Nigel Farage is under mounting pressure as questions swirl over his future as leader of Reform UK. The party is riven with infighting, with policy chief James Orr emerging as a potential challenger. Orr recently endorsed a message supporting party donor Zia Yusuf, likening his critics to 'snakes in the grass', amid tensions over the party's direction.
The leadership speculation follows a bruising scandal over Farage's acceptance of a £5m gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, which he failed to declare. Farage is awaiting a verdict from the standards watchdog, which could lead to suspension as an MP and a byelection in his Clacton constituency. Allies insist exit talk is 'wishful thinking', but admit he is tired after months of campaigning.
Reform UK's Millbank HQ is more divided than usual, with old-timers distrusting former Tories like Robert Jenrick, whom they suspect of plotting to succeed Farage. Jenrick denies this. Meanwhile, the party has suffered recent byelection losses and faces a new rival in Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain, prompting a shift further to the right.
Farage has reduced his public profile, skipping his weekly press conferences and taking a break from his GB News slot. He is currently in Washington DC for US anniversary celebrations, reconnecting with the Trump administration despite polls showing such links deter voters. Friends say he is on a tight schedule, leaving even fellow MPs unable to secure appointments with him.
