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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cThe Establishment\u201d or beastly, leftie, unpatriotic liberals.<\/p>\n
Like Donald Trump, Farage hates accountability. And when faced with legitimate queries, befuddles the public with confusing, disparate responses.<\/p>\n
Here are examples of Farage\u2019s dubious values and behaviour. Before The Guardian published accounts of several ex-fellow pupils at Dulwich College alleging racism and antisemitism, Reform\u2019s lawyers threatened<\/a> legal action against the paper. After publication, Farage claimed<\/a> he would \u201cnever directly\u2026 go and hurt somebody\u201d. Then this January, he described the allegations as \u201cmade up fantasies\u201d. The next month he offered only a conditional apology. This diva is mightily offended by normal journalistic inquiries.<\/p>\n I feel obliged to remind readers that he, in his own words, was \u201cdazzled\u201d and \u201cawestruck\u201d 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<\/a> and homophobic remarks<\/a> and one who was accused of antisemitism<\/a> (which she denied). This is all on record.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Arron Banks, the wealthy, resolute Brexiteer, reportedly gave Farage \u00a3450,000<\/a> in funding, according to Channel 4, which was not declared<\/a> to EU authorities. This year, Farage was found to have breached the MPs\u2019 code of conduct 17 times, failing to declare \u00a3380,000<\/a> of income on time, though the Standards Commissioner accepted that the breaches were inadvertent. His income has reportedly reached \u00a32m<\/a> \u2013 including a second job worth \u00a3400,000 last year for promoting gold bullion for four hours per month.<\/p>\n And so to the \u00a35m 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: \u201cIt is literally none of your business.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n Now to the latest scandal. Staff, security, and accommodation were generously provided \u2013 as well as strategic advice \u2013 to Farage by George Cottrell, who reportedly calls Nige \u201cDaddy\u201d. His mum, Fiona Cottrell, too, munificently donated \u00a3500,000 to Reform before the 2024 election. (A police investigation is underway into whether those donations concealed the true donor<\/a>, though no arrests have been made.) According to Gabriel Pogrund of The Sunday Times, \u201cGeorge 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\u2019s peace.\u201d<\/p>\n