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Chopper's Political Podcast episode 112: Reform has ‘one chance’ to turn Britain around - Robert Jenrick’s warning
Sep 7, 2026
Sit back, pour yourself a drink and join GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope at his regular table, where he will discuss the latest insider political intrigue and gossip with everyone from pop stars to politicians.In this episode of Chopper's Political Podcast, Christopher Hope speaks with Reform Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick and his warning to Nigel Farage.The Newark MP set out the stakes of the next General Election to the Reform leader, stressing that their party had "one chance" to turn Britain around.
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0:00
welcome back to choppers political podcast where i bring you the best guests gossip
0:15
news and stories normally from our studios in westminster today we're at the national
0:20
exhibition center in birmingham at the reform uk conference i hope you had a great summer
0:26
I did. I got rained on a bit during my staycation, but I love meeting viewers and listeners who love GB News
0:33
We really appreciate you tuning in. Thank you. Today I'm speaking to two figures in Reform UK
0:40
Robert Jenrick, the party's economic spokesman, and also Nigel Farage, the party's leader
0:45
They both spoke to me for the podcast. First up, though, we have Robert Jenrick, fresh from being on stage here in the NEC
0:53
He came to join me on GB News' stand. And here's what he told me
0:58
Robert Jenrick, welcome to Chopper's Political Podcast live. Welcome to the heart of the day
1:03
Yeah, now I've been to a few of these conferences. This is my third one for this iteration of a Farage party
1:09
It's getting bigger and bigger and bigger. You just come off the stage speaking to, I would say, about 2,000 people in that hall
1:16
It can be 4,500, and that's huge. I mean, where were you with the Tory party
1:20
Oh, my goodness. The Tory's never getting anywhere near these numbers. The scale of it is bigger
1:25
There was some poor old cabinet minister under the last government who'd have 50 people in the room and it was dire
1:31
So the support from the members here is absolutely phenomenal. They are wonderful people from all parts of the country, all backgrounds in a way
1:39
I don't think any other party has this mix of people where, you know, last night I spoke to a farmer, a window cleaner, a hedge fund manager and a small business person
1:49
Like the mix of people is phenomenal. It is the people's army. It does feel that way, to be honest with you, and people are paying their own way
1:56
It's at the NEC because it's good for cars. Other parties have their events in cities because that's good if that suits lobbyists and journalists and others
2:06
But this is really done here to suit people. They're paying to be here
2:11
And you have to respect them for that, and we certainly respect them at GB News
2:15
They want change. Can you deliver it? because in the recent days there's been problems with this sting by Channel 4 News
2:23
concerns about funding. I've covered endless funding scandals of the Tory party, Lib Dems, Labour
2:29
and now it's your party. And I think you are meant to be a different standard
2:33
and you're letting them down. Yeah, I was disappointed to hear the comments that were on that video
2:39
like everybody else. Nigel's taken swift action. Yeah. He's put these two people out
2:47
Well, suspended. Well, suspended. Obviously, it's right. There's some due process. Absolutely
2:52
But he's got rid of them. And we move on now as a party
2:56
Are there lessons to be learned? Yes, absolutely. We don't think any rules were broken. But as you say, that's kind of beside the point
3:02
We want to be the best version of ourselves. The members and the country. But by the account of the program
3:07
they were directing donor money towards polling work, which was then reformed when mentioned
3:13
when it was offered to newspapers. That's pretty bad, isn't it? Well, that particular practice, I think it happens actually all the time
3:19
Oh, right. Okay. There's tons of political parties that do that. I certainly knew people doing it
3:24
They were doing it in the Tory party. Right. It's not going to defend it, but it's not an unusual practice
3:30
But the party reform did not commission these polls. Right. Commissioned by individuals working with the pollster
3:37
Working with the reform at the time. That is entirely within the rules
3:41
But no, the broader point you make, though, is we want this party to be the best version of itself
3:46
because, you know, everybody who's joined this party shares the same fundamental conviction that the country's in a mess
3:52
The next election, maybe the last chance to turn it around, and we don't want to muck it up
3:57
Silly mistakes, and I think the risk is you might muck it up, frankly, because it might put off, not these people here
4:03
they believe, the wavering voters who want to give you a chance. They'll think, well, you know, why are you different
4:08
You're sort of falling into the same mistakes the other party's made. Sure, although I wouldn't get too, you know, tied up in these things. Okay
4:14
What are people really worried about out there in the real world? The energy bills going up
4:19
We've said Richard Tice will cut 250 quid off the energy bill
4:23
or he will actually resign if he doesn't manage to do it. Well, come on, you're the resignation in a minute
4:28
That's an important pledge. There's actual jeopardy, not just politicians failing upwards
4:33
which is what seems to happen these days. We've said that we will stop the votes and have delivered
4:38
I think it's quite a remarkable diplomatic triumph, where Jordan Bardello, the likely next Prime Minister of France
4:43
has signed an agreement to say Royal Marines can pick up the illegals in the Channel
4:48
drop them off in France, something that has eluded previous Prime Ministers, you know, Tory and Labour
4:53
It's certainly a statement of intent, because if nothing else, it will kick off a diplomatic row
4:58
If National Rally don't win power next year, Nigel Farage will carry on with that policy
5:02
and will simply take on the French and say... And I would, you know, to put it in historical perspective
5:06
the last senior French politician I could think of who did something like that
5:11
stuck their neck out to try and resolve this problem was Sarkozy when he was the interior minister
5:16
and he cleared the Songat camp, didn't he? And he put fences around Eurotunnel
5:21
to stop some of the people climbing onto the lorries and that did fix the problem
5:25
But since then, I mean, I can't think of any French politician who helped us. They all treated us pretty badly
5:32
Well, Brexit's got in the way, really. And since then, Brexit happened. I mean, I remember seeing one of the French ministers
5:37
and they said, what part of no do you not understand? And that gives you a sense of their understanding
5:44
That's when you hang up with the ministry in charge of the policy. So I will not underestimate what happened
5:49
Yes, it's very important. And then today, we've announced a massive tax cut for working people
5:54
Well, come on to that. Okay, so you'll resign if you can't get this £15,000 increase
5:59
in the tax-free threshold. That will cost £17.1 billion first year, £20 billion in year five
6:05
You're raising money by cutting benefits. That is a challenge to Labour and the Tory party
6:11
It is. Andy Burnham, when he was on the campaign trail over in Makerfield
6:16
said that this was the number one thing people raised on the doorstep. People were feeling hard up
6:20
They wanted to keep a bit more of their own money. And they couldn't believe that the tax-free personal allowance had been frozen since 2021
6:27
It was due to be frozen to 2031. And more and more people were getting sucked into paying tax as a result
6:33
So we've said, no, we're going to do things differently. we can afford this with the welfare savings
6:38
We're going to ensure that 3 million people don't pay any tax at all. Pensioners don't pay any tax on the state pension
6:44
and 40 million people generally get tax cut, which will be between 500 quid
6:49
That's anyone working, isn't it? Anyone working. There's a lot of money. And for the Tories
6:54
well, I don't know exactly what their view would be, but I hear that they're considering doing something
6:58
for people much, much better off, like a cut in inheritance tax, for example
7:03
And you've ignored that, haven't you? Why is that? Well, that is double taxation
7:07
You're raising heritage tax. You know, I dislike it as much as the next person
7:11
But I just say if you are a chancellor and you choose to privilege 36,000 families
7:17
which is the number of estates every year on which inheritance tax is levied instead
7:22
of 40 million people I mean I just don know what going on there You need to give your head a couple And it feels to me as if people are so hard up right now that any money that we manage to save
7:36
has to go straight back to working people or indeed pensioners. And that's who you're targeting
7:40
That's why you're saying it. Working people. It does set up a very clear divide where, you know
7:45
the Tories are for better off people, top end of the spectrum. Labour, well, they're still trying to look after people on Benefit Street
7:52
plus the kind of luxury belief class. Nonetheless, we're for the 80% in the middle
7:57
And we'll wait and see what happens in the budget next month. But funding it is very expensive
8:02
You won't take a big knife to the benefits bill, then it'll be difficult to fund it for labour, I'd imagine
8:08
I think it's impossible for them, because the choices for them are the same as for us
8:12
The only way we could afford this is by reducing the ballooning benefits bill
8:17
which clearly Rachel Roos tried to do and failed. And I'd suspect Andy Burnham will not do either
8:22
By scrapping foreign aid to rich countries, not giving benefits to foreign citizens
8:27
not doing the net zero subsidies, what's the chance of Andy Bender then? Well, Andy Bender..
8:31
I mean, I was in the street in Downing Street. I was also at Ashentown Football Club
8:35
the day after the Mayfield by-election. He talked about this issue with Baintingham
8:39
talking about the tax-free threshold. He's walked that back, but they want to look at it again
8:44
We'll see how that plays out. His idea of taxing benefits is to build more council houses
8:49
The idea being then that any housing benefit it goes towards the state rather than the private landlords
8:54
That's if you work at that kind of circular way of clapping money. In fact, Richard Tyson said something similar
8:58
actually more ambitious than what he said. But that's a very long-term thing
9:02
We can all imagine, you know, building council houses takes years and years
9:07
Building them at anything like the scale that we need takes years and years
9:11
I would just say that 80% of the deficit of new housing in this country is because of the amount of people who've come in in recent years
9:16
So if you don't fix mass migration, you don't fix the housing crisis. But the point we're making today is it's not about 10 years
9:23
It's about now. Yeah. Change now. So we're going to say first 100 days. OK
9:28
I will hold a budget. Yeah. I will cut taxes. And you will resign. And will you resign
9:33
I was there when Rory Stewart was business minister. He would resign if the prison numbers didn't come down and do something
9:39
Then he was sacked anyway or resigned for different reasons. I mean, I've been here before
9:43
I was sacked before. Sorry. I wouldn't say you've been sacked. I'm not sure if he was sacked
9:47
It never came to pass. It never came to pass. I just made a pledge in front of thousands of people
9:52
millions of people at home. And GBNs too. They saw it. So, you know, I think that kind of jeopardy is important
9:58
Because that's what happens in the real world. In politics, you know, you get knighted. You get a peerage when things go wrong
10:05
You fail upwards. Whilst in the real world, you're out. And that creates a sense of jeopardy, doesn't it
10:10
Yes, it does. Yes, it does. It's human nature. And we'll make sure we hold it. If your neck is on the block
10:14
then, of course, you absolutely bust a gut. We hold you to it
10:17
Now, the real world will say the Office for Budget Resolvidability needs 10 weeks to review your plans
10:22
You come into power. Do you wait 10 weeks or do you go early in that? 10 weeks is going towards 100 days
10:27
You need to do it. Well, I'm sure we can work with the OBR to resolve that
10:33
But if you think of previous governments that have come in, Gordon Brown did an emergency budget in 1997
10:40
George Osborne did an emergency budget in 2010. Rachel Reeves was actually an outlier in choosing not to do this
10:45
Because of the OBR. That was really a big mistake, wasn't it? Because then speculation ran right
10:50
They wasted 100 days. Exactly. It was bad for the government. It was very bad for the economy as well
10:55
because everybody was speculating on which tax would go up. And as a result of that, investment left the country
11:00
A lot of people were very worried as a result. I want to get on. Yeah, yeah, yeah
11:04
If you go too quickly, and I'm certain the OBR would cooperate with us. You've been in this party eight, nine months
11:10
Of course, this time last year, you were preparing to speak at the Conservative Party conference
11:14
is this party ready for government? Yes. It could be soon as next May, by the way
11:19
Well, it could even be sooner than that, couldn't it? Who knows? You think so? There's no health spokesman, defence spokesman
11:24
foreign affairs spokesman. Things will come, as Nigel said. But how long are we going to wait for it
11:29
Today you will hear a policy on the NHS that Sweller is going to set up
11:34
I don't want to steal her thunder. Of course, we're talking on the Saturday of your conference
11:38
so by Monday when this is here, they'll know what it is. We'll know all about it
11:42
Danny Kruger is preparing for government. We're building the team. Does that worry you, though
11:46
There's no defence spokesman? I mean, that's the biggest single threat this country is at all security now, isn't it
11:52
Well, does Wes Streeting reassure you as our defence secretary? Well, there's someone there in charge
11:57
Whatever you think of his record. There's a person. He's yet to be tested. He's talking the right game
12:02
and he's yet to be tested fully in that job. But, I mean, he's doing the job. Sure. Does that worry you
12:08
Well, I would like to get those positions filled and I do believe that they will be very soon
12:13
How soon? within a matter of months. But I know that Nigel is speaking to people
12:21
and having those conversations, as indeed have I. And there are very talented people
12:25
who are willing to do this for us. Handy burn and bounce, that's worrying you, is it? Well, it sort of turned out to be a small hop
12:31
hasn't it, Robin? Is it slow then? It feels like it. When I watched PMQs the other day
12:36
I thought, well, is that it? I mean, you tell me about what your viewers think
12:40
but it feels to me there's a creeping sense in the country that it's all just really more of the same
12:46
It's a sort of thought experiment. Can you have exactly the same government
12:50
but led by somebody who's just a bit more personable? Well, they're having both ways. And will it make it any different? I don't think it will do
12:54
They're having both ways. He came in saying it's the biggest change in 40 years. And then the Chancellor says it's more of the same
13:00
It's constant labour. So I think you can't have it both ways. They're trying to, I think
13:05
No, and also the reality of the public finance is very bleak. We've seen what happened last week with the bond markets
13:11
where they were taking fright internationally, but our position was weaker than almost any other country
13:17
So unless you're prepared to cut spending on a big scale, tens of billions of pounds
13:22
you've got no room for manoeuvre at all. And it seems that Andy Boehme is not prepared to do that
13:28
All we can assume is that he's got to keep on rising taxes here and there. But his big ambitions, social care, whatever it might be
13:35
they're going nowhere. You're targeting benefits. Want to target pensions too? I mean, I was with a Kemi Badenow speech earlier this week
13:44
and she said, we'll save billions spent on defence. You're saving billions and spending it on a tax cut for working people
13:52
Why not look at the idea of that triple lock? Make it a double lock, and that would also save you money too
13:57
Maybe pensioners may feel we've had it quite well. Maybe many of them are asset rich
14:02
Assets have gone up by quite a lot during their lifetime. Why not give some more money back to working people
14:07
Well, we did give this a lot of thought at the beginning of the year, Nigel and I, as was reported
14:11
But we both concluded that we couldn't take away from pensioners people who had worked hard their whole lives
14:18
That's always the argument. Who have always the arguments. And are relying on this when there's so much waste elsewhere
14:25
I mean, how could I, as chancellor, look a pensioner in the eye
14:29
in my constituency when there's still £10 billion being wasted on Ed Miliband's projects
14:36
There's still hotels full of illegal migrants costing billions of pounds. HMOs now
14:40
You know, come back to me if we've resolved all those problems. But it's a very, it feels like a very Westminster kind of SW1 argument
14:49
Well, for people saying, oh, just take the triple lock away from these pensioners
14:53
A lot of pensioners are very hard up at the moment You know it not as easy as it seems being a pensioner The idea that there loads and loads of rich pensioners out there well there be some obviously but come on These people are finding life tough and we need to look after them The
15:06
polling, I would say, interestingly, shows that young people support it as well. Because
15:11
young people have parents, they've got grandparents, they care about the next, you know, the older
15:17
generation as well. And so it has broad public support. Andy Burnham, he's got a bit of a Thatcher obsession, hasn't he
15:24
He thinks it's a dirty word. Your daughter's middle name is Thatcher
15:28
What do you make of that? I admire Margaret Thatcher, as you can tell
15:33
However, I think it's very odd, actually, that Andy Burnham is so obsessed by her
15:39
To my kids, Margaret Thatcher is as distant a cultural reference as Winston Churchill was when I was growing up
15:46
So I'd much rather our politicians actually focused on the future and what are the solutions to the challenges that we face today
15:54
Is his reading wrong and reheating the politics of the bar? Is his reading wrong? Was Thatcher's all bad in the 80s as he makes out
16:00
I think he has some good arguments. I mean, I grew up not far from where we are in Birmingham, in the black country
16:07
in a place that was going through rapid de-industrialisation at the time
16:11
I now represent a place that had a similar experience in Nottinghamshire
16:14
I represent a lot of old pit villages, which have completely changed in my lifetime
16:19
And I still meet everyday miners and their families who tell me stories about that period
16:24
So I do understand that the change that happened during that period led to hardship in some parts of the country
16:34
And reform isn't encumbered with all of the history of the Tory party
16:39
And so we want to ensure that, yes, we bring about transformative change
16:43
Yes, we believe in free markets and the good stuff that came with Marwa Thatcher
16:47
but we also want to protect people in parts of the country who've not been so lucky
16:51
And not lay waste to industries. That's a big complaint in the coal fields in Nottinghamshire
16:56
I think of Liverpool and part of Liverpool. And it's a divide in politics. If you look at the Tory party, and I suspect this will accentuate in the future
17:03
and Akemi and Andrew Griffiths as their shadow chancellor. There's an attitude there where, you know, maybe the steel industry could just be allowed to wither away
17:12
or maybe we'll allow the car industry to collapse because we don't want to put tariffs on the kind of thing
17:15
But you like that intervention, don't you? Well, judiciously, yes, I think we should do
17:20
I do want there to be a car industry in this country. I'm not embarrassed to say that. I do think that we should have a steel industry
17:25
We're not really the only developed country in the world that doesn't have a virgin steel industry
17:29
So that will be a divide. Kevin Baden-Württembert, the worst you hear
17:33
will be saying that's why you're a socialist party. That's a bit silly, I think, because what we're saying, you know
17:39
actually it's just a more modern view of economics. It's a position that Donald Trump would support
17:43
It's a position that even, dare I say it, Mark Carney would support in Canada
17:48
There are some people in the Tory party who I feel sometimes wrap themselves
17:51
in the Thatcher legacy too much. And don't move on to that. And don't move on and actually address
17:56
the real problems facing the country. Just a final question on Thatcher. Of course, she defended and won back the Falklands in 1982
18:02
Would Andy Burnham have the same steel in him to do that? I don't think so, no
18:07
That's very worrying then. It is. Look, Millet is weak in Argentina, and he's looking for something to improve his position in the polls
18:17
And he looks at our country and sees us totally defenseless because successive governments have run down our armed forces
18:25
We look at our navy the other day where we couldn't get a single frigate out into the Mediterranean
18:29
And he looks at Andy Burnham and West Streeting and sees people who he suspects just don't have the courage, the determination to stand up to them
18:38
And the Shagos Islands being let go. Right. So there's a little sovereignty there
18:42
With international law over the interests of our own people and our sovereignty
18:47
Would things be different under Prime Minister Nigel Farage? You bet. You bet
18:52
Your first time on this podcast, since you stopped being a Tory MP
18:57
Any regrets at all? No. Just you and me chatting. We know I'm listening. No one's listening now
19:02
No, I've always said, and I mean this, it's short of marrying my wife, who you know
19:07
He's probably listening to this podcast. is the best decision I've made. I'm very happy to have done it
19:12
And I think reform has a very, very bright future ahead of it. And you'll get on, do you
19:16
Who would you have a drink with, Lee Anderson or Zia Yusuf, if you had a choice? Well, I think a drink I'd go for Lee
19:22
I'm not sure that Zia does drink. I think you've answered my question. A soft drink
19:26
But no, we all get on very well. I always said in the toy party, it was like a broad church, but without any religion
19:33
The good thing in reform is we do all agree with each other. And that actually means something in politics
19:38
because, I mean, look at these disputes that you've probably covered over the years between the Chancellor and the Home Secretary
19:44
One wants to, you know, juice up the GDP figures with more migrants
19:48
The other wants to secure the borders. Are those disputes going to happen between me and Zia
19:53
I very much doubt it. And just finally, yourself? Do you want to be leader
19:58
That's what everyone tells me. Everyone tells you, who tells you that? Lots of people think you want to be leader of this party
20:03
The good thing about reform is that those questions are not generally asked
20:08
we've put all that behind us and there have been reform we've got a leader
20:12
and look Nigel is our greatest asset I mean I think he's on he's on stage as we speak
20:17
behind you very soon and people are there he is and people are cheering him
20:22
so he's the leader and he's doing a good job for now
20:26
till the election he'll take you into the election at least long that may he reign over us
20:30
on that note Robert Jennings thank you for joining us on Chopper's political podcast
20:35
thank you see you next time thank you Hello, I'm Bev Turner. Now, it can feel like the money in our bank accounts at the moment
20:45
does not keep up with the cost of living, and maybe there's a solution. I'm here today with
20:51
the CEO of Tally Money, Cameron Parry. Cameron, what is Tally Money
20:59
Well, Bev, with Tally Money, you get a current account and a debit card, but instead of pounds, you use milligrams of gold as your everyday money
21:06
So why gold? Gold traditionally is a great store of value. It has, on average, gone up at over 11% per annum for the last 25 years against the pound
21:18
It's tripled in value in the last decade. And in the last two years alone, it's increased by 50% against the pound
21:25
Banks' savings products just can't compete with that level of growth. But this isn't just about gold
21:31
This is about a currency that you guys have created at Tally Money
21:35
Explain it to me as though I'm an idiot. So, look, people need to be able to hold their earnings
21:40
and build their savings in a money that retains its value and remains in their legal control
21:45
and remains theirs to access away from government control. Great. You had me at not exposed to government control
21:52
You should feel safe and happy with your money. You should have peace of mind. The more money you see in your bank balance
21:57
and that's the type of thing we're trying to deliver, and give people choice in the type of money they get to use every day
22:03
Brilliant. Thank you so much, Cameron. Thank you. Nigel Farage, thank you for joining us on GB News
22:19
I want to come to what you've been announcing in this conference later
22:23
I mean it been extraordinary to see 4 people listen to you as a politician speech I never seen that before in my time covering politics It was big yesterday We had 6 through the doors
22:36
But in the hall. Oh, yeah, the hall was full. That was extraordinary. That is unusual
22:41
These people, they want to believe in you. They are messianic in believing in you
22:48
But before we get to that, do you feel you're letting them down
22:51
with these rows about spending and donations? They couldn't care less here. I get that. But the wider voters will look at that and think you're just like all the other parties, that that smell of money and investigations and you're letting them down, I think
23:05
Well, I mean, those investigations will continue. There'll be more of them. It won't end
23:11
But this is a deliberate attempt. Since May the 8th, when everybody woke up and saw that reform wasn't a flash in the pan
23:18
it wasn't going away. There has been a heavy coordinated attempt by political parties, media outlets
23:24
to try and sully the name of reform. And I suspect it won't go away
23:31
Now, look, if we do wrong, we will hold our hands up
23:35
and not run or hide from it. And I promise you that that is the case
23:41
And you know something? I asked the voters of Clacton a few weeks ago what they thought of all this
23:45
and they returned me with a massively increased majority. So, yeah, I get it
23:49
There'll be some people in the middle out there who aren't quite sure that will be worried
23:55
by some of these allegations. That's what I'm thinking. And I do understand that. And that threatens your... You want to deliver yourself in number 10
24:01
for the 6,000 people, and you're risking that by, I would say..
24:05
Oh, no, we're not risking it. Mistakes. Mistakes in the top. Well. The money thing
24:09
Well, hang on. Wherever that ends up, that's what I'd worry about. I mean, you say mistakes
24:14
I mean. OK, yeah. Clearly what happened ahead of this topic. That's contested, I guess. I mean, you know, that is a mistake
24:19
On the other things, I wouldn't say they're mistakes. Yeah. I mean, look, if I report you to the police, I say Christopher Hope has done something beastly
24:27
you will be under investigation. I then tell the newspaper that Chris Hope's under investigation for some guy
24:33
You know, we're living in a complainant society. It's not easy. All I would say to those people out there who are currently unsure
24:39
because of the noise that's been around is just stick with it
24:44
Keep watching. It's a bumpy road. It's a very bumpy road. It'll be fine
24:48
You've gone from a start-up two years ago to PLC level now
24:53
Do you need to improve your systems to be that bigger organisation than you are
24:57
I have spent most of my time since May 7th restructuring the party
25:01
You're the CEO. I'm the CEO. One day I won't be. I can't wait
25:05
for the minute I am and also talk about professionalism look at this conference
25:09
yeah yeah I mean have a look at the stage set have a look at all the theatres
25:13
have a look at the attendees you know we are very very good
25:16
at some things there are other areas in which we need to do more
25:20
do you feel let down by people you've trusted for a long time some of the two other individuals
25:24
one of them you've known since you since you was very young you feel let down
25:29
by people around you do you know one of the reasons I love broadcasting
25:33
and the years I spent on LBC and the years I spent
25:38
with GB News the thing I love about it is it only goes wrong
25:42
if I go wrong yeah and it goes right if I go right
25:47
the trouble with this game I know is you know if a branch official
25:53
in Huddersfield says something awful suddenly it's all my fault that was always the case
25:58
when you ran to UKIP and that's why you quit UKIP you're tired I know
26:01
that's exactly why you quit UKIP and it's happening again. I'm not going to comment on the two individuals
26:08
Of course, I'm not asking you to. But are you too loyal to old friends sometimes? I'm very loyal to people
26:13
Yes, very loyal indeed. And there's reciprocity with that. And because of that tightness of team
26:19
that I work with, we're able to produce Jordan Bardella. I know
26:23
Like a rabbit out of a hat, saying France would take boats back. Well, coming on to that
26:27
I mean, I have the document here. I mean, this was a moment yesterday
26:31
I think it took everyone a bit by surprise by the scale of it. And that shows you I work with trusted people
26:37
Yeah. Our stuff doesn't leak. No, it didn't leak at all. Of course, it hinges on National Rally winning power next year in France
26:45
you winning power next year or the year after that in the UK. If National Rally don't win, should we rip it up
26:52
What happens next? Because it requires a government who will be willing to receive
26:56
the Royal Navy carrying migrant boats. Well, it relies on a government willing to receive
27:02
or we do it and have a bit of a row with the government
27:06
And we'll cross that. I mean, as it stands, and things can change
27:10
but as it stands, National Rally are odds-on favourites to win. I believe they will win
27:15
And if they don't win, you'll have a set-to with the French government
27:19
whoever it is, because this is your policy. We are going to stop the votes by whatever means it takes
27:24
We're asking about Dover today. that's been barricaded by hundreds of masked individuals
27:30
What do you make of that? What's going on? Disgusting. Nobody in any political protest
27:36
whether they're on the left or the right, should appear in balaclavas. It is wrong
27:41
It's sinister and worrying for people there. It's horrible. There's families in cars waiting on the M20
27:46
to get on a holiday, and they see all this happening around them. Disgusting. Disgusting
27:51
And I... Look, nobody feels more strongly about stopping the boats than me
27:55
Nobody has flown the flag to say this could be a disaster
27:59
You were the first out there on the channel. I was the first out there. But I've also, in the last few months, it was me that exposed the Iranian regime
28:06
putting terrorist operatives into Britain. No one wants this stop more than me
28:11
But turning up in balaclavas is not the way to do it. Big story today, this £15,000 allowance, which start paying income tax
28:19
Andy Burnham, when he fought the Mekafil by-election, said that was the single thing that came up on the doorstep
28:23
You're now taking it to him, aren't you? That's going to cost a lot of money. I have been arguing for raised allowances for 20 years
28:30
But you scale back your plan from the election from 20,000 to 15,000
28:33
Why is that? Well, the general election pledge was a rather different party in those days
28:39
You've been in power running it for six weeks by then. It was a different party
28:45
Is 20,000 an aspiration? Absolutely. But to get to 15,000, you would take nearly 3 million people out of tax altogether
28:53
And here's the thing. The next pension increase will take nearly 10 million pensioners into paying tax
29:00
Just think of the cost and bureaucracy of all of that. So it actually helps simplify the tax system, take three million out of tax
29:08
But also it widens the gap between whether it's worth going to work or not going to work
29:14
And what Andy Burnham picked up on the door is what I've been picking up for ages
29:19
People say, I get up at Hubbard's Five, I go to work, the traffic's be awful, the job's hard
29:26
and I'm almost no better off than the people next door who sit around and smoke dope all day
29:31
To make work pay. Yeah, but there is a real growth of a split in society here
29:38
Now, to get to 15,000, Robert Jenner has got to make some big cuts in other areas
29:44
But I think it's absolutely vital. If we don't get Britain working again, if we don't increase our productivity
29:49
we are going bust. It's just as simple as that. Are you expecting a general election May next year
29:57
That's what you're planning for. I predicted it in September, I said spring 27 is when it's going to happen. I've also been the most bearish on the bond markets consistently
30:08
And I think what you've seen in the last couple of weeks, it's happening
30:13
Is your party election ready? That's the question. How many candidates have you chosen of the 650 you need
30:18
I was asked this about a year ago, exactly a year ago. How ready were we
30:24
And I said we're 50% of the way there to being the completed product
30:28
I put us at 80% now. I've still got to find some big spokesmen for areas like health, defence
30:34
and I'm working on that. As far as candidates are concerned, wow, four days a week
30:39
our parliamentary assessment centres are running up and down the country. I just spoke to Simon Danchuk, former Labour MP
30:46
and I just spoke to David Jones, former Tory cabinet minister. They've both attended
30:52
They both say it is more rigorous and more professional than anything they went through in the other passes
31:00
If there's an election in May, we will be ready. David Jones told me the same thing when I met
31:06
when I bumped into him at your conference. How many of you selected, the 650 required or chosen
31:12
About half? We've interviewed, I'm a bit behind the clock, but I think we've interviewed about 1,400 so far
31:19
So this is cranking up by hundreds every week. How are you doing
31:24
Have you peaked? Are you up for it? How are you feeling? I've peaked so many times over the years, you wouldn't believe it
31:31
How close this summer did you come to quitting politics? I didn come close to quitting but I certainly had a very difficult time with my family who have always me And that was the passion when you stood down as NEPI the first time and came back
31:47
I've known you for 20 years. You're quite near the edge, I think, to walking away from this project
31:53
I was pretty cheesed off, as a bright way of putting it. And what brought you back from that point
31:58
I think there is a growing realisation that there is a serious security issue
32:08
it's not a joke and I think that I think that my family perhaps
32:16
have just come to accept that that's the way it is I just hate it when they get in the middle of it all
32:21
and that's what drove you mad when your family had bought into anything you can take the pressure
32:27
You have them, you've got the scars on your back going back for 40 years. But the family is different
32:32
Yeah, so that really upset me over the summer. I just hope they come into terms with it
32:38
So you're going to stay apart the next election, it sounds like to me. Yeah. Yeah, well, I'm pretty fit
32:44
Well, you're grinning away wearing a reformed coloured suit. But you were quite close to stopping the project altogether, handing over
32:51
No, no, no, I didn't get that close. But I literally felt, I just felt it had become no fun
33:01
It had become no fun. And for me, yes, it's serious, but it has to be fun
33:08
And I found the by-election in Clacton enormous fun. I loved it. Yeah
33:11
Faro's Fest afterwards. That was fun. Huge party. And now we have a I mean this is not a party conference No This is a festival Boney M last night were fun Exactly We looking around here you see the first 100 days
33:26
What comes after those 100 days? Well, the point... What's next? You want to go for five years
33:31
What is the following four and a half years? The point of the 100 days is to say to people
33:37
you will get what you vote for, and we'll prove in the first 100 days
33:40
we can make the first significant steps. Our country is in decline
33:46
Everything about Britain is broken. Until you understand that and wake up to that
33:49
you can't begin to put the radical policies in place that are needed to change it
33:54
There is so much to do. There is so much that is wrong. But if in 100 days we can restore voters' trust
34:01
we'd have done a good job. And you can beat Burnham. The Burnham bounce has happened. You forecasted before you came in
34:06
It's now happening. Yeah. How did you beat him? You had Keir Starmer elected, it seems
34:10
I did very much forecast the Burnham bounce. It was always going to happen
34:15
I'm just surprised it's not a bit bigger. It's not that big
34:20
And there's an odd thing here. Burnham almost was saying Britain is broken
34:26
Different ysis to me, or causal factors to me, but now John Healy says this is a continuity government
34:34
with a change of leader. I suspect little is going to change
34:38
and he's been in 50 days and not done much yet. So, no, no, do you know what
34:43
Look at your head for the next three months. I'm very bullish about our prospects. And just finally, the responsibility of the hope
34:48
these people are investing in you, is that weigh heavily on you. And that's why I go back to the beginning point
34:53
You've got to be different to the other main parties. Yeah. And that why it matters I think I know you might think it doesn matter but that why the row about money is just oh they all the same And that why I think you want the responsibility
35:06
to deliver what you can offer to them. Well, I spoke to several hundred of our councillors last night
35:11
and I said to them, I'm so pleased you're all elected because now the full weight of responsibility
35:16
is not just on my shoulders. And this is a people's army and it's going forwards
35:22
And you know what? I love them. Okay. Nigel Farage, thank you for joining us today on GB News at your conference. Thank you
35:54
I tweet at Christopher Hope on Twitter on X. Please let me know what you think about this podcast
36:02
how we can improve it. And also thank you to the team behind the podcast
36:07
Here in Reform UK's conference, Rebecca Nunes, the busy worker bee, back at base, Mick Booker
36:15
who's the editorial director of GB News, and also our editor, George McMillan
36:19
Without their work, this wouldn't happen. Well, next time I'll be speaking
36:23
hopefully the head of the TUC. Maybe. We'll see how that goes
36:27
But from me here at the Reform UK conference, it's cheerio
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