Reform UK Photo may come to symbolise a new era

As a photo it is visually striking and politically resonant: Nigel Farage, the man who loudly proclaims he will be the UK's next prime minister, alongside two extremely rich supporters, all bathed in the golden glow of his hero Donald Trump.

- Peter Walker

In terms of raw politics, the significance is what may follow from the talks involving the leader of Reform UK, the party's new treasurer Nick Candy, and Elon Musk at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Monday, immortalised in a photo eagerly released by Farage's media team.

Musk, the world's richest man who spent more than $250m (£200m) of his fortune helping Trump regain the presidency, is rumoured to be so enamoured of Farage - and aghast at what he sees as a "woke" leftwing Labour government - that he may donate $100m to the populist rightwing Reform party.

This may or may not happen - and even if it does, it remains to be seen how much impact such a windfall would have on a party Farage concedes is still lacking in organisation and election-winning knowhow. But this is a photo that arguably sums up where UK politics, or at least a part of it, is right now. That is the second age of Farage as a tribute act to Trump - one in which, Farage hopes, he also ends up with an election win.

For context, it is illustrative to look at another gaudy photo, one taken almost exactly eight years ago when Trump had just won his first presidential term.