Former US President Donald Trump has made a strange claim about Nigel Farage’s performance in the UK general election, stating that the Reform UK leader won “more seats than he was allowed to have.” The comments came as Trump once again expressed admiration for Farage, praising him for his achievements.
Farage’s right-wing party, Reform UK, surprised many by winning five seats in the recent general election. Farage himself was elected as an MP after several failed attempts. However, Trump’s remarks about the election system in the UK left many puzzled.
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Trump’s Praise for Farage
Speaking about Farage, Trump said, “I think Nigel is great, I’ve known him for a long time. He had a great election too, picked up a lot of seats, more seats than he was allowed to have actually. They acknowledged that he won, but for some reason, you have a strange system over there – you might win them, but you don’t get them.”
Trump’s comments appeared to reference the discrepancy between the number of seats Reform UK won and the percentage of votes they received. Despite receiving 14% of the UK-wide vote, the party only secured five seats. In contrast, the Liberal Democrats won 72 seats with just 12% of the vote.
Farage’s Critique of the Voting System
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has also criticised the current voting system, which he claims unfairly disadvantages smaller parties. Speaking after the election, Tice said, “That is blatantly not a properly functioning democratic system – that is a flawed system. The demands for change will grow and grow.”
Tice’s comments echoed Trump’s sentiment, as both figures pointed to the disproportionate results for Reform UK compared to other parties like the Liberal Democrats.
Trump and Starmer’s First Meeting
In an unexpected development, Donald Trump also met Labour leader Keir Starmer for the first time over dinner on Thursday night. Speaking ahead of the meeting, Trump said, “I actually think he’s very nice. He ran a great race, he did very well, it’s very early, and he’s very popular.”
The meeting between the former US president and Starmer raised eyebrows, given the significant political differences between the two figures. Foreign Secretary David Lammy also attended the dinner, despite his past criticism of Trump, previously labelling him a “racist KKK and Nazi sympathiser.”
What’s Next for Reform UK?
While Trump’s comments have caused confusion, they have reignited discussions about the fairness of the UK’s electoral system. Reform UK, despite its strong voter base, continues to push for changes that could see smaller parties gain a larger presence in Parliament. Whether these demands will lead to reforms remains to be seen.
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