IT took Nigel Farage 30 years to get elected as an MP until the voters of Clacton sent him to the Commons on his eighth attempt last summer. Having broken through by getting five Reform MPs, Farage has taken every opportunity to stoke the media hype in which supporters fantasise and his critics fear a populist wave could sweep him all the way into Downing Street next time. But there has been something of a reality check this month – with the new party splitting as relationships broke down between the leader and Rupert Lowe, the former Southampton FC chairman elected in Great Yarmouth.
The Farage-Lowe battle has many dimensions. It can be seen as a personality clash of political egos – which escalated after US billionaire businessman, Elon Musk, decided he preferred Lowe to Farage. It is an argument about Farage’s control of Reform’s structures – and the slow progress in giving party members any role. The Reform leadership says it is about personal conduct – even reporting Lowe to the police for alleged threats to party chair Zia Yusuf – but acted against Lowe only when he criticised the leader.
The clash is also about the boundaries of democratic politics. Reform is a populist party that prides itself on saying things the traditional parties are afraid to say. Yet, the question is how far to take that. Lowe accuses Farage of trying to mute his voice. But what did he want to say that Farage felt crossed the boundary? It is not an argument about whether to campaign for much lower immigration – reducing net migration to zero is the party’s flagship theme – but about how far to go in campaigning for mass deportations too.
Lowe is much warmer about Tommy Robinson than Farage, who sees association with the former EDL leader as toxic. On mass deportations, Lowe wants to emulate US president Donald Trump, so argues the government should try to remove anybody without legal status. The clarity of the argument makes this an attractive rhetorical talking point for a populist opposition party – with less pressure to grapple with the legal, practical and financial hurdles which would make this impossible. Given actual cases to consider, the public do not consider a blanket removals policy fair, either. Lowe goes furthest in his anger over grooming. Deporting convicted foreign nationals has almost universal support.
Reform wants to denaturalise dual citizens to do that too. Lowe clashed with Farage by proposing to deport family members of those convicted too. There are laws on the statute book available to prosecute people who aid and abet a perpetrator – but even a couple of dozen convictions would be unlikely. Lowe’s ostensible argument for targeting those complicit was shattered when he said on social media, “If whole communities have to be deported, then so be it”. Was this a mere rhetorical flourish? The MP here reinforces a prejudiced trope – they must all have known – to fly a “send them all back” kite that could apply to half a million people born in Pakistan. (“Whole communities” would include another million people born here too). That Lowe also proposes a complete visa ban from Pakistan until it takes perpetrators back is self-evidently a proposal to discriminate against those with no connection to grooming (child sexual exploitation) crimes.
Lowe’s statement is being celebrated by hardcore racists who fantasise about ‘remigration’ meaning not only failed asylum seekers, but all legal migrants and British-born ethnic minorities, abusing us with deportation threats on social media. There are specific cultures of misogyny in British Asian communities that must be tackled. Our society was too slow to act on the abuse of children. From care homes to private schools, from churches to football clubs, the instinct in every setting was too often to sweep things under the carpet.
Southampton FC apologised in 2021 for decades of inaction on one of football’s most notorious cases of turning a blind eye – including on Lowe’s watch as chairman in 1997. Lowe’s contribution to that institutional failure of governance primarily involved sins of omission. He has said little about that. Nor does he speak of deporting Archbishops, or whole Catholic communities either. Lowe’s political future is unclear. There seems no way back to Farage’s Reform. A new party sounds quixotic. His strong local profile in Great Yarmouth could make it viable to run as an independent. Some senior Conservatives hope to recruit him - though Reform insiders warn they may find him “unwhippable” within months.
What Lowe must decide is whether he is a mainstream politician or an ally of Robinson and extreme movements. Anger at grooming is legitimate – when it targets perpetrators and those actually complicit. But Lowe should rethink his language. There should be no place in the democratic mainstream for this sweeping new form of 21st century Pakistani-bashing that uses the harrowing tragedy of child sexual exploitation and abuse to echo the “send them all back” tropes of the 1970s National Front.
Sunder Katwala is the director of thinktank British Future and the author of the book How to Be a Patriot: The must-read book on British national identity and immigration
Chandhok’s book delves into the intricacies of Formula One, offering behind-the-scenes insights and highlighting the journey of top drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Michael Schumacher. (Photo: X/@karunchandhok)
A new chapter: Karun Chandhok’s book brings F1 to young fans
KARUN CHANDHOK has spent decades immersed in motorsport – as a driver, commentator, and now an author.
His new book, Drive to Victory: Incredible True Stories from the Fastest Sport in the World, was released on February 13, and is aimed at young enthusiasts aged nine and above.
In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, Chandhok – one of only two Indian drivers to have competed in Formula One – spoke about his new book, the upcoming season and India’s relationship with the sport.
“There’s been a wave of interest in Formula One, including in India, since the Netflix show (Drive to Survive), and a lot of fans have come into the sport in the last four or five years,” Chandhok (41) said.
“For them, F1 started with Lando Norris or Max Verstappen.”
The idea to write a book about Formula One started unexpectedly – with a tweet.
“I put something out about tyres, and someone replied, ‘This is way too complicated. There’s no way kids would understand this.’ I replied, ‘Well, actually, my son is five, and he understands it,’” Chandhok recalled.
And that exchange sparked a realisation: while his children had the advantage of growing up with a father who worked in the sport, many young fans did not.
“It made me think – there are a lot of kids out there who love the sport but don’t have someone to explain it to them.
“Formula One is a wonderful sport with a rich history, but it’s also a complex one, probably the most complicated sport.”
Though the book is primarily aimed at children between the ages of nine and 15, Chandhok believes it could appeal to newcomers of all ages.
“I’m sure there’ll be stories in there even adults don’t know.”
Chandhok’s book delves into the intricacies of Formula One, offering behind-the-scenes insights and highlighting the journey of drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, George Russell, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, and Jenson Button.
Chandhok said his goal was to simplify the complexities of the sport, making it accessible without diluting its essence. Most important, he wanted to fill a gap.
Chandhok’s journey into the sport was unconventional.
“I came from a country where there was no go-karting at the time. I never did a go-kart race in my life. There was no history in the sport (in India) – it was like someone from Peru or Mexico saying they wanted to play in the Cricket World Cup,” he said.
One of the stories in his book is about Brawn GP, the team that emerged from the remnants of Honda and won both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships in 2009.
“They arrived in F1 for one season and became world champions. It had never happened before, and it will never happen again,” Chandhok said. He is aware of the significance of being one of just two Indian drivers to have reached F1.
“We are a country of 1.3 billion people, and there have been only two Formula One drivers. It’s a pretty exclusive club – Narain (Karthikeyan) and I should get ourselves gold card memberships,” he said, with a laugh.
India’s relationship with Formula One has been one of ups and downs. The early 2010s saw unprecedented excitement – two Indian drivers on the grid, an Indian Grand Prix, and the emergence of Force India as a competitive team.
Chandhok said, “In 2011, the Times of India had seven pages of coverage on F1, and the Hindu had six pages. That was crazy. Just three or four years before that, I was begging editors to write a single article about us.”
But after the Indian Grand Prix was discontinued and Force India disappeared from the grid, the momentum faded.
“The IPL (Indian Premier League) has taken cricket to a level that is stratospheric. But ultimately, it comes down to heroes. When Saina Nehwal or Sania Mirza were doing well, the country got excited.
“That’s what we’re missing right now – the next generation of drivers,” Chandhok said.
There have been some promising Indian names in Jehan Daruvala, Kush Maini, Arjun Maini, but none has yet broken through to Formula One.
Chandhok offered an insight into what sets apart the great drivers: “The world champions deliver every single weekend. I call them A+ stars. If you look at a 24-race season, they will deliver all 24 times. The A stars will deliver 20 times, but have a few off weekends. The B+ drivers will deliver, maybe 16 or 17 times. That’s the difference – consistency.”
Formula One, Chandhok said, is in a strong position with a new generation of talent.
“We have six rookies coming in this year, and they’re all strong competitors. At the same time, you’ve got Alonso (Fernando), Hamilton (Lewis), Verstappen – world champions who are still performing at the highest level.”
And his predictions for the 2025 season?
He said, “Max didn’t dominate last year. The first six weekends, yes, but after that, it was a real struggle for him to win. The last two-thirds of the season were fantastic, because we arrived at the track not knowing who would be on pole or who would win. That’s what we want as neutral fans, and I expect more of the same this year.”
Three key storylines stand out to him: “Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari – everyone is excited to see how that plays out. Can Lando Norris win his first championship? He was incredibly strong last year. And can Red Bull recover? They started strong but dropped off later in the season.”
For young drivers hoping to make it in motorsport, Chandhok has one important piece of advice: “Knowledge is key. If you want to be in the sport – whether as a driver, engineer, or mechanic – you need to educate yourself. Understand how it works.
“Keep your feet on the ground. Just because you win one race doesn’t mean you’re going to be world champion.”
Whether through commentary, writing, or mentoring young talent, Chandhok remains deeply involved in motorsport. As Formula One continues to grow globally, he said his hope is the book will inspire a new generation of fans, especially in India, to engage with the sport in a way that has never been done before.