A new poll has suggested Nigel Farage could become prime minister at the next general election – but, in Lincoln today, views on the Reform UK leader appeared decidedly mixed.
The YouGov poll said his anti-immigration party could win 311 parliamentary seats at the next national vote – enough to put Mr Farage in Number 10.
Yet people canvassed in Lincoln city centre this afternoon seemed unconvinced by his appeal.
Sue Ranyard, a retired 74-year-old, said: “I don’t like the bloke. I used to like him when he was speaking out [about Brexit] but now, he’s terrible and I certainly do not want to see him as prime minister.”
Libby Wilshire, 22, a hotel receptionist, said: “Lincoln is a diverse city and he would have a negative effect on that. His views are very prejudice in my opinion, and I don’t want him in control of our country.”
Pub assistant manager Alex Branagan described himself as a ‘Anyone-But-Farage voter. “I’m not too fussed on who’s prime minister as long as it isn’t him,” said the 23-year-old. “He acts like a moron.”
Sign maker Phil Sherwood, 45, was especially unimpressed with Reform UK’s hard-line stance on immigration with the party saying it would freeze arrivals to the UK and deport 600,000 people over the next five years. Mr Sherwood said: “Everyone should be welcome, everyone should be given a chance.”
Yet some people in the city – which is currently run by a Reform-led county council – were more favourable to the idea of a Farage-led government.
Ian Bradley, 59, said: “It’s difficult to know because he hasn’t had a track record in government compared to the Tories and Labour. However I don’t believe he can be any worse than Keir Starmer is right now.”
