logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
30m 9s

Farage’s hopes for a Reform storm

THE TIMES
About this episode

Nigel Farage is throwing the kitchen sink at Labour and he’s not being subtle about it. As Reform UK ramps up its local election efforts, Farage is fielding candidates in councils up and down the country. But the real showdown is in Runcorn and Helsby, where Reform is plotting a high-profile coup in the upcoming by-election. What’s at stake in Runcorn, and why should Keir Starmer be worried?


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Geraldine Scott, The Times’ Senior Political Correspondent.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Euan Dawtrey, Taryn Siegel and Edith Rousselot. 

Further reading: Labour and Reform in fierce battle for Runcorn & Helsby seat

Clips: Sky News, Reform UK Youtube, Nigel Farage Youtube and Facebook, Channel 4, Green Party TikTok, Liberal Democrats Youtube.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com 



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
The prison chief linked to organised crime - the Sunday Story
Bobby Cunningham was 31 when he became Head of Security at Wandsworth Prison, Britain’s most notorious jail, where he was tasked with fighting corruption. The Sunday Times's Whitehall editor Gabriel Pogrund reveals his dealings with organised crime.This podcast was brought to you ... Show More
38m 35s
Yesterday
Inside the Church of England's 'sex cult' - the Saturday Story
Chris Brain, the leader of a Church of England ‘sex cult’ known s the Nine O'Clock Service, has been found guilty of 17 charges of indecent assault, three decades after its collapse. Why did the Church fail to learn lessons from the scandal?This podcast was brought to you thanks ... Show More
33m 39s
Aug 22
The Brit standing up to China - can Starmer save Jimmy Lai
Pro-democracy campaigner, media mogul and British citizen Jimmy Lai has been imprisoned in China for five years and on trial for two. As the closing statements are made, what will happen to one of China’s most prominent critics? And can the UK government - or Donald Trump - step ... Show More
29m 30s
Recommended Episodes
May 30
Who’s afraid of Nigel Farage?
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Reform party leader Nigel Farage clashed on economic issues this week. Farage said his party was the champion of the working class, while Starmer warned Farage’s proposed spending rises amounted to “fantasy promises”. Host George Parker is joined b ... Show More
35m 19s
Sep 2024
"Guess who's back" - Farage and Reform emerge from the shadows
Nigel Farage has given his speech at Reform's first conference since winning five MPs at the general election, and Robert Jenrick says English identity is 'under threat'. Kamal and Camilla review Nigel Farage's big speech at the Reform conference, their first since the election, ... Show More
42m 17s
Jul 11
Can Tory defections take Reform UK toward power?
Reform UK has claimed its biggest scalp so far with Sir Jake Berry, close friend and ally of Boris Johnson and former Conservative Cabinet minister, joining its ranks. Can Reform break the mould of British politics and vie for power at the next election? In this week's episode of ... Show More
34m 24s
May 3
Can Nigel Farage and Reform prove themselves?
Beth Rigby, Harriet Harman, and Ruth Davidson assemble for an elections debrief.   Beth's been following a very happy Nigel Farage after Reform gained an MP in Runcorn, took the Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty and seized control of several councils.   But, how does the party promi ... Show More
41m 29s
May 2
Local Electioncast: The Results! (Part 1)
Today, Reform have won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes - one of the closest parliamentary elections ever. Sarah Pochin overturned Labour's large majority to become Reform's fifth MP after a recount. Elsewhere, Reform wins its first mayoral election in Greater ... Show More
1h 4m
Nov 2024
Nigel Farage and his ‘historic mission’: on the ground with Reform UK
Today in Focus presenter Helen Pidd goes out on the road – to Birmingham, Stalybridge and Clacton – to chart Nigel Farage’s bid to transform Reform UK into a modern, professional political party. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus 
34m 51s
May 2
Local elections special: end of the two-party duopoly?
This week, we’ve seen Reform UK trounce Labour and the Conservatives across England in local elections. Nigel Farage’s party has secured a fifth MP, clinched two mayorships and seized control of at least seven councils.In response, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is vowing to go ... Show More
35m 28s
Jun 2024
ELECTION EXTRA: Manifestos, Macron and Money Problems
Have the wheels well and truly fallen off the Conservative election campaign? After a dismal D-Day debacle and news that social media campaigning is suspended, Ed Balls and George Osborne question whether Rishi Sunak is just giving up. Regardless, it’s manifesto launch week for t ... Show More
31m 17s
Jul 2024
After the ‘revenge’ election, what’s politics going to be like now?
Thursday’s election results have transformed Parliament. Not only do Labour have a huge majority but also the smaller parties, the Liberal Democrats, Reform and the Greens made big gains.       There is also now a record number of women MPs, and first time MPs, many of them much ... Show More
28m 53s
Jan 2025
Do the young really love Nigel Farage?
Nigel Farage claims that Reform is the party of the future. And the young. He hasn’t been correct on that one so far - it’s very much been the party of the old. But could that be changing? And why has the UK lagged behind the rest of Europe on this trend up until now? Are young v ... Show More
37m 55s