Novara Media Downstream: How Brexit Paved The Way For Farage’s Bid for Downing Street w/ Tom McTague
Sep 22, 2025
Political journalist Tom McTague, author of Between The Waves, dives deep into the historical currents that sculpted Brexit. He explores how Enoch Powell's radicalization and the dissolution of empire redefined Britain's stance on Europe. McTague discusses the evolution of the Labour Party’s views, the influence of conservative intellectuals, and how Dominic Cummings’ strategies paved the way for Nigel Farage's rise. He also tackles the long-term effects of migration decisions on public trust and the current political landscape.
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Brexit As Long-Term Political Arc
- Brexit was the culmination of an 80-year intellectual and political journey rather than a sudden spasm.
- Tom McTague frames the story as a long arc from empire dissolution to contemporary politics.
Winning Without Immediate Electoral Success
- McTague models his book on Rick Perlstein's political histories of American conservatism.
- He argues Brexit's triumph mirrors how long-term organizing can shift a political centre despite repeated electoral losses.
Scruton's Long Campaign Network
- Roger Scruton repeatedly appears across decades as an ideas organizer linking academics, politicians, and activists.
- He transformed a dinner club into the conservative philosophy group that shaped Thatcher-era thought.
