Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald

Farage vs Binface: the by-election Britain can't ignore

July 30, 2026·29 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Reform party leader Nigel Farage has survived scandals, electoral defeats, and years of attacks from Britain's political establishment.But could he be unseated by a man dressed as a Darth Vader rip-off, in a by-election he called himself?Michael Crick is a veteran UK broadcaster, and author of One Party After Another: The Disruptive Life of Nigel Farage. He claims that even a Farage victory doesn't leave the Reform party in an enviable position.Nigel Farage still has to face down a parliamentary inquiry, coordinated voting campaigns, and continued questions about millions of pounds received as gifts from wealthy political donors. Geraldine Doogue and Latika Bourke join Michael Crick to examine what's really happening inside Reform UK, why Count Binface has become an unexpected factor in the contest, and whether Britain's voters are becoming more resistant to populist leaders.Plus, will the newly crowned Prime Minister Andy Burnham be able to curb Nigel Farage's rise? And what does it mean for the future of the UK when parties all across the political sphere are relying on nostalgia for their messaging?Guest: Michael Crick, author of One Party After Another: The Disruptive Life of Nigel Farage.Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Podzilla Summary coming soon

Sign up to get notified when the full AI-powered summary is ready.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.

Listen to This Episode

Get summaries like this every morning.

Free AI-powered recaps of Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald and your other favorite podcasts, delivered to your inbox.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.