Matt Goodwin

Four weeks after I decided to upend my life by standing as the Reform UK candidate at the Gorton and Denton by-election, I was in the small living room of a constituent listening to Nigel Farage give a lecture on phaleristics – the study and collection of war medals. The poor chap whose home we were visiting had barely processed who was at his door before Nigel spotted a collection of medals over his shoulder and charged into his living room to give him chapter and verse. ‘This one’s from 1914! The British Expeditionary Force! Incredibly rare!’ I couldn’t help but notice that, despite his wild enthusiasm at the prospect of us winning one of Labour’s safest seats, he was even more thrilled by the medals. Then again, his ability to connect with ordinary people is unmatched.