A new contender has earned their place in the illustrious pantheon of political prank calls after spectacularly skewering Nigel Farage on LBC.
Like a veteran poacher tickling a prize salmon in clear water, a caller named “Mark” expertly massaged the Brexit Party leader’s ego, lulling his quarry into a state of relaxed confidence. And then with no warning, whipped his fish high out of the water with utmost elegance.
The call begins with Mark setting out a case for why he was once a strong remain supporter, but who has now apparently seen the error of his ways.
He tells Mr Farage: “I’m immensely grateful for everything you’ve done in British politics in the last few years. I used to be an ardent remainer. I voted remain and I believed in the European project, and I believed that staying in the European Union was the best thing for us.
“And then something happened – something monumental happened – and it completely changed my opinion on the whole situation.”
“What was that monumental thing Mark?” Mr Farage asks.
“I was kicked in the head by a horse.”
“Right, very good. Okay, fine, thank you” says Mr Farage, who does manage a weak smile at his own expense. “Mark we’re going to move on from that.”
The call provided further delight for many on the same day as the Supreme Court ruled Boris Johnson’s shutdown of parliament weeks away from the Brexit deadline of 31 October was illegal.
Last year Mr Johnson himself was duped into holding an 18-minute phone call with a prankster who was claiming to be the Armenian prime minister. The pair talked about Russia, Vladimir Putin and the Salisbury poisoning during the conversation
