87 Comments
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Aidan James Hurren's avatar

Interesting that I have heard no mention at all on the BBC of Farage being in America, they instead have devoted an absurd amount of airtime to drabbing Angela Rayner for her 'stamp duty errors' and allowing that ghastly Bad Enoch woman to cast slurs and aspersions, demanding 'accountability.'

I think Farage's behaviour is considerably more alarming than a (possible) underpayment of taxes, which won't cause an international crisis - whereas his snake-like treachery and attitudes might.

James Patrick's avatar

Thank you for your comment, Aidan. And I couldn’t agree more.

marta falco ainley's avatar

the BBC is currently, hope not forever, too right wing for me and I don't understand why they don't like TRUTH

Emma Baird's avatar

The takedown was absolutely magnificent. If only more of the UK's journalists took note.

Jo Otero's avatar

We could do with a few Jamie Raskins in parliament and media reporters, especially the BBC, to expose this charlatan Trump/Putin bootlicker for what he is, a lying, wannabe authoritarian.

James Patrick's avatar

And our politicians too, Emma. Thanks for the comment!

Diana Brighouse's avatar

If only there was a single member of Cabinet prepared to speak the truths that the Democrat did. Why are they so afraid of Farage?

James Patrick's avatar

Thanks for the comment, Diana - and I completely agree. We need our MPs to show more guts in opposing Farage!

marta falco ainley's avatar

because they are the same. Farage copies Trump. I don't know why? Trump says one thing 1 day and then the opposite the next. Maybe Farage thought that if he copies Trump he might do as well as Trump has, FOR NOW???

martin rice's avatar

Farage has to be stopped and our press needs to tell the truth about what damage Farage is deliberately doing to the UK

James Patrick's avatar

Thanks for the comment, Martin - and you’re bang on.

Mike's avatar

If only our popular press were right-wing dominated.

Peter Brook's avatar

Good article...why is the UK media so subservient to this deviant?

James Patrick's avatar

Thank you very much, Peter! I often wonder the same. The right-wing-backed media will, of course, do everything they can to help Farage to power. But we need more energy from the leftist media in its approach to Reform. I hope you find Ugly Politix a good (if not yet mainstream) source for such ideas!

Newcavendish's avatar

It is striking once again that the far-right disinformation network is more and more internationally linked, leveraging one country against another in order to do the dirty work of the tech companies in undermining necessary regulation and democratic government.

James Patrick's avatar

Thank you for your comment - and, sadly, you’re dead right about this scary and ever-increasing trend.

Andy Donnell's avatar

Well worth watching Raskin's forensic demolition of Phony Farage, the working man's answer to absolutely nothing.

James Patrick's avatar

Thanks for the comment, Andy - and I totally agree!

HUMPHREY READER's avatar

This needs to get OUT to everyone toying with the idea of voting Fascist, whoops, sorry, Reform UK, but with media like the BBC and online sources just not doing their job in holding Il Duce to account this is going to be a very tall order. Recently at PM Questions, Keir Starmer rightly called out 'Il Duce' for being in the US bad-mouthing us rather than doing his job as an MP representing Clacton in Parliament.

But who was listening? This is the central problem. I was, yes, but then I'm 71 and therefore brought up in pre-social media politics. A world where political balance was scrupulously enforced. If Labour did a party political then the Tories had to be allowed one as well. When I was born and growing up from very late 1950s to 1970s, the world had only too-vivid recent memories of one-sided, hate and rabble-rousing dictator-controlled media (Josef Goebbels and others).

Compare this to this age of conspiracy theories, far-right echo chambers and media mouthpieces (GB News, where are OFCOM when they're needed to DO THEIR JOB??) and so forth, a lot of people don't trust Starmer and other 'establishment' politicians. They go instead to online 'influencers' who give only one (extremist) side of political debate and include Donald Trump, Nigel Farage and Elon Musk (not to mention Andrew Tate and imitators). The fascist-loving Mail has over a million subscribers to its online edition (don't know about the Express and Sun).

Online is the real battleground, and Labour and the rest need to field one hell of a lot more troops there. Especially now that 16 year olds, who have known virtually nothing else other than social media for news, opinion etc, are about to be given the vote. Memo to Labour - be careful what you wish for!

Jo Hanlon's avatar

A good read, thank you. Take a look at the alarmingly shifty Curtis Yarvin whose vision of C£O feudalism underwrites the thinking (for what its worth) behind JD Vance, Peter Thiel, Musk and the Technofascists. Yorvin was in the UK earlier this year talking with brain-damaged Hooray Henries and Oswald Mosely acolytes.

James Patrick's avatar

And thank you for reading, Jo! I shall have a look at this - thanks for alerting me to this individual.

James Patrick's avatar

Thank you for your comment, Humphrey - and I find it difficult to disagree with anything you have said here. The far-right are absolutely winning the battle on social media these days. But I wouldn’t discount the role of traditional media so quickly. The truth is, Labour need to do a lot better in opposing Farage and Reform in all forms of messaging, not just online and to young people. Likewise, I have never been known our political journalism to be at such a low standard. It’s not our job to find the solution - but it’s definitely on us to hold both politicians and journalists to account to ensure they do their job properly. I hope you find Ugly Politix to be a good platform and forum for this. Thanks again for your comment - and I hope to see you on the next one!

Patricia leighton's avatar

Farage is a pathetic, limited politician who annoyed everyone with his appalling behaviour when he was in the European Parliament. Please keep him in the USA-We don't want him back. He's just a pathetic 'little Englander' and maybe his lasting impact will to break up the United Kingdom?

James Patrick's avatar

Thanks for the comment, Patricia - and I absolutely agree.

Alan Bond's avatar

Farrago the Fascist gets his comeuppance - BIG TIME. The man is a quack, a liar and a supporter of the poo-tin (better known as shitbucket). Meanwhile, his constituents are suffering from a cost of living crisis caused by corporate GREED and TAX dodging on an industrial scale by PARASITES like him and his ilk in the tory party

Mike's avatar

I’m afraid that I can’t bring myself to feel sorry for those who voted for him. My sympathies go to his constituents who had the sense to vote for almost anyone else.

James Patrick's avatar

I tend to agree, Mike. Interestingly, two of us from Open Britain went to Clacton in July to speak to some of his constituents. Head to our Facebook or Instagram to see what they had to say on him!

James Patrick's avatar

I completely agree, Alan. I just hope you’re right in your first line. I won’t be satisfied he’s had his ‘comeuppance’ until he’s defeated in 2029 - which, at present, I’m not entirely sure will be the case.

Dave Barclay's avatar

The takedown was magnificent and the fact he didn't show up after it proves that he is unfit to lead a political party never mind the country. Too busy sucking up to a criminal to face another roasting or do the job he is being paid to do over here.

James Patrick's avatar

Thank you for engaging as ever, Dave. I totally agree - the photo of him and Trump behind the Resolute Desk looked like Madame Tussaud’s come to life!

Dave Barclay's avatar

I didn't think it looked as though either of them were alive, tbh. But agree that it did look like Madame Tussauds waxworks rather than two very good friends sharing a photo-op.

marta falco ainley's avatar

THANK HEAVENS jAMIE rASKIN WAS THERE AND KNEW WHAT A LYING LITTLE TWERP fARAGE IS.

James Patrick's avatar

Thanks for the comment, Marta - agreed!

William Winterford's avatar

It's not too late for Starmer to end FPTP voting and save us from Farage. (Why doesn't Open Britain accept donations through PayPal?) Every avenue to stop Farage should be explored. Only PR can stop this trend of right wing populism. People can see what's happening in the US but they still want to vote for Trump's little English sycophant. It's insane!

James Patrick's avatar

Thanks for the comment, William. You’re absolutely right on PR being an absolute necessity - not only to block a Reform majority on under 30% of the vote, but also to re-enfranchise so many who have lost faith in our democracy.

marta falco ainley's avatar

The monthly read I get by Byline Times is carrying out a deep look into Farage and his search for power and money. I was also surprised to read that the Telegraph news?paper is saying that 9 out 10 people don't think the Palestinians should have Statehood which I reckon is a huge lie-Byline can be read on our email too

Chris Turner's avatar

Well done that man 👏👏👏

Mike Lowres RE 🇬🇧🇪🇺🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇷's avatar

I watch the Raskin takedown, it was a thing of beauty.

Now we need our MPs and press to keep up the pressure. He's a two bit snake oil salesman.

James Patrick's avatar

Thanks for the comment, Mike - and you’re absolutely spot on here!

David's avatar

Why the Brit media love and promote farage is a mystery to me .

Gets so much airtime and columns .

I’d love an answer

James Patrick's avatar

Thanks for the comment, David. I agree - it’s a big problem.

David's avatar

And it’s the way questions are posed like do you think integration of immigrants is an issue. Well yes o suppose I do. So that gets posted ad90% of uk citizens see immigrants as a problem biggest issue job done and the feedback loop grows in size people get sucked in no the biggest issue is still the economy and inflation with wage stagnation f0r me