Nigel Paul Farage is a British politician, broadcaster and political analyst. He has been a Member of the European Parliament for the South East England constituency since 1999 and is a Vice-Chairman of the pro-Brexit organization Leave Means Leave.
He is best known as the former leader of the UK Independence Party from 2006 to 2009 and again from 2010 to 2016. He co-chairs the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group. A prominent Eurosceptic in the UK, he has been noted for his speeches in the European Parliament, and has strongly criticised the euro currency.
Farage was a founding member of UKIP, having left the Conservative Party in 1992 after the signing of the Maastricht Treaty. After unsuccessfully campaigning in European and Westminster parliamentary elections for UKIP since 1994, he was elected MEP for South East England in the 1999 European Parliament election. He was subsequently re-elected in 2004, 2009 and, most recently, at the 2014 European parliament election.
In September 2006, Farage became the UKIP Leader and led the party through the 2009 European Parliament Election, when it won the second highest share of the popular vote, defeating Labour and the Liberal Democrats with over two million votes. He stepped down in November 2009 to concentrate on contesting Buckingham, the constituency of the Speaker, John Bercow, at the 2010 general election, coming third. In November 2010, Farage successfully stood in the 2010 UKIP leadership contest, following the resignation of Lord Pearson of Rannoch.
Farage announced his resignation as leader when he did not win the South Thanet seat in Kent at the 2015 general election, but his resignation was rejected and he remained in his post. In June 2016, Farage was a prominent supporter of the successful campaign for a vote in favour of leaving the EU in the UK EU membership referendum. On 4 July 2016, Farage again announced his resignation as leader of UKIP, triggering a leadership election. Diane James was elected to succeed him, but she resigned as leader after just 18 days and Farage became interim leader on 5 October 2016. A second leadership election was held in November, which was won by Paul Nuttall, who thus succeeded Farage. Farage was ranked second in The Daily Telegraph's Top 100 most influential right-wingers poll in October 2013, behind Prime Minister David Cameron. He was also named "Briton of the Year" by The Times in 2014. In 2017, Farage began contributing to the American television network Fox News. In 2018, Farage joined Leave Means Leave.
“The euro Titanic has now hit the iceberg - and there simply aren't enough lifeboats to go round.”
Segment from a speech held in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, 13 June 2012. The Genius of Mutual Indebtedness - Nigel Farage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN_1mF-3JTI&list=PL25613E6F90B320EC&index=27&feature=plpp_video <br class="br">2012
“I do think that the banking system is now in the most perilous state we’ve seen in over 70 years.”
Segment from an article on the UKIP website, 31 May 2012. On the edge of social breakdown http://www.ukip.org/content/latest-news/2681-on-the-edge-of-social-breakdown <br class="br">2012
Interviewed on the Today programme http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04vdjs7, BBC Radio 4, 1 March 2017 <br class="br">2017
Another segment of a speech held in a UKIP meeting on 21 February 2012. When Nigel Farage explains on the reactions on Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem politicians on the failing Euro currency - Nigel Farage met Angel Merkel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ugNOj8JsXY&list=PL25613E6F90B320EC&index=8&feature=plpp_video <br class="br">2012
“I have been called a great many things in my time – that's politics.”
Upon being fined €2,980 for "inappropriate behaviour" towards Herman Van Rompuy, EU President - Nigel Farage fined for verbal attack on EU president http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/mar/02/nigel-farage-fined-mep-rompuy, The Guardian, 2 March 2010. <br class="br">2010
Speaking on BBC Question Time in Lincoln https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTDByiSRerk, 17 January 2013. <br class="br">2013
Letter from Nigel Farage that was hand delivered to 10 Downing Street by Nigel Farage himself, challenging the Prime Minister to an open debate on the EU, 16 July 2012 - Nigel delivers challenge to Downing Street. http://www.ukip.org/content/latest-news/2719-nigel-delivers-challenge-to-downing-street <br class="br">2012
Segment from an article on the UKIP website, 31 May 2012. On the edge of social breakdown http://www.ukip.org/content/latest-news/2681-on-the-edge-of-social-breakdown <br class="br">2012
Speech in the European Parliament, 9 May 2012. Farage: We face the prospect of mass civil unrest, even revolution http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ6_Ey_MJV4&list=PL25613E6F90B320EC&index=14&feature=plpp_video <br class="br">2012
Speech in the European Parliament, 24 February 2010 - Ukip's Nigel Farage tells Van Rompuy: You have the charisma of a damp rag http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/25/nigel-farage-herman-van-rompuy-damp-rag, The Guardian, 24 February 2010. <br class="br">2010
Brexit: No deal 'only acceptable' way to leave EU, says Nigel Farage https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49482032 BBC News (27 August 2019) <br class="br">2019
Nigel Farage attacked over Romanians 'slur' https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27459923 BBC News (18 May 2014) <br class="br">2014
Celebrating the Brexit referendum (24 June 2016)
2016
Segment from an article in the New York Times newspaper, 18 May 2012. Can Europe be saved? Should it? http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/18/can-europe-be-saved-should-it/ <br class="br">2012
In response to Des Lynam's recent support and vote on UKIP, during the May 2013 local elections - Des Lynam reveals he voted UKIP, 10 May 2013. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/10049891/Des-Lynam-reveals-he-voted-Ukip.html <br class="br">2013
“If this is the face of Scottish nationalism, it's a pretty ugly nation.”
Hitting back at pro-Scottish independence protesters, after an incident at an Edinburgh pub - Nigel Farage blasts 'fascist' nationalists after Edinburgh confrontation, 17 May 2013. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22566183 <br class="br">2013
Segment from an article on the UKIP website, 31 May 2012. On the edge of social breakdown http://www.ukip.org/content/latest-news/2681-on-the-edge-of-social-breakdown <br class="br">2012
“We wouldn't want to be like the Swiss, would we? That would be awful! We'd be rich!”
Quote by Nigel Farage on David Cameron's speech on Britain's relationship with the European Union, 23 January 2013 - Ukip's Nigel Farage ridicules David Cameron's EU referendum speech. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jan/23/ukip-nigel-farage-david-cameron-eu-referendum-speech <br class="br">2013
“If Spain goes, Europe on its own will not be big enough to save the banks.”
Segment from an article on the UKIP website, 31 May 2012. On the edge of social breakdown http://www.ukip.org/content/latest-news/2681-on-the-edge-of-social-breakdown <br class="br">2012
“The opening of the doors to 29 million Romanians and Bulgarians is going to become a huge issue.”
Stating the populations of the two East European countries - Britain to be 'swamped' by millions of immigrants http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/289618/Britain-to-be-swamped-by-millions-of-immigrants/, Daily Star, 24 December 2012. <br class="br">2012
During a phone call on BBC's Good Morning Scotland radio show (regarding the incident in Edinburgh), in which an angry Nigel Farage hung up after stating that the interview was unpleasant and offensive, 17 May 2013 - 'Scottish nationalists are fascist scum': Farage rages against pub protesters before hanging up on BBC for 'hate' filled interview. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2326042/Nigel-Farage-ends-BBC-interview-calling-Scottish-nationalists-fascist-scum.html <br class="br">2013
Segment from an article on the UKIP website, 31 May 2012. On the edge of social breakdown http://www.ukip.org/content/latest-news/2681-on-the-edge-of-social-breakdown <br class="br">2012
“We know the costs of Europe. What are the benefits?”
Quote by Nigel Farage on an article in The Sun, 1 August 2012. Record bill for EU is £19bn http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4465801/British-taxpayers-paid-a-record-192BILLION-to-the-EU.html <br class="br">2012
“If we are just going to have a fudged referendum on 'do we stay in or go further?”
then that's not good enough. <br class="br">Segment from a BBC News interview, 2 July 2012. Farage: 'Fudged referendum on EU is no good' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18669796 <br class="br">2012
Segment of a speech, held in a UKIP meeting on 21 February 2012. When Nigel Farage spoke about the austerity measures impleted into Greece - Greece being destroyed by EU fanatical ideology http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFlYhUkO2uU&list=PL25613E6F90B320EC&index=9&feature=plpp_video <br class="br">2012
Interviewed by the Mirror before the EU referendum result http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nigel-farage-wants-second-referendum-7985017 (16 May 2016) <br class="br">2016
“I'm not for sale, neither is UKIP.”
Quote by Nigel Farage on rumours that the Conservative party should have a pact with UKIP, 27 November 2012. Nigel Farage: 'I'm not for sale, neither is UKIP' http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/360871 <br class="br">2012
“It's the last thing I want to see. It's not a game of the best of three.”
Interviewed by the Mirror after the EU referendum result http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nigel-farage-says-brexit-referendum-8283500, commenting on the petition to the UK Parliament for a second referendum https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/131215 (25 June 2016) <br class="br">2016
“If Brexit is a disaster, I will go and live abroad, I'll go and live somewhere else.”
Responding to a caller's question on his talk radio show http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-i-will-emigrate-if-brexit-is-a-disaster-a7653786.html, LBC, 27 March 2017 <br class="br">2017
“I think that politics needs a bit of spicing up.”
In response to criticism of an anti-euro advertisement which showed Adolf Hitler promoting the single currency - Hitler anti-euro ad condemned http://articles.cnn.com/2002-07-03/world/eu.hitlerad_1_anti-euro-appearance-by-rock-star-euro-currency?_s=PM:WORLD, CNN, 3 July 2002. <br class="br">2002
Interview in the Irish Times newspaper, 17 May 2012. Anti-treaty campaign claims single currency may collapse http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0517/1224316240473.html <br class="br">2012
Quote by Nigel Farage on an article written by himself in the Telegraph, 6 July 2012. The time will never be right for David Cameron to hold a referendum on the EU. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/9378567/The-time-will-never-be-right-for-David-Cameron-to-hold-a-referendum-on-the-EU.html <br class="br">2012
Segment from an article on the UKIP website, 29 June 2012. Welcome to the D€bt Union http://www.ukip.org/content/latest-news/2703-welcome-to-the-deurobt-union <br class="br">2012
“Rather than bring peace and harmony, the EU will cause insurgency and violence.”
Quote by Nigel Farage on an article in the Zimbabwe Independent, regarding the EU winning the Nobel Peace Prize, 19 October 2012. Nobel Peace Prize really deserves a new name. http://www.theindependent.co.zw/2012/10/19/nobel-peace-prize-really-deserves-a-new-name/ <br class="br">2012
On the Brexit Party's performance in the https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/26/world/europe/farage-brexit-party-uk-elections.html 2019 elections for European Parliament, 26 May 2019 <br class="br">2019
Announcing his departure from UKIP https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/12/04/heavy-heart-leaving-ukip-not-brexit-party-nation-badly-needs/, 4 December 2018 <br class="br">2018
No-deal Brexit 'no problem', Nigel Farage says at Leave Means Leave rally https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45614468 BBC News (22 September 2018) <br class="br">2018
“Let June 23 go down in our history as our independence day.”
Leave campaign ahead in UK's EU referendum vote https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36612368 BBC News (24 June 2016) <br class="br">2016
“Dare to dream that the dawn is breaking on an independent United Kingdom.”
Leave campaign ahead in UK's EU referendum vote https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36612368 BBC News (24 June 2016) <br class="br">2016
Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage in heated BBC debate over EU https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26843996 BBC News (3 April 2014) <br class="br">2014
Farage is cut off by the chair
EU Farewell Speech, as quoted in Nigel Farage’s Final EU Speech: Mic Gets Cut as He Waves UK Flag in Victory, Breitbart news
2020
EU Farewell Speech, as quoted in Nigel Farage’s Final EU Speech: Mic Gets Cut as He Waves UK Flag in Victory, Breitbart news
2020
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