Reform UK leader Nigel Farage: The entry of Reform on to the UK’s 'first past the post' battlefield has the potential to change everything. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
A strange aspect of British politics these days is the reaction of the Tory-controlled media to the emergence of Nigel Farage and his Reform party. Since he is peddling hard-right and populist positions and stances, the right finds it difficult to withhold sneaking regard for his dominant opinion poll position. Tory media find themselves torn between old loyalties to the Conservatives struggling under Kemi Badenoch and a desire to topple Keir Starmer as prime minister.
There seems for now to be growing acceptance that Badenoch lacks the political base and public perception to step into the role
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