As the marginal becomes mainstream, we do have a problem, though. How much longer can the anti-establishment people call themselves anti-establishment when they’re given more airtime than government ministers? Farage and Brand both insist that they are either ignored or ridiculed by the media – and they both enjoy armies of followers whose sole narrative seems to be “no one dares take us seriously because if they did then there would be a revolution.” But the reality is quite different. Farage leads the most popular British party in the European Parliament, has two MPs and even enjoyed a hagiographic documentary about him on Channel Four. Brand enjoys a wide audience, has hosted an event with the Dalai Lama and is regularly invited to give his opinion on whatever thoughts are skipping gaily through his head in no particular order. And, of course, both men are no strangers to BBC Question Time. Hence, they are not ignored. And if they are questioned – even subjected to a little ribbing for extra pleasure – by sceptical journalists then it’s because people of such stature invite criticism.