2024. welcome to viewers on bbc two, bbc iplayer and bbc news. let's start with nigel farage a's return to front line politics by standing, announcing his standing at the election. let's take a look at the front pages. starting with the daily mail, double blow for rishi sunak, his darkest hour, this is how the guardian has got it, tory alarm as nigel farage takes control of reform uk. less from the daily telegraph, i am back to lead the revolt. and the daily express, vote for nigel farage is more likely to end up with keir starmer in number ten. in the last 15 minutes or so, nigel farage has launched his campaign, he is standing in clacton, we will show you the other candidates are standing so far injust you the other candidates are standing so far in just a moment, what impact is nigel farage�*s return are standing in the selection going to have the conservative party? fin to have the conservative party? on the campaign itself, it electrified it, it has been a dull campaign, we know what the result is going to be, a labour government, and suddenly there is controversy, there is entries. forthe there is controversy, there is entries. for the conservative party, i thought the best thing that rishi sunak did by calling in the early surprise election was discombobulated reform. they were not ready, nigel farage said he would not stand and i thought i was to the advantage the conservatives. his standing yesterday dominated all the headlines in social media, and it has turned what could be a very significant conservative defeat into a rout. we had to pull yesterday on sky news that topped about 140 conservative mps surviving, with nigel farage in the battle, i think, if tom could take 146 no, that would be most of his colleagues would take hundred 40 at the moment. what be most of his colleagues would take hundred 40 at the moment.- hundred 40 at the moment. what is our hundred 40 at the moment. what is your resnonse _ hundred 40 at the moment. what is your resoonse to — hundred 40 at the moment. what is your response to nigel— hundred 40 at the moment. what is your response to nigel farage? - hundred 40 at the moment. what is your response to nigel farage? talk about the impact. he’s your response to nigel farage? talk about the impact.— about the impact. he's a big character. — about the impact. he's a big character. i _ about the impact. he's a big character, i have _ about the impact. he's a big character, i have worked - about the impact. he's a big l character, i have worked with about the impact. he's a big - character, i have worked with him in the referendum campaign, i know him a little _ the referendum campaign, i know him a little bit _ the referendum campaign, i know him a little bit. the problem is if you want _ a little bit. the problem is if you want to— a little bit. the problem is if you want to sustain exit, if you want to see migration continue to fall, and we have _ see migration continue to fall, and we have got a plan, delivering results. — we have got a plan, delivering results, the reduction in net migration, you will only get that with conservative members of parliament and a conservative government. all of that is of the table _ government. all of that is of the table with— government. all of that is of the table with labour, no credible plan to cut _ table with labour, no credible plan to cut net — table with labour, no credible plan to cut net migration, it would be a disaster— to cut net migration, it would be a disaster to — to cut net migration, it would be a disaster to vote reform because you would _ disaster to vote reform because you would get _ disaster to vote reform because you would get the opposite of what you want _ he has pledged to hold labour's featured the fire when it comes to the former red wall seats that labour were hoping to win back. how are you? the labour were hoping to win back. how are ou? . , , ., . are you? the reality is for council reform is going — are you? the reality is for council reform is going to _ are you? the reality is for council reform is going to take _ are you? the reality is for council reform is going to take faults - are you? the reality is for council. reform is going to take faults away from conservative are not labour, but having said that, labour people are not being complacent. i am struggling at the moment because i'm supposed to be not fizzing with enthusiasm and being utterly complacent. the opinion polls are strong. and all is said and done, we have a mountain to climb. the conservatives won 162 more seats than. the conservatives won 162 more seats than labour at the last election, so people are rightly very focused and concerned and working hard, but it looks like reform is going to help labour, because it will take votes from the tories. what do you think the impact will be of nigel farage standing, moya? i think it will be less on the result— i think it will be less on the result in— i think it will be less on the result in parliament than on the discourse — result in parliament than on the discourse of the way we talk about politics _ discourse of the way we talk about politics and policy in the public sphere — politics and policy in the public sphere. for example, if you look at polling. _ sphere. for example, if you look at polling. it _ sphere. for example, if you look at polling, it says reform will probably return about two seats in the country, which is so much less than _ the country, which is so much less than the _ the country, which is so much less than the impact they are having on the discourse around it. you looked at that _ the discourse around it. you looked at that moh— the discourse around it. you looked at that mob in clacton surrounding nigel— at that mob in clacton surrounding nigel farage, and i think when you also look— nigel farage, and i think when you also look at the places reform have already— also look at the places reform have already stood, such as local elections, they have had much less a result— elections, they have had much less a result than— elections, they have had much less a result than the greens, who i don't see being — result than the greens, who i don't see being mobbed all the time or invited _ see being mobbed all the time or invited on — see being mobbed all the time or invited on the today programme. it invited on the today programme. it might— invited on the today programme. it might be the impact of splitting the vote, for example. it might be, but if you look again at the _ it might be, but if you look again at the rochdale by—election, somewhere reform study candidate, and the _ somewhere reform study candidate, and the workers party have a similar agenda, _ and the workers party have a similar agenda, they have a similar agenda on cultural— agenda, they have a similar agenda on cultural issues such as lgbtq people _ on cultural issues such as lgbtq people in— on cultural issues such as lgbtq people in the way they have been demonised and on climate change, but they won _ demonised and on climate change, but they won the election when reform came _ they won the election when reform came six. _ they won the election when reform came six, you have to ask why they won when— came six, you have to ask why they won when reform, with a similar agenda, — won when reform, with a similar agenda, didn't? it is because there are differences in the robustness of the foreign — are differences in the robustness of the foreign policy. iwill— the foreign policy. i will tell you why nigel farage is getting that attention rather than the greens or lib dems or whoever, because the most important thing that has happened in british politics in the last generation is brexit, and one man, more than anyone else made that happen, that's why he's getting the attention, because people know, i think, when the spotlight is on him when he has the spotlight is on him when he has the opportunity to speak to the country, the electorate moves, and i think we saw excitement yesterday in the election that we hadn't seen before. are you moved by nigel farage? if i was in clacton, i would vote for him. but you are not. i am not, they will vote conservative. but there is this terrible irony, isn't there, that voting for nigel and reform will see all the things they are voting for nigel and reform will see all the things they ar- all the things they are campaigning aren't done away _ all the things they are campaigning aren't done away with. _ aren't done away with. brexit— aren't done away with. brexit would be wound back understand the government, and on doorsteps, — understand the government, and on doorsteps, i am finding there are a lot of— doorsteps, i am finding there are a lot of undecided voters, and i would vote that _ lot of undecided voters, and i would vote that would employ people who want to _ vote that would employ people who want to see that progress sustain to vote for— want to see that progress sustain to vote for us — vote for us. this- vote for us. this poll shows labour winning vote for — this poll shows labour winning a majority of 494, larger even than the landslide of tony blair. labour you can see, 422 are from the general election. conservatives in 140, down by 225. it uses mrp. detailed demographic details to predict the outcome of the seats, a sophisticated way of polling public opinion. does it feel like 1997? as i say, i am trying not to let myself get run away with this, but i do remember the first parliamentary labour party meeting of the 1987, there was not a room big enough in there was not a room big enough in the house of commons for us to all church house. but will that place even be big enough for the result of the selection? but i mustn't be arrogant and count the votes... your maer is arrogant and count the votes... your pager is buzzing! _ arrogant and count the votes... your pager is buzzing! but _ arrogant and count the votes... your pager is buzzing! but the _ arrogant and count the votes... your pager is buzzing! but the truth - arrogant and count the votes... your pager is buzzing! but the truth is, i pager is buzzing! but the truth is, our candidates _ pager is buzzing! but the truth is, our candidates are _ pager is buzzing! but the truth is, our candidates are not _ pager is buzzing! but the truth is, i our candidates are not complacent, because getting people to change their mind from what they voted last time, getting them to trust you when they didn't trust you less time, it is a big task. sol they didn't trust you less time, it is a big task. so i will try and keep my mouth shut. i know i am here to speak... keep my mouth shut. i know i am here to seak... ., ,. keep my mouth shut. i know i am here to speak- - -_ to speak... no, you have got to seak to speak... no, you have got to speak on _ to speak... no, you have got to speak on the — to speak... no, you have got to speak on the programme! - speak on the programme! i will try not to get too complacent. when the election was called, it was extraordinary, because i was looking around to talk to my colleagues, and there was no labour mps there. they had all gone out not to their own constituencies, but to the constituencies they were to end with to get rid of conservative mps. and all the tory mps were all there hugging each other and crying and saying goodbye it like at a funeral. it was extraordinary how depressed and miserable they were, and ours were in the field, putting their videos up. and it seems like rishi sunak has taken his own party by surprise. but ironically, we have been ready. actually, i should really retire from this programme, because i am not doing... i think you sound more excited then perhaps you have said! but morale in the conservative party must be rock bottom. lots of our candidates have been putting _ lots of our candidates have been putting in — lots of our candidates have been putting in a real shift for a long time _ putting in a real shift for a long time 0t— putting in a real shift for a long time. of course, we had to do our 'ob time. of course, we had to do our job in— time. of course, we had to do our job in parliament and make sure the measures— job in parliament and make sure the measures we could get delivered from the wash— measures we could get delivered from the wash up, including important parts _ the wash up, including important parts of— the wash up, including important parts of our agenda, but we are an campaigning mode, working for every vote, _ campaigning mode, working for every vote taking _ campaigning mode, working for every vote, taking nothing for granted, but having — vote, taking nothing for granted, but having clear policies for what we would — but having clear policies for what we would do, which is out from harriet's's _ we would do, which is out from harriet's's party. but _ harriet's's party. butjust to underline harriet's's party. but just to underline the feeling among conservatives, tim hasjust said on air, aren't politics live, that if he were constituents in clacton, you would vote for nigel farage. what impact do you think that will have on conservatives, on conservative candidates and conservatives in their constituency? will they not expel you from the conservative party for that? i am conservative party for that? i am not a member— conservative party for that? i am not a member any _ conservative party for that? i am not a member any more, - conservative party for that? i am not a member any more, but... l not a member any more, but... but— not a member any more, but... but why— not a member any more, but... but why are _ not a member any more, but... but why are we not —— why are we asking _ but why are we not —— why are we asking him — but why are we not —— why are we asking him if— but why are we not —— why are we asking him if he _ but why are we not —— why are we asking him if he would _ but why are we not —— why are we asking him if he would be - but why are we not —— why are we asking him if he would be a - but why are we not —— why are we - asking him if he would be a member? i asking him if he would be a member? i would _ asking him if he would be a member? i would vote _ asking him if he would be a member? i would vote for— asking him if he would be a member? i would vote for the _ asking him if he would be a member? i would vote for the labour— i would vote for the labour candidate to get the green candidates in bristol, for example. ithink— candidates in bristol, for example. i think a _ candidates in bristol, for example. i think a lot — candidates in bristol, for example. i think a lot of us are now beyond voting _ i think a lot of us are now beyond voting for— i think a lot of us are now beyond voting for parties, because with all due respect to tom, i think he is a really— due respect to tom, i think he is a really sincere public servant, but his promises on immigration made today— his promises on immigration made today were — his promises on immigration made today were all of us can remember david _ today were all of us can remember david cameron ten years ago or more saying. _ david cameron ten years ago or more saying. know— david cameron ten years ago or more saying, know ifs, no blacks, we are going _ saying, know ifs, no blacks, we are going to _ saying, know ifs, no blacks, we are going to bring immigration down to the tens— going to bring immigration down to the tens of— going to bring immigration down to the tens of thousands, and we are further— the tens of thousands, and we are further away from that target then we were _ further away from that target then we were when harriet harman left office _ we were when harriet harman left office. that is really the problem. so i office. that is really the problem. so i would — office. that is really the problem. so i would look for nigel farage in clacton _ so i would look for nigel farage in clacton as— so i would look for nigel farage in clacton as a protest vote, not particularly because they believe in everything he stands for, but ijust think— everything he stands for, but ijust think the _ everything he stands for, but ijust think the conservative party absolutely deserves the kicking that is coming _ absolutely deserves the kicking that is coming to them. i say that with no relish — is coming to them. i say that with no relish whatsoever, but unfortunately, tom, you haven't delivered, — unfortunately, tom, you haven't delivered, and notjust on immigration, but a whole range of other— immigration, but a whole range of other issues. we are further away from _ other issues. we are further away from the — other issues. we are further away from the kind of britain i thought we believed in them we were a years a-o. ago. i- ago. i mustjust ago. - imustjust let ago. — i must just let tom ago. — imustjust let tom respond. ago. i must 'ust let tom resond. i must 'ust let tom respond. the thin . i mustjust let tom respond. the thin is, i mustjust let tom respond. the thing is, tim. — i mustjust let tom respond. tia: thing is, tim, those i mustjust let tom respond. t'ta: thing is, tim, those measures i mustjust let tom respond. tta: thing is, tim, those measures i think taking forward our delivery on precisely the thing you want to see. you want to see a fall in migration. we have lived in unprecedented times. we have rightly been very generous in response to various international crises. the experts say are needed, the numbers before quite considerably. with our measures that are seeing before we anticipated, that 300,000, they are coming down more and more... it is coming down more and more... it is like an emperor's — coming down more and more... it is like an emperor's new clothes moment _ moment. nigel farage has said the moment. — nigel farage has said the emperors and immigration have no clothes. we are _ and immigration have no clothes. we are going to talk about that in detail, but first of all... i don't understand howl detail, but first of all... i don't understand how i vote for idon't understand how i vote for nigel— i don't understand how i vote for nigel farage _ i don't understand how i vote for nigel farage is _ i don't understand how i vote for nigel farage is a _ i don't understand how i vote for nigel farage is a protest - i don't understand how i vote for nigel farage is a protest vote, . nigel farage is a protest vote, because — nigel farage is a protest vote, because having _ nigel farage is a protest vote, because having the _ nigel farage is a protest vote, because having the tories - nigel farage is a protest vote, because having the tories arei nigel farage is a protest vote, - because having the tories are doing i’ili'it because having the tories are doing right now— because having the tories are doing right now has — because having the tories are doing right now has been _ because having the tories are doing right now has been in _ because having the tories are doing right now has been in part- because having the tories are doing right now has been in part directedl right now has been in part directed lry right now has been in part directed by nigel— right now has been in part directed by nigel farage _ right now has been in part directed by nigel farage and _ right now has been in part directed by nigel farage and his— right now has been in part directed by nigel farage and his pressure . by nigel farage and his pressure cooker~ — by nigel farage and his pressure cooker~ he — by nigel farage and his pressure cooker. he has— by nigel farage and his pressure cooker. he has been— by nigel farage and his pressure cooker. he has been in- by nigel farage and his pressure cooker. he has been in politics l cooker. he has been in politics since