The emotional temperature of contemporary politics does not help, and Farage believes politicians themselves bear some responsibility for raising it. Rather than answer questions in Westminster, Tories complain, Farage is inviting voters to settle a matter that properly belongs elsewhere. "And if those voters really think I'm a crook or a bad dude, they can get rid of me." The new Prime Minister understands politics in a way Keir Starmer didn't – he does not instinctively sneer at Reform voters, communicates fluently and has, for now, unified a fractured Labour Party. If the former defence secretary did approach Farage, "Reform wouldn't take him".