Populists in power Does Meloni point the way for Farage?

One of the more striking images from June's G7 summit showed a small group of world leaders engaged in an impromptu and informal evening chat at the venue's restaurant.

- Peter Walker

In the foreground of that photo was a familiar blond head: that of Giorgia Meloni.

During her three years as the Italian prime minister, Meloni has moved beyond her hard-right populism, not to mention her fascism-adjacent origins, to earn at least the respect of other leaders Keir Starmer among them - for her pragmatism and flexibility. Among those watching this transformation from the sidelines will have been the man hoping to be Starmer's replacement: Nigel Farage.