The European Election Result Explained For Americans (And Brits Who Haven’t Kept Up)

But didn’t Farage make some pretty bold claims this morning?

He did indeed. Two in fact.

Firstly, he demanded a say in Brexit negotiations, saying this morning: “We should be part of the team now, that’s pretty clear.”

Secondly, he told the Press Association he was getting ready to fight a general election, warning that his Brexit Party could “stun everybody” if Britain has not left the EU by the next national contest.

“We’re not just here to leave the European Union but to try and fundamentally change the shape of British politics, bring it into the 21st century and get a parliament that better reflects the country,” he said.

So Farage really is going to shake things up then?

Steady on, not so fast. Farage can talk the talk but how far he gets on either of these is far from assured.

Firstly, it is highly unlikely – no, near-impossible – that the Brexit Party will have any say in Brexit negotiations. 

Tim Bale, politics professor at the Queen Mary University of London, told HuffPost UK last week: “It is a complete and utter non-starter. It will be frankly unconstitutional for a party with no MPs and not in government to be involved in a state to state negotiation.

“But it’s an effective soundbite.”

Then there’s the fact there currently aren’t any negotiations. So that’s that then.

And on the General Election front, Farage has a terrible record having tried and failed to become an MP no less than seven times.

“The prospect of Farage becoming prime minister is extremely unlikely. Never say never but to turn what is effectively a protest vehicle into an all-singing, all-dancing party that people feel is ready for government is a very difficult thing to do,” says Professor Bale.

The thing is, Farage has broad appeal in the binary contest of Brexit or no Brexit and his party only has one policy – leaving the EU without a deal.

But on other issues he is way wide of the mainstream.

The Brexit Party has said it does not plan to publish a manifesto until after the European election but the Led By Donkeys campaign has helpfully been reminding the British public about where Farage stands on issues such as the NHS.