Election in Great Britain - Right-wing populist Farage enters British parliament
Nigel Farage, the right-wing Brexit campaigner, makes his first entry into the British Parliament. The leader of the Reform UK party secured a clear victory in the southeastern Wahlkreis Clacton-on-Sea.
Farage needed eight attempts to gain a seat in the House of Commons. The 60-year-old sat in the EU Parliament for decades for the right-wing UKIP party and is considered the driving force behind the referendum on Britain's EU exit. He is therefore also known as "Mr. Brexit."
"People, that's huge"
With his surprising candidacy, Farage put pressure on the previous conservative government party from the right and contributed to their devastating electoral defeat. Besides the party leader, Lee Anderson also gets elected for the Rechtspopulisten. The former deputy chairman of the Conservatives had only recently defected to Reform UK.
Farage addressed his supporters in a video message in the night and spoke of a "nearly unbelievable result" for his party. "People, that's huge."
Role model is former US President Trump
Farage's declared goal is to replace the Conservatives, who have many more MPs in Parliament, with a conservative movement led by him. Former US President Donald Trump is his role model, with whom the Briton claims to be friends. Regarding the internal party disputes of the Conservatives, Farage told the German Press Agency during the campaign that he would effectively be the opposition leader.
The Conservatives could 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.
In five years, the office of Prime Minister could be within reach, Farage said. Whether he has aligned himself with Trump, he would not say. Regarding private conversations with the 45th President of the United States, he never speaks. "But he seems quite friendly."
- Nigel Farage, the EU Parliament veteran and Brexit champion, has expressed admiration for the US President, Donald Trump, serving as his role model.
- Although the Conservative Party has a significant presence in Parliament with more MPs, Nigel Farage aims to lead a Conservative movement, emulating the approach of former US President Trump.
- Farage's influence in British politics was evident in the 2021 general election, as his Reform UK party gained representation in Parliament with candidates like Nigel Farage and Lee Anderson, who previously held a seat with the Conservatives.
- The success of Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, could potentially pave the way for a significant shift in British politics, possibly leading to his ascension to the Prime Minister's office in the next five years.
- Nigel Farage and his Brexit Party (now Reform UK) played a vital role in Brexit negotiations, pressuring the Conservative government from the right and igniting the breakaway of the UK from the European Union.
