Nigel Farage’s social media posts from his visit to Ipswich Town’s football ground have caused exactly the sort of meltdown you’d expect. The Reform UK leader filmed himself inside the home dressing room, held up a replica shirt with the number 10 and his name on the back, and quipped that he was in the mix for the manager’s job at the club.

Cue howls of outrage online. Ipswich Town supporters have been particularly livid, describing the episode as ‘shameful’, ’embarrassing’ and ‘PR suicide for a family club’. Some have threatened to boycott the club shop or cancel their season tickets. The club felt obliged to issue a statement insisting it is ‘apolitical’.

Best of luck to Ipswich Town Football Club for the rest of the season. 👏 pic.twitter.com/WmrGYJrpru— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) March 24, 2026

Best of luck to Ipswich Town Football Club for the rest of the season. 👏 pic.twitter.com/WmrGYJrpru

I’m no fan of Farage, beyond a few reluctant sniggers when he says or does something amusing. But I’m also not keen on the rather fatuous mantra that always emerges when things like this happen: keep politics out of the game. You might as well demand that we keep the weather out of the sky – football is political and it always will be. 

If you can’t have a good barney at the football,........

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