Nigel Farage likes to project an image of a man who knows how to have fun, who is more often found at a bar than at a desk, and of someone who doesn’t take life too seriously. This is probably the least sincere thing about the Reform UK leader, though; because, for all the pints on show, he works harder than many mainstream politicians.

He had his first overseas break in three years back in May – but since then has not been away. And so he has been capitalising on the fact that government ministers – who are totally exhausted – have gone quiet for a few weeks. While they’ve been trying to rest and remember what their families look like, Farage has been hammering home Reform’s message on asylum hotels and deportations. It’s working.

Labour knows it has to tackle Reform’s popularity – c

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