Dear John,

Yesterday marked a significant moment in British politics as Nigel Farage, newly elected MP for Clacton, spoke for the first time in the House of Commons.

Unlike most MPs, who ensure their first Hansard entry is meaningful and reflects their personal or professional passions, Farage’s debut was petty, divisive and hollow…a choice that speaks volumes about his character and intentions.

Rather than wait for an opportunity to make a considered speech on the myriad challenges our country faces - perhaps on the cost of living crisis or the strain on our NHS - Farage chose to use his first outing to launch an unwarranted personal attack on former Speaker John Bercow. This was a particularly cowardly act given that Bercow was not present to defend himself.

It's telling that as Farage spoke, the new Lib Dem MP for Lewes, James MacCleary, sitting beside him, was seen repeatedly rolling his eyes ([link removed]) in dismay - a reaction many of us likely shared.

Farage’s first-day behaviour suggests he has little interest in playing a constructive role in addressing our nation's problems. Instead, it appears he's more concerned with grabbing headlines and further polarising our political landscape. It's the act of a provocateur, not a serious parliamentarian committed to serving his constituents.

Unsurprisingly, the driving force behind his personal attack on Bercow was Brexit. You’d think he’d want to keep quiet about that particular national disaster on his big day, but no. We don’t mind, though. At Open Britain, we believe the more times Brexit is discussed, the better. It's crucial to continue reminding him - and the public - of the ongoing damage Brexit has inflicted, and will continue to inflict, on our country. We will not allow his distortions to go unchallenged.

Some of you may be wondering whether Farage’s professed support for proportional representation might lead to collaboration with Open Britain on democratic reform. Let me be unequivocal: it will not. While we remain committed to electoral reform, we intend to challenge Farage on this subject to establish whether his enthusiasm for PR stems from a genuine desire to improve democracy or is simply a cynical attempt to further his own selfish agenda.

Open Britain's mission remains clear: to build a fair, inclusive democracy that works for all citizens, not just a privileged few. We won't let Farage's divisive tactics or hollow populism distract us from this vital goal. Instead, we will continue to call out his harmful rhetoric and work tirelessly to prevent him from using his new platform to mislead the public again with his self-serving brand of politics.

In these challenging times, it's more important than ever that we stand united against those who seek to divide us. Farage's performance yesterday only reinforces our resolve to push for a more constructive, inclusive political discourse that addresses the real issues facing our nation.

Thank you for your unwavering support as we continue this crucial work. Together, we CAN ensure Farage remains an embarrassing sideshow at the margins of politics…and NOT our future Prime Minister.

All the very best,

Mark Kieran

CEO, Open Britain
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