How the Media is Trying to Talk a Nigel Farage Government Into Reality

Why for much of the British press, the unlikely story of Reform UK's rise to power is simply "too good to check"

You can tell how invested much of the media has become in the rise of Reform UK by the coverage of this week’s Hamilton by-election.

In the run up to the vote, gallons of ink were spilled on the suggestion that Labour would likely lose the contest to Nigel Farage’s party.

“We can be sure of only two things” wrote the former Labour MP, turned Conservative-supporting Telegraph columnist, Tom Harris.

“That Labour has thrown every resource it possibly can at this campaign. And also that it isn’t going to win”.

“In fact it is more likely to come third”.

Across the political spectrum, news outlets suggested that a “Farage tsunami” would sweep the seat into Reform’s hands, due to voter unhappiness with Labour.

“Voter dissatisfaction could give Reform a Holyrood by-election boost,” reported the Guardian, with the Spectator foreseeing that a Reform victory in Hamilton would be “just the beginning” of the party’s capture of seats north of the border.

There was only one problem with this. The predicted ‘Farage tsunami’ never arrived.