Press shift How the rightwing media are turning their backs on the Tory party

As the 2015 election hove into view, one of Nigel Farage's team was frustrated. Ukip, the party Farage then led, had only recently caused what was widely regarded as a political earthquake by winning the European Parliament elections.

- Michael Savage

The Daily Mail seemed to agree with everything Farage was saying, most notably his condemnation of the numbers of Romanians and Bulgarians coming to Britain. Why then, Farage's adviser asked a senior Daily Mail journalist, would the paper not endorse Ukip?

With a nod to the paper's seemingly unshakable bond to the Conservative party, the journalist replied: "Orders, dear boy. Orders."

A decade on, Farage is once again leading in the polls, this time as head of Reform UK. There is no such frustration within his team, however. Recent media coverage has them believing those old bonds tying the traditionally Conservative-supporting press to the Tories are weakening.

In the last week, the Mail published a striking front page: "Britain is facing societal collapse, warns Farage." It was accompanied by a leading article generally supportive of a Farage speech on crime. On the previous day, the paper had run an article by Farage arguing Britain "needs Reform."

Meanwhile, a beaming Farage could be spotted on social media holding up a double-page spread from the Sun on Sunday. It featured another of his articles with the headline: "Lawless Britain."

On Monday, the Telegraph's front page led with the Reform leader's vow to build more prisons.

In both Reform and Conservative circles, such coverage is being watched closely. All believe it is being driven by Reform's now consistent poll lead.

"Things are progressing quite nicely," said a senior Reform source. Another said: "We have demonstrated to editors that we aren't going away."