The terms “pro-establishment” and “anti-establishment” have become staples in political discourse, often wielded to describe figures who either uphold or challenge the status quo. Despite Nigel Farage’s cultivated image as a political outsider and man of the people, his actions and alliances reveal a pro-establishment orientation. In contrast, Jeremy Corbyn’s policies, rhetoric, and treatment by the political class underscore his fundamentally anti-establishment stance. The following delves into their careers, ideologies, and public personas to explain why Farage aligns with the establishment while Corbyn stands against it.
The Establishment: Definition and Context
To understand the dynamics, we must first define the “establishment.” Broadly, it encompasses the interconnected network of political, economic, and media elites who wield significant influence over public policy and societal norms. Being “pro-establishment” implies alignment with these elites, consciously or otherwise. Conversely, “anti-establishment” figures challenge the structures and norms of this system, often advocating radical change.
"We're both anti-establishment."
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) January 7, 2025
Nigel Farage says his and Jeremy Corbyn's political ideology has a lot of crossover. pic.twitter.com/iciOHddT1A
Nigel Farage: The Pro-Establishment Outsider
Nigel Farage’s image as a renegade politician stems from his leadership of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and his pivotal role in the Brexit campaign. However, a closer examination reveals how Farage operates within and benefits from the establishment framework.
Links to Big Business and Wealth
Farage’s background in the City of London as a commodities trader firmly places him within the realm of economic elites. While he often derides “metropolitan elites” and claims to champion ordinary citizens, his career and financial backers tell a different story. Farage’s campaigns have received funding from wealthy donors, including hedge fund managers and business tycoons. For instance, Arron Banks, a multimillionaire insurance executive, was a key financier of the Leave.EU campaign. Such alliances reveal Farage’s reliance on and integration with elite economic interests.
Alignment with Right-Wing Media
Farage enjoys a symbiotic relationship with Britain’s right-wing media establishment, including outlets like The Sun, The Daily Telegraph, and The Daily Mail. These publications have consistently amplified his message, framing him as a heroic insurgent. However, this portrayal conveniently ignores the fact that these media outlets are themselves pillars of the establishment, owned by billionaires and influential corporations. Farage’s regular appearances on GB News, where he hosts a programme, further illustrate his integration into mainstream media structures.
Support for Deregulation and Neoliberal Policies
Farage’s policy preferences align closely with the neoliberal orthodoxy that has dominated British politics for decades. His advocacy for deregulation, tax cuts for the wealthy, and reduced public spending aligns with the interests of the economic elite. Farage’s support for a hard Brexit, framed as a reclamation of sovereignty, primarily benefits large corporations and financiers who seek to escape EU regulations.
Pro-Fox Hunting Stance
Farage’s support for fox hunting also underscores his alignment with the traditional establishment. Fox hunting, often associated with Britain’s aristocracy and rural elites, remains a controversial issue. Farage has publicly defended the practice, framing it as a matter of rural tradition and freedom. This stance aligns him with land-owning elites and conservative cultural values, further embedding him within the establishment framework.
Lack of Systemic Critique
Farage critiques certain aspects of the status quo, such as EU bureaucracy, but he seldom challenges the underlying structures of power within the UK. His focus on cultural and nationalist themes distracts from deeper economic inequalities, allowing the broader establishment to remain unscathed. This selective critique indicates a pro-establishment orientation disguised as populism.
Jeremy Corbyn: The Anti-Establishment Insurgent
In stark contrast, Jeremy Corbyn represents a fundamentally anti-establishment approach, rooted in his lifelong commitment to socialism, anti-imperialism, and grassroots activism. His tenure as Labour Party leader revealed the extent to which he challenged entrenched power structures, eliciting fierce opposition from the establishment.
Economic Policies that Threaten the Elite
Corbyn’s economic platform, as outlined in the 2017 and 2019 Labour manifestos, aimed to radically redistribute wealth and power. Policies such as nationalising key industries, raising taxes on the wealthy, and strengthening workers’ rights posed a direct challenge to the economic elite. By advocating for a Green New Deal and massive public investment, Corbyn sought to prioritise the needs of ordinary citizens over corporate interests. These proposals were widely criticised by the establishment media and political class, underscoring their disruptive potential.
Opposition to Military-Industrial Complex
Corbyn’s anti-establishment stance extends to foreign policy. A vocal critic of NATO, nuclear weapons, and Western military interventions, Corbyn consistently opposed the militaristic consensus upheld by successive governments. His opposition to the Iraq War and calls for Palestinian rights exemplify his willingness to challenge powerful interests, including defence contractors and geopolitical elites.
Media Hostility
Unlike Farage, Corbyn faced relentless hostility from the British media, including traditionally left-leaning outlets like The Guardian. Accusations of anti-Semitism, though serious and requiring scrutiny, were often weaponised to undermine his leadership and discredit his movement. The disproportionate scrutiny Corbyn faced compared to other politicians reflects his status as a genuine threat to the establishment.
Grassroots Mobilisation
Corbyn’s leadership inspired a mass movement of activists, particularly young people, who sought to transform British politics. This grassroots energy, embodied by organisations like Momentum, represented a bottom-up challenge to the top-down power dynamics of the establishment. Corbyn’s emphasis on participatory democracy and community organising starkly contrasts with Farage’s reliance on elite donors and media backing.
Comparative Analysis
Style vs. Substance
Farage’s anti-establishment persona is largely a matter of style: his pub-going, plain-speaking demeanour appeals to those disillusioned with traditional politicians. Corbyn, on the other hand, embodies anti-establishment principles through his policies and activism, even at great personal and political cost.
Treatment by the Establishment
The establishment’s treatment of Farage and Corbyn further highlights their respective alignments. Farage, despite occasional criticism, has been embraced by sections of the political and media elite, reflecting his compatibility with their interests. Corbyn, in contrast, faced an unprecedented campaign of vilification, indicating the threat he posed to entrenched power structures.
Long-Term Impact
Farage’s legacy, including Brexit, ultimately reinforces the establishment by deflecting blame for systemic issues onto external scapegoats, such as the EU. Corbyn’s movement, though defeated electorally, has shifted the Overton window on issues like inequality, climate change, and public ownership, laying the groundwork for future challenges to the status quo.
Conclusion
Nigel Farage’s pro-establishment orientation lies in his alliances, policy preferences, and selective critiques, which ultimately uphold existing power structures. Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-establishment stance, by contrast, is evident in his transformative policies, grassroots mobilisation, and systemic critiques. The contrasting trajectories of these two figures reveal the complex interplay between populism, elitism, and genuine efforts to challenge the status quo in modern British politics.
