There was a slightly lighter air than usual in the House of Commons on Wednesday, December 18, for the weekly session of questions to the Prime Minister. Two days before the holidays, the deputies loudly wished each other “Merry Christmas” (“Merry Christmas”), exchanging greetings “peace and goodwill” for the new year.
On the opposition benches, the five elected representatives of the far-right Reform UK party laughed at the attacks of the Liberal Democrats and Scottish separatists against the Labor Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, but their leader, Nigel Farage, smiled predator and Union Jack socks on his feet, did not ask to speak. Mr Starmer then rushed to Downing Street to chair two receptions in a row: one to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, the other in honor of British political journalists.
However, it is not time for celebration for the British government, which is breaking records for unpopularity five months after Labor's victory in the general election. Above all, Reform UK's breakthrough in the polls and Elon Musk's supposed intentions towards the populist party alarm Downing Street. Published on December 4 by the Find out Now agency, a poll caused a sensation: it placed Reform UK at 24% voting intentions, behind the Conservatives (26%) but ahead of Labor (23%). Other studies now rank the far-right formation, founded in 2018 by Nigel Farage, neck and neck with the Tories and Labor, who have dominated British political life for a century.
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Source: Lemonde