UK: Farage and the Radical Temptation

Ten years after voting to leave the EU—a decision now widely regretted—far-right leader Nigel Farage, architect of Brexit, could become the next leader of Britain. We explore the radicalisation of the country and how regret becomes the fuel for an authoritarian shift.

With his claims that Britain is broken and it’s the migrants who are to blame, Farage has transformed his far-right party into a major political force, attracting voters who were won over but then disappointed by Brexit. Even ‘Middle England’, that claims to be moderate but refuses to welcome migrants, now support Farage. Immigration has become the most inflammatory topic, emblematic of the country’s divisions.

Toby is part of the radical movement. He struggles to make ends meet and believes that he is poor because his country is far too generous with immigrants. So, to protest against their presence, he attacks a hotel that houses illegal immigrants. Some go further and want to prevent migrants from even reaching the English coast. Daniel Thomas organises the ‘Operation Overlord’ trips to France which have live-streamed footage of their activists slashing dinghies and harassing migrants.

 Mainstream parties have responded by lurching firmly to the right, ending permanent refugee status and making legal migrant workers like nurses wait for up to 15 years before than can apply for settled status. Meanwhile, far-right influencers, supported by Elon Musk, MAGA America and Putin’s Russia, are stepping up their attacks on British democracy.