Nigel Farage is locked out of cross-party discussions on adult social care because he resigned from Parliament, according to a Metro columnist. Andy Burnham, the new Prime Minister, invited Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey to talks on Tuesday, but did not call on the Reform UK leader.
Farage's resignation and by-election
Farage resigned as MP for Clacton on 7 July ahead of parliamentary investigations into his financial declarations, including a £5 million payment from a Thailand-based businessman and questions over gifts in kind from a financier convicted of wire fraud in the United States. He denies any wrongdoing, and the investigation has been paused while he is not in Parliament. He is now fighting a by-election on 13 August against a bin, with Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and the Green Party refusing to stand.
Criticism from Farage
Farage criticised Burnham, saying he was 'conspiring behind closed doors with the failed political establishment to foist further tax rises on the country'. He claimed his party has led over 300 national opinion polls and represents millions of Britons. However, the columnist noted that Farage neglected to mention that Reform stopped leading polls this week.
Reactions from other parties
The Greens were also not invited, but their response was different. Zack Polanski said he would like to be there, adding 'the point here is not politicians' personal egos, the point is adult social care is a ticking time bomb'. His parliamentary leader Ellie Chowns wrote to Burnham calling the exclusion deeply disappointing and asking to work constructively with him.
Robert Jenrick's honesty
Reform's Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said he was 'not surprised' Farage hadn't been invited, that Ed Davey and Kemi Badenoch turning up 'tells you all you need to know about their parties', and that Reform would stand alone and fight whatever emerged. The columnist called Jenrick 'the most honest man in this story'.
Social care crisis
The social care system faces a crisis, with 1.5 million care workers, 4.7 million unpaid carers, and 13,600 people a day stuck in hospital beds they don't medically need. The columnist argued that social care has no simple villain and requires unpopular choices on funding, which Farage has avoided by pre-declaring any solution a 'death tax'.
Conclusion
The columnist concluded that Burnham, who has been Prime Minister for nine days, has simply declined to treat Farage as the opposition. Labour has overtaken Reform in the polls for the first time in nearly two years. Farage has spent 30 years insisting he isn't part of the club; now that Burnham agrees, he is furious.
