The Brexit champion highlights party’s divisions, hinting at a dire future unless Conservatives return to their roots.
Nigel Farage, the former leader of the Brexit Party, sounded the alarm for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party during his first appearance at the Tory Conference in 13 years. Farage highlighted the growing divisions within the party and expressed concerns over its identity, stating, “after 13 years, this is not a Conservative Party, it’s a social democrat party.”
He emphasised the shifting ideals of the party by pointing out that they are now embodying positions he has campaigned for over the past 10 to 15 years. Addressing the conference’s attendees, Farage was candid about the party’s future, warning, “if they’re not going to rediscover some sense of being a national party that believes in its people, they’ll be out of office for 10 or 15 years.”
His sentiments were echoed by the applause he received at the Conservative dinner, where former Home Secretary Priti Patel lauded him. Farage reflected on his consistent political stance since the 1990s, remarking, “It’s the party that’s changed radically over these last three decades.”
Highlighting the urgency for the party to act, Farage cited recent polling from The Sunday Times, where “60 to 65% of the country agree with” his stance on immigration, a topic that he believes many MPs shy away from. He stressed the importance of addressing this issue, saying, “this is where the Conservative Party needs to go after it loses the next election or it will get replaced.”
Farage closed his comments with a robust stance on border security, arguing that sending boats back to France would lead to a significant reduction in illegal crossings within a short span. Source
