Nigel Farage has confirmed a major change in Reform UK’s campaign strategy after being “stunned” by the populist party’s performance on July 4.
The Clacton MP, who is overseeing the democratisation of Reform UK under the stewardship of chairman Zia Yusuf, is looking to park the party’s tanks on fresh lawn ahead of a key set of elections.
Farage, 60, is targeting voters in Scotland as opinion polls put Reform UK almost neck-and-neck with the Tories north of the border.
In an interview with STV News, Farage said: “What was remarkable is that we fielded a full slate of candidates in Scotland. I was stunned. How did that happen, when we didn’t have much structure at all?
“We are now holding meetings in Scotland. The numbers coming are quite impressive.”
Reform UK will hold its Scottish conference on November 2, with deputy leader Richard Tice scheduled to attend the event.
However, Scotland was not always regarded as favourable territory for the Brexit supremo.
Farage was once forced to leave an Edinburgh pub under police escort, with protesters in the Scottish capital chanting: “Nigel you’re a bawbag.”
He subsequently refused to step foot in Scotland throughout the 2024 General Election campaign.
However, the Reform UK leader is now determined to get a foothold in Holyrood and will return to Scotland ahead of 2026.
He said: “I can assure you, Scotland will be seeing me, of that there is no question at all. I think that really, from very little acorns, we’ve made a very good start.
“I will be in Scotland next year, thinking about planning a year ahead for the Scottish elections.”
Farage’s decision comes after opinion polls showed Reform UK could pick up nine seats in Holyrood.
Ukip were unable to make any electoral breakthrough in Scotland and such a result would represent a major rebalancing of political power seen since the 2016 Brexit referendum.
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Starmer faces ANOTHER rebellion as MPs sharpen knives over 'unduly restrictive' smoking ban
Sir Keir Starmer has been warned he faces another rebellion from Labour MPs over plans to ban smoking in pub gardens and near football stadiums.
The Prime Minister, who faced a Corbynista revolt over the two-child benefit cap and mass abstentions on Winter Fuel Payments, is bracing for more Commons chaos over his cig clampdown.
Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne East & Wallsend Mary Glindon has tabled an early day motion voicing opposition against her own Government.
Glindon welcomed the 2007 indoor smoking ban but warned an extension “will unduly restrict individual liberty where second-hand smoking dangers are negligible”.
The former Labour whip also claimed banning smoking outside pubs would "drive some and maybe many out of business and undermine the night-time economy".
She is putting pressure on Starmer to axe his plan but at the very least wants MPs to have a "free vote".
Leaked documents suggest three pubs a week could close following the enforcement of the ban, The Sun has claimed.
However, the Prime Minister believes the measure will prove effective in curbing smoking-related deaths.
Starmer said: “My starting point on this is to remind everybody that over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking.
“Yes, we are going to take decisions in this space, more details will be revealed, but this is a preventable series of deaths and we’ve got to take action to reduce the burden on the NHS and the taxpayer.”
Anderson brands PM 'Stasi-style' Starmer as Labour accused of gunning for Reform UK
Lee Anderson has accused a Labour-created committee of "Starmer Stasi-style" censorship just hours after it confirmed a potential clampdown on MPs hosting TV shows.
The Ashfield MP, who hosts Lee Anderson's Real World every Friday at 7pm on GB News, warned Parliament's Modernisation Committee is trying to thwart Reform UK after the populist party received 4.1 million votes on July 4.
In a firey social media post, Anderson said: "Censorship - Starmer Stasi Style.
"They're coming for us and the People's Army. Stand firm Reformers - we will get our country back."
Anderson's intervention came just hours after Reform UK leader Nigel Farage issued a direct message to Commons Leader Lucy Powell.
Powell, who is unusually heading up the usually backbench-led Select Committee, will examine "whether paid outside engagements such as MP media appearances, journalism and speeches provide a benefit to the public or present a conflict of interest".
Responding to Powell last night, Farage said: "All I can say to Lucy Powell is this really affects Lee Anderson and myself.
"And if you're coming after us and think you can bully us, you've picked on the wrong people.
"I'm not going anywhere you want to martyr me, please have a go."
Despite Foreign Secretary David Lammy hosting LBC shows up until just a few months ago, the 14-strong Modernisation Committee is made up of nine Labour MPs, three Tories and two Liberal Democrats.
An Ofcom study released in April also showed that there was no consensus among the wider public to ban MPs from presenting current affairs programmes.
The media watchdog also concluded that the British public did not believe the use of politicians as presenters risks eroding their overall trust in broadcast media.
Starmer forced to deny 'punishment beating' of pensioners for backing Brexit and Tory Party
Sir Keir Starmer has denied that his Government is dishing out "a punishment beating" to pensioners, as the backlash to Labour’s decision to withdraw the Winter Fuel Allowance from 10 million senior citizens continues.
The Prime Minister also refused to give reassurances to pensioners worried that the Single Occupancy Council Tax discount might also face the chop in the upcoming budget on October 30.
On the plane to Washington DC, where the Prime Minister is meeting with outgoing US President Joe Biden, political reporters pressed Starmer over pensioners’ worries.
Asked by GB News if he was imposing a punishment beating for pensioners because they tend not to vote Labour and many voted for Brexit, Starmer replied: “No, absolutely not.”
However, on the matter of council tax he was far less clear.
GB News pointed out to the Prime Minister that many pensioners live on their own, often having been widowed, and that in many cases the Single Occupancy Council Tax discount is worth much more than the Winter Fuel Payment.
Asked if he could reassure them, the Labour leader said: “I’m not going to say before the Budget what we’re going to do.
"That does not mean that I’m ruling in anything that you might be putting to me, it simply means like every Prime Minister we’re not going to reveal what’s in the Budget before we get to it."
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Reeves REFUSES to release evidence for £22bn ‘black hole’ as economist fears claim ‘generated fear’ ahead of tax raid
The Treasury has refused to release a breakdown for Labour’s claim of a £22billion Tory “black hole” ahead of an anticipated tax raid in Rachel Reeves’ upcoming Budget.
Sir Keir Starmer referenced the figure several times during Prime Minister’s Questions, claiming it explained why 10 million pensioners would now lose Winter Fuel Payments.
However, the Treasury will only confirm £9.4billion is from public sector pay awards and more was spent on housing and dealing with asylum seekers.
A Freedom of Information request for a full breakdown was rebuffed by the Treasury, The Financial Times has revealed.
The Treasury instead said that complying with it “risks creating a chilling effect, as officials and ministers feel less able to make free and frank decisions relating to ongoing discussions to manage down in-year pressures”.
A spokesman added: “As with all publications, there are standard processes to ensure these documents are ready for publication.
“This should not be taken to imply that there is any doubt over the £21.9billion figure.”
However, an economist claimed the refusal to provide further information about the “black hole” is fuelling fear.
Ex-Bank of England economist Andy Haldane said: “[It has] generated a fear and foreboding and uncertainty among consumers, businesses and investors in UK PLC.”
Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt also rubbished Labour’s claim.
He said:“Labour's bogus 'black hole' is falling to pieces, with the government now admitting they can't provide basic details because they aren't sure they're accurate.
“It's clear that this fictitious 'black hole' is purely of Labour's own making - simply a political smokescreen for their public sector pay awards.
“The public won't be fooled by this shameless pre-text for tax rises."
Jenrick predicts Britons will DIE after Starmer releases ‘dangerous thugs’ in early release push
People could die as a result of Sir Keir Starmer's decision to release prisoners early to prevent overcrowding, Tory leadership front runner Robert Jenrick has told Chopper's Political Podcast.
Jenrick's intervention came after Labour's prison plans resulted in the release of 1,750 convicts who only served a minimum of 40 per cent of their terms behind bars.
Asked on Chopper's Political Podcast about the early release of prisoners, Jenrick said: "We should be locking up more hyper prolific offenders to get dangerous people off our streets. What Keir Starmer is doing is very dangerous.
"Thugs and criminals are now being let out onto our streets and I predict that people could die as a result of these decisions.
"I don't pretend these are easy decisions to make but I do not see evidence that Keir Starmer is straining every sinew to prevent this."
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Starmer's NHS plan dealt immediate blow as GPs threaten mass walkout
GPs have waited just hours before hinting at a walkout after Sir Keir Starmer unveiled Labour's plan to revamp the NHS.
Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, the chair of the BMA’s GP committee, warned staff could strike if Health Secretary Wes Streeting does not “listen to us”.
Speaking to the BBC, Bramall-Stainer said: “If the Government don’t listen to us… if we don’t see rapid action quickly enough, my worry is that the employed GPs or other employed members of staff, such as practice nurses, may decide to undertake a ballot to undertake industrial action and potentially even strike.”
Labour's lead down to just FOUR PER CENT as Reform UK surge
Labour's opinion poll lead is down to just four per cent following a backlash after Sir Keir Starmer's decision to scrap Winter Fuel Payments for 10 million pensioners.
A More in Common poll put Labour's support at 29 per cent, down four-points since July 4.
The Tories received a modest one-point boost to take them to 25 per cent, with Reform UK surging to 18 per cent.
However, Electoral Calculus' predictor suggests such support would still result in a Labour victory, albeit with its majority slashed to just 46.
Reform UK would only double its MPs, taking the populist party to 10.
The Tories would in this instance add 52 MPs to its depleted Commons contingent.
Starmer's unpopularity hits three-year high after Winter Fuel Payments cut
Sir Keir Starmer is more unpopular with the public than at any point in the past three years, a new poll has revealed.
Forty-six per cent of voters now have an unfavourable view of the Prime Minister.
Thirty-two per cent of respondents to the Ipsos monthly tracker held a favourable view of Starmer, down six per cent since August.
The rating puts Starmer at the same rating when Labour lost Hartlepool to the Tories in its 2021 by-election.
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