The term 'grifter' has become a ubiquitous political insult in 2025, used to accuse opponents of being con artists rather than simply wrong-headed. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, written use of the word has more than doubled between 2017 and 2024, and it has recently made its debut in parliamentary debates.
Examples abound across the political spectrum. Former Labour MP Zarah Sultana called Reform UK leader Nigel Farage a 'billionaire-backed grifter', while journalist Paul Mason accused Sultana of duping 'honest socialists'. Michael Gove labelled lawyer Jolyon Maugham a 'politically motivated grifter' during the Covid inquiry, and James Ball accused historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat of 'resistance grift'.
The term's rise reflects a broader cultural fascination with scams and influencers. From wellness gurus to crypto promoters, many online subcultures profit by sowing insecurity and selling solutions. Politicians like Farage and Robert Jenrick now mimic influencer-style vertical videos, blurring the line between public service and self-promotion.
Fiona McPherson, an executive editor at the OED, explains that 'grifter' is 'a kind of shorthand for inviting suspicion about the methods and motivations of someone with an opposing viewpoint'. The word's etymology traces back to US slang 'grafter', meaning a swindler or a politician who misuses their position for dishonest gain.
The trend is fuelled by high-profile scandals such as the 2009 expenses scandal, crony Covid contracts, and ministers accepting freebies. Documentaries on the Tinder Swindler, Fyre Festival, and Theranos reflect a public obsession with those perceived to be on the make. As Liberal Democrat MP Max Wilkinson noted in parliament, successful online grifters might even become MPs or presidents.
