Political commentator Kevin Maguire has issued a stark warning to working-class communities, asserting that Nigel Farage's Reform UK party would 'hammer you' with policies reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher's controversial era.
Thatcherite Core Exposed
Maguire argues that Farage has revealed his fundamental Thatcherite beliefs through recent announcements advocating for massive spending cuts and significant deregulation. The associate editor describes Farage as 'shape-shifting' and suggests his latest policy positions would reset Britain's clock to what he characterizes as the 'bitter, divided and painful 1980s.'
In a significant policy reversal, Farage has backtracked on previous promises of £90 billion in tax cuts, leading Maguire to question the authenticity of Reform's election platform. The commentator now describes the party as potentially becoming 'Tories on steroids' in future elections.
Policy Reversals and Council Failures
Further scrutiny falls on Farage's evolving stance on nationalization. Maguire expresses skepticism about Farage's earlier promises to renationalize water and steel industries, noting the Reform leader now insists he only ever advocated for 'short-term, partial public ownership' of failing sectors.
The analysis also highlights what Maguire describes as Reform's governance shortcomings, pointing to tax hikes and mismanagement in councils from Kent to Durham. He bluntly states the party 'couldn't run a bath,' citing specific examples including Runcorn's Sarah Pochin, who disappeared after complaining about 'too many Black faces in advertisements,' and Ashfield's Lee Anderson calling for the return of 'deathtrap three-wheeler invalid carriages.'
Historical Parallels and Voter Warnings
Maguire draws direct comparisons between Farage's policies and the most contentious aspects of Thatcher's legacy, referencing Hillsborough, the Miners' Strike, soaring unemployment, and the decline of mass council housing. He characterizes Reform's top figures, including Farage and his 'property magnate deputy Richard Tice,' as unequivocal Thatcherites.
The commentary concludes with a warning that the 'real nasty Nigel is emerging,' suggesting that many who currently consider supporting Reform 'will not like what they see' as the party's true ideological foundations become clearer. Maguire describes the core of Reform as containing 'unpleasant, repulsive nastiness and lunacy' that cannot be concealed by patriotic symbolism.
