Nigel Farage got it right (and wrong) this week in his response to Henry Nowak’s death.
Yes, the Reform UK leader was right to highlight concerns of what he described as "two-tier policing"; many have expressed that view.
But the Clacton MP was wrong not to condemn the violence in Southampton during his fiery exchange with Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.
Instead, Mr Farage chose to double down, warning the violence might get worse, prompting Labour MP Luke Charters to urge the Reform UK leader to “show restraint” during a live interview on GB News with Chief Political Correspondent Katherine Forster.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp found the right target by digging out a training manual and zeroing in on The Police Anti-Racism Commitment, something he described as “immoral, dangerous and racist”.
The Conservative MP for Croydon South suggested training directives, which call for different ethnic groups to be treated differently to artificially engineer the same arrest rates, were, in part, to blame Mr Nowak's tragic death.
Mr Farage and his party’s criticism at times looked as though they were going after the police.
The Reform UK leader did not take a step back or pause for thought; instead, he called for “pure cold rage” in an early morning message to the nation.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said other MPs feared him
| GB NEWSHe went on to criticise police forces for what he called “two-tier policing”, while his critics attacked him for failing to condemn the violence in Southampton when it first occurred.
Mr Farage will shrug off this criticism, of course.
He likes being attacked by his rivals; it helps him appear as an outsider to the "Westminster establishment".
Indeed, in an interview that aired on the People's Channel on Thursday, Mr Farage said other MPs feared him as he was more in touch with voters.
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Chris Philp suggested training directives were to blame Henry Nowak's death
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Could the performance of Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain be the reason for Mr Farage’s decision to pursue such a risky strategy?
Recent polling has given Andy Burnham a 10-point lead over Reform UK's Robert Kenyon in the Makerfield by-election race, with Restore Britain's Rebecca Shepherd winning just enough votes to stop Mr Farage's party from winning.
A victory that could have long-term implications for Mr Farage, with Mr Burnham being a much more formidable opponent at a general election, potentially preventing the Brexit maverick from getting the keys to No10.
Although there is an argument, the likely lurch to the left under a Burnham premiership could help both Reform UK and the Tories in the polls.
However, at some point, Mr Farage must start behaving like someone who wants to govern the whole country, not just the parts that agree with him.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch hit the nail on the head on Britain's News Channel yesterday.
She said "he's not the king... he’s got to deal with it” when people disagree with him.
Ms Badenoch also offered words of advice for her rival: “That’s politics, and if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
This is the step-change which Mr Farage needs to effect if he wants to convince a wary British electorate he can be given the keys to Downing Street and govern for the whole nation.
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