The theme of British politics in 2025 has been the assertion of the fun fringe over the staid centre. Nigel Farage and Reform have led all year in the polls and maintain a healthy lead over Labour and the Tories as the year comes to a close. In the final quarter of the year, the big story has been the emergence of the Green party, under Zack Polanski’s leadership. Both he and Farage know what they think and say it with gusto – little quarter is asked or given. We are at the stage where populists have captured the imagination and are also popular. Reform now has more members than any other political party and the Greens are hunting down Labour for the silver medal spot.

As one veteran of battles past, puts it: ‘We need a ruthless bastard, not a useless bastard’

By contrast, Keir Starmer looks like he’s having as much fun as the school geek at the prom, watching the cool kids get all the girls (50 per cent of young women now vote Green, while Farage is hoovering up the votes of young men). The prime minister’s dawning realisation that being in politics means you ought really to have some enjoyment of the political cut and thrust is a sight to see. His palpable discomfort and disdain for the acquisition of political purpose and the deployment of strategy,........

© The Spectator