose to prominence in the 1990s with UKIP, putting pressure on the Conservatives over EU integration and immigration. His energetic campaigning was widely seen as a key driver of the 2016 Brexit vote.
After briefly retiring, he returned in 2018 to found the Brexit Party, later Reform UK, which applied further pressure to deliver on the result of the EU referendum.
While a polarizing figure, Farage is lauded by supporters as a rare conviction politician willing to speak hard truths about uncontrolled immigration and overbearing EU bureaucracy.
Critics accuse him of stoking xenophobia and peddling false promises. But his common touch and populist flair make him a formidable campaigner.
For the Conservatives, the resurgence of Farage leading a right-wing rival would be a nightmare scenario. Memories of the 2019 election still haunt Tories, when Farage stood down Brexit Party candidates to give Boris Johnson a clear run.
With Reform UK now threatening to split the right-wing vote, Farage could yet again determine the course of British politics.
