Past Present Future Live Special: Prime Minister Farage?
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Oct 15, 2025 
Political scientist Rob Ford joins to discuss the intriguing possibility of Nigel Farage becoming the UK Prime Minister. They explore how Farage’s outsider status compares to historical figures like Enoch Powell and Ramsay Macdonald. Rob elucidates the electoral strategies that could facilitate Farage's rise, while also considering potential scandals that could thwart him. The conversation includes insights on how economic crises and public perception could shape political outcomes, especially regarding youth engagement and immigration tactics.
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Farage Combines Disruption And Party-Building
- Nigel Farage echoes historical disruptors like Enoch Powell and Ramsay MacDonald in different ways.
- He mixes disruptive rhetoric on immigration with a long structural project to remake party competition.
Benn Refused To Share A Stage With Powell
- Rob Ford recalled the 1975 leave campaign where Tony Benn refused to share a stage with Enoch Powell.
- They even proposed a divider, and Benn still refused to appear with Powell.
Outsider Who Benefits From Fragmented FPTP
- Farage is a lifelong outsider who has campaigned against the Conservatives for decades rather than being a lost Tory sheep.
- First-past-the-post can suddenly convert a broadly spread 25–30% into a large seat haul in a fragmented system.