Farage’s furious clash with Times editor stuns figures close to him | Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage is no stranger to expressing anger at what he sees as the liberal establishment, but even those close to him were surprised by his tirade of anger directed at the editor of the Times.

The post, which is said to contain an expletive aimed at Tony Gallagher, was triggered by the Reform UK leader’s anger that the newspaper was planning to publish a story about his home that he said put his family in danger.

A source with knowledge of the encounter said the incident resulted in a “strong confrontation.”

This is a fragile moment for Reformation’s relationship with Britain’s right-wing media; Coverage of Farage and his by-election gambit has taken a negative turn since questions were raised about his finances and finances.

Reports in the Times and the Sun, part of Rupert Murdoch’s News UK, as well as the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail, have made reading for Reform difficult in recent days.

The Telegraph gave columns to party figures to air their grievances in the media, while recent stories described Farage’s decision to subject himself to a by-election in Clacton “against the people versus the establishment” as a “summer gamble” and a farce.

Kemi Badenoch, meanwhile, stated in its pages that the Conservative party was “for serious people, not a retirement home for failed politicians”; this made a mockery of Reform’s collection of Tory defectors.

The Mail interviewed Farage favorably, but an editorial the same day said: “How quickly times and political destinies can change. It’s only been weeks since the rise of Reform UK appeared almost unstoppable. But two by-election defeats and concerns about leader Nigel Farage’s financial affairs have dramatically changed the landscape.”

This time last year Farage was trying to impress News UK leaders and readers, who were seen as a crucial group in transforming Reform’s poll results into a broad enough power base to mount a serious attack on Downing Street.

He touched the meat at the news group’s summer party and dined with the Sun’s editor, Victoria Newton. By then Reform had already seen the local election slogan “Britain in ruins” on the front page of the Sun.

But in recent days, Trevor Kavanagh, the Sun’s senior political commentator and a figure close to Murdoch, has come to a damning verdict on Farage’s current situation.

“We are witnessing the sudden death of the political movement that started with the UK Independence Party, evolved into the Brexit party and now Reformation,” he wrote. “Or simply Nigel Farage.”

Reform insiders continue to believe the Times should not have published a story containing a picture of a property where one of Farage’s children lives. They say Ann Widdecombe’s death strengthens their argument.

A senior official from News UK is said to have reached out to Farage for a meeting.

A Times spokesman said: “We stand behind our journalism and do not accept that the published photo locates any property or poses a safety risk.”

At News UK, Reform’s anger is seen more as a sign of frustration at its inability to decisively win titles or more readers.

Farage’s decision to raise the specter of the Leveson inquiry, which examined press ethics and recommended tighter regulations, also had incredibly negative consequences for the leadership of the right-wing media.

The timing was unfortunate. Many of the headlines celebrate the Mail’s victory this month against a group of plaintiffs, including Prince Harry, who unsuccessfully attempted to sue over allegations of illegal doxxing techniques. The claimants had been supported by campaigners for tighter press regulation.

A senior editor said Farage had abandoned attempts to build broad support in favor of appealing to his base, resulting in attacks on the press. “This is straight out of Trump world,” they said. “Demonise the messenger, rally the base, undermine the MSM.”

Figures within Reform say they are not surprised by the decline in news coverage. Many have spent their political careers fighting against what they see as the Conservative establishment. “We’ve seen this before,” said one. “The right-wing press is always the friend of fair weather.”

It is too early for any discussion about election certifications, whose influence has diminished as newspapers have lost influence.

But Des Freedman, professor of media and communications at Goldsmiths, University of London, said the right-leaning media’s ties to the Conservative Party were deep. He said the earlier, more positive take on Reformation also served to put pressure on Labor and the Conservatives on tax and immigration.

“I think it’s a lot more fluid now that there was a honeymoon a year ago,” he said. “They’re obsessed with Farage but there’s a lot more criticism they want to make because they don’t see him as a particularly reliable ally.

“They are not yet ready to write off the Conservative Party and Farage and Reform have lost some of the appeal of rebellion.”

Farage can still rely on supportive reporting from the Daily Express, traditionally his most Eurosceptic title.

After the Sunday Times published allegations that he was financially backed by convicted fraudster George Cottrell, Farage turned to the Express. He told the thread that he was considering legal action and that it was clear “the organization will stop at nothing to harm Reform.”

But if skepticism continues among other papers on the right, it will deal a serious blow to the Reform’s grand power ambitions.