Reform UK discussion

[jon0844]

While people near cities probably rely and value public transport (it can be near impossible to use a car to commute into central London for example), I expect Reform to try and equate using trains as being like using buses.

As in if you're using a bus or train then you're probably poor and failed in life. Successful people will own a car, petrol or diesel obviously, with a big powerful engine to show off your strength and power.

Cut back on rail and we can build more roads. Roads with more lanes and absolutely no cycle paths because cyclists are even beneath those who might dare use a bus.

Again, people will vote for a party promising to end the 'war on motorists' without considering what happens if they one day cannot drive any more, or what happens to those with disabilities who could never drive, or even young people that can't afford buy and run a car if they also need to rent somewhere to live and get by in the current economic climate.

 

[tom1649]

I vote for Reform because of Nigel. Like him or loathe him, he IS Reform. The party has good ideas but without Nigel they would struggle to communicate those ideas in a way that resonates with the public. Therefore I think they may struggle to maintain traction without him.

Do you enjoy voting for someone who promotes anger and division as the answer to our problems?

 

[brad465]

Now it's Farage's turn to be embroiled in a suspicious property investigation:

Nigel Farage faces questions over who funded £885,000 Clacton constituency home

A BBC investigation raises questions about how the Reform UK leader's partner paid for a home in his constituency.

www.bbc.co.uk

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage faces pressure to account for how his partner paid for a £885,000 home after a BBC investigation raised further questions about his previous explanation.
The Clacton MP has denied avoiding more than £44,000 in additional stamp duty on the purchase of the constituency home by putting it in his partner Laure Ferrari's name, saying that she bought it with her own funds.
He suggested that she was able to afford to buy the four-bedroom home, which was bought without a mortgage, because she comes from a wealthy French family.
However, the BBC has examined French property and company records and has been unable to find evidence that Ferrari's parents have the means to give their daughter a significant contribution towards the purchase of the home.
It comes as Farage revealed that he has taken specialist legal advice from a taxation King's Counsel on the purchase despite claiming he wasn't involved.
If the Reform leader was the source of funds used for the home, which he has previously denied, it would be legal for his partner to use them to buy the property in her name and pay the lower rate of stamp duty.
But it would open Farage to charges of hypocrisy and seeking to avoid tax, particularly after he criticised former Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner last week for avoiding stamp duty.
He said his partner was the sole legal and beneficial owner of the property.

Stamp duty row​

The property at the centre of questions for the Reform leader is a four-bedroom house with a heated swimming pool in Frinton-on-Sea, Essex.
It was bought on 11 November last year. A few days earlier, amid questions in a television interview about how many times he had been to Clacton, Farage said he had "just exchanged contracts on a house that I'll be living in there".
"Is that good enough? How much time does Keir Starmer spend in his constituency?," he added.
It later emerged that the £885,000 home had been bought by his partner Laure Ferrari who is listed on Land Registry documents as the sole owner. It was bought without borrowing any money for a mortgage.
The ownership of the home prompted accusations that Farage had structured the purchase in order to avoid paying additional tax.
A further £44,250 would have been due if he was an owner of the property because a stamp duty surcharge for second home purchase would have been due.
Mr Farage owns his former marital home in Kent and two further investment properties in the county through his company Thorn in the Side.
He also declares ownership of a Surrey property on his House of Commons register of interests.
The Reform leader has insisted that he didn't give her money towards the purchase and suggested she was able afford it because of family wealth.
"I haven't lent money to anybody. I didn't give her money," he told The Mirror newspaper.
"She comes from a very successful French family and she can afford it herself. It's convenient, it works, and she loves it there."
BBC News has been investigating the claim.

Missing family wealth​

Her father ran a haulage business in Strasbourg, France for many years but the company was liquidated in 2020 and had more assets than liabilities at the time. Neighbours on the business site where it was located confirmed it hadn't been sold.
"Mr Ferrari was a discreet person who didn't really talk to anyone here. His wife was also very discreet," one local businessman told BBC News.
"As far as I know, the company was liquidated when Ferrari retired years ago."

 

[Gloster]

Now it's Farage's turn to be embroiled in a suspicious property investigation:

Nigel Farage faces questions over who funded £885,000 Clacton constituency home

A BBC investigation raises questions about how the Reform UK leader's partner paid for a home in his constituency.

www.bbc.co.uk

I am sure that the various media outlets will give this massive prominence and plaster it all over the front pages or make it a major item on the TV news. Such behaviour by an MP must be brought to public attention and…sorry, did you say it was Farage…it’s much too trivial to be of interest: let’s have that item about a skating ferret instead. (Mirror, Grauniad, BBC and possibly ITN excepted.)

 

[jon0844]

Seeing how angry he got when he was asked some tough questions (he acted like his mum had been called a prostitute) I suspect few people will dare ask more probing questions because right now he's a media darling, and you surely want to be able to get voxpops from him whenever and wherever.

But we shall see.

I think he'll dodge these questions for a while yet.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

But you see he is a true patriot. He cannot possibly be compared to some British hating lefty.

He is also going to be helped avoid any scrutiny by the whole Mandelson farce.

 

[styles]

I am sure that the various media outlets will give this massive prominence and plaster it all over the front pages or make it a major item on the TV news. Such behaviour by an MP must be brought to public attention and…sorry, did you say it was Farage…it’s much too trivial to be of interest: let’s have that item about a skating ferret instead. (Mirror, Grauniad, BBC and possibly ITN excepted.)

I mean it's literally on the front page of the BBC website?

 

[Gloster]

I mean it's literally on the front page of the BBC website?

What does my last sentence say?

 

[styles]

What does my last sentence say?

I don't get it. You're complaining that something isn't in the news by providing a link to it.. in the news?

It's not actually that interesting a story given that Farage isn't in government, or a shadow front bencher even. He appears to have done more due diligence than the deputy leader of the governing party!

 

[Gloster]

I don't get it. You're complaining that something isn't in the news by providing a link to it.. in the news?

It's not actually that interesting a story given that Farage isn't in government, or a shadow front bencher even.

I am pointing out that, compared to Rayner’s problems, Farage’s will be downplayed/(almost) completely ignored by most of the media, with the exception of the Mirror, Grauniad, BBC and possibly ITN who can be expected to give it appropriate prominence. He is, after all, a party leader and a critic of others’ fiddles. (The link was in the piece I referred to.)

 

[styles]

I am pointing out that, compared to Rayner’s problems, Farage’s will be downplayed/(almost) completely ignored by most of the media, with the exception of the Mirror, Grauniad, BBC and possibly ITN who can be expected to give it appropriate prominence. He is, after all, a party leader and a critic of others’ fiddles. (The link was in the piece I referred to.)

Rayner was the deputy leader of the government and the minister specifically responsible for housing no less.

Farage is a loud backbench MP of a party with MPs which can be counted on the hands.

It is a BBC investigation, which currently amounts to, "We don't know how she afforded it." Perhaps when the BBC produces some concrete evidence of wrongdoing, other journalists will take an interest.

At the moment it is a complete non-story and dwarfed by the killing of Charlie Kirk, Israel bombing Qatar, NATO scrambling jets in response to Russian drones in Poland. It is quite rightly given nowhere near the prominence Rayner's story was when there was actually evidence of having paid the wrong tax and an admission of such. Despite this, it's been covered by the BBC, Guardian, Telegraph, Independent, Observer, Sky News, London Evening Standard, and more.

 

[Harpo]

Farage is a loud backbench MP of a party with MPs which can be counted on the hands.

Or 'the next Prime Minister xx% ahead of Labour' depending on what suits our media as it does today with only the Mirror mentioning Farage's changing house purchase explanation on their front pages.

The (insert name of prominent Labour person) bloodsport pre-occupies the rest of our distorted print media as it has since the day after the general election.

 

[styles]

Schrödinger's Farage - both prominent enough to be required to be on the front page of national press when the BBC uncover basically nothing concrete about a house purchase his wife makes, while getting too much airtime for somebody with only 4 MPs.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Schrödinger's Farage - both prominent enough to be required to be on the front page of national press when the BBC uncover basically nothing concrete about a house purchase his wife makes, while getting too much airtime for somebody with only 4 MPs.

The issue is that his line on this house purchase has changed. Even if he has given her the money that is not illegal. The issue is hiding things in a manner that makes it look dodgy. If this was a Labour high ranking politician then undoubtedly the right wing press would be shouting loudly about it.

 

[styles]

The issue is that his line on this house purchase has changed. Even if he has given her the money that is not illegal.

Sure, but this was explained about a week ago. The BBC's latest article doesn't add any new information, or evidence e.g. an actual underpaying of tax as was the case for Rayner. It's not a front page story frankly, certainly not in a week where Charlie Kirk is killed or the ruling party is shortlisting its potential deputy leaders, or Israel is bombing yet another Middle Eastern country.

The issue is hiding things in a manner that makes it look dodgy.

Sure and I suspect anybody with an interest has watched the various interviews where he's been asked about this, or read his answers on this question to the slewth of print media who have quizzed him on it, and made their mind up. If the BBC manage to produce some evidence of wrongdoing, I'd be glad to see it given more prominence.

If this was a Labour high ranking politician then undoubtedly the right wing press would be shouting loudly about it.

But he's not a high ranking politician, as many in this post repeatedly remind us of when complaining that he's been in the news too much. Bear in mind that in the most similar case in recent times, we were talking about:

• An actual case of tax evasion, even if accidental
• Going directly against the advice of two professionals who told her to get expert tax advice
• The deputy PM
• The deputy leader of the ruling party
• The minister responsible for housing underpaying tax on a house

Now that is front page worthy. But it's a world apart from somebody's wife bought a house and we're not sure how she afforded it.

 

[SuspectUsual]

The issue is that his line on this house purchase has changed. Even if he has given her the money that is not illegal. The issue is hiding things in a manner that makes it look dodgy.

As has been said many times before, the cover up is often worse for the perpetrator than the original issue

it's a world apart from somebody's wife bought a house and we're not sure how she afforded it.

For Farage it’s a trust issue. He’s in the process, it seems, of being outed as a repeat liar.

I’ve just exchanged contracts

I’ve bought a house

She’s bought a house

I haven’t funded it, her family are rich

Turns out they’re not

The problem will be that his acolytes will see nothing wrong in that behaviour, when in reality it’s the behaviour of an arrogant spiv who thinks he can get away with whatever he chooses to say

 

[Gloster]

Sure, but this was explained about a week ago. The BBC's latest article doesn't add any new information, or evidence e.g. an actual underpaying of tax as was the case for Rayner. It's not a front page story frankly, certainly not in a week where Charlie Kirk is killed or the ruling party is shortlisting its potential deputy leaders, or Israel is bombing yet another Middle Eastern country.

Sure and I suspect anybody with an interest has watched the various interviews where he's been asked about this, or read his answers on this question to the slewth of print media who have quizzed him on it, and made their mind up. If the BBC manage to produce some evidence of wrongdoing, I'd be glad to see it given more prominence.

But he's not a high ranking politician, as many in this post repeatedly remind us of when complaining that he's been in the news too much. Bear in mind that in the most similar case in recent times, we were talking about:

• An actual case of tax evasion, even if accidental
• Going directly against the advice of two professionals who told her to get expert tax advice
• The deputy PM
• The deputy leader of the ruling party
• The minister responsible for housing underpaying tax on a house

Now that is front page worthy. But it's a world apart from somebody's wife bought a house and we're not sure how she afforded it.

Just to clarify: Laure Ferrari is Farage’s girlfriend or partner, not his wife. I believe he is still married to his second wife, although they are separated.

 

[styles]

As has been said many times before, the cover up is often worse for the perpetrator than the original issue



For Farage it’s a trust issue. He’s in the process, it seems, of being outed as a repeat liar.

I’ve just exchanged contracts

I’ve bought a house

She’s bought a house

I haven’t funded it, her family are rich

Turns out they’re not

The problem will be that his acolytes will see nothing wrong in that behaviour, when in reality it’s the behaviour of an arrogant spiv who thinks he can get away with whatever he chooses to say

Of course, I don't disagree it should be reported on. I do disagree with the assertions up-thread that it's somehow disgraceful for it not to make the front pages of the national newspapers. There's limited space on front pages and this just pales in comparison with what's happened in the UK and abroad over the past week. It's really not front page worthy right now.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Sep 2025 ==

Just to clarify: Laure Ferrari is Farage’s girlfriend or partner, not his wife. I believe he is still married to his second wife, although they are separated.

Yes, my mistake, thanks

 

[SuspectUsual]

I do disagree with the assertions up-thread that it's somehow disgraceful for it not to make the front pages of the national newspapers. There's limited space on front pages and this just pales in comparison with what's happened in the UK and abroad over the past week. It's really not front page worthy right now.

We all know that what makes the front pages of newspapers isn’t necessarily the most newsworthy event; owners generally have agendas and editors are there to deliver them

On the broader subject of the amount of coverage Farage gets, it’s difficult to gauge, because we have a probably unprecedented situation where a party with a very small number of MPs (4/650 = 0.6%) is the most popular in opinion polls (27% in the latest YouGov poll). Which of these drives coverage? There’s (unfortunately) a stronger argument in my mind for the latter, as it’s a forward looking number, not a static number from 14 months ago

 

[jon0844]

BBC breaking news now - Tory MP Danny Kruger defects to Reform. They've gone live to cover this and will no doubt have it as a top story for the rest of the day!!

He seems to tick all the right boxes for Reform.

 

[brad465]

BBC breaking news now - Tory MP Danny Kruger defects to Reform. They've gone live to cover this and will no doubt have it as a top story for the rest of the day!!

He seems to tick all the right boxes for Reform.

It's a double-edged sword for Reform: on the one hand they appear on the ascendency and get more representation in parliament, but on the other accepting "establishment" politicians dispels the anti-establishment image, and Farage will find his centralised approach to running the party harder when other big names enter it.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Self protection from Kruger. He knows he won't get reelected unless something seismic happens, and he knows if he defects to close to an election he'll get called out as an opportunist

 

[jon0844]

They're STILL reporting from this Reform press conference. Will it be for the rest of the day?!

[Edit; STILL covering it.. Nearly an hour now! And they've got it broadcasting on Radio 5 Live too]

 

[Gloster]

I wonder how this will go down in his constituency. Reform came fourth last year and other than in the Amesbury and Tidworth area did not do particularly well in this year’s council elections, although there is a small bit of Swindon in the constituency that might go Reform’s way.

This really is a case where an MP joining another party should call a by-election. However, although Carswell and Reckless got re-elected in 2014 in the fevered Brexit atmosphere, Douglas-Mann lost in 1982.

 

[jon0844]

At least the BBC decided to move to covering the Rubio/Netanyahu news conference after an hour or so of Reform taking over the airwaves!

 

[SuspectUsual]

This really is a case where an MP joining another party should call a by-election

https://x.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1483801577811025920

The internet never forgets. Here's a tweet from some bloke called Farage three years ago, saying a defecting MP who doesn't immediately call a by-election "has no integrity"

(Link to X/Twitter post by Farage with the quote "call a by-election or you have no integrity")

 

[Howardh]

Wonder how many have to defect before Libdems become the official opposition?

On that theme, if there are current Tory MPs who would never join Reform thinking if their party really is collapsing, maybe they should defect to the Libdems? Would have to be pro-europe though!

 

[DarloRich]

BBC breaking news now - Tory MP Danny Kruger defects to Reform.

rats leaving a sinking ship to protect themselves.

 

[Acfb]

Self protection from Kruger. He knows he won't get reelected unless something seismic happens, and he knows if he defects to close to an election he'll get called out as an opportunist

This could quite easily backfire for Kruger as the Lib Dems are quite strong in Wiltshire overall and they are just as likely to win his seat as Reform. Reform actually came 4th in his seat!

 

[Vinnym]

This could quite easily backfire for Kruger as the Lib Dems are quite strong in Wiltshire overall and they are just as likely to win his seat as Reform. Reform actually came 4th in his seat!

Probably find him a more winnable seat elsewhere.