Nigel Farage is a diva. His vanities make other politicians look pallid and small. Fortunately for him, mainstream and alternative media journalists and commentators kept him aloft for years. Then, in the last few months, the supreme leader lost his shine. His affairs began to be investigated. He, by then an MP for Clacton, was livid and had become ill-tempered.
On 7 July, Farage threw a hissy fit and flounced off, forcing a by-election in Clacton, which he won again, beating Count Binface (all the major parties refused to field a candidate). He was back in the limelight, his happy place.
The punt was a massive distraction to stop questions, big questions, about financial backers of Farage and Reform, about clarity and public records. His responses were, as ever, slippery and self-aggrandising. He is sacrificing everything to serve his country. Those investigating him are either “The Establishment” or beastly, leftie, unpatriotic liberals.
Like Donald Trump, Farage hates accountability. And when faced with legitimate queries, befuddles the public with confusing, disparate responses.
Here are examples of Farage’s dubious values and behaviour. Before published accounts of several ex-fellow pupils at Dulwich College alleging racism and antisemitism, Reform’s lawyers threatened legal action against the paper. After publication, Farage claimed he would “never directly… go and hurt somebody”. Then this January, he described the allegations as “made up fantasies”. The next month he offered only a conditional apology. This diva is mightily offended by normal journalistic inquiries.
I feel obliged to remind readers that he, in his own words, was “dazzled” and “awestruck” by Enoch Powell, the toxic white nationalist. And that Ukip, the first party he led, repeatedly selected candidates who later resigned or were suspended over racist and homophobic remarks and one who was accused of antisemitism (which she denied). This is all on record.
His money games are just as revealing and nauseating. When he was a salaried MEP, he was happy to be paid handsomely by the EU whilst ceaselessly denigrating the Union.
Arron Banks, the wealthy, resolute Brexiteer, reportedly gave Farage £450,000 in funding, according to Channel 4, which was not declared to EU authorities. This year, Farage was found to have breached the MPs’ code of conduct 17 times, failing to declare £380,000 of income on time, though the Standards Commissioner accepted that the breaches were inadvertent. His income has reportedly reached £2m – including a second job worth £400,000 last year for promoting gold bullion for four hours per month.
And so to the £5m gifted by the billionaire Christopher Harborne, who hangs out in Thailand. When asked by the BBC about this money, Farage, the man in bespoke suits, member of private clubs, scornfully replied: “It is literally none of your business.” Well, it kind of is, Mr Farage. He first said the money was for his personal security, then that it was a reward for Brexit. Well, which was it? Properties he owns are also apparently a private matter.
Now to the latest scandal. Staff, security, and accommodation were generously provided – as well as strategic advice – to Farage by George Cottrell, who reportedly calls Nige “Daddy”. His mum, Fiona Cottrell, too, munificently donated £500,000 to Reform before the 2024 election. (A police investigation is underway into whether those donations concealed the true donor, though no arrests have been made.) According to Gabriel Pogrund of , “George is seen as the Farage whisperer. He knows when Nigel needs a cigarette, he knows when Nigel wants a beer, he knows when Nigel wants a moment’s peace.”
The devoted Cottrell was charged in 2016 with 21 offences, including money laundering, wire fraud, blackmail and extortion in the US as part of a federal sting operation. He pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carried a maximum sentence of 20 years. All the other charges were dismissed, and he was sentenced to eight months.
There is a hardcore of Farage fans, some of whom no doubt reside in Clacton, who don’t care about scrutiny or standards. They want to believe daddy cares more about them than the rest of the political class and that he is a True Brit who will rid these isles of bloody foreigners. This depresses me more than the presumptuous Farage’s antics and evasions.
Like pigeons they rush and eat up the crumbs of pretexts and prejudices he throws down. In time, many will not be able to stomach any more poisonous rubbish. I don’t know what the diva will do then. But it won’t be nice or pretty.