Nigel Farage enters Parliament

Clacton at sea. Right-wing populist and Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage is set to win the British parliament, a prediction that could give the head of the Reform UK party the upper hand in the south-eastern English constituency of Clacton-on-Sea.

This is Farage’s eighth attempt to win a seat in the House of Commons, with the forecast now giving him a 99 percent chance of success. The 60-year-old has spent decades in the EU Parliament representing the Ukip party and is considered the driving force behind the referendum on Britain’s exit from the EU. He is therefore also known as ‘Mr. Brexit’.

“Guys, this is huge.”

With his surprise candidacy, Farage put pressure on the previous governing Conservative party from the right, contributing to the devastating election defeat. This is also supported by the result in the constituency of Houghton and Sunderland South in north-east England, which was counted first, in which Reform UK became the second strongest force behind the Labour Party, relegating the party of unpopular Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to third place.

Farage addressed supporters in a video that evening, calling it an “almost unbelievable result” for his party. “Guys, this is massive.” The politician also criticised his country’s political system as “corrupt” and said the House of Lords was a “disgrace”.

The role model is Donald Trump

Farage’s goal is to replace the Tories – who have many more MPs in parliament – with a conservative movement under his leadership. The role model is former US President Donald Trump, with whom the Briton says he is friends. Given the internal party disputes between the Conservatives, he will be the de facto leader of the opposition, Farage said during the election campaign in an interview with the German Press Agency.

The Conservatives may well be facing a completely new beginning. Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, a promising candidate to succeed Sunak, has already speculated about Farage’s possible inclusion in her party.

In five years, the office of prime minister would also be possible, Farage said. He would not say whether he was coordinating with Trump. He has never commented on private conversations with the 45th president of the United States. “But he seems quite willing.”

RND/dpa