Farage demands duel with Starmer

Nigel Farage sees himself as Britain's real opposition leader. Now the far-right's big profile demands to participate in the next party leader debate ahead of the British election.

» Updated:

» Published:

Farage demands duel with Starmer
Photo: James Manning/AP/TT

Share this article

Nigel Farage sees himself as Britain's real opposition leader.

Now the high-profile figure on the far right is demanding to participate in the next party leader debate ahead of the British election.

Farage, formerly a member of The Conservative Party and Brexit profile, now leads The Reform Party to the right of the Tories. And his party received slightly higher figures than the classic right-wing party in an opinion poll last week.

Farage believes this shows what he has been asserting for some time: that he is the true opposition leader against the social democratic Labour Party, which he has already declared the winner and new governing party.

I think we have the right to demand that the BBC gives us a place in the debate next week, he says at a press conference according to British media.

Built to stop

Four parties – the Tories, Labour, The Liberal Democrats, and the Scottish SNP – have been invited to debate. Unlike Farage's party, the four parties have seats in parliament.

Everything in our political system is built to stop the new kids on the block from getting in, says Farage.

The Reform Party hopes primarily that Farage will be elected to the Clacton constituency in southeastern England. Other candidates will find it more difficult.

Most important question

In the TV debates Farage has so far had to settle for, the other parties have sent representatives with lower status. But he is also demanding a TV duel against Labour leader Keir Starmer to be able to demand answers to his single most important question.

This election should be about immigration, he says.

In Thursday's opinion poll published in The Times, The Reform Party received 19 per cent, against the Tories' 18 per cent, both far behind Labour's 37 but ahead of The Liberal Democrats' 14 per cent of the 2,200 eligible voters Yougov had asked.

The British election is being held on 4 July.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

High Mortality in Congo-Kinshasa Ebola Outbreak: WHO Reports 31 Deaths

High Mortality in Congo-Kinshasa Ebola Outbreak: WHO Reports 31 Deaths

Trump Criticizes Putin Over Ukraine War Challenges

Trump Criticizes Putin Over Ukraine War Challenges

Ukrainian Drones Strike Major Russian Refineries, Impacting Operations

Ukrainian Drones Strike Major Russian Refineries, Impacting Operations

Russia Returns 1,000 Bodies of Ukrainian Soldiers

Russia Returns 1,000 Bodies of Ukrainian Soldiers

Three Arrested in UK for Suspected Russian Espionage

Three Arrested in UK for Suspected Russian Espionage

Syria and Israel Nearing Agreement to Halt Military Actions

Syria and Israel Nearing Agreement to Halt Military Actions

EU Climate Goals Delayed Amid Disagreements at Brussels Meeting

EU Climate Goals Delayed Amid Disagreements at Brussels Meeting

Tear Gas Used in France Protests Against Macron's Budget Cuts

Tear Gas Used in France Protests Against Macron's Budget Cuts

Lula Says No Relationship Exists with Trump

Lula Says No Relationship Exists with Trump

Spain to Support ICC's Gaza War Crimes Investigation

Spain to Support ICC's Gaza War Crimes Investigation

Macron Sues to Disprove Rumors About Wife's Gender in US Court

Macron Sues to Disprove Rumors About Wife's Gender in US Court

Trump and Starmer Announce Groundbreaking Technology Partnership

Trump and Starmer Announce Groundbreaking Technology Partnership

Argentinians Celebrate as Congress Rejects Milei's Budget Veto

Argentinians Celebrate as Congress Rejects Milei's Budget Veto

Three Police Officers Killed in Pennsylvania Shooting; Suspect Dead

Three Police Officers Killed in Pennsylvania Shooting; Suspect Dead

Four-Year-Old Omar's Heartbreak After Fleeing Gaza: Who Will I Play With Now?

Four-Year-Old Omar's Heartbreak After Fleeing Gaza: Who Will I Play With Now?

Judge Orders Deportation of Activist Mahmoud Khalil

Judge Orders Deportation of Activist Mahmoud Khalil

Ukraine Anticipates Increased Arms Fund for Weapon Purchases

Ukraine Anticipates Increased Arms Fund for Weapon Purchases

Trump Calls Antifa a Terrorist Organization

Trump Calls Antifa a Terrorist Organization

Tyler Robinson Surrenders to Avoid SWAT Arrest in Charlie Kirk Case

Tyler Robinson Surrenders to Avoid SWAT Arrest in Charlie Kirk Case

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Sign Mutual Defense Agreement

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Sign Mutual Defense Agreement