Is the Brexit Party the enemy or friend of the Tory Party? Is Nigel Farage its destroyer – or could he turn into its redeemer?
This is not as crazy a question as it may sound, even though right now Farage’s new venture is set to humiliate the Conservatives in the forthcoming EU parliamentary elections.
The answer is contingent on other events, and in particular who wins the power struggle within the Conservative Party after Theresa May stands down (which every Tory MP I ask believes will be before the June 15th extraordinary vote by Tory local association chairs and grassroots officials on whether she is fit to remain in office – strikingly Andrew Bridgen and Ed Vaizey, from the polar opposite wings of the party, endorsed that scenario on my show last night).
The important point is that even the so-called One Nation, pro-EU Tories typically give me just a single name as May’s likely successor, namely “Boris” – largely because he is the only one on their benches who they think can beat Farage in the game of demagogues.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in