Election in Great Britain - Forecast: Right-wing populist Farage enters parliament
Nigel Farage, the right-wing Brexit campaigner, makes it into the British Parliament according to a forecast. The leader of the Reform UK party reportedly secured the seat in the southeastern English constituency of Clacton-on-Sea.
For Farage, this is already his eighth attempt to gain a seat in the House of Commons. According to the forecast, he had a 99% chance of success. The 60-year-old sat in the EU Parliament for decades and is considered the driving force behind the referendum on Britain's EU exit. He is therefore also known as "Mr. Brexit."
With his surprising candidacy, Farage put pressure on the Conservative Party from the right and contributed to their devastating electoral defeat. This is also evident in the result of the first counted constituency, Houghton and Sunderland South in northeastern England, where Reform UK was the second strongest force behind the Labour Party and pushed the party of unpopular Prime Minister Rishi Sunak onto the third place.
Farage's declared goal is to replace the Conservatives, who have more MPs in Parliament, with a conservative movement led by him. Ex-US President Donald Trump is his role model, with whom Farage claims to be friends. Regarding the internal party disputes within the Conservatives, Farage stated in an interview with the German Press Agency during the campaign that he would de facto become the opposition leader.
The Conservatives may indeed be facing a complete new beginning. The former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, a promising candidate for Sunak's succession, had already speculated about a possible acceptance of Farage into her party.
Five years could be within the realm of possibility for the premiership, Farage said. Whether he has aligned himself with Trump, he would not say. He never speaks publicly about private conversations with the 45th President of the United States. "But he seems quite fond of me."
- Nigel Farage, the successful Brexit advocate from Great Britain, previously served in the EU Parliament and is often referred to as "Mr. Brexit."
- Farage's political party, UKIP, has gained traction, with several predictions suggesting a 99% chance of Farage securing a seat in the British Parliament.
- Following his victory, Farage's influence could shift the balance of power within the Conservative Party, mirroring his admiration for former US President Donald Trump.
- With his forthcoming presence in the British Parliament, Farage has the potential to challenge the Conservative Party's dominance and lead a conservative movement, according to his own ambitions.
- The Republican Party in the US and the Conservative Party in the UK have faced internal struggles, with some voices, such as Suella Braverman, advocating for cooperation with Farage in the future to revitalize their respective parties.
- Refusing to disclose private conversations, Farage expresses a positive sentiment towards Trump, referring to him as someone who appears to hold him in high regard, saying, "But he seems quite fond of me."
