Nigel Farage: Could the 'Mr Brexit' finally succeed on his eighth election attempt?
His decision to run for office has generated a wave of backing for his far-right Reform UK party. Promoting policies in favor of Brexit, against immigration, and refusing to commit to reaching net zero emissions, the party is posing a real challenge in diverting right-wing support away from the Conservative party.
Nigel Farage AP file
Nigel Farage is running for British MP for the eighth time. He has gone from being a lesser-known Eurosceptic to a prominent figure who is trying to change the direction of conservative politics in the UK.
The 60-year-old former Member of European Parliament (MEP) played a key role in driving Britain's decision to leave the European Union in 2016, before transitioning to a career as a host on the outspoken right-leaning television network GB News. Farage was a prominent figure in the 2016 referendum on EU membership, which resulted in a 52 per cent majority in favor of leaving. After the referendum, he briefly withdrew from active politics but made a comeback in 2019 to lead the Brexit Party. Under his guidance, the Brexit Party secured the most seats in the UK during the 2019 European Parliament elections, adding to the pressure on the UK government to follow through on Brexit.
A vocal supporter of Donald Trump, known as "Mr Brexit" by the ex-president, Farage is a controversial figure who elicits strong emotions from both his fans and critics.
Considered one of the best communicators and advocates in Britain, his choice to run in a Eurosceptic area in Clacton, southeast England, presents a unique challenge for the ruling Conservatives.
His nomination has caused a sudden increase in backing for his far-right Reform UK party, which has focused its campaign on being pro-Brexit, anti-immigration, and against reaching net zero emissions. This could potentially take away right-wing support from the Conservative party.
This may benefit the primary Labour opposition, as indicated by polls that suggest they are set to win by a large margin. This would elevate Farage's influence as the remaining Tories struggle to decide on the party's future direction.
Farage stated that his ultimate goal is to gain control of the Conservatives, comparing his attempt to take over to previous actions in Canada during the 1990s when the Conservative Party underwent a similar transformation.
"I aim to transform the moderate right-wing," he stated in an interview with the Sunday Times, emphasizing that he lacks faith in the Conservative Party, which has held power since 2010.
Before that, he must succeed in becoming a Member of Parliament after seven unsuccessful tries.
- The beginning of life and professional journey - Formative years and work experience - The early stages of life and career development - Childhood and early work history
Nigel Paul Farage was born on April 3, 1964, in Farnborough, Kent, England. He attended Dulwich College, a well-known private school in London. Prior to pursuing a career in politics, Farage was employed in the commodities trading sector.
Farage started his political journey in 1993 when he helped create UKIP, a party dedicated to advocating for the UK to leave the EU. Throughout the years, Farage took on different leadership roles within the party, eventually becoming its leader in 2006. He held this position off and on until 2016.
Farage became a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South East England in 1999 and held the position until the UK left the EU in 2020. Throughout his tenure as an MEP, he was recognized for his bold speeches and confrontational approach, frequently speaking out against EU institutions and their leaders.
Nigel Paul Farage, a man who enjoys beer and has been divorced with four children, may not seem like the typical "man of the people" at first glance. He seems to embody many of the things he strongly criticizes.
The man's father worked as a stockbroker, and he himself went to a private school before becoming a trader in commodities. He spent two decades as a Member of the European Parliament in Brussels, but he strongly criticized the European Union that funded his work. He often criticizes both politicians who stay in office for a long time and wealthy people who have power and influence around the world.
Popular among his followers for his no-nonsense attitude and love of beer, he is criticized by his detractors for being insincere and pandering to racist and extremist groups.
Reform has disqualified many potential candidates this year for making offensive remarks, as reported by a watchdog group. Farage received backlash from his rivals for claiming that the West played a role in provoking Russia's conflict in Ukraine.
Farage has a remarkable talent for grabbing the spotlight in the media, taking advantage of the frustrations felt by right-wing voters with the way Brexit has been managed.
In 1985, he underwent surgery to remove a cancerous testicle, and in 1987, he was struck by a car following a night of socializing, resulting in severe injuries to his head and legs.
After he got better, he married the woman who took care of him, and they had two boys.
After his divorce in 1997, Farage tied the knot with Kirsten Mehr, a German woman, and together they have two daughters. However, their marriage ended in separation in 2017.
During the 2010 general election in May, the plane that he was flying in crashed because the propeller got tangled in a campaign banner.
He got away without serious injuries, only suffering broken bones and a punctured lung.
Farage's rise in politics started in 1993 when Britain, led by Conservative Prime Minister John Major, decided to become more involved in European integration.
He left the Conservatives with disappointment to help start the Eurosceptic UK Independence Party (UKIP) and six years later, at the age of 35, he won a seat in the European Parliament.
Farage had two periods of time leading UKIP, achieving an impressive victory in the 2014 European Parliament elections, as skepticism towards the European Union, which was previously seen as a minority opinion within the Conservative Party, became more widely accepted.
The results of 2014 put a lot of pressure on the former Prime Minister David Cameron to hold the referendum on European Union membership, which ultimately led to his downfall.
Farage was excluded from the formal "Leave" campaign due to concerns that his image could create division.
However, he continued to make himself known to the public, consistently discussing the topic of immigration and causing accusations of racism by using a poster of refugees with the caption "breaking point."
After winning, Farage decided to resign as the leader of UKIP, stating that he had accomplished his mission.
After a brief hiatus, he re-entered mainstream politics by creating the Brexit Party in reaction to the gridlock in government concerning the UK's departure from the EU. Eventually, he played a key role in transforming it into Reform after the country officially left the EU in 2020.
