Tory voters divided after Jeremy Vine sparks fierce Nigel Farage debate on Channel 5
A traditional Tory voter has argued it would be the 'worst thing' for the UK if Nigel Farage became an MP at the General Election as another said she wanted Reform's leader as PM.
Jeremy Vine explores whether Reform rise is end of Tories
Nigel Farage becoming an MP has divided traditional Conservative voters in a debate on Jeremy Vine's Channel 5 call in. Viewers were invited to give their views on whether the rise of Reform UK signalled the end of the Tories during Wednesday's show.
Recent voting intention polls put Mr Farage's party just a few percentage points behind the Tories, with a Redfield & Wilton poll putting the Conservatives on 19 percent and Reform 17 percent.
A YouGov survey published on Tuesday (June 11) put Mr Farage's party on 17 percent, up one percentage point on last week, with the Conservatives down one at 18 percent.
Caller, Bob, from Hertfordshire, told Vine he is sticking with the Tories and was aghast that voters are once again falling for Mr Farage's politics.
He said: "A lot of people are falling for Farage again. They fell for it in 2016 for Brexit and they're going to, maybe, fall for it again. It would be the worst thing for this country even if he got into Parliament. It's personality politics."
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A second caller, Frances, from Surrey, told Vine she usually votes Conservative but would cast her vote for Reform on July 4.
She said: "I've always been a staunch Conservative voter, but will now be voting for Reform."
Frances told Vine she lives in Caterham, which has been a Blue Wall seat most recently represented by Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho.
Asked if she thought a vote for Reform would just let the Lib Dems in, Frances said no. She added: "I just think we've all had enough of the governments that we've had over the last 14 years."
The caller continued: "I would just like to see the Reform party with Nigel Farage as its leader putting this country back to rights."
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Vine replied: "So you want to see them form the next government. That's a stretch."
Panellist Phil Jones said Reform forming the next government isn't going to happen due to the UK's first past the post electoral system.
He added: "Farage has stood for Parliament - is it seven times - and failed to get in. He might get in this time."
Mr Jones explained, however, that it was highly unlikely Reform would secure any more MPs at the General Election.
Mr Farage said during an appearance in Ashfield, Notts, on Tuesday that success for Reform would be "many many millions of votes" and a "beachhead" established in Westminster, both of which he believes he can achieve.
He added: "This is not some fringe extreme party. This is a serious political movement with many millions of people supporting it."
