Nigel Farage Calls for General Election at CPAC London

Reform leader Nigel Farage reiterated his demand for a general election during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in London, highlighting the urgency to fix a “broken Britain” amid the failures of the establishment’s “Unionist Party.”

Speaking on Friday, Farage expressed his concern about the state of British society, suggesting that it was at risk of deterioration and that continued governance by the left-leaning Labor Party and the so-called Conservative Party might lead to dire consequences. He described them as essentially two factions of the same establishment problem.

“I genuinely think we’re less than a decade away from becoming a Third World country, and I refuse to let that happen,” he asserted. He urged attendees who shared his urgency regarding national issues to stand with him, reflecting on historical resilience, stating, “This country has weathered crises before, and we’ve always found a way to recover.”

Farage critiqued the recent election of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, pointing out that he was not elected based on a full mandate but by a mere 25,000 supporters just a month prior. “It’s astounding that he holds power in a country that prides itself on being one of the oldest and most functional democracies,” Farage remarked. He added that the public appears tired of the ongoing uncertainty in Downing Street.

“Given that we have a new prime minister who hasn’t been chosen by the wider electorate, the only logical action would be to hold a general election immediately to determine the future direction of the country,” he proposed.

The populist leader further criticized Burnham by claiming he was essentially the same as previous leaders, possibly more left-leaning. Farage suggested that Burnham’s focus seemed to lie more in self-serving ambitions than genuine care for the nation, noting that he had referred to his notes 266 times during his inaugural speech.

“If leaders can’t address an audience without getting lost in their notes, it raises questions about whether they’re motivated by personal ambition rather than a belief in our country,” he quipped.

“I don’t need to be a politician. There are many other paths I could take. But I’m doing this because Britain is in freefall. We must acknowledge that,” he continued.

Farage also criticized Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch for statements that contradicted the party’s actions over its 14 years in power, particularly concerning post-Brexit immigration, referring to it as the “Boriswave.” He lamented that this influx—3.8 million immigrants, with only a small fraction arriving with work permits—would have significant long-term consequences for the nation.

He dismissed the long-standing dominance of the Labor and Conservative parties, suggesting it felt more like a club than a real political landscape. He remarked humorously about their historical rivalry, noting, “For a century, it’s been the Libs versus the Conservatives. Since World War I, it’s been Labor and Conservatives. Now it’s your turn.”

Supporters of the Reform party have pointed to coordinated attempts by the major parties to undermine Farage’s political efforts, particularly after his call for a Clacton special by-election, stemming from an investigation into his financial disclosures. He asserted that the other parties’ decision to boycott the election represented a lack of respect for voters and an effort to curb his potential victory.

“We are up against a single-party dictatorship. There’s no real choice between these two parties. Reform represents the first viable option in a century. I urge everyone here: If you want change, you need to cast your vote for it,” he emphasized.