Reform UK’s momentum is influencing other parties too. The Greens voted overwhelmingly to elect Zack Polanski last month, partly on the basis that he would replicate Nigel Farage’s media success. Labour are basing much of their current strategy on a cordon sanitaire approach, hyping up the threat of any Farage-led government. The Liberal Democrats are now trying to copy a model that Reform has exploited to great effect: luring Tory defectors to their side.

In April, Jamie Greene, a West Scotland MSP since 2016, crossed the floor at Holyrood. Sir Ed Davey sought to build on this in his recent conference address, issuing an explicit appeal for ‘One Nation Conservatives’ to join him. The Lib Dems have sought to hammer this message home in recent weeks. A van advertising party membership wa

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