“The Conservative Party is facing an existential crisis,” Curtis said. “Farage’s aim is to replace them.”
This fear was also evident in Fareham.
“This is a huge surprise and a huge disappointment, as we have been repeatedly assured by her that she will not defect,” said local Conservative Party treasurer Harry Cuisch, who responded to her in her former office. “She’s confident she made the right decision and will probably try to recruit some of us,” he said. “There are a lot of angry people.”
The question here is how high the upper limit for reform should be.
Several opinion polls this month showed the party’s support, which peaked at 35% in October, has settled to 28%, still higher than any other party but not enough to hold power without forming a coalition.
Most of the new support after 2024 will come from former Conservatives.
Another hurdle may be Mr. Farage’s long-standing friendship and alliance with Mr. Trump. The president sparked outrage in Britain, particularly in military towns like Fareham, home to Collingwood Naval Training Base, when he suggested that British troops were not near the front line in Afghanistan. Mr Farage said the comments were “wrong” but some voters remain wary.
“Some of their policies are a little bit extreme for my taste, especially around immigration,” said Kevin Murphy, 70, a retired electrician near Polchester.
“I’m just worried that we’re going to end up like Donald Trump because of these far-right policies,” Murphy said, citing immigration raids in Minnesota as his main concern. “When you look at what he’s doing in America…oh my god.”
