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Nigel Farage has told LBC he wants to be Prime Minister as he is the "only person that's got sufficient public rapport and the courage to take on the establishment and do what needs to be done". The Reform UK leader and MP for Clacton insisted he does not want the role "for the sake of the office or the title", saying he's "never been interested in that". Speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, Mr Farage revealed what his first few policies would be, should he ever become Prime Minister. Listen to the full show on the all-new LBC App: https://app.af.lbc.co.uk/btnc/thenewlbcapp #nickferrari #nigelfarage #keirstarmer #reform #ukpolitics #politics #lbc LBC is the home of live debate around news and current affairs in the UK. Join in the conversation and listen at https://www.lbc.co.uk/ Sign up to LBC’s weekly newsletter here: https://l-bc.co/signup
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0:00
The political leader with me to discuss his musical memories was reportedly barred from the BBC's Desert Island Discs
0:07
If you were looking for the definition of a Marmite politician, you'd do no better than the one from whom you're about to hear
0:13
Loathed by the liberal elite, but clearly loved by a considerable number of the masses
0:17
he's led outsider political parties he has started to triumphs in European, local and even a general election
0:24
Indeed, in his colourful career, some might suggest he's had as many parties as Silvio Berlusconi
0:29
Shortlisted as Time magazine's Man of the Year after he helped deliver Brexit, for one political commentator, he is a loathsome, pitiful figure who has wrecked Britain
0:38
But for another, he is singularly the most successful politician of many recent decades
0:44
Here now to reflect on his own six decades and more, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage
0:49
Nigel, thank you for joining me. Well, what a pleasure. And yes, opinions divided
0:54
But isn't that what freedom's about? Should be. Isn't that what democracy's about
0:57
Should be. Let's look at your life. You have survived a road crash in which you nearly had to have your leg amputated
1:04
You've survived cancer. You've survived a light airplane crash, light aircraft. Do you consider yourself lucky or unlucky
1:11
Very lucky. Incredibly lucky. I mean, how I survived that road accident
1:17
You know, I was crossing the road, pelican crossing, dark November evening, windy, wet, leaves coming down
1:23
hit by a car, bang, over the bonnet, fractured skull, legs smashed to bits, many other injuries
1:29
I mean, you know, the odds of me surviving that were not really very good. And similarly, you know, if you've been in a light airplane crash
1:37
it isn't the crash that kills you. It's the fact that it goes up in flames
1:42
What's your memory of that moment, the airplane crash? Oh, very interesting
1:48
I mean, you often think, what would it be like if you sort of were literally facing death
1:53
Now, normally, terrible accidents happen in a car, and they're over before they even start
1:58
In this case, I had several minutes to think about it, knowing what was going wrong
2:04
And initially, this can't be happening. Oh, goodness me, it is happening
2:08
Then fear runs through your body. And then towards the end, as we're careering towards the ground
2:14
almost resignation. Did you say a prayer? I just said, if this is it
2:20
can it please be over as quickly as possible? which is all you can do. And then we had the crash
2:25
and the miracle was that as the nose hit the ground, the engine bounced out of the casing about 20 yards away
2:31
because that was the hot bit. And then suddenly you're upside down, you're trapped
2:35
you can barely breathe. But I thought, OK, just someone please get me out of this thing
2:45
And sure enough, Duncan Barks, the broadcaster, was there with a passing cyclist
2:53
and got me out. And as I walked away, even though I was smashed up
2:58
every rib broken front and back, split sternum, etc. As I walked away, I thought
3:04
this is great. I mean, I've survived it. And I think the aeroplane crash
3:11
perhaps more than the things that happened to me when I was younger, did change my attitude towards life a bit
3:16
Well, let's get on to your early life. And we're going to work through your six decades
3:20
your parents split when you were just five yeah what do you remember of that
3:25
and how hard was it for you well I remember not being very happy about it obviously
3:32
I also remember at school I mean divorce didn't happen middle class prep school
3:40
just didn't happen because a few years later that was rather different so that was perhaps difficult
3:45
but you know it all didn't last all that long my mother remarried after a year or so
3:54
to a very decent local businessman and a nice bloke he was great my father got his life sorted out
4:00
and so to be honest with you the period when I was not very happy about it
4:05
was mercifully short we've talked a little bit about your luck let's talk about the luck elsewhere in the Farage family
4:10
because if we go to your grandfather he served in the First World War he's injured in the Battle of Arras
4:16
and he's brought back to the UK and he was almost going to be sent back to almost certain death
4:21
But he was saved by a sport. Yeah, that's a lovely story, isn't it? Cricket, yes
4:25
He was a good opening bowler. He was county level, wasn't he
4:31
Seconds, yeah. But he was going to go back to the Western Front
4:35
with the 24th Londons, the Lambeth and Southwark volunteers. And they had a new detachment going out in early 18
4:41
And they were pretty much wiped out by the great German assault of late March 1918
4:45
but he was kept back because the general thought he was a jolly good opening bowler
4:50
and ought to vote with the bowling for the division. So isn't life extraordinary
4:54
Had he gone back, you wouldn't be here now. Well, that's right, exactly. And I guess in a way we can all look at our lives a little bit like that
5:01
but that was a very glaring example of luck, absolutely. Let's talk a little bit as well about your love of cricket
5:07
because that comes from your grandfather. Why is that so important to you? Well, both my grandfathers were fanatics
5:13
and they spent their retirements watching little black and white TV thinking how good telly is today
5:17
when you watch cricket. I mean, I always, from very early on, always liked sport
5:22
Was always interested in sport. And I'm probably now, in terms of being a fan
5:28
what you call a sports nut. You know, I'm interested in every sport
5:32
You know, I'm interested in contest. I'm interested in fortune. But yeah, I enjoyed playing cricket very much
5:37
when I was a boy growing up. I enjoyed playing golf very much. Games like rugby, I just wasn't so good at
5:43
Right. I still love watching them, but I wasn't so good at. But yeah, and I've been watching cricket, going to cricket
5:51
whether it's Lords or the Oval for the whole of my life. Before you go to secondary school, prep school, happy days
5:57
It's pretty tough. It was Dickensian. Explain that to younger listeners. What does that mean
6:03
Oh, the discipline was really very, very tough. And I think there was quite an atmosphere of fear
6:09
Now, actually, I think a little bit of fear, if it manifests itself in terms of respect, isn't a bad thing
6:19
But I don't look back on the early days of school with any great particular affection
6:25
Was there a teacher who made it a little bit better in your prep school? We'll come to your secondary school in a moment
6:29
No, I mean, there were good people there. Of course there were. But it was a very, I mean, you know, the late 1960s, it was a very different world
6:35
How did that fashion you? What did that do to a young Nigel Farage? Well, in some ways, of course, it toughens you up
6:41
You think, well, I've just got to put up with this. Whether you hated the food you were served or whatever
6:46
or made to do cross-country runs or whatever it was, you just got on with it
6:49
So there's no lasting damage from it, but I don't view that with any great affection, particularly
6:55
Now, this is Farage on the Record, so we need to hear some of your selections
7:00
And the first one, if I've got my sums right, actually comes back to the year that you were born, 1964
7:06
What is it, Nigel? Well, it's Dionne Warwick. And, you know, we all think to ourselves
7:12
what's our first memory? And before coming to see you to do this show
7:16
I thought, what's the first record I can remember? Now, it doesn't mean it was a new release
7:20
but I guessing it would be 1967 68 so walk on by And I can remember that being on the radio And I think of the late 60s I think of my mum a very attractive mum looking very 60s
7:37
with sort of hair and skirts and a little Sprite sports car
7:40
that she used to drive us around in. And so I look back at that fondly
7:45
but also, gosh, it does seem a long time ago. Let's listen to some of it now
7:55
Walk on By by Burt Bacharach for Dionne Warwick from 1964. You mentioned your mother there, Nigel
8:04
Were you close to mum or dad? I would like to think both
8:09
I would like to think both. And how fortunate they're both still alive
8:13
Tremendous. Both still alive, both pretty well. Good. I mean, they're not quite as physically active as they might be
8:21
but they're both pretty well. So I'm very fortunate with that. and you're a professional outsider
8:26
and we'll talk more about your politics later as we work our way through your life but what's their view of you as a professional
8:32
political outsider? Do they ever say Nigel, for goodness sake rein it in? Occasionally
8:37
I get a phone call from my mum why did you do this
8:41
I'll hold the phone out here it's all a bit too much really but I would like to think they're proud of what I've done
8:48
You don't know if they're proud of what you've done? Well I think they are but you know we're English, we're English
8:52
We don't talk about these things too much. You're very English. You went to one of England's finest public schools
8:57
You go to Dulwich College. Yeah. How many Nigels were there in your year
9:02
How common a name was it? Not very many. A few around the place
9:08
It's a funny name. It becomes very popular in medieval times. And Scotland nearly had a King Nigel
9:15
Very, very nearly had a King Nigel. And then it sort of disappears. Then it comes back. and it sort of peaks
9:20
just before I'm born and then it virtually disappears off the face of the map
9:28
and of course everyone blames me well they do of course of course
9:32
you've killed off Nigel it's not true and it's now making a comeback
9:36
is it? yes there was some Nigel's christened last year how many Nigel's christened last year
9:40
14 I think it was it's not very many but then having an unusual name is quite helpful because
9:46
my Christian name is not particularly common these days and my surname is a very unusual
9:50
name and I think that's been an advantage to me actually Before we go back into your school, just coming back to your family
9:57
did they all vote reform? Not all, most Have you got any Labour voters
10:03
or Conservatives in the ranks? Oh I think there's probably one who's a bit further left than Labour
10:07
you know, but well, it's a family but no, I mean look
10:10
you know, I mean both my grandparents and parents would have always been conservative
10:18
You know, we worked in, you know, my maternal grandfather was a senior Scotland Yard police officer
10:25
You know, father, grandfather on father's side, stockbrokers, army. Yeah, very, and southern, of course, you know, and very conservative
10:34
And your grandfather's experiences, the bravery he showed in the battlefield, is that what prompted your interest in the First World War
10:40
Because I remember you used to, I don't know if you still do tours of the First World War battlefield
10:44
I haven't done tours for some time just because of literally I haven't got the time to do it, but I would do it
10:49
Was that prompted by Grandad? Yeah, I think very much so. I think very much so
10:53
In fact, I mean, the First World War, the Second World War, these are now massive tourist sites
10:58
And this is because people are going back to see where their forebears went and also to put themselves in their shoes
11:06
And you think, when you go and visit these places, you think, well, how would I have reacted? Would I have been up to it
11:12
And what did you learn about your Grandad? Great bloke, presumably Well, yeah, but not talked about
11:18
Just not talked about And I think That was why in this country the British Legion
11:24
Sprung up in thousands of places In the early 1920s This was something that men discussed with each other
11:31
Didn't discuss it with the women or the kids Or anything like that I think perhaps we were more open after World War II
11:37
And we're certainly more open now After the recent conflicts that we've been in
11:40
But we were, you know, in those days A very buttoned up society More music choices from Nigel Farage in a moment
11:47
I'm Nick Ferrari. You're listening to Farage on the Record here on LBC. Let's go back to your days at Dulwich College
11:53
Yeah. Did you join the CCF? Yeah, loved it. Did all five. Just to explain to everyone, that's combined cadet force
11:57
Combined cadet force. What did it mean to you, Nigel? Army section. Yo, it was so exciting
12:03
You know, we were 13 and there we were with number four short pattern Lee-Enfield rifles
12:09
with 1917 stamped on them. and we were taken down to a range in Kent
12:15
1917? They were First World War rifles. But this would be in the 70s
12:19
Yes, but a good rifle, no good rifle if it's looked after
12:24
will last pretty much forever. Yeah, and you're 13. And they say, right
12:29
put it in tight to the shoulder, it's got a hell of a kick. And everyone thinks
12:33
oh, I better just, because it might hurt me, and then it really hurts you. So, yeah, learning to shoot
12:38
was a really, really good thing. You know, going on camp, doing all those things
12:42
I really loved it. And I, to be honest, Nick, it was a 50-50 with me
12:47
I'm a university. Forget it. I was never going to university. Why forget it, Nigel? I wasn't interested. I'm not an academic
12:54
It doesn't mean I'm stupid, but I'm not an academic. So I was thinking very much about joining the Army
12:59
I did the Army interview, so I was on track to do it. Did you, sorry, do you have to pass it
13:05
It did the interview, then you get sent off to do a further test. But at that point, something was happening in London
13:13
With the advent of a Thatcher government, exchange controls had been removed
13:18
Suddenly, the city was starting to boom. And there were these things called yuppies
13:25
And these were young men who were earning lots of money, lots of pretty girls and smart cars
13:30
And I thought, the army's great, but I'm going to become a yuppie. Well, we'll go more into your city career
13:35
Have you ever regretted not going into the military, not following grandfather
13:40
Look, I think that I did what I did, and you shouldn't backtrade in life too much
13:49
I think if you do backtrade in life, then as you get older, you'll probably get quite miserable
13:55
So I did what I did. I'm sure I would have thoroughly enjoyed it. Would Nigel Farage have been a good soldier
13:59
I'd like to think so, yes. and of course we're talking as I don't need to tell you more than a million young people
14:04
aren't in education employment should military be an option Nigel yes but to even entertain large numbers of young people going into the army the air force the navy
14:18
you would need first to massively increase the size of what it currently is so I certainly for
14:25
the next few years I just don't see it as being an option but what I do think is that young people
14:28
should work. I think getting into the habit of work early is a good thing. And what's
14:35
happened over the last couple of years, with the massive increase in minimum wage, employers
14:40
national insurance, all of these things, is those 16 and 17 year olds, whose first job
14:45
would have been washing up in a pub, or serving on, and things that most people at some point
14:50
going back did those opportunities have been taken away And so if you never get into the culture of work And if you encouraged to believe that you a victim then you probably do go on to benefits and perhaps stay there
15:05
Let's come to a song that would have been coming towards the end of your career at Dalish College, 1979, the logical song. Why
15:11
Yeah, I just liked Super Tram, and I think a lot of the music that we had in the 70s
15:15
was pretty trashy, frankly, and here were these young Americans who were actually musicians
15:21
You know, I mean, I don't think we said the sex pistols were great musicians
15:25
were quite funny but not so no it was just a group that I liked
15:29
The logical song Supertramp 1979
15:39
Nigel Farage there's a lyric in there calling you a radical a liberal
15:44
a criminal all three of the above One of the reasons I like the song
15:49
is that it does talk about politics and differences of opinion and all of those things. Well you are radical
15:55
Yes. You've never been a liberal. No. And you're not a criminal
15:59
Not yet. Let's go back to the days at Dulwich College. So we enjoyed the..
16:05
Did you have nicknames? I think I was called Fudge for many
16:09
years because I used to sort of make fudge at home and bring it in in big boxes and
16:13
things like that. Why did you do that? I don't know really. It just seemed like
16:17
a fun thing to do. Were you popular? Oh I was either very
16:21
very very popular or deeply unpopular. So you're not in the first 15 rugby? No but I played cricket
16:27
a bit and I was captain of golf and I was very active in societies and one of the most stimulating
16:33
parts of school was the fact that being located so close to Westminster we got the great speakers
16:40
of the day to come into the great hall at Dunwich and speak. Tell me some of those names who came
16:44
down. Well I mean one of them was the GLC leader Ken Livingstone. It's quite brave of him wasn't it
16:48
to go to a private fee paying school and speak, but he did, and he was really interesting
16:52
and very good with the crowd. Enoch Powell turned up, that caused a hell of a storm
16:57
But the one that really... Did you attend Mr Powell's speech? Oh, good Lord, yes. What did you learn from Enoch Powell's speech
17:05
That he was obviously clearly a man of brilliant mind, and yet somehow didn't quite have
17:14
maybe the common touch as an individual. You could see it. This was the wartime brigadier
17:19
This was the professor of Greek. This was the remarkable man. But somebody who, you see, somebody who was in a hurry
17:30
In what way, though, actually? Oh, because he clearly was, you know, I mean, he was the youngest brigadier in the British Army in World War II
17:35
The youngest professor of Greek in the British Empire. And he wanted to become prime minister
17:42
And he was in a hurry. And when you're in a hurry, you make mistakes. and I do think the 1968 speech
17:47
the so-called Rivers of Blood speech whilst in many ways what he was trying to say
17:52
makes sense you know, he said to the babysitters that night before he and his wife Pam
18:00
went off to give the speech this one will go up like a rocket and so he sort of cast himself out
18:06
from political respectability by doing it How unfair has history been then
18:10
to Enoch Powell in your view? Well, these are different times and you can never sort of judge
18:17
the social mores of them with now. I think on Europe, he was 100% right
18:23
I mean, that was the issue that he resigned from the Conservative Party over. I think if he hadn't given the 68 speech
18:31
we might have had a more rational debate about mass migration than we did
18:37
Dulwich College is a tremendous school, but it's a tough school. Everyone accepts that. I used to play them at rugby
18:41
so I know how tough the school that I was at. Were you ever bullied? No
18:46
Were you a bully? No, but probably pretty acerbic and pretty sharp
18:52
Do you think teachers look back with fonders teaching young Farage or degree of...? 50-50
18:58
Really? 50-50. I mean, over the nearly 45 years since I've gone back
19:03
and a lot of them really liked me at the time and still do, and a lot of them didn't like me then and don't like me now
19:09
And I was always being controversial. saying stuff. I was quite proud of meeting the old headmaster
19:15
many years later who said he'd voted for me in the European elections. I quite like that
19:19
Oh, that's good. I quite like that. You joined the Conservative Party aged 14? I did, and that was because of the speeches at the school
19:24
Was it Ted Heath as well? I listened to Ted Heath. He came and spoke as well
19:28
He didn't convince me, I can tell you. But Keith Joseph came along. What did you like about Keith Joseph
19:34
Well, do you know, it's really interesting, but Sunday lunch Sunday lunch with
19:40
certainly in my father's case Victorian grandparents born in Victorian England who'd been born into a country
19:49
with an empire who'd seen great sacrifice but victory or the winning
19:55
side in two world wars and by 1975 and those years after that
20:00
a feeling that it was all over that literally Britain was finished
20:05
inflation nearly 30% unemployment 3 million I mean the whole thing was falling to pieces
20:12
we were the sick man of Europe and when Joseph when I heard Joseph speak
20:18
Keith Joseph speak in 78 this was a national plan for renewal
20:23
a radical plan for renewal Many would say there are parallels with today
20:28
what you just outlined where you know King of the UK was Yes
20:32
Accurate or not? No it's worse now We haven't yet reached the economic depths that we did in the middle, late 70s
20:42
but we will. It's coming. I can see it. I can feel it. Smell it
20:46
I know it. And then the divisions were between unions and management
20:53
between left and right. Yes, they were all there. I mean, obviously Ireland, a different kettle of fish
20:58
but on the mainland. Those divisions were there, but we were all still very British
21:04
Let's come to your third choice, and this is as you emerge, I think, and start to put a career together in the city
21:10
some would say it's an interesting choice. You're going for a number by madness, Nigel. Well, you see, I couldn't wait to be a grown-up
21:16
One of the reasons for not going to uni was I want to be a grown-up. I want to earn my own money, buy my own house, do my own thing
21:23
make my own decisions, be free, not be told by anybody what to do
21:29
And part of that was passing a driving test and getting a car
21:35
And suddenly you've got a car. And you can go anywhere you like and do anything you want
21:41
And a tremendous sense of freedom. Funny, today, a lot of people I work with
21:47
young people I work with in politics who live in the big cities, for them, passing driving tests and getting cars
21:53
they just get an Uber. But for me, it was part of becoming an adult
21:58
it was part of being free. By the time I was 18, I'd had enough of school
22:02
had enough of rules, had enough of being told what to do. And so I chose the Madness track just because it was part of, wow, I'm a grown-up
22:11
Let's go for a drive. Driving in my car, Madness, 1982. Come on, Nigel, for our first car
22:22
It was a hand-me-down Austin Allegro. Maybe not one of Britain finest but it worked and it did me well And yeah just that sense I can go wherever I want That was your first car You mentioned youngsters doing jobs in pubs and things like that
22:36
Before you got into the city, did you do a job working behind a bar? So I was a member of the local golf club in Down
22:44
you know, the village I'm from. And I used to go up there, and the professional would go out
22:51
and play matches with the captain and leave me in charge of the shop. and just say, if in doubt, just write something down
22:57
So you'd sell people golf balls and hats and things like that. So I'd manage the shop for him, and then I'd caddy a bit
23:05
So there were sort of jobs like that at the golf club that I did to earn some money. And, of course, having a few quid in your pocket is a very good feeling
23:12
Let's move you away from school into your teens and your early 20s, but just before we take you away from the college
23:18
your former headteacher showed great respect. There were largely discredited stories about your supposed antics at Dulwich College
23:23
Has that coloured your view of your school days in any way? Because clearly you enjoyed it
23:28
You clearly love the CCF. Clearly. Has it coloured your memories? I enjoyed the whole place
23:33
I had a ball of fun there. I probably wasn't the best behaved person they'd ever had
23:38
But my leaving report was really quite funny. I mean, he's been a blooming nuisance, but we're going to miss him
23:44
Look, you get accusations of things that you've said and done, and who's to say when we're 14 or 15 we don't say things that are inappropriate
23:51
or wrong or abusive? Well, because we do. So it's what kids do, but I..
23:56
See, this is the funny thing, isn't it? If you're in politics
24:00
it's not very difficult to find people you've met in your life
24:07
who will say disobliging things about you. It's just the way it is
24:10
We're going to take you into the workplace and there'll be more music from Nigel Farage on the way. You're listening to Farage on the Record
24:16
It's time for the news headlines on LBC. Let's take you into the workplace
24:20
So the military's loss was the city's gain. Talk us through that, Nigel
24:25
Just extraordinary. Just extraordinary. You're 18. You've got your new suit. From Hepworths
24:33
You get the trailer. I can't even remember now. Harry Fenton? Probably CNA or something like that. And you come up to London and you walk into a grown-up's world
24:44
And you walk into what was a very noisy world. Dealing rooms
24:52
People shouting. big ashtrays built into the desks, two phones. Just so exciting, so exciting
25:01
Who made the introduction? Did an old mate ring you and say, hey
25:05
It happened to be a bloke. Do you know what? It was a bloke called Bob
25:09
I met at the golf club. He said, you know, what are you going to do, son, when you leave school
25:14
I said, well, you know, I'm toying with this, but, you know, father's on my stock exchange, but I'd rather do something a bit different
25:20
and forge my own life. and he happened to be managing director of a firm
25:24
on the London Metal Exchange and that's where I went. I mean, if I told people
25:29
what a working day was like in the early 80s in the city
25:35
I don't think anybody listening would even believe it. Try me. And I'll see if I can match it
25:40
with Fleet Street. Well, I tell you what, I bet there's some parallels. Sort of half 11
25:45
was the time for the Sharpeners. because generally you were not feeling absolutely
25:55
at your 100% best in the mornings as a result of the previous daytimes activities
25:59
so you'd go for a couple of large ones at 11.30 and then you'd do a bit of work
26:03
for a few hours and then it was lunch and then you'd have the afternoon
26:06
and then you'd be out in the evenings in between times gambling on anything that moved
26:13
name calling mickey taking laughter laughter if I think back
26:23
to how much laughter and fun there was in offices and now you go to a modern day newsroom
26:32
or you go to a modern day dealing room and you can't hear a pin drop
26:36
Nick, I can't even tell you I loved it so much I absolutely loved every minute of it
26:42
and I loved the people everything from sort of old Etonian dropouts
26:47
to the Fenchurch Street boys coming in, the old East End lot who moved out to Essex coming in
26:52
It was just, I mean, I absolutely adored it. How much money did you make? Were you making a lot of money
26:56
So, I mean, by the time I was 21, 22, I was earning what would now be considered to be quite good money
27:01
Give us a clue. Well, in modern day money, it'd be seven figures a year, I suppose
27:08
It was very good money. I mean, I certainly spent it, but... So we've traded in the Austin Allegro by now
27:14
Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're sort of gearing up a little bit by now. We're in the Porsche. Well, the trouble is we're spending a lot of money as well
27:21
No, look, it was, you know, there were good years and bad years. You know, there were bull markets, there were bear markets
27:28
I enjoyed the job very much indeed. And it wasn't all fun
27:34
You know, there were days when you'd be in there for 12 hours
27:37
and barely have time to go to the loo because you'd be absolutely crazy busy
27:42
And then your position would be going wrong and you're pacing the house at three in the morning
27:46
thinking oh my goodness me. You rightly say the workplace has changed
27:50
as it has in the identity of the news. Is it healthier though now
27:53
that there isn't that kind of rather robust culture shall I say? I don't think so
27:58
Why not? Because going to work was enjoyable and you know what, it wasn't for
28:04
everybody. That life that I was involved in, in commodities in the city, it wasn't for everybody, it was for
28:10
a certain type of person. I went to a funeral the other day and there were dozens of people there
28:15
that I've known for 40 years or more. And an amazing sense of camaraderie between all of us
28:22
even after all these years. You did develop that great sense of being part of a team
28:28
And there were, yes, there was Mickey taking, but there was also respect for each other as well
28:33
You talk about it being a time of great laughter, but this was also in the decade when you had your road crash
28:37
that we've already mentioned. It's extraordinary you're actually still here in reality
28:43
Yeah, I mean, that was bad. That was bad. That was really, really bad. Yeah
28:49
I was hit. Hit on a pelican crossing. Did they tell you we might need to take your leg
28:58
Yeah, there was all sorts of debate about that. The worst bit was, yeah, fractured skull
29:03
My teeth were all loose. I couldn't eat food. I had a semolina and things like that
29:08
All my teeth were loose. Big black eyes, obviously. Fractured skull. And I woke up with tinnitus in that ear
29:15
in the right ear, which plagued me for many, many years. Yeah, it was a horrible experience
29:20
How often do you think of it? Look forwards. You've never relived it
29:29
I'd be a liar to say I don't occasionally think about things that have happened that have gone wrong
29:33
but it is literally only occasionally. I hear you. You must look forward
29:36
There must have been nights you've woken up in a cold sweat and you're suddenly hit. It was a VW, as I recall, from research, wasn't it
29:41
I know. Yeah, it was. what were you going to say there
29:46
I'm going to have a joke about the Germans but I won't do that given the second wife
29:50
wouldn't be right no I mean I do you know as we get older and
30:00
I met scores of First and Second World War veterans as a result of my interest in military history
30:10
And those that remembered the good times in old age were much happier than those that remembered the bad times
30:21
And I think the human brain is incredibly good at erasing the bad stuff and remembering the good stuff
30:30
We're going to get on to your political career in a moment, but let's bring in your next choice, which was a great political anthem
30:35
but not for UKIP or Brexit or reform. I speak of what song
30:39
Well, I mean, look, whatever you think, whatever your views, and yes, of course, it was the end of 18 years of a Conservative government
30:47
but what Mandelson and Blair and Campbell put together for the 97 general election campaign
30:57
was just off the charts and the choice of Dereem and things can only get better
31:05
I sort of laugh thinking about seeing John Prescott dancing and Neil Kinnock
31:10
But it was just the most incredible political campaign because what it spread was a sense of optimism
31:17
And I think so much politics and certainly after two years in the House of Commons
31:22
it's all negative. It's all, aren't you awful? Aren't you awful? No, you're worse. There was something about what they were doing
31:28
that spread energy and positivity. And so I choose it because it was a big moment
31:35
It was genius. Things can only get better. D-Ream, 1993, of course
31:46
referencing the Labour general election of 1997. Right, let's get into your real political side now
31:51
Now, you're not 30 and you decide to found a political party, UKIP
31:56
Why? There was a day in 1990, October, when the UK joined the exchange rate mechanism
32:07
I was actually in a pub when we joined. Somebody ran the message in
32:12
I won't repeat on this programme the exact words that I uttered, but let's say I viewed it with some dismay
32:18
I thought this can never work who are these morons that think this can happen
32:25
we're a different economy to Germany's etc and the next day you know every trade union
32:32
supports it, every big business supports it, every newspaper pretty much supports it, the BBC support it
32:36
obviously and I thought no I don't support it and I ranted about
32:40
this over the next couple of years until of course Black Wednesday we crash out
32:44
then Major signs the Maastricht Treaty He takes us even deeper into the European project, despite the pain that we've just gone through by aligning with, attempting to align with the currencies to join what we now know as the euro
32:59
And do you know what I thought? I finally found the thing I'm good at
33:04
I finally found the thing that I'm good at, which is seeing where everything's going, reading the tea leaves and predicting what public opinion will be
33:16
in a year or two's time. You're also being good an outsider, aren't you
33:22
You are a maverick. Where does that sense come from? Devilman. Devilman
33:30
And being a very firm individualist. Very firm individualist. But look, I felt the entire political class
33:40
had got this big project wrong. And so I said the hell with it
33:45
There was a professor called Alan Sked who ran a thing called the Anti-Federalist League, a campaigning group that did stand for the old election
33:53
And a few of us got involved. And I was there at the launch of UK. But in fact, I was the first ever candidate adopted by the party
33:59
I stood in the Eastleigh by-election back in 1994. I got 952 votes
34:06
I think I met every single one of them over the course of the campaign. And it was funny because logic said I shouldn't do it
34:14
Why? Because in 93, I decided that the corporate life wasn't for me
34:20
Working for big companies wasn't for me. I wanted to be my own boss. This is the outsider again
34:24
I'd set up Farage Futures. I was doing my own thing. I think I had the chance to make a lot of money, frankly
34:33
But suddenly, I couldn't have been in politics working for a big corporate company
34:40
But I also couldn make a fortune doing politics whilst running a business in the city But I don know why Everyone my family my friends my business colleagues said
34:52
you're mad. You're mad. If you want to be in politics, join the Tory party or the Labour party
34:56
because that's all there is. But I just thought, no, I thought there is a principle at stake here
35:02
I'm going to stand for election. I don't even care if no one votes for me. I feel better myself about doing it
35:08
That was how strongly I felt on the issue. And that was the beginning of a very long journey
35:13
Let's come to the next track, which was, if I'm right, you'd recovered from that car accident, you'd recovered from cancer
35:19
and you went for a track with an interesting band title. Europe
35:24
The final countdown, and the reason I chose it, is because that was the walk-on music that I had every night
35:32
as I toured the country in the run-up to the European elections of 2014
35:38
the referendum that we had in 2016 that was the music that I walked through the crowd to
35:44
every single evening in fact I heard the song so many times that I'd lie in bed at night
35:49
and it would still be sort of echoing in my ears so yeah again
35:53
perhaps not a choice you'd expect but it reminds me of those years those long years
35:57
that led up to us actually having a referendum It's the final countdown
36:02
Nigel Farage I reference the fact that you were shortlisted for Time magazine of the year, the year of the Brexit referendum
36:12
We look back on Brexit now. I can hit you with a barrage of figures
36:17
£90 billion lost from the economy, 8% lost from GDP. Are you ready to accept that Brexit was a failure
36:23
No, we're not living in caves, are we? I mean, that's what George Osborne told us, the Chancellor, back at the time
36:28
Look, it was a political, constitutional choice to take back the ability to control our borders and run our own country
36:38
And the tragedy, almost exactly 10 years on, is the Conservative Party, who'd opposed it all the way through
36:47
then belatedly adopted it, won a general election off the back of it, and then steadfastly refused to implement it
36:54
and that is a big disappointment. But is it the right thing to have done
36:59
I have no doubt. Brighter that, you celebrate your half century as an MEP, re-elected as an MEP
37:06
UKIP topping the European Parliament elections. How good was that? You tell me
37:11
How good was that? That was the first party that had won a national election that wasn't Labour or Conservative since 1906
37:19
That was an amazing moment. And don't forget, by then, I'd been in the European Parliament 15 years
37:25
I mean, talk about patience. Talk about resilience. I just kept going year after year after year
37:30
because I believed in it that much. There's one more piece of music to come
37:35
selected by Nigel Farage in a moment. You're listening to Farage on the record on LBC
37:40
Let's move on from Brexit and you leave the European Parliament. I have to remind you
37:45
I want to ask you your memories of some of your colleagues. You once said of Herman von Rompuy
37:49
he has the charisma of a damp rag and the appearance of a low-grade bank clerk. As you left, you said
37:53
you're not laughing now. Your memories of Jean-Claude Juncker, Guy Verhofstadt, Michel Barnier
37:58
Good blokes? Well, I mean, I tell you what. I tell you what
38:02
I mean, Verhofstadt was just a fanatic and hated me. But, of course, learnt if you attack Farage, you'll get big views on YouTube
38:10
So I became quite useful to him as time went on. Juncker, he was funny
38:15
I'll tell you a funny story. It's the Brexit referendum's happened. The results come through on Friday morning
38:21
There's an emergency session. of the European Parliament in Brussels on Monday
38:26
I get the Eurostar over with bodyguards. And at three o'clock it's due to begin
38:33
I thought, well, I'll time this perfectly. So I got there at about two minutes to three to make my modest way down to my front row seat
38:40
And already in the well of the Parliament was Juncker. And they used to allow photographers and cameras in
38:45
before the session began. So there's Juncker waiting for me. And I walked down
38:49
It's a shot they all won. It's, hello, Jean-Claude. And he sort of hugs me
38:55
And he whispers in my ear, you . So, of course, the picture is the two of us having a laugh
39:02
Look, you know what? You can disagree with people politically but like them as human beings
39:07
And this is actually a very important point. We're now getting to a polarised position where we hate someone
39:13
because they've got different opinions rather than respecting their right in a free society to have them
39:19
You leave you saying, I want my life back. Yep. A few years ago, you left reform, although they dragged you back because you were retiring from politics again
39:28
Will you retire again Do you want to be Prime Minister I keep trying to run away It like the Godfather isn it They keep dragging me back in Do you want to be Prime Minister Do you know something Nick Not for the sake of the office or the title because I couldn give a damn about that
39:44
Never been interested in that. For me, politics is not about what I become in terms of a personal status. It's about what I can do
39:54
Right now, I believe I'm the only person that's got sufficient public report
40:02
and the courage to take on the establishment and do what needs to be done
40:06
Right now, I'm the right person. May well be in a couple of years' time or more, somebody else comes along who's better equipped
40:13
Right now, I do believe it's me. So you could be the Prime Minister
40:18
Yes. What would be the first few policies, Mr Farage? we've got to restore trust in the fact that voting actually counts for anything
40:30
Otherwise, things like riots and public disorder will become more commonplace. Voting is our safety valve
40:39
That's our way of expressing our opinion without fighting. So I do actually believe getting rid of the Human Rights Act
40:46
getting back proper control of our borders, re-establishing trust that the voters get what they actually opt for in an election is the first
40:55
thing to do. You rightly reference you try and get away and they keep dragging you back but that does
40:59
allow you some time for some troubles and you go to the United States and you form a close friendship
41:03
with now President Donald Trump. Yeah. How would you sum him up in a sentence? Just an extraordinary
41:08
human being. I mean he is I would talk about resilience. They try to assassinate him time
41:13
after time. He's a remarkable human being. And you can love him
41:18
you can hate him. Is he positive for the world, Nigel? Oh, I
41:21
think he's helping reshape the world. Is that in a positive fashion? I believe that it is
41:26
With the conflict in Iran? I'd love to see the end of the Iranian regime. They're ghastly
41:31
Absolutely ghastly. He may not succeed in it. He may not succeed
41:36
in it, but was it the right thing to attempt? Yes. You spent the American
41:43
election night, they called it the watch at Mar-a-Lago. What can you share from that
41:49
It was a real honour to be in the room. Sitting alongside the man who was to be President. It was a remarkable evening. It was so great to be there
41:55
And I I was honoured to be in the room as results came through
42:01
to see him. And he gave a big victory speech. I don't know
42:07
what time it was, four or five in the morning. And then the next day at midday
42:11
I popped into the courtyard. and there he was, just won the presidential election
42:16
barely been to bed. He'd been out and played nine holes of golf. He was in the golfing kit
42:22
and he was having a light lunch with Elon Musk. And so I sat down between the two of them
42:30
and I just thought, what on earth am I doing here? Why me, a Brit
42:34
What advice has he given you about possibly being PM? I'll tell you
42:41
I'll tell you. have fun doing it. And what an amazing thought that is
42:49
for all of us in all of our lives. Because if you choose public office
42:56
you will necessarily, especially in the modern social media world, receive an awful lot of hate
43:02
as will your loved ones that are close to you around you. But have fun doing it, is his advice
43:08
It's very good. Is your partner on side? Yeah, I mean, she's obviously, it's not easy
43:13
I mean, some of it drives us bonkers and the object of the media now
43:17
is to make sure that nobody with any personality, any history any background or any assets
43:23
or any business sense ever goes into politics Some of it's a bit wearing
43:28
It is a bit wearing but you know what, we get through it
43:32
I want to come to your favourites, a final question for Donald Trump How does he view the UK currently, Nigel
43:37
He's depressed about it, sad about it He loves the UK he's very much his mother's son
43:42
the Scottish bit of him is very very he loves Scotland, he talks about it all the time
43:47
because he adored the Queen as you well know it's so interesting
43:52
so many Americans still view us as the mother country and they're very upset to see the way it's going
44:01
in a moment we're going to ask you for your best dinner party guests
44:05
and your favourite book and your favourite film but let's have your final choice of music
44:08
which was an interesting choice when I saw your list come through, Nigel Farage. It was a moment
44:13
So the toughest decision in my political life was to come back again which happened on the 3rd of June 2024 I been out of politics for three years I was enjoying life I been part helping get GB News off the ground
44:27
which I loved doing. I was going to America. I'd set some business things up
44:33
I'd bought some property. I'm doing a variety of things. And life was good
44:38
And I just turned 60. First two grandsons born. I mean, life was great
44:44
And I decided to throw it all away. and to come back into politics
44:48
because I'm so depressed about the state of the country. And as I'm heading up to Clacton in the car
44:55
with my assistant, Dan, who's been by my side for 12 years
45:00
he suddenly brilliantly said, well, it's Eminem. It's Guess Who's Back. So I'm sitting in the back of the car
45:07
and he plays the track and he films me on an iPhone
45:12
and it's Guess Who's Back, Back Again. And it just took off. It was absolutely crazy
45:18
And I have to have that record, because it reminds me of that day of coming back into the political fray
45:24
And who'd have believed, two years on, that from that moment, we've led the last 350 opinion polls in a row
45:36
You mentioned Clacton. To those who say, you're in America, you're on the road, you're recording videos, you're doing all of this, you're never in Clacton
45:48
How would you respond, Nigel Farage? Utter rot. I mean, after I leave you now, I'll be there for the next three nights
45:56
I've got all sorts of visits all over the constituency. I'll be laying a wreath on Sunday morning in a commemoration event
46:02
And look, I pack in to a day in the constituency more than most MPs would in a month
46:11
And are you seen in the House of Commons enough, Nigel Farage? No. Why? Because I'm leading a national political party
46:17
I'm the CEO of this organisation. I am building structure, departments. And I spent nine weeks on the road in the run-up to the local elections this year
46:28
Nine weeks on the road. and my voters want me to represent them but they also want me to win the next general election
46:35
And you think the people of Clacton are prepared to do that deal? They want me to win the next general election
46:39
and I'm not going to do that sitting in the House of Commons all day. Let's rattle through the last few questions
46:45
so we get a sense, a little bit of the man. If I could only give you one book for the rest of your life
46:52
what book would you choose? I had thought about Hemingway's Old Man and Massey
46:56
but no, it's actually P.G. Woodhouse and the reason is if you read Woodhouse
47:02
and you get into Woodhouse you're suddenly lost to the world you become totally
47:09
absorbed by this extraordinary place that Woodhouse takes you to so that would be my choice
47:14
Who's your favourite politician you're not allowed to perform UK politician that you would want to be trapped in a lift with Gosh contemporary
47:23
I'll give you one living one dead Well, I mean, I think that in Europe, it'll be Georgia Maloney, who has brought stability to Italian politics
47:37
Who ever would have believed that was even possible? So I've got huge respect for what she's done
47:42
Historically, trapped in a lift with, that's very difficult. But I think..
47:50
Enoch Powell? No, no, no. It wouldn't be Enoch Powell, I don't think
47:55
but it might be it might be and he was not really apollary
48:00
but he was a bit Jackie Fisher Admiral Jackie Fisher the man who famously quipped
48:05
if you pick a fight with a chimney sweep you get covered in soot I think he'd be
48:09
actually him and a lift for a few hours would be quite interesting and which
48:13
we've been through the six decades of your life which decade of your life
48:17
would you want to relive oh the 80s why because for most of it
48:24
I was young single earning money struck by a car yeah but having buckets
48:34
got cancer yeah but I forget my mind remembers the good bits
48:39
and then of course later on end of a decade I start having a family
48:42
and moving on from there and I've now got four adult children
48:46
three grandchildren my parents are still alive there's four generations of us
48:52
I don't talk about this stuff in public or use their names, but you know what? At Christmas last year, it's pretty good
48:58
Do you regret what you've put them through? Sometimes. You've been on the record
49:04
Nigel Farage, thanks very much. Thank you
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