Farage: A Divisive Figure on Parliament’s Riverside Terrace
Standing on the terrace overlooking the Thames, the Honourable Member for Clacton-on-Sea, Nigel Farage, takes a deep drag from his Rothmans cigarette. As the sun dips below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the river, he appears content with his newfound position as an MP after an arduous journey of eight attempts. However, despite his election victory, Farage finds that membership in this exclusive political club does not guarantee social acceptance.
A cluster of Labour MPs nearby quickly glances at him and silently shifts away, wary of the implications of being seen in his company. The rising popularity of Reform UK, under Farage’s leadership, poses a significant challenge to both Labour and the Conservative parties, prompting some MPs to keep their distance. “We feared he would try to engage with us, and we want to avoid any appearances of camaraderie with the competition,” one MP later confided.
Farage possesses a level of fame that rivals most Cabinet ministers, and his voice resonates through the corridors of Westminster. He is viewed as a formidable opponent to both major parties, attracting a level of public attention that most MPs can only aspire to. This dynamic leaves fellow MPs feeling unsettled.
The Uneasy Dynamics of Westminster
In the often unpredictable world of Westminster, unusual alliances can form. While some MPs remain fiercely loyal to their parties, others find common ground with political adversaries based on shared passions. Farage, who has longstanding friendships with several right-wing Conservative MPs, presents a unique existential threat to the Conservative Party’s future, which may explain the rudeness directed towards him.
One Conservative MP remarked to The i Paper that Farage has not made a significant impact and, when he does speak, he is quickly exposed as “inauthentic.” They continued, “That everyman persona doesn’t resonate in the Commons. You can’t present yourself as an outsider in such a public forum; too many eyes are scrutinizing your every action.” In response, Farage’s spokesperson stated that he is indifferent to the opinions of “disgruntled Conservative MPs,” asserting, “We’re eating their lunch—and that includes Kemi’s steak.”
During a recent debate on Ukraine, Farage faced heckling from MPs across the board as he highlighted how “Brexit freedoms” have enabled Starmer to act as a bridge between Europe and the United States. “Boring,” his opponents shouted in unison. Yet, outside the Commons chamber, individual MPs have discreetly requested Farage to autograph bottles of wine for their constituents who admire him.
Clacton Constituents and Farage’s Performance
Since his election win in July 2024, Farage has received mostly positive feedback from constituents in Clacton. Some residents expressed a desire for him to be more present in the community. “He’s straightforward, doesn’t beat around the bush, and speaks candidly rather than trying to deceive us,” one local stated.
However, the concerns of Clacton residents echo those found throughout the country, with issues like job scarcity, inflation, and the decline of the high street dominating their worries. Farage’s role as a recruiter for Reform UK, meanwhile, has drawn ire from other MPs who are increasingly anxious about their own electoral prospects. Labour MP Perran Moon raised a point of order in the Commons, questioning why Farage was absent from Clacton and instead rallying support in Camborne and Redruth.
The answer is clear: as the leader of Reform UK, Farage aims to establish a dominant political movement in the UK and has expressed an “obsession” with the membership numbers displayed on the party’s website. Reform has now surpassed the Conservative Party in membership and is targeting Labour’s figures.
Polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice noted in The i Paper that “Farage’s primary strength for Reform lies in his status as a national leader.” He explained, “He has the ability to connect with a broad audience. Clacton serves a purpose for him, allowing him to maintain his seat until the next election if he chooses. However, his ultimate goal is to replace the Conservative Party.”
Reform UK: A Small but Agile Team
Outside the confines of the House of Commons, the Reform UK team remains unfazed by the dismissive attitudes of certain MPs. Their headquarters at Millbank Tower features a 40-seat capacity, with plans for further expansion. The party is concentrating on its Friday night rallies in key areas and enhancing its social media strategy and membership outreach.
Reform UK staffers are capitalizing on their smaller operation, enabling them to respond more swiftly to current events, a point of frustration for insiders within the Conservative Party. After recent layoffs and a dwindling donor base, Conservative Campaign HQ on Mathew Parker Street is now operating with minimal resources. One insider lamented, “We haven’t executed any of the attack strategies we need, like uncovering any Labour or Reform candidates’ missteps. I don’t believe we’ve successfully landed a single hit piece on Reform in the media.”
Another Conservative MP commented that the party’s success hinges on Farage’s leadership: “It’s the cult of Nigel; without him, they were nowhere before and will likely be nowhere after he moves on.” Prior to Farage’s candidacy, Reform was polling around 11 percent. Now, the party is neck-and-neck with Labour at approximately 25 percent.
Despite this rise, Farage’s public favorability has dipped amid the ongoing Ukraine crisis, while Starmer’s ratings have seen a modest increase. A recent YouGov poll indicated that Farage’s favorable rating has dropped from 30 percent to 26 percent since mid-February, with unfavorable views climbing from 60 percent to 65 percent, leaving him with an overall rating of minus 39. In contrast, Starmer’s favorability has improved from minus 40 to minus 28 in the same timeframe.
Assessing Farage’s Representation of Clacton
Farage’s performance in Parliament has drawn scrutiny. Between the general election and the end of February, he spoke in the House of Commons 21 times and explicitly referenced his constituency of Clacton only four times, according to analysis by The i Paper. He submitted 20 written questions, most of which were filed in October 2024, with four related to Clacton. Attendance-wise, he has participated in 39 out of 108 votes held since July 2024, while his deputy leader, Richard Tice, has attended 53.
This level of attendance is not atypical for a party leader—Keir Starmer has participated in only six votes during the same period, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has attended 49 and Lib Dem leader Ed Davey 51. However, leaders of parties with a similar number of MPs to Reform UK have attended more votes than Farage. For instance, the Green Party, with one fewer seat than Reform, saw its co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay attend 88 and 86 votes, respectively. DUP leader Gavin Robinson, whose party has the same number of MPs as Reform, has voted 64 times. Meanwhile, Stephen Flynn, the Westminster leader of the SNP’s nine MPs, has matched Farage’s attendance with 39 votes, though his party often abstains on devolved matters.
While Farage has only spoken 21 times since the election, his deputy Tice has addressed Parliament on 87 occasions, and the other three Reform MPs have collectively spoken 92 times. Two of these MPs, James McMurdock and Rupert Lowe, are among the most active contributors in Parliament over the past seven months. Lowe has submitted over 900 written questions to the government, while McMurdock has submitted over 500.
Farage’s additional jobs have been a frequent point of contention raised by other MPs in both the Commons and on social media, with critics arguing he cannot effectively serve his constituents. On social media, Labour MP Mike Tapp commented that Farage “does everything but represent his Clacton constituents,” in light of his reported earnings from side jobs. Southwark MP Neil Coyle also criticized Farage for seemingly prioritizing his international engagements over local responsibilities.
In response to these criticisms, Farage has defended his record, stating, “Clacton’s MP has written a weekly column for the local paper since the election, fulfilled his promise to purchase a house in the constituency, and makes regular visits—such as attending the Pride of Tendring charity awards last weekend.” His spokesman emphasized that Farage has actively engaged with his Clacton constituents through social media, sharing updates about meetings with local businesses, Remembrance Day ceremonies, and visits to a local fire station.
Despite balancing his responsibilities as an MP, party leader, and extensive outside work, Farage has declared a staggering 698 hours of outside work from nine different sources since the election, averaging around 23 hours per week. This translates to the equivalent of a typical three-day workweek alongside his MP duties. Over a 30-week period, he has reported earnings exceeding £654,000 from these roles, equating to an average hourly wage of approximately £940 and a weekly income of £21,800. This income is in addition to his MP salary, which currently stands at £91,346 per year.
