Nigel Farage is turning into Donald Trump, and not just in his attitude to Russia. Before the Channel 4 News thunderbolt about bad behaviour by some of the party's activists in Clacton, the Reform leader took himself to Sunderland for a lunchtime rally that owed plenty to his patron, the US presidential candidate.
We had rooty-tooty music, fireworks to celebrate his entrance and self-acclaim by the bucket-load. Mr Farage has become a not unboastful Bertie. The complexion is that of Chivers marmalade. He sashayed around the stage and spoke in headlines that blew out of one side of his mouth, a little like Buddy Hackett.