Does Farage know the difference between populism and a plan?

Gathered beneath the marble columns of the old Banking Hall in the City of London, Nigel Farage did what he does best. He assembled journalists, lobbyists, wonks and a few business representatives for another hour of gesticulations and clarifications. But this time was slightly different; here, there was talk of sensible reform alongside the usual messaging. Talk of ‘common-sense economics’, nods to tax, promises to put ‘Britain first’. Plenty of sound rhetoric, yes. But precious little sound policy.

Reform shouldn’t be a party of loud statements, here-today-gone-tomorrow policies and U-turns

We left with a similar sense of deja vu : bold themes, grim but correct forecasts about Britain’s economic decay and little detail. One idea, though, hardly fleshed out but familiar. Reform UK h