In a move likely to challenge critics claiming Nigel Farage has become too close to, and uncritical of, his friend Donald Trump, the Reform UK leader has warned tariffs unleashed by the US President have gone too far. Speaking with reporters on the local election campaign trail, Farage added that he perhaps should get some credit for helping get Britain out of the EU given the UK was hit with the lowest tariff of 10%, half that which the US slapped on the EU.
The Reform boss – whose party continues to ride high in the polls as a crunch by-election in Runcorn looms – also said he believed the UK could negotiate its way out, perhaps throwing the gauntlet down to PM Sir Keir Starmer whose government is toying with tariff retaliation of its own.
The break with Trump suggests Farage will not ally with the President come what may. Polling indicates that unalloyed support for the President, and criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, goes down poorly with many otherwise supportive voters.
As Reform puts the Rupert Lowe beef behind itself, Farage wants total focus on picking up another MP and killing it in the council elections. While a major risk for Sir Keir’s Labour, Reform momentum increasingly comes at the Tories’ expense as well, with 60 Reform council candidates having defected from the Conservatives.
Putting some distance between Trump and himself is a smart move for Farage given how universally unpopular and gratuitous the tariffs appear to be. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has her work cut out while the PM has already rolled back some green targets for the UK auto industry, hit as it was with a universally applied 25% tariff.
Reform UK has a golden opportunity this May to prove its poll momentum is indeed real. Runcorn still looks set to go for Reform. Farage clearly wants nothing to scupper that. With his words of warning over tariffs, the Reform boss is hoping to show his friendship with the President will not come at the price of principle, while simultaneously challenging the Labour government to act smart over its reaction to the 10% tariff.
