The Death of British Populism?

Trump's return to the White House is the political equivalent of a wrecking ball swinging wildly through the right-wing populist playground. His victory, far from emboldening Nigel Farage and his merry band of Reformists, spells disaster for their long-term ambitions. Why? Because Farage has spent years mimicking Trump’s playbook without the weight of American power behind him. Now that the real thing is back, Farage looks less like a revolutionary and more like a cheap tribute act wheezing through the encore.

Trump's isolationist "America First" stance undermines Farage’s entire pitch. Farage sells himself as the champion of a strong, sovereign Britain standing tall on the world stage. But if Trump guts NATO, cosies up to Putin, and throws Europe under the bus, Britain won't be standing tall. It’ll be standing alone, friendless and exposed. Farage might cheer from the sidelines, but the British public, already weary from Brexit's broken promises, will see through the charade. Sovereignty means little when you're left out in the cold, watching the global economy shift without a seat at the table.

And then there’s Boris Johnson, lurking in the wings like an actor who’s forgotten his lines. Trump’s rise pushes Johnson further into irrelevance. His tired act, once buoyed by bluster and opportunism, now looks painfully outdated. The British right can only accommodate so many populist figureheads, and with Trump casting his shadow across the Atlantic, Johnson is surplus to requirements. He’ll be left scribbling newspaper columns and reminiscing about the good old days when he could bluff his way through interviews without anyone noticing the lack of substance.

The irony is even richer when you consider Johnson's stance on Ukraine. Once an ardent supporter, flaunting his solidarity with Zelensky, Johnson now bends to Trump's disdain for Ukraine. Principles discarded, relevance chased – a pitiful sight.

Trump's return comes at an opportune moment, with Labour only half a year into its administration. The damage Trump's populism will wreak worldwide, and in America specifically, will serve as a stark warning to the British electorate, much as once Hitler's aims became clear, the fascination with fascism in Britain was dead. With Labour still shaping its narrative, the contrast between Trump's chaos and Starmer's steadiness will only reinforce Labour (or possibly the LibDems) as the stable alternative, further consolidating its position ahead of the next election. As the consequences unfold across the Atlantic, voters in the UK will see exactly where Farage's and Johnson's brand of opportunistic populism leads – chaos, division, and decline.

In the end, Trump's return is a death knell for British populism, not a lifeline. Farage will find himself tethered to an American agenda that hurts Britain, while Johnson fades further into irrelevance. The irony is delicious. The two men who spent years hitching their wagons to the populist star will now be burned by its return. And they’ll have no one to blame but themselves.