Reform UK leader Nigel Farage branded BBC News anchor Ben Thompson as “very boring” and accused him of being part of the London “metropolitan elite” representing “big business” and the establishment during an interview after announcing his candidacy Monday.
The interview came after the former GB News host and ex-United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) leader announced his intention to contest the Clacton seat in Essex at the upcoming General Election on behalf of Reform UK. Farage also took over as leader of Reform UK from Richard Tice.
Farage, however, became visibly irritated with Thompson who questioned why voters should “trust” him, given it was his eighth attempt to become an MP. The Reform UK leader disputed the idea that it was his eighth attempt at winning a seat in Parliament, claiming that past candidacies for UKIP didn’t count.
Farage said: “UKIP was a campaign group. who decided that by standing in elections it was a better way than getting our message out than being a pressure group. And the first election we fought… We weren’t there to win seats. That was an impossibility. We were there to push a cause.”
He continued: “And that was the case for the first 20 years of UKIP’s life. But you know something? As it turns out, we were the most successful pressure group in modern history.”
Thompson replied: “But once again, you were a candidate. Call it a pressure group, call it a party. You were
Farage shot back: “OK, mate. How many times have you stood?”
The host responded: “I haven’t. I’m just asking.”
The Reform UK leader grew more frustrated: “What do you know about it? How many times have you stood?”
The journalist said: “I’m asking you the question, Mr Farage. I mean, the challenge here is people will say, look, you’ve tried it before, you didn’t manage to do it.”
Farage shot back: “Ask something intelligent and we’ll carry on with the conversation, shall we?”
Thompson continued to push the question: “I’m interested in why people should trust you that seven times previously you didn’t manage to do that.”
“Pass,” Farage replied throughout.
The politician pressed back: “No, no, no. I think you’re very, very boring, and I think your viewers will find you very boring, and you ought to do rather better as the state broadcaster, in my view.”
Laughing, the host asked: “You also use the phrase, ‘you people.’ What do you mean by that?”
Farage replied: “Well, I think the metropolitan elite in London, it’s quite easy to characterise as you people.”
Thompson added: “What makes me ‘metropolitan elite’ Mr Farage?”
Farage continued: “Well, you work for the BBC. You know, I’ve been in that building. It doesn’t mean you are personally, but generally, politics
Watch above on BBC News.