Does Nigel Farage really want to be Prime Minister?

Mar 20, 2026

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Nigel Farage is a shark – hell bent on devouring Britain's political class, as illustrated with the Spectator's cover story this week, co-authored by James Heale and Tim Shipman. Yet, from rows over the pension triple lock to stagnation in the polls, it isn't clear that Farage has a strategy for power. Reform may win the battle of the Right, but does its leader really want to be Prime Minister?

For this week's Edition, host Lara Prendergast is joined by the Spectator's Chairman Charles Moore, deputy political editor James Heale and Times Radio broadcaster Jo Coburn. The panel ponder the idea that Farage may crave power without responsibility. As James puts it, Farage is akin to a southern revivalist – but is momentum waning? For Charles, the Commons is still the 'cockpit of the nation', meaning the Conservatives hold a numerical advantage over Reform in driving the agenda. Addressing the crunch point of the local elections in May, Jo says it is clear that Labour will be 'hoisted by their own petard' and that the Greens offer a more 'successful repository' for those seeking radical change. What is clear is that British politics has never been more unpredictable.

As well as Reform's path to power, the group discuss: how the Iran crisis could be described as 'Suez in reverse' – and is exposing Britain's defence deficit; if regime change in Cuba could be Trump's next target; and their reflections on the greatest city of Earth – London.

Plus: should we defund or defend the BBC? Charles and Jo give a brief taste of the Spectator's debate next week on what to do about the British institution. Charles argues that Spectator readers would be 'instinctively sympathetic' to the Beeb's inheritance but 'disappointed' by its current status, while Jo says that the BBC is always trying to change, warning 'diminish it at your peril'. For tickets to this – and other events – head to spectator.co.uk/events.

Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

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