Conservative Failings and the Reform UK Party | Nigel Farage
Added: Jul 4, 2024
Nigel Farage begins by discussing the Brexit referendum that took place in 2016, which he describes as a "massive political event" that occurred after a 25-year grassroots campaign for sovereignty and border control. Farage explains that he had been campaigning against EU membership for nearly 30 years, believing that the nation-state is the essential building block within which people want to live. He argues that the nation-state is an extension of family and community, and something people are willing to pay taxes for and defend militarily if necessary.
Farage notes that while sovereignty alone didn't resonate strongly with the public initially, concerns over immigration became the key issue that galvanized support for Brexit. He describes how immigration numbers into Britain had reached unprecedented levels, leading to public concern. Despite resistance from Parliament, Brexit was ultimately achieved on January 31, 2020.
Conservative Party's Shift and Betrayal of Brexit Promises
Farage then discusses how the Conservative Party, after winning a large majority in the 2019 election, betrayed the hopes and aspirations of Brexit voters. He argues that instead of reducing immigration, cutting regulations, and governing as conservatives, they have governed as "Metropolitan liberals." He points to the adoption of Net Zero climate policies as a prime example, describing them as "insane" and detrimental to British agriculture and industry.
On immigration, Farage provides historical context, explaining how immigration levels remained relatively stable at 30-40,000 per year from the late 1940s through the 1990s. However, under Tony Blair's Labour government, immigration increased dramatically, with the population growing by nearly 3 million. Despite Conservative promises to reduce immigration back to historical levels, Farage states that under Rishi Sunak's premiership, net migration has reached 1.5 million in just two years.
Farage's Decision to Re-enter Politics
Farage explains that he decided to re-enter politics and lead the Reform UK party due to his frustration with the Conservative Party's betrayal of Brexit principles. He sees this as a five-year project aimed at the 2029 general election, with the goal of building a mass movement for change across the country.
Farage's Early Opposition to the EU
When asked about his early skepticism towards the EU, Farage explains that as an amateur historian, he believed the EU project was based on a fundamental misunderstanding. While acknowledging the desire for peace after two world wars, He argues that the existence of nation-states doesn't inherently lead to war, provided they are functioning democracies. He contends that taking away nation-states' ability to determine their own future and handing it to a higher authority is more likely to increase nationalistic fervor rather than dampen it.
Conservative Party's Adoption of Net Zero Policies
Regarding the Conservative Party's adoption of Net Zero climate policies, Farage attributes this partly to the influence of Boris Johnson's younger wife, but also to a broader trend of Conservative leaders wanting to fit in with globalist elites. He criticizes the policy for leading to de-industrialization, exporting emissions to countries with lower environmental standards, and transferring wealth from the poor to the rich through energy subsidies.
Climate Change and Carbon Dioxide
When pressed on the issue of climate change and carbon dioxide, Farage admits he doesn't fully understand the science but questions the labeling of CO2 as a pollutant. He expresses skepticism about the focus on man-made emissions, noting that only 3% of atmospheric CO2 is produced by humans. He also mentions other factors like sunspot activity and underwater volcanoes that he believes should be considered in climate discussions.
Concerns About a Potential Labour Government
Farage expresses apprehension about the prospect of a Labour government, describing party leader Keir Starmer as lacking leadership qualities and charisma. He predicts that a Labour government would see "trans ideology in the ascendancy" and more legislation dividing people into groups rather than uniting them. However, he also suggests that Labour's potential victory would be more due to Conservative failures than enthusiasm for Labour policies.
Reform UK's Vision and Appeal to Young People
Farage outlines Reform UK's vision based on family, community, and country. He criticizes progressivism for confusing young people, particularly on issues of gender and identity. Farage argues for abolishing diversity and inclusion laws, treating all individuals equally regardless of race or sexual orientation, and judging people based on character and ability.
Farage expresses optimism about the appeal of these ideas to younger generations, particularly Gen Z. He cites polling suggesting Reform UK is now the second most popular party among younger voters in the UK, despite only being active for a month.
Psychological Perspective on Identity
Jordan Peterson offers a psychological perspective on Farage's emphasis on family, community, and country. He argues that progressive identity politics is based on a misunderstanding of psychology, atomizing identity into racial, ethnic, or sexual components. In contrast, Peterson suggests that true identity is formed through sacrifice and commitment to larger social structures like family, community, and nation.
Peterson contends that the meaning young people are seeking can be found in their willingness to sacrifice individual whims for something beyond themselves. He argues that conservatives can offer young people a path to meaning through the voluntary adoption of responsibility and participation in these larger social structures.
Farage's Vision for Reform UK and British Society
Farage expresses his desire to fight against "atomized liberalism" by abolishing diversity and inclusion laws and the Equality Act. He advocates for judging individuals based on character, ability, and contribution to society rather than race or sexual orientation. He acknowledges that these ideas may be considered radical but believes they are necessary for creating a unified society.
Election Prospects and Future Plans
Regarding the upcoming election, Farage predicts that the Conservatives will lose and Labour will win, though he believes Labour doesn't deserve to win. He expects Reform UK to receive millions of votes and potentially win its first seats in Parliament. He draws parallels between his party and the Reform Party in Canada, which eventually led to Stephen Harper becoming Prime Minister.
Farage describes his ambition to build a mass movement for common sense, not just focused on parliamentary representation. He aims to promote the values of family, community, and country, believing these arguments will resonate particularly with young people.
Conclusion
The conversation concludes with Peterson mentioning the potential for future discussions about the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship, an international effort with similar goals to Reform UK. Both express hope for creating an "invitational vision of the future" that can inspire young people and counter what they see as apocalyptic thinking from progressive radicals.
Throughout the discussion, Farage presents himself as a traditionalist who believes in the importance of British culture, history, and judeo-christian principles. He positions Reform UK as a party aiming to reshape the center-right of British politics to align with what he believes is the silent majority's views. His arguments focus on national sovereignty, controlled immigration, skepticism towards climate change policies, and opposition to progressive identity politics. He expresses optimism about the potential for these ideas to resonate with younger generations, particularly Gen Z, despite facing criticism and opposition from established political and media circles.
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