Nigel Farage makes stark Angela Rayner prediction as Reform leader prepares for early general election

Oliver Partridge
Sat, 02 May 2026 16:52:09 +0000

Nigel Farage has spoken of his prediction on the future of Labour Party leadership, maintaining his prediction of a premature General Election as soon as next year.

With polling day on May 7 approaching, Reform Uk anticipates securing more than 1,500 council seats nationwide - with Labour preparing for potentially devastating losses that some MPs fear could spark a leadership contest.

While traversing Essex atop an open-top campaign bus this week, the party leader spoke to members of the community, sharing his vision of what a Reform government would provide.

Mr Farage believes Sir Keir Starmer will be removed from Labour leadership before the year is out, and anticipates that whoever replaces him would pursue such extreme policies that a "breakdown of order" would ensue, creating pressure for an early General Election.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

When asked about potential successors while campaigning, the Reform leader offered somewhat blunt assessments of the future for Labour.

"I've always said, at least Rayner's real," he remarked, though warning that her becoming Prime Minister would send "the economy over a cliff".

He also took aim at Andy Burnham's dismissive attitude towards financial markets, and said: "You may not worry about the bond markets, but the bond markets will worry about you."

The Mayor of Manchester is being floated as a potential replacement for Keir Starmer, alongside Health Secretary Wes Streeting as another possibility, who has secured backing from 81 party colleagues.

Despite the speculation, Mr Farage maintains his longstanding prediction that a General Election due in 2029 will ultimately come sooner in 2027.

The Reform leader also launched a fierce attack on the Green Party, accusing it of being "hijacked" by hard-line Islamism and harbouring "embedded" antisemitism.

He suggested the party faces the same trajectory as Labour under Jeremy Corbyn - an investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission into institutional antisemitism.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Wes Streeting has backing of enough MPs to challenge Keir Starmer's leadership within days

Andy Burnham plotting to return to Westminster 'within weeks' amid surge in support

Greens turn on Zack Polanski over 'inappropriate and divisive' Golders Green police post

His comments followed the arrest of two Green candidates in Lambeth on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred through alleged antisemitic social media posts.

Saiqa Ali, standing in Streatham, and Sabine Mairey, the Clapham Town candidate, were detained by Metropolitan Police officers under Section 19 of the Public Order Act.

"Wow, arrested. Bloody hell. We've had some problems over the years, but never that," Mr Farage commented.

He warned broader sectarian politics now represents "a fatal wound for Labour".

Reform's campaign approach has evolved significantly since the contest began.

Initially, the party favoured large auditorium gatherings with audiences exceeding 1,000 people, but has since pivoted to a series of daily town centre walkabouts.

Mr Farage said:: "The local Facebook groups go potty. Everyone in the pub tonight will say, 'You never guess who was here today."

He described the support he encounters as "visceral", representing "a kind of brand loyalty that you rarely, very rarely see in British politics".

The approach appears to be yielding results, as businessman Philip Miller, who owns Adventure Island in Southend, joined in the walkabout.

"Let's just say I wouldn't be unhappy if he was Prime Minister," Mr Miller said.

"There's always an air of excitement when Nigel's around."