"Farage is the sort of guy that drives you out of your favourite pub." Lord Chris Patten questions why the Reform leader remains a political force - suggesting gutlessness and a squeeze on living standards fuel his rise. @lewisgoodall.com
Replies
I like Patten. Never thought I’d say that
jun 20, 2025, 5:28 pm • 2 0 • view
Another Grenfell waiting to happen in the UK, if Reform come into power. No clue what they’re doing and it’s all about appeasing donors who couldn’t care less for citizens. Regulations that keep people safe will go.
jun 20, 2025, 7:42 pm • 2 0 • view
Jabbering on about workshy people on benefits, when you've just popped in for a swift dinner shandy and he's propping up the bar all day. (tax payer funded)
jun 20, 2025, 4:55 pm • 4 0 • view
Thank you so much for this interview, @lewisgoodall.com. I'm a leftie, a Corbynist, but I'm also 66 and have a perspective I fear only us boomers can still have with memories of more cogent, less divisive political times when social democracy was the norm. It can feel like a dream, the fond...
jun 20, 2025, 9:33 pm • 0 0 • view
... imagining of a failing memory, but Patten did so much in this interview to bring those days back and confirm their reality. An inspired gem of an interviewee in an excellently conducted interview, (given you are but a callow youth). Thank you.
jun 20, 2025, 9:33 pm • 2 0 • view
Quite a lot of people are thick as sh*t however…
jun 20, 2025, 5:02 pm • 3 0 • view
Devoid of a communicated strategy, Starmer will be forever managing policies and decisions tactically. For what and why? Finger in the air politics has hamstrung the UK too long. Surely time for a change to the two party system. We cross-partisan consensus on UK fundamentals if we are truly to grow
jun 20, 2025, 6:25 pm • 0 0 • view
I did drink in the same pub as Farage a few times. Not going back there. Or the NYC restaurant where he used to eat with Trump. I'll miss both of those but I know where I'm better off
jun 20, 2025, 6:36 pm • 0 0 • view
The main thing that 'fuels his rise' is the frankly insane amount of press coverage he gets. It's as if the media barons want him in power!
jun 20, 2025, 5:06 pm • 16 2 • view
Gutlessness and living standards are two of the big reasons. With Starmer in charge, that's not changing.
jun 21, 2025, 1:23 pm • 0 0 • view
Lord Chris Patten questions why the Reform leader remains a political force... maybe because the entire effing media is obsessed with him and can't stop giving him airtime?
jun 20, 2025, 5:07 pm • 3 0 • view
I just love the way he pronounces Farage to rhyme with the Northern pronunciation of garage. Let’s help this catch on, as it’s surely the way his supporters in those working class pubs would say it
jun 20, 2025, 6:17 pm • 1 0 • view
The disgruntlement that Farage leveraged to win the Brexit referendum hasn't gone away. In fact, it's been exacerbated by Brexit, but Farage has been able to escape responsibility for the mess he created because he hasn't been in power. An arsonist who's successfully cast himself as a fireman.
jun 20, 2025, 5:17 pm • 8 0 • view
I love how Lord Patten refers to the gormless one as 'Farridge", which is likely to be the actual correct pronunciation of the surname.
jun 20, 2025, 4:53 pm • 16 0 • view
Indeed, should be pronounced the same as garage, but starting with an f. Effing Farage!
jun 20, 2025, 5:21 pm • 2 0 • view
Exactly, I've always thought all commentators should pronounce it this way. Surely he wouldn't want his name to be Frenchified!
jun 21, 2025, 3:26 pm • 0 0 • view
I love it that Lord Patten looks as if he has just come in from the garden.
jun 21, 2025, 3:56 am • 0 0 • view
Farage would make me think I need to leave the Country
jun 20, 2025, 6:27 pm • 0 0 • view
Trouble is that everywhere you could go have their own Farages or even worse
jun 20, 2025, 10:49 pm • 0 0 • view
The bloomin BBC has a lot to do with it.
jun 20, 2025, 5:12 pm • 4 0 • view
Yeah. Bloody right. (or bloomin, if you prefer).
jun 20, 2025, 5:42 pm • 1 0 • view
Come on someone must have some dirt on him to get rid of him for good ?
jun 20, 2025, 11:25 pm • 0 0 • view
Great interview. Thanks Lewis.
jun 21, 2025, 12:25 am • 0 0 • view
Reform isn’t as popular as Lib Dem’s, so why is it always in the news?
jun 20, 2025, 5:03 pm • 15 1 • view
Right wing, non dom, non taxpaying media moguls love him, would be my take.
jun 20, 2025, 5:10 pm • 12 0 • view
Precisely.
jun 20, 2025, 7:11 pm • 1 0 • view
That is the single best description of Farage I have ever heard!
jun 20, 2025, 4:59 pm • 2 0 • view
It's always a Tory shit show what ruins it
jun 21, 2025, 7:34 am • 0 0 • view
Once again, it seems that those who see through Farage, Reform AND the Brexit they inflicted upon our country, are not, generally, todays politicians or MSM but those outside politics, like Lord Patten. EVERY time Farage slithers onto screen for a self promoting interview, HAMMER him on Brexit!
jun 21, 2025, 11:35 am • 0 0 • view
The BBC love affair with Farage and their complete lack of critical analysis where he is concerned is a big part of the problem.
jun 20, 2025, 7:48 pm • 3 1 • view
Patten always gave good clips. Not always usable on air.
jun 20, 2025, 5:27 pm • 0 0 • view
Not from my favourite party but Chris P always a good listen
jun 20, 2025, 10:46 pm • 0 0 • view
Id actually visit the pub he was drinking in. Listening to him waffling on With his stupid nonsensical shite would be better then any pub entertainment currently out there,
jun 20, 2025, 5:38 pm • 0 0 • view
He would get me barred from my favourite pub 😂
jun 20, 2025, 8:23 pm • 0 0 • view
I may well end up in prison given he wanted the milk shake lady to go there. I wouldn’t even consider it a waste of I poured all my Prosecco over him 🤣
jun 20, 2025, 8:31 pm • 1 0 • view
Yes, yes, yes! It is the effing media, especially the BBC, who now openly admit (to me at least in response to my complaint!), that they are basically openly "shilling" for him now. A % of the licence fee now goes on Reform propaganda, but Labour refuses to act. Have they even "clocked" it all yet?
jun 20, 2025, 6:25 pm • 1 0 • view
I'm not so easily moved. I'd fight him for "my" stool.
jun 20, 2025, 8:29 pm • 0 0 • view