Former U.S. President Donald Trump has congratulated his right-wing ally Nigel Farage on winning his first seat in the UK Parliament after seven failed attempts. Farage’s victory came during the UK’s general election on Thursday, which saw Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party achieve a landslide win, ousting Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party.
Farage, representing the right-wing Reform UK party, secured his seat in Clacton, overturning a 25,000 Conservative majority to win by more than 8,000 votes. Reform UK, known for its hardline immigration policies, captured four seats in total, drawing votes away from the Conservatives.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to express his congratulations: “Congratulations to Nigel Farage on his big WIN of a Parliament Seat Amid Reform UK Election Success,” he wrote. “Nigel is a man who truly loves his Country! DJT.”
In his message, Trump did not mention the Labour party’s overwhelming victory or congratulate Starmer, despite the potential need to work closely with him should Trump win his own presidential election against Joe Biden in November.
Farage, who has previously led UKIP and the Brexit Party, announced last month that he would stand in the July 4 election for the Reform Party and serve as its leader. This marked a significant change in his stance after initially stating he would not participate in the UK general election to focus on supporting Trump’s presidential campaign.
Following his victory, Farage declared, “There is a massive gap on the centre-right of British politics and my job is to fill it,” signaling his intention to reshape the political landscape.
Farage and Trump have been allies for nearly a decade, with their relationship solidifying when Trump invited Farage to speak at his rallies during the 2016 presidential campaign. Farage has been a vocal supporter of Trump and has conducted several interviews with him, most notably on LBC radio and GB News.
The Reform UK leader’s triumph in Clacton is seen as a significant moment for the party and a potential shift in the UK’s political dynamics, especially on the centre-right. Farage’s comments after the victory indicate his readiness to challenge the existing political order and capitalize on the discontent among Conservative supporters.
Source – Trump congratulates right-wing ally Nigel Farage on UK election win (msn.com)