Reform are out in front - and it's the last place they want to be

Nigel Farage is arguably our country’s most experienced frontline politician. Since first getting elected as an MEP in 1999, he has held public office for the vast majority of the 26 years since.

His career in politics is now as long as the Parliamentary careers of Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Ed Davey combined.

For much of that time he led Ukip, before escaping what he felt was an amateur operation and founding the Brexit Party, which then became Reform UK . Just as important as elected roles and leadership laurels, for much of the last 20 years he has been continuously in the press.

Farage’s brand as an outsider and insurgent means his status as a seasoned Big Beast is often neglected. This leads opponents to underestimate him – for a supposed flash in the pan, his flame has pro