The Reform UK leader claims he is appealing to the voters over the heads of the Establishment—but he is trying to short-circuit Parliament's standards régime
Henry Fairlie defined the establishment as “the whole matrix of official and social relations within which power is exercised”.
That matrix was at work when the CEO of NatWest/Coutts sat next to a senior BBC figure at a dinner engaged in social relations that led to his debanking and, if Tice's claims are true, led to the leaking of confidential banking information. There are many such examples of the establishment exercising power in the Fairlie sense. Most recent was The Times article consisting almost entirely of innuendo and playing on the conviction of 'Posh George' for wire fraud in the US.
It looks like Farage is trying to follow the Trump playbook of establishment victim. That worked in the US where its establishment got carried away with lawfare. It is less likely to succeed in the UK and I doubt it will energise the voters of Clacton.
With Angela Rayner calling conservatives "scum" and Lammy saying "actual Nazis" it is a bit lame to complain about Farage's contribution to the diminishing regard for politics and MPs. The expenses scandal was some time ago and property flipping may be much reduced, but Starmer's expenses 'scandal', from glasses to his wife's clothes, and Rayner's problem with stamp duty keeps alive the idea of "an institution so steeped in self-interest that it will work against voters’ interests to look after the Establishment" not least because the establishment ignored vote after vote for lower immigration, opposition to the Chagos deal... the list is too long for here.
Parliament and its Standards Committee may swell with a sense of noble, honourable purpose and respond correctly on evidence, but a significant number of voters have given up on Parliament. Farage is just testing what Reform's base truly is.
Thank you for reiterating the mundane but fundamental procedure at the heart of this debacle. Standards in public life which have been codifed precisely to be applicable to all who sign the MPs code of conduct.
The notion that he can chop and choose which standards apply to him contradicts the premise of being elected in the first place.
However the other key point you highlight is how little parliamentary representation Reform have actually earned in stark contrast to the volume and tone of their publicity machine which must consume significant funding to function.
This last point I one I find deeply concerning as I view Reform and parties like them as opaque marketing companies whose mantra is to destroy rather than create for the benefit of the nation.
Dont warm to Farage at all but i feel not contesting the election is a mistake. Ordinary folks might get the hump. I do lean towards farage in that other parties hate reform and him. Listen to campbell and any other self proclaimed so called progressive ranting. Lab MP on bbc sun morning had already decided hes guilty judging by her comments. Do i believe he is guilty? Maybe. Dunno. Do i think he will be treated fairly? Maybe. Dunno. Possibly not. Has the decision not to contest damaged dem? Yes.
I’m honestly not sure whether I’d have had my party step back if were Starmer/Badenoch/Davey. On the one hand, Farage will likely win anyway. On the other you can try the line “Well yes, he won but against Count Binface” (unless CB wins…). To that the voters could say, yeah, fair point, or they could say, well, that’s not Farage’s fault. I don’t think the whole thing should be happening at all and I think it’s going to be weaponised by Farage, Tice, Jenrick and others, but we are where we are.
Henry Fairlie defined the establishment as “the whole matrix of official and social relations within which power is exercised”.
That matrix was at work when the CEO of NatWest/Coutts sat next to a senior BBC figure at a dinner engaged in social relations that led to his debanking and, if Tice's claims are true, led to the leaking of confidential banking information. There are many such examples of the establishment exercising power in the Fairlie sense. Most recent was The Times article consisting almost entirely of innuendo and playing on the conviction of 'Posh George' for wire fraud in the US.
It looks like Farage is trying to follow the Trump playbook of establishment victim. That worked in the US where its establishment got carried away with lawfare. It is less likely to succeed in the UK and I doubt it will energise the voters of Clacton.
With Angela Rayner calling conservatives "scum" and Lammy saying "actual Nazis" it is a bit lame to complain about Farage's contribution to the diminishing regard for politics and MPs. The expenses scandal was some time ago and property flipping may be much reduced, but Starmer's expenses 'scandal', from glasses to his wife's clothes, and Rayner's problem with stamp duty keeps alive the idea of "an institution so steeped in self-interest that it will work against voters’ interests to look after the Establishment" not least because the establishment ignored vote after vote for lower immigration, opposition to the Chagos deal... the list is too long for here.
Parliament and its Standards Committee may swell with a sense of noble, honourable purpose and respond correctly on evidence, but a significant number of voters have given up on Parliament. Farage is just testing what Reform's base truly is.
Thank you for reiterating the mundane but fundamental procedure at the heart of this debacle. Standards in public life which have been codifed precisely to be applicable to all who sign the MPs code of conduct.
The notion that he can chop and choose which standards apply to him contradicts the premise of being elected in the first place.
However the other key point you highlight is how little parliamentary representation Reform have actually earned in stark contrast to the volume and tone of their publicity machine which must consume significant funding to function.
This last point I one I find deeply concerning as I view Reform and parties like them as opaque marketing companies whose mantra is to destroy rather than create for the benefit of the nation.
Dont warm to Farage at all but i feel not contesting the election is a mistake. Ordinary folks might get the hump. I do lean towards farage in that other parties hate reform and him. Listen to campbell and any other self proclaimed so called progressive ranting. Lab MP on bbc sun morning had already decided hes guilty judging by her comments. Do i believe he is guilty? Maybe. Dunno. Do i think he will be treated fairly? Maybe. Dunno. Possibly not. Has the decision not to contest damaged dem? Yes.
I’m honestly not sure whether I’d have had my party step back if were Starmer/Badenoch/Davey. On the one hand, Farage will likely win anyway. On the other you can try the line “Well yes, he won but against Count Binface” (unless CB wins…). To that the voters could say, yeah, fair point, or they could say, well, that’s not Farage’s fault. I don’t think the whole thing should be happening at all and I think it’s going to be weaponised by Farage, Tice, Jenrick and others, but we are where we are.
True. Just doesnt sit right. An election must be a competition. Voters must have options. Its their lives and land.