Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, has declared Britain's political system "completely broken" following Prime Minister Keir Starmer's resignation and is advocating for a new general election, which he predicts his party has "every chance of winning."
Farage, speaking at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference in London, argued that mass migration has fundamentally altered the United Kingdom, particularly its urban centers. He stated that Britain has "lost our way" and that leaders have failed to defend traditional values.
"Mass migration has changed this country, certainly in many of our cities, literally beyond recognition," Farage told Fox News Digital. "We’ve not been selective about who’s been able to come into the country. That is a major contributory factor."
He also criticized what he described as a shift too far in the direction of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, suggesting it has led to a "two-tier policing" and "two-tier justice" system in the UK.
Starmer's resignation on Monday paves the way for Britain's seventh leader in a decade. Farage believes Starmer's downfall was a consequence of the political shifts initiated by the Brexit vote a decade prior, asserting that the two major parties have failed to adapt.
"Ten years ago yesterday, we had a political earthquake in Britain. It was called Brexit," Farage said. "And the two old parties have never quite adapted to it."
Farage, a prominent figure in the Brexit campaign, contends that the political establishment has not adequately addressed voters' demands for stricter border controls and enhanced national sovereignty. He pointed to Reform UK's recent gains in former Labour strongholds during local elections as evidence of shifting public sentiment, linking these voters to the Brexit movement and immigration concerns.
"All of those were Brexit voters," he explained. "Starmer wants to take us closer back to the EU. But one of the reasons we voted Brexit was immigration and border controls. So the boats certainly did him harm."
While Farage dismissed the idea that Starmer's strained relationship with former U.S. President Donald Trump was the direct cause of his resignation, he suggested it contributed to an image of a leader who had lost control.
"I don’t think the breakdown of his relationship with Donald Trump impacted directly," Farage said, "but it was part of a picture of a prime minister who’d lost control."
Farage suggested that if Andy Burnham were to become prime minister through a Labour leadership contest rather than a general election, he would lack a public mandate. "I don’t even know what his policies are. Literally, I don’t," Farage stated.
He also used the interview to frame Britain's political instability as part of a wider Western crisis concerning borders, national identity, and traditional values, offering a cautionary note to Americans regarding the UK's experiences with diversity policies, policing, justice, and immigration.
Farage expressed a desire for closer ties between the UK and the United States, particularly in trade and financial services. He noted his own past experience working in the U.S. financial sector and believes he could foster a strong relationship with American leaders.
"You are the biggest foreign investor in Britain, and we’re still just about the biggest foreign investor in America," he said. "And we share so much, not just language, but culture and so much else."
He dismissed any serious prospect of Britain rejoining the European Union, citing the financial costs and lack of public demand beyond what he called the "Westminster bubble."