102 Comments
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Jane McNicholl's avatar

Never been a fan but bloody hell Mr Nelson - that’s about the 4th quite brilliant piece you’ve written on Substack. Keep it up - you certainly have his number.

James Jones's avatar

Same here, though dissing Vienna was a bit low. Anyway, I stand with Binface and much to my amazement, Nelson too.

Andrew Brunt's avatar

Ukraine elected a stand up comedian and he hasn’t done bad. Count Binface is the people’s choice.

Niall Devitt's avatar

Bang on again Mr Nelson! It’s badly backfiring if this mornings normally sympathetic press is anything to go by. The relation between MP and EVERY constituent is sacrosanct- it underpins our aged democracy and was as Barbara Castle pointed out, why membership of the EEC, later EU would eventually end in tears?

You just cannot use your sacred post as a representation of a constituency as something to cast off as a whim, an inconvenience or in this case deflection as milieu Farage has inhabited without real scrutiny as he produced quality easy copy for an indulgent media /especially Q Time and Have I got News for you- well the joke isn’t funny anymore.

Money laundering is a serious accusation and if, if any dubious source it’s over for him. If NCA looking that’s serious. Unfortunately , for him given his regular RT appearances…..not unreasonable to ask especially given the character of “ Posh George” a convicted fraudster and blackmailer.

All Hail, Bin Face, who is no fool and did rather well against Khan in the last

London Mayoral election. Love two fingers up from the British electorate such as 1945 GE- a reminder they did the fighting, not WSC and did not want a return to economic settlement after 1918. Bless this great country! Tony Benn fought to remain one in Bristol in 1962 when looked like heading to the other place….

Niall Devitt's avatar

Think Horatio Bottormley?

Another individual who looked unstoppable and was ultimately a cad. Farage was Reform's greatest asset and its greatest weakness.

Now we get to see this semismic faultline which up to now has been ignored as he is a bit of a wag. With too much time on the sunbed, that 'tuck' under the eyes a shade too bright blue Gieves and Hawkes blazer, underneath he is a dodgy political tick tock man- we always knew.

John Davies's avatar

Are you the real Niall Devitt? I thought you were dead! Racing to your Substack now! Best wishes, whatever!

Niall Devitt's avatar

Thought he was being clever- banger from the Head of the Bank of England! Straight Q like Nixon would you buy a used car or perhaps more appropriately a timeshare from this man?

Now down as whiny bore with narcissistic tendencies. Won’t even start on Zia on how he comes across? Bundle of joy, MrChuckles! Great bloke! Barrel of laughs and warm!

Tony Clarke's avatar

You ‘normally credit Farage….’ But, what? Suddenly, you’ve noticed something not right about him. Wow!

Andrew Brown's avatar

In your Farage summary intro you left out Racist, Grifter, Nationalist, Hypocrite.

Rod Spurrier's avatar

Slight quibble about Boaty McBoatface. If I remember correctly, the poll was to name a research vessel in the hope it might be called David Attenborough or the name of some other suitable role figure or aspirational word or phrase. The resulting Boaty McBoatface was not considered weighty enough for the vessel and was given instead to a drone used on the boat.

On the rest, it looks like Farage has slipped and covered himself in his own milkshake.

TopHat001's avatar

Reading Farage's own words in the Torygraph and the Spectator it's all been about how he is fighting against the elites who are looking to stitch him up. Maybe he's getting more scrutiny than before because he is a threat to the Labour/Tory duopoly on power, but that doesn't mean getting money from crooks is suddenly okay.

Linda R's avatar

He is “the elite”. More-so than the average MP. It’s preposterous to suggest otherwise. A man educated in Dulwich College who then went to work as a commodities trader before becoming a MEP in 1999 - that’s 27 years a politician, who is a member of some of the most exclusive private clubs in London and who mixes with extremely wealthy friends is no “man of the people”. It is an act he has honed over the years and has been hugely successful in doing so. Reminds me of a snake oil salesman, a huckster pitching to sell fraudulent promises.

JEA Bell's avatar

Oh dear. You condemn him because his parents chose to privately educate him, shock horror, he took a job in the City.

What a shame he didn’t take the leap straight from education, into politics, like many of the younger serving MPs.

He could entertain us with the student politics, that we are being presented with.

JEA Bell's avatar

We shouldn’t have any parliamentarians taking money from crooks, nor should our parliamentarians be giving money to crooks.

A welcome relief for Labour, seems everyone has gotten over Mandleson for now.

Christian Giles's avatar

If I could vote, I'd be voting Binface.

Anthony Bohan's avatar

A massive miscalculation. Count Binface is the Belgium to Farage’s USA football team, everyone outside the reform cult wants him to win. We are all laughing at Farage -he is finished,

Tim Gwynn Jones's avatar

Fraser, this is very good and I’m enjoying your Substack (while not sharing your politics). Like all of us, though, you need someone to read your copy before posting. I volunteer.

Fraser Nelson's avatar

Tim, I know - but I don't have time! I have to bash this out in a grabbed 30 mins of train journey. No sub-editors involved unless I can get folk to pay me for Substack ;)

Tim Gwynn Jones's avatar

Believe me, Fraser, I know. I leave in mistakes even when I read my copy aloud. My offer was genuine (and gratis).

Father Larry Duff's avatar

Excellent article. Not only is Count Binface witty, he's clever and astute - he will perform well if it goes the distance. The Count against The Cnut......

Stephen Thair's avatar

Stealing this! 😂😂😂

Danny Daly's avatar

Excellent article ❤️👏....On the topic of reimbursing the cost of the by-election, Farage and Reform know that is an empty offer that cannot be taken up under electoral law....Can you imagine the path that could lead to?! Sponsorship of the local Returning Officer, crypto ads at polling stations,....😆

JEA Bell's avatar

Owned, hardly.

I’m neither a snowflake, and certainly not crying,

Come back when you get over yourself, off you trot now, you’re beyond tedious.

JEA Bell's avatar

You seem nice.

You should learn to disagree with good grace,

It would add weight to your comments, and you won’t appear to be such an arrogant ****

Perhaps social media isn’t for you.

Danny Daly's avatar

You have been owned...Stop crying, and leave politics to the grown ups....Get yourself off the socials/Substack if you cannot take a bit of sensible debate...#snowflake

JEA Bell's avatar

Burnham convinced the electorate in Manchester, he was the best man for the mayorship.

Then he was overwhelmed by his massive ego, and suddenly decided he wasn’t right for the job, but he fancied being an MP and possibly PM.

At what cost to the tax payer?

Adding insult to injury, the creepy MP who stood down for Burnham has apparently being given a plum role, with an eye watering salary.

But yeah, Farage…….🙄

Danny Daly's avatar

Does not equate to my point, but carry on debating with yourself...🙄 Will be similar to the Farage / Count Binface election race....🤣

JEA Bell's avatar

You mentioned money, I replied. 🙄

Danny Daly's avatar

….but they never claimed the pretence that they would reimburse the costs did they?! I recognise simple debating points are difficult for you, but keep on trying…🤣

Lee's avatar

What if Binface lost 55-45, what does that do to Farage?

Jonathan Mark Hirst DYSON's avatar

Pretty much finishes him

Charlie Methven's avatar

I think it's disingenuous of the writer to claim/imply that he has always been a big fan of Farage and Reform.

In fact he's long been pretty much their most vicious opponent. Being an almost entirely uncritical fan of the Conservative Party.

All of which is fair enough. In a democracy even the Mel Strides and Priti Patels of this world need their record and political reputations defended by somebody.

But to do so whilst claiming to be a constructive candid friend of Reform's isn't intellectually dishonest - it's just dishonest.

Mary Bennet's avatar

I agree - I joined Reform as I considered Nigel Farage to be calm, strong as in being used to the abuse, which he knew in the first place there would be, I considered his responses and actions as those of a man in control. I am now disillusioned by his attitude, his posture and his speech yesterday. I remember when he was debanked he went on GBNews and explained what had happened to him and that he was considering leaving the country for America. Again he said yesterday he had had many offers from America like he was doing us a favour by not taking those up…yet. Would he be saying that every time things got difficult if he became PM to suddenly scurry off to America, leaving us in need of another PM. I am shocked that he is telling us that if the by-election doesn’t win for him then it doesn’t win for us. He is putting Clacton voters in a very precarious situation, having to decide such a thing. Passing the buck means if he wins he gets back in the saddle but if he loses then bye, bye UK I am off to America. He is in a win, win situation but we, the people of this isle are having to rely on a few thousand people in Clacton. It’s a disgrace. Zia Yusef would be much more measured, that man appears four or five times a day on different TV channels, constantly giving interviews and battling his way through but always keeping the people at the heart of what he says. Nigel doesn’t go around on any TV interviews, he makes speeches or statements but never gets involved like Zia. So I hope that if unfortunately Clacton says no then when Nigel Farage is gone to America that Zia and the rest of Reform really help us and keep the hope alive.

JEA Bell's avatar

The people of Makerfield gave us Burnham, apparently to get rid of Starmer.

What a mess this country is in.

zyxvutrs's avatar

Agree. I think Reform would be a more credible governing party with Farage gone. Zia Yusef comes across as sharp, intelligent, a natural at dealing impressively with awkward questions. Farage doesn't seem to understand politics or that he is up against career politicians who know the game.

Linda R's avatar

I hate to point out that Yusuf is as big a shyster as Farage. He makes absolute no sense when interviewed. Rarely uses facts and is a narcissist. It would seem you were conned by Farage , many have, so may I suggest you actually listen to and not just hear what Yusuf says.

zyxvutrs's avatar

Nah, never liked Farage. Missing out facts is just politics. Like those who avoid mentioning the facts of higher than average crime & unemployment rates of immigrants from certain countries. Or the fact that theyve subjected the UK to it's highest historical immigration numbers. And plenty more.

Mary Bennet's avatar

All this tinkering and trying to score points whilst using the people like they are pawns in a chess game never works, it’s backfiring big now, when will men stop trying to be better than other men, this is our lives they are playing with, it’s so frustrating and harmful, there is no peace in this country anymore, our ‘leaders’ have abandoned common sense and us the voters. God help us.

Andrew Dyson's avatar

Another great article to go with the one in today’s Times. But should duumvirate be dumbvirate in this case?