Columnist Peter Hitchens has offered a critical assessment of Nigel Farage's political career, suggesting the prominent Brexiteer's movement is a "one-man act" that has "nothing much to offer the country."
Hitchens notes that while Farage has displayed toughness in surviving personal adversity, including a plane crash and cancer, his political success has been built on being a "mocking rebel and the outsider" who has "never really had to explain what he would do if he got real power."
According to Hitchens, Farage's political movement "has all but destroyed the Tory Party" and "has split the Labour Party," while also serving as the "pillar of no fewer than three rebel movements." However, he posits that this success is now showing signs of waning, with "helium... beginning to leak from his once-impressive political airship."
The author suggests that Farage may be realizing that his movement's reliance on him and his "good fortune" is a "dismal truth." Hitchens observes that Farage's recent public behavior, described as "petulant snarling at TV reporters," indicates he is "at the end of his tether."
Hitchens elaborates on Farage's lack of substantive policy, stating that he "expresses, in a shrug, a wink or a smirk, the opinions of millions, as long as he says as little as possible." He contends that Farage "has no idea what to do about mass immigration, let alone the economy, or defence or the police or drugs." The columnist believes that as political circumstances become more challenging, Farage is unable to cope, which he sees as potentially beneficial for the country.
The piece also briefly touches on other historical and contemporary matters, including a discussion on the "conditional pardon" given to Ruth Ellis and reflections on societal reforms. Hitchens also mentions Turkey's President Erdogan and an engraved revolver he presented to former UK Premier Keir Starmer.