Thread by @Usherwood

A couple of thoughts on the Brexit Party launch:

1/

First is the decision to go for a full roster of candidates. Reflects both lack of certainty of any deal with CON and desire to restate relevance

Latter was a key theme: Brexit still matters

2/

Second, there is a lot of definition in opposition to 'traditional parties'.

Vote is being constructed more from protest than from bold visions

3/

Third, if there was a Farage offer to CON then it wasn't sold hard. Dropping Withdrawal Agt in return for a bigger majority is a top order for Johnson.

Hence ambivalence about CON

4/

Fourthly, Farage has more fully taken on a personalised view of his role in politics. Essentially described UKIP in #GE15 as him, with that effect being replicated now by BXP because he leads it.

5/

That's a step on from the usual populist 'people v. elites' narrative, because it ascribes special powers to himself

But it's still absolutely populist

6/

Overall, this feels like a party hoping to matter, rather than one that's confident it actually does.

/end