Reform's here to stay, it's no flash in the pan

STORM Darragh battering Britain is perhaps the best background for a day with Nigel Farage, a man whose party has blown away support for both the Conservatives and Labour since the General Election five months ago.

- Richard Ashmore

Nigel's constituency of Clacton-onSea - where he won a huge 8,000 majority and 46% of the vote - also seems a fitting metaphor for the challenges facing the nation.

People and businesses in Essex's once glorious seaside destination are trying their best to make ends meet despite feeling neglected and ignored by the decision-makers in Westminster.

They aren't the only ones struggling after a doom-laden half year that has seen winter fuel payments axed, brutal tax hikes for businesses and farmers, and the constant blaming of 14 years of Tory rule for the "decline" of the country.

But even "two-tier Keir", as Farage dubbed him for controversial policing decisions, appears to recognise the momentum Reform UK has.

The Labour leader took the unusual step in Parliament last week of crossing the floor to speak to his fellow party leader for what was "a little chat about this and that", according to Farage.

"It was interesting, wasn't it [that he did that]," he added. "It was quite overtly friendly. He was very, very friendly."

We are hunkered down in a lovely local pub at the end of a tour of Nigel's constituency. As he puts it, "every pub is a Parliament", and people seem keen to be friendly to him in both places.