The Right way to party at 60... with Tory MPs and a message from Trump
IF Downing Street aides are nervous about the job security of Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister and Tory leader, Nigel Farage’s 60th birthday party will have done nothing to soothe their anxieties.
Faces from the Centre-Right of politics joined him, friends and family at the Boisdale restaurant in London’s Canary Wharf to celebrate. Guests included Mr Sunak’s predecessor Liz Truss, former Brexit Secretary Sir David Davis, MP Mark Francois – of the European Research Group of Tory Brexiteers – and Andrea Jenkyns, first Tory MP to say she had put in a leadership vote letter.
Radio host and Express columnist James Whale went with his wife Melinda, and Reform and ex-Tory MP Lee Anderson was there as was his leader Richard Tice.
While the Right’s vote fractures between Reform and the Tories, the celebration proved there is a meeting point for the two. The party was teed up by the 45th and possibly 47th US President.
When Mr Farage first met Donald Trump in 2016 the Briton was a presidential campaign warm-up act – Mr Trump repaid the favour with a recorded message to the birthday party.
He teased: “I very much look forward to watching what your next move is going to be, Nigel. It’s going to be an interesting one. But you are not done yet and hopefully the best is yet to come.” The former Brexit Party leader had hinted there would be a big birthday announcement – and to shouts of “Go on!” and “Do it!” he mused if he should continue as a GB News broadcaster which pays well, gives him options and makes him happy. Should he take offers in America, especially if Mr Trump becomes President again? Or should he reenter the fray and take a pay cut to make his contribution to UK politics again? Reform honorary president Mr Farage quipped: “This seems like the perfect occasion to make an announcement. But I genuinely haven’t made up my mind.” The impression is he is finding it hard to stay away from politics. The Tory Right sees Mr Farage as one of them and a potential leader.
One MP noted: “There are only two people who could move the dial to save the Conservative Party – Boris [Johnson] or Nigel.” While some people might be considering their retirement plans at 60, clearly there is still much more to come from the man described at the event as “Britain’s most important politician since Margaret Thatcher”.