Priti Patel has ignited a new feud with Nigel Farage by labelling Reform UK a “pop-up act.” The shadow foreign secretary’s remarks come as the Tories compete with Farage’s right-wing party for the seal of approval from former US President Donald Trump.
A War of Words Over Washington
Both Patel and Farage have landed in Washington, DC, ahead of Trump’s second inauguration, set for Monday. While Farage basks in a personal friendship with Trump—famously palling around at Mar-a-Lago—Patel insists it’s the Conservatives who hold the true legacy in Republican circles.
On Sky News, presenter Trevor Phillips asked if the Tories would have to “make peace” with Farage to earn a fair hearing at the White House. Patel brushed off the suggestion:
“The Conservative Party and the Republican Party… we’ve had enduring, longstanding ties for decades. We’re not a pop-up act like they are.”
“We’re Not a Pop-Up Act”
Patel points to what she sees as a shared heritage of conservative values, referencing past collaborations between Tory and Republican governments. According to her, the storied history of Tory-Republican teamwork far outstrips any quick alliances Reform UK might offer.
Reform Fights Back
In response, a Reform UK spokesperson blasted the Conservatives for “failing and deceiving British people,” adding:
“Whilst the Tories complain from the sidelines, Reform UK are fully focused on May and reconstituting the centre right of British politics. The Tories broke Britain, Reform will fix it.”
With both camps in the States courting Trump, the question remains: which British right-wing brand best aligns with the former president’s America-first ethos?
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