Complacency

On this, the day of Farage’s third resignation from the UKIP leadership, having achieved nearly all of what he wanted, I’m reminded of seeing him speak in St Andrews in 2009. One of the smaller lecture theatres, fair few empty seats. The audience mostly just laughed at him.

I remember someone challenging him on racist grounds then – cross-referencing leaked BNP and UKIP membership lists had revealed they shared more than a few members.

He was regarded as a fringe eccentric. Pretty sure he smoked a pipe afterwards. I imagine Brown and Cameron viewed him in much the same light.