Farage must toast Corbyn for easing his path to No10

PICTURE the scene if you can. A good old-fashioned British boozer, the kind of pub that we are all desperate to save as they tackle the onslaught of greater costs and bureaucracy that the hospitality sector is facing under this Labour Government.

- Duncan Barkes

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is sitting in the snug with his usual pint of foaming ale and creating havoc on social media using his smartphone as he challenges the Government on its latest litany of failures.

Jeremy Corbyn, former Labour leader and now an Independent MP, strolls into the pub looking a little lost and a bit bewildered. The boozer is not, after all, Jezza's natural habitat. Farage leaps up; jovially slaps Corbyn on the back and declares that the drinks are on him.

The godfather of left-wing politics in Britain reticently thanks the Reform UK leader and orders a pint of dandelion and burdock. There is not much chat, aside from their mutual dislike of the EU. But this does not matter.

Farage is in the chair and is happy to pick up the bar bill as Corbyn's recent announcement of a new political party is the best news he has heard in weeks. At a stroke, Labour's polling when it comes to voting intention will take a massive kicking, with the main beneficiary being Reform UK.

Corbyn and his pals have just significantly increased the chances of Farage sitting in 10 Downing Street at the next general election.