Nigel Farage has been hyping up a visit to see Marine Le Pen in Paris. But the French presidential hopeful is keeping her embattled right-wing ally waiting.
The Reform UK leader’s jaunt to France had been billed for October, as a key part of a tour of leaders on the European right before the year is over.
But four officials in Le Pen’s National Rally with knowledge of her schedule, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive party relations, have told POLITICO that a visit to the party president is still not scheduled.
Several figures in the far-right party said there was no urgency in refocusing media attention on relations with Reform or on a migration deal signed in September. One of the people cited above said that “the costs and benefits” of a Farage visit needed weighing up.
Le Pen remains favorite to win the first round of France’s 2027 presidential election — but much has changed for both Reform and the National Rally since Farage’s officials first pitched the visit.
Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s second-in-command, was the star guest at the British right-wing party’s conference in Birmingham at the start of September. Bardella and Farage unveiled an agreement to deport back to France all migrants who make unauthorized crossings of the English Channel in small boats.
But the plan provoked a backlash in France, as politicians across the spectrum questioned quite why the country would accept asylum seekers back.
Further trouble struck Reform in Birmingham too. At that point polling still had Reform within touching distance of the governing Labour Party — despite the more popular Andy Burnham taking over as prime minister from Keir Starmer.
Then an undercover investigation broadcast on the eve of conference raised fresh questions about Reform’s finances and led to the resignations of two of Farage’s most senior aides. Labour’s polling numbers have since improved, while Reform is being challenged for second place by an uptick in support for the Conservative Party.
POLITICO Le Pen keeps Farage hanging over his Paris rendezvous
