John Major on Farage
TL;DR
Sir John Major strongly opposes Nigel Farage, viewing him and his political movement as fundamentally damaging to Conservative unity and Brexit.
Key Points
He warned in October 2025 that any Tory alliance with Reform would be 'beyond stupid' and ensure electoral defeat.
Major stated that Farage and his allies have, in effect, betrayed the 2016 Brexit referendum result.
His public commentary has often linked Farage's politics to a potential threat against the integrity of the Good Friday Agreement.
Summary
Sir John Major has consistently voiced strong opposition to Nigel Farage, viewing him as an existential threat to the Conservative Party and a danger to the United Kingdom’s political stability. He has warned that any formal alliance or merger between the Conservatives and Farage's Reform movement would be politically disastrous and essentially guarantee a defeat for the governing party. Major often frames this opposition in historical context, asserting that Farage's political aims betray the spirit of the 1997 Good Friday Agreement and undermine the peace process he helped establish.
The former Prime Minister has characterized the prospect of a Tory-Reform alignment as a significant political error, which he suggested would be a fatal move for the Tories. His commentary frequently includes sharp criticisms of Farage's rhetoric and political style, contrasting it with what he believes are the responsible tenets of traditional governance. Major has suggested that the actions of Farage and those aligned with him have effectively betrayed the outcome of the 2016 referendum on European Union membership by promoting further political division rather than settling the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sir John Major holds a strongly negative view of Nigel Farage, consistently warning against any political cooperation with him or his associated movement. He has publicly stated that an alliance with Farage's political forces would be politically fatal for the Conservative Party, according to statements made in late 2025. His position is rooted in a belief that Farage's politics undermine stability and damage the UK.
John Major's position on Nigel Farage and the populist politics he represents has remained consistently critical over many years. He has not shown evidence of softening his opposition to Farage's agenda, according to recent political commentary. Therefore, the stance is characterized as long-standing and firm.
John Major strongly condemned the prospect of a merger or alliance between the Conservative Party and Reform UK, describing it as beyond stupid in October 2025. He argued that such a move would invite electoral disaster for the Conservatives, as reported by several outlets. This statement reinforced his view that Farage's movement is corrosive to mainstream politics.
Sources9
John Major tells Tories Reform alliance is ‘beyond stupid’
Major and Heseltine’s attacks on Reform are hard to take seriously
John Major: Tories must reject Reform threat to keep power
John Major: Farage and Reform have betrayed Brexit
John Major warns Tory merger with Reform would be 'fatal' for the party
John Major says Elon Musk and Nigel Farage are an 'unhelpful' combination
John Major says Rwanda plan is 'shameful' as he attacks Tories over Nigel Farage and Reform UK
The Bruges Group
David Trimble: Brexit has undermined Good Friday Agreement
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.