Being a cunning old fox, Nigel Farage hinted yesterday that he was open to do doing a deal with the Tories ahead of the General Election.
That is the first time he has shown the slightest interest in breaking bread with Rishi. I trust THE PM does not view this invite with suspicion but takes opportunity with both hands.
I don’t accept that Labour is, on average, 17% ahead in the polls. I do believe that unless there is a change they will still win by a handsome majority. The Tories are hopeful that as they reinforce their base with the triple lock and the like, they can get to 30% of the vote from the current 22%.
If that did happen it would still replicate the result of 1997 which gave Blair and Co. 12 years of power. Who wants that? After all the influx of immigrants, which has changed our country forever, was due to Labour’s open-door policies.
If you think that’s bad just wait until Labour lay down the welcome mat to anybody from a war-torn country or who claims to be gay or walks with a slight limp. All will receive a big hello from Starmer.
So, what would Rishi have to give up to make such a deal happen. The first would be to make Farage Deputy Premier. That shouldn’t be difficult because the present holder of that office is a complete dud called Oliver Dowden.
Nobody is going to miss him. In any event because of his small majority he will be slung out on July 4 due to his small majority. He will return to corporate comms and I suspect will be good at it.
Then comes more tricky problem of what Reform policies have to be adopted. Giving ECHR the boot can’t be of concern to Sunak as he has threatened repeatedly to get out.
What else could be an issue? Not very much to be honest, with the exception of how the One Nation Tories – the Edward Heath mob- would look at such a deal.
The reality is that the One Nation brigade of MPs no longer represent the beating heart of the party which has moved to the Right. That is where the voters are on most issues, especially immigration and especially the illegal Channel crossing which frustrate the life out of ordinary people.
Many of the left-wing Tories could either join Labour or call an end to their political careers. I should point out that MPs find it very difficult to find work once they aren’t in Parliament as companies don’t want to hire people whose main skill is telling lies.
Having known Farage for three decades I am sure he and Rishi, whose background in financial deal-making makes him the perfect man to conduct negotiations, will get on well personally. After all Farage was a himself a trader before starting out on his lonely trip to becoming the most successful politician in the country.
For Richard Tice, who in all honesty has been keeping the seat warm for Farage, it would be easy for Rishi to force the Conservative candidate to stand down in Boston to give him a clear run.
Then all was needed was to give Tice a Secretary of State in Health or Environment would be perfect. Something for him to make a difference.
How would the numbers work on a Tory/Reform merger? I reckon Labour would still be ahead by 5-7% 44% to 38% would be my bet.
Instead of wipeout Labour would have a small majority and it would be a nightmare running the country. Within a couple of years Starmer would be forced to return to the country and this time he would be blamed for migration, taxes and the potholes.
And he would then be thrown out. After all, he’s not popular now. Once having seen a lawyer who can’t make up his mind in action the nation would love to throw him out. Nigel. Rishi. Please get together.
There is no time to lose.
