It’s entered the Labour conference lexicon – but what is a snake-oil salesman?

The party seems particularly keen to associate the term, which dates back to the 19th century, with Nigel Farage

Asked to picture a snake-oil salesman, most people would imagine a slimy character with superficial charisma travelling from town to town to hoodwink unsuspecting victims into lapping up all manner of lies.

It is an association Labour seems particularly keen to conjure in relation to the leader of Reform UK. Speaking at the party's conference in Liverpool, Keir Starmer said Labour offered an alternative to the division and decline under the snake-oil merchant" Nigel Farage.