Farage's association with Trump is Reform UK's Achilles' heel

Martin Shipton 

Opponents of Reform UK, whose support has been rising in the polls, believe the party’s Achilles’ heel is its leader Nigel Farage’s close association with Donald Trump.

In the wake of Trump’s announcement of hefty tariffs on goods exported to the United States, many of those with a low opinion of Farage took to social media to draw attention to the links between the two men.

One post on X said: “Less than a month ago, Farage went off to the US to fundraise for Trump. A big reminder that Farage and Reform would ruin the UK economy in the same way as Farage’s best buddy.”

On March 20 the Guardian reported: “Nigel Farage is once again in America helping to fundraise for Donald Trump’s Republican Party, with the latest data showing he has spent more than 800 hours on outside employment since being elected.

“The Reform UK leader is appearing on Thursday night to give a keynote speech at a fundraiser for Florida Republicans’ ‘Disruptors’ dinner, with tables for top-tier ‘Trump sponsors’ costing $25,000 (£19,000).

“Before his appearance, he was absent from Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, and he did not appear in the Commons on Thursday.

“Farage has made at least nine trips abroad, including eight to the US, since he was elected MP for Clacton in Essex last July, with many of them either funded by donors or undertaken for paid employment such as speeches.

“In a statement issued by the US organisers, Farage said: ‘I’m so incredibly excited to be joining the Republican Party of Florida for the Disruptors Dinner.’

“President Trump’s decisive win and return to the White House inspires us all to continue the fight for freedom globally. I’m looking forward to being back in the Free State of Florida to celebrate with all of you.”

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US Tariffs

A snap poll by the British Chambers of Commerce of more than 600 business has revealed the extent to which UK firms expect to be hit by US tariffs.

• 62% of UK firms with trade exposure to the USA say they will be negatively impacted by US tariffs.
• 32% of firms with trade exposure to the USA say they will increase prices in response to the tariff.
• 44% of firms with exposure to the USA say the UK should seek to negotiate a closer trade relationship with the USA, and 43% want closer trade with other markets.
• Just under a quarter (21%) think the UK should impose retaliatory tariffs.

Using its access to companies in the Chamber Network, the research was rapidly carried out between 10am on Friday and 4pm on Saturday as news emerged of retaliatory action by China.

A Plaid Cymru spokesperson said: “Farage and Reform’s ties to Trump, whose reckless tariffs are crippling the global economy and damaging Welsh businesses, reveal where their true priorities lie: self-interest and self-promotion. Farage spends more time in America than he does in his own constituency. They don’t care about the communities they’re supposed to represent – and they sure won’t care about Wales if elected to the Senedd next year.

"Reform is only interested in lining their own pockets and those of their billionaire backers, while pushing to privatise our NHS.

"Next May, Wales will have a choice. More years of stagnation under Labour, a leap into the unknown with Reform - a party so directionless they don’t even have a leader in Wales, or Plaid Cymru - a party that offers a fresh start: a bolder, fairer Wales, with a clear plan to make it happen."

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Brexit

A spokesperson for Reform UK said: “When the tariffs were announced, Nigel said that 10% tariffs from the USA are bad news, but better than 20% for EU members.

“If the Tory government had delivered quickly on Brexit we would have had a free trade deal years ago. This deal is still achievable.”

However, the current UK Government’s Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said that while a trade deal with the US might be negotiable in certain fields, there was no question of the UK accepting lower food standards that would allow the import from the US of products like chlorinated chicken.