Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has been accused of following Donald Trump's populist playbook in his response to allegations of racist and antisemitic comments made during his school days. Critics say his tactics—legal threats, denials, and attacks on the media—mirror those of the US president.
Steven Barnett, professor of communications at the University of Westminster, said: 'Is it out of the Trump playbook? I think that’s exactly what’s going on. This is becoming his new modus operandi, turning defence into attack.' He noted similarities with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt's approach.
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper condemned the strategy: 'Nigel Farage is following the Donald Trump playbook letter for letter: deny reality, threaten to sue, smear the individuals involved and attack the media. These calculated tactics are a desperate attempt to evade scrutiny by importing the very worst kind of American populist tricks.'
Observers highlight four Trump-like tactics: legal threats, outright denials, personal attacks on accusers, and undermining the media. Farage's barrister threatened the Guardian with legal action, demanding 'the maximum award of damages permissible' if allegations were published. Farage initially denied the claims, then shifted to describing them as 'banter in a playground', echoing Trump's 'locker-room banter' defence.
However, Sunder Katwala of British Future noted a difference: 'The un-Trump-like thing about Farage here is he’s giving slightly evasive denials. In a sense, he’s not going the full Trump.' Reform UK did not respond to requests for comment on the claim of following Trumpian tactics.
