Nigel Farage might not be carrying a placard, but according to Lord Patten, he’s not far off from Tommy Robinson in the political spectrum. The former Conservative Party chairman didn’t hold back, claiming that Farage and his Reform UK party are a “threat to democracy” and warning of the chaos that would ensue if Farage’s foreign policy ever saw the light of day.
“Loudmouth in the Saloon Bar”
Speaking on LBC, Lord Patten delivered a scathing assessment of Farage. “He’s like the loudmouth in the saloon bar—you leave the bar to avoid him,” he quipped. When asked about the potential for Farage to accept a $100m donation from billionaire Elon Musk, Patten remarked: “I wouldn’t put anything past Mr Farage and his colleagues.”
He went further, saying that Farage’s foreign policy could lead the UK into war, while his economic policies would “bankrupt us completely, rather than partially.” On immigration, Patten claimed, “His views aren’t far from Tommy Robinson’s.”
Harman Joins the Critique
Former deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman also weighed in, dubbing Reform UK a “threat to democracy.” Speaking to Sky News, Harman accused Farage’s party of exploiting public disillusionment with empty promises: “They offer easy answers to real problems, but they’re not solutions. They just fuel distrust.”
Reform UK Fights Back
Rupert Lowe, a Reform MP, didn’t take kindly to the criticism. He shot back with: “We’re not a threat to democracy, Harriet Harman. We’re a threat to bureaucracy. When we win the next election, the quango bonfire will be visible from space.”
The War of Words
With accusations flying, both sides seem to agree on one thing: neither is backing down anytime soon. Farage may be avoiding the saloon bar metaphorically, but he’s not leaving the political battlefield. As for Patten and Harman, they’re making it clear they think the Reform UK manifesto is a recipe for disaster—or at the very least, some very bright flames.
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