Le Pen keeps Farage waiting over Paris visit, October trip still not scheduled

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been hyping up a visit to see Marine Le Pen in Paris. But the French presidential hopeful is keeping her embattled right-wing ally waiting.

Farage's jaunt to France had been billed for October, as a key part of a tour of leaders on the European right before the year is over.

But four officials in Le Pen's National Rally with knowledge of her schedule, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive party relations, have told POLITICO that a visit to the party president is still not scheduled.

Several figures in the far-right party said there was no urgency in refocusing media attention on relations with Reform or on a migration deal signed in September. One of the people said the 'costs and benefits' of a Farage visit needed weighing up.

Le Pen remains favourite to win the first round of France's 2027 presidential election, but much has changed for both Reform and the National Rally since Farage's officials first pitched the visit.

Jordan Bardella, Le Pen's second-in-command, was the star guest at the British right-wing party's conference in Birmingham at the start of September. Bardella and Farage unveiled an agreement to deport back to France all migrants who make unauthorized crossings of the English Channel in small boats.

But the plan provoked a backlash in France, as politicians across the spectrum questioned quite why the country would accept asylum seekers back.

Further trouble struck Reform in Birmingham too. An undercover investigation broadcast on the eve of the conference raised fresh questions about Reform's finances and led to the resignations of two of Farage's most senior aides. Labour's polling numbers have since improved, while Reform is being challenged for second place by an uptick in support for the Conservative Party.

It was at that same conference in early September that Reform first told POLITICO Farage would be heading to France to meet Le Pen by the end of October. Farage also alluded to a trip to Paris after Bardella's English-language speech, saying: 'The only downside is I think they're going to invite me to go to Paris and I'll have to speak in French, but never mind, we'll get there.'

Confirmation of the invite never materialized. As October drew to a close and it became apparent Farage would not get a reciprocal appearance at the National Rally's conference in Orléans, a senior Reform official said: 'It's in the diary for this year.'

That timeline still is not recognized in Paris. The four National Rally officials with knowledge of Le Pen's plans said they are not aware of any Farage visit scheduled before Christmas.

One Le Pen aide suggested Farage may instead be offered a meeting with Bardella, whose stock in the party has suffered a series of blows in recent months. Another adviser to Le Pen questioned the pros and cons of the party president associating herself with Farage. 'We'd need to spend a bit more time thinking through the costs and benefits,' they said.

Thibaut François, an official with the National Rally's delegation to the European Parliament, said there are 'regular contacts' with Reform. Ahead of the Farage-Bardella deal, Farage had proposed launching the 'largest military operation in the English Channel since World War II' to return small boats to French shores. 'Why send them back to France if they aren't French?' one person close to Le Pen told POLITICO at the time. Spokespeople for Reform and National Rally did not respond to requests for comment.