nigel farage tour

The Nigel Farage Forever Tour

It was an event as throwback as its headliner.

On a sleepy spring night in “Sleepy Joe’s” Washington last week, I slipped into an event seemingly out of time and place: a mass gathering put on by FreedomWorks at a Washington steakhouse with pioneering Brexit leader Nigel Farage. Everything about it screamed not 2021: from the keynoter, a transatlantic comrade of former President Trump, to the host, a libertarian-minded outfit that has for now faded from center stage since the end of “the libertarian moment,” to the post-vaccine size of the crowd (about sixty, the largest I’ve been in since the South Carolina primary ), to the location. The reality of the city’s restaurant scene has long evolved past its apparently enduring reputation as exclusively a steakhouse town (and maybe Cafe Milano). Good thing for the esteemed Charlie Palmer’s that there are a number of politicos, especially Republicans, that dine like it’s 1995. 

Indeed, as conceded by one attendant: “Everyone’s depressed.” 

But against this backdrop—the banishment of their champion, Trump, and from a town run by among the most zealous COVID commissars anywhere—a man perhaps now a citizen of the wrong country came to give a pep talk, or at least remind the crowd of his otherworldly charisma. Long a devotee of longshot causes, the former United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) leader argued from experience that in politics it is exactly when one’s enemies appear most hegemonic that they’re secretly “at their weakest point.” It would sound like crackpot stuff coming from anyone besides the architect of Britain’s separation—or emancipation, as Farage sees it—from the bureaucracy that governs much of the rest of Europe, the largest economic zone in the world. The man knows when to play the hits. German Chancellor Angela Merkel? “Even worse in person.”

“There are only two tragedies in life. One is not getting what you want, the other is getting it,” arms dealer protagonist Yuri Orlov, a wily man perhaps after Farage’s own heart, says in the 2005 film  Lord of War . Though not quite an American president, Farage, like Bill Clinton and Theodore Roosevelt (who left office as young men) has in common the achievement of a life’s ambition at a relatively early age. Death came for the latter, and destruction of contemporary reputation has come for the former, two fates Farage doubtless wants to avoid. It is not clear what the path forward for him is: an ally of convenience with Boris Johnson, perhaps the only thing Farage shares with the British establishment is the knowledge of the prime minister’s general untrustworthiness. His other most significant contact, Donald Trump, is no longer a head of government.

So what is Farage to do? Well, he can go on tour.

And that he is. Backed by FreedomWorks, an entourage has formed around the figure that views him as a ticket back to prominence, or at least a payout. Farage brings preternatural, dogged energy to seemingly any cause he lends his voice (“he’s a magnet,” said one interlocutor who saw him in Los Angeles last week). Indeed, if Farage is a rock star on the conservative circuit, he is keeping rockstar hours: in California on Wednesday, at Charlie Palmer’s across the country on Thursday, and by Friday at Elba-a-Lago in Florida. His “diary” that he is keeping, on YouTube, showed him in a full suit on a Saturday morning at Dallas Fort Worth airport, perhaps adding further to suspicions the species has a time traveler. 

“Faragism” is more dispositional than encyclical. It’s been written that Farage didn’t so much have a macroeconomic emphasis in his eventually victorious crusade against Brussels as a horse trader’s hatred of regulation, a wheeler-dealer’s disgust toward the nanny state. 

But he’s no doctrinaire libertarian. Like many right-leaning in the West these days, Farage sees only ominous stuff out of Beijing. “One of my biggest focuses now that most of Brexit is over has been the rise of China,” Farage said in a recently self-published video. “Or, to be more accurate, the rise of the Chinese Communist Party and their totalitarian attempt to shut down democracy, to take over the world.” Indeed, in my first meeting with him, Farage painted a picture of wholesale purchase by the Chinese of much of the English world, certainly in New Zealand, Canada, and his motherland.  

If Farage flirts with a different country—the British Empire never fell, it just changed capitals to Washington, it’s often been said—then he has that in common with a man YouTube audiences have a similar appetite for: the late Christopher Hitchens. Farage is a former stockjobber and politician, while Hitchens was a prolific writer, but the similarities are there, extending to a noted love of the bottle and a smoke, balms for a sharp tongue. 

The particulars of Farage’s politics are more similar to Hitchens’ younger brother, Peter, however. At the Washington event, Farage expressed particular glee that London had recently sent in the Navy in a shellfish dispute with Paris, invoking Trafalgar and Napoleon. His opinion on the German chancellor notwithstanding, Farage clearly concurs with Peter on missing the pre-Churchill primacy of that old pastime, taking it to the French.

“What joy to be in conflict with the French again, our ancient and hereditary foes,” Hitchens wrote in his Mail On Sunday column this week. Of course, though they largely agree, Hitchens doesn’t seem to much care for Farage, deploring his realpolitik with Johnson. Gloriously confirming his status as the paleocon Jean-Paul Marat, Hitchens wrote last year “Why did it take Nigel Farage so long to work out that Al Johnson,” as he calls the PM by his first name, “is a metropolitan liberal? Could it be that Mr Farage is a bit of a liberal himself?”

Outside the event, I find the man himself. He says he remembers me, with a politician’s gift of never forgetting a face, if not always memorizing the name. The strange admixture that results from a life on the road is not lost on him. Four years ago, he told the BBC that he was “53, separated, skint.” He told me he was in the market for a great woman, about 55, and it would also be great if she was the understanding and plutocratic type. Or, as he once told the Financial Times over six pints, a bottle of wine and two glasses of port: “I am what I am.”

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Lee Anderson row heralds Nigel Farage comeback tour

A return to frontline politics would allow him to denounce a ‘westminster charade’ and threaten tories with extinction.

O ne of the ironies of Nigel Farage being the most consequential British politician of the past 20 years is that he achieved this status without ever becoming a member of the House of Commons. Goodness knows, he had a good go, standing for Ukip seven times from the Eastleigh by-election in June 1994 (952 votes) to South Thanet at the 2015 general election (16,026 votes and a narrow second place).

In the years between, Farage was the progenitor of an enormous shift in this country, channelling anger over rising immigration and EU integration for which no democratic permission had been sought. Whether we agree or disagree with his world view (even as a Brexiteer, I very much don’t) is not the point. In applying such

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Lunch Hour with Nigel Farage

Join Nigel Farage and Camilla Tominey online for a live Q&A – or if you're a VIP subscriber, be one of 50 in-person attendees at the Telegraph office in London

Event schedule

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Nigel Farage in conversation with Camilla Tominey and Q&A

Event ends and refreshments served

If you could ask Nigel Farage anything, what would it be?

Since October, The Telegraph’s Politics Newsletter has given readers the opportunity to grill some of the biggest names in Westminster, from Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg to Wes Streeting.

On Monday, 8 April, you can join Nigel Farage live in person at the Telegraph office in central London, and online, as he talks to Associate Editor Camilla Tominey and answers your questions.

Farage was leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) until 2016, and was highly influential in Britain’s exit from the European Union. After a period as leader of the Brexit Party, Farage is now a presenter for GB News and the Honorary President of Reform UK.

Allister Heath, Editor of the Sunday Telegraph, has said that Farage’s return to politics would cause the Conservative Party to implode .

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Professor T star Frances de la Tour's life away from cameras: From famous brother to actor ex-husband

Frances shares two children with her ex-husband, playwright and actor tom kempinski.

Frances de la Tour reprises her role as Jasper's overbearing mother Adelaide Tempest in the brand new series of ITV's hit crime drama, Professor T . The three-time Olivier Award winner has been a regular fixture on our screens over the years thanks to her illustrious film career. 

Viewers will know Frances for her roles in The Lady in the Van, Enola Holmes, and of course for her portrayal of Madame Olympe Maxime in the Harry Potter  film series. But what about her life away from the cameras? Here's all you need to know, from her famous brother to her actor ex-husband…

Frances de la Tour's early life and famous brother

Frances was born on 30 July 1944 in Hertfordshire to parents Moyra and Charles de la Tour. 

After studying at Drama Centre London, Frances joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and subsequently landed roles in a variety of plays. What followed was an impressive stage career, with Frances starring in many major productions, including in Edward Albee's Three Tall Women alongside Maggie Smith, and The History Boys at the Royal National Thetare and later on Broadway. 

As for her on-screen credits, Frances is perhaps best known for her role in the 70s' show Rising Damp , as well as for playing Emma Porlock in the drama series Cold Lazarus , headmistress Margaret Baron in BBC sitcom Big School  and Violet Crosby in the ITV comedy Vicious.

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While Frances, now 79, grew up to be a film star, she's not the only famous face in her family. Her brother is actor and screenwriter Andy de la Tour. He's perhaps best known for appearing in Notting Hill,  and Roman Polanski's Oliver Twist. 

He's also landed roles in The Young Ones, Holby City, Casualty,  and  Doctors. 

As a television writer, his credits include Lovejoy, Boon, Peak Practice, The Vet,  and  Kavanagh QC. He's married to BAFTA-winning actress Susan Wooldridge, who is known for her roles in Hope and Glory, and  All Quiet on the Preston Front. 

Frances' home life and famous ex-husband 

Frances was previously married to playwright and actor Tom Kempinski, who passed away in August 2023. He's best known for his 1980 play Duet for One , for which Frances won the Olivier for Best Actress. It was later turned into a film starring Julie Andrews and Alan Bates. 

Frances and Tom were together for ten years until 1982, during which time they welcomed two children, Josh and Tamasin. 

Frances is fairly private about her personal life, and so it's not known whether she's currently in a relationship. 

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Nigel Farage wished happy 60th birthday by Donald Trump

Mr Trump and Mr Farage are known to be friends, and have campaigned together. Also present and the celebrations were several Conservative MPs - despite a recent spat between Mr Farage's Reform party and the Tory leadership.

Political reporter

Thursday 4 April 2024 15:48, UK

Donald Trump wished Nigel Farage a happy birthday in a video message played at the Brexit campaigner's 60th birthday on Wednesday night.

The Reform Party director held the event in the Boisdale restaurant in Canary Wharf, east London, with guests listening to speeches and even a recorded address from former US president.

Also present were several Conservative MPs - including the former prime minister Liz Truss.

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Video on social media showed what Mr Trump said to the group.

"You're a historic figure as a prophetic leader, and I know that the people of the UK are grateful for your patriotism and service," Mr Trump said.

"In fact. I'm very much looking forward to watching what your next move is going to be, it's going to be an interesting one.

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"You're not done yet and hopefully the best is yet to come. So Nigel: Enjoy this day.

"Congratulations on a truly remarkable 60 years on this Earth, your achievements have been incredible. Happy birthday!"

Mr Trump and Mr Farage are known to be friends, with Mr Farage seen at Mr Trump rallies and interviewing him as well.

On the domestic front, Ms Truss was among several Conservative MPs who were guests at the party.

A picture tweeted by Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns shows her standing next to Mr Farage, with Ms Truss visible in the background.

Mr Farage 's Brexit referendum ally Arron Banks was also in frame.

According to the Daily Express, Conservative MPs Sir David Davis, Mark Francois and Andrew Rosindell were in attendance too.

Tory-turned-Reform MP Lee Anderson was also reportedly celebrating, as was Reform leader Richard Tice.

The Conservative-Reform mixer comes despite a recent spat between Mr Tice and those who head up campaigning for the Tories.

Mr Farage has previously said the Conservatives are facing political extinction and he wants to replace them .

Last weekend, Conservative chair Richard Holden branded Mr Tice a "threatening bully" on social media, after the latter claimed to have "embarrassing personal information" about Mr Holden's deputy, Jonathan Gullis.

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Unlike in 2019 - when Reform was the Brexit Party - the Conservatives are having to battle against Mr Farage's political machine at the next general election in every constituency in Britain.

Reform's policies , including lower taxes, reducing immigration, cheaper energy and slashing waiting lists, look to outflank the Conservatives on the right.

And the worries were compounded by the defection of Mr Anderson, who was previously a deputy chair of the Conservative Party.

Mr Farage has played down the likelihood of him standing as an MP, having unsuccessfully done so on a number of previous occasions.

And there have been other difficulties selecting candidates, with Reform dropping two of its potential MPs yesterday after accusations they made racist remarks on social media.

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Nigel Farage ‘offered five-figure fee’ to sign up to another reality show after I’m A Celeb

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Nigel Farage has been offered a huge fee to participate in another reality show, it is claimed.

The former UKIP leader made it to the final of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here and his reality TV career may continue after a five-figure sum is reportedly on the table to participate in Channel 4 ’s Banged Up: Stars Behind Bars .

In the first series, the programme put celebrities  including minister for veterans’ affairs Johnny Mercer, EastEnders actor Sid Owen , Gogglebox  star Marcus Luther, and comedian Tom Rosenthal , into the now-decommissioned HMP Shrewsbury and gave them an authentic experience of what it’s like to be locked up .

Joining them inside were former prisoners, who were asked to behave in the same way they did before reforming. 

Producers are said to be keen to get Brexit Party leader Farage, 59, behind bars for series two.

‘Nigel isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but he’s great for ratings,’ a source told The Sun .

‘He did surprisingly well in the jungle and is keen to do more reality TV. Producers are hoping to get a deal over the line with him soon.’

While speaking to the publication, Nigel didn’t rule it out: ‘Banged Up’s very interesting.’

The unique concept has led to a Bafta nomination in the Reality and constructed factual category. A second series is said to begin filming in September for eight nights.

A Channel 4 spokesperson said: ‘No re-commission decision has been made on Banged Up.’

Ofill Allen voluntarily put himself back in prison as he hoped that showing what it’s really like in jail could improve the criminal justice system, and deter others from committing crimes. He served 17 years in prison for killing an alleged rapist aged 19, before being released in 2020.

Sharing a cell with Conservative  MP Johnny Mercer was eye-opening, and he then told Metro.co.uk he’d like to see more politicians locked up.

‘More MPs need to go to prison so they can see the reality.

‘They would understand it if they lived it and experienced it for themselves. You’ve got to live it, breathe it, eat it, sleep it, s**t it, to truly know what it feels like.’

Politicians being exposed to prison life could lead to a prison system reform, he believes.

‘Prison can be dehumanising. It is a punishment so of course there has to be a balance. Criminals must know what they’ve done is wrong and not want to do it again but we are still human beings.’

He continued: ‘Some days we’d get locked up for hours with no communication about what was happening. Those lockdowns happened on Banged Up and it made me remember how awful it is to experience.’

Farage was said to be the highest-paid person  in I’m A Celeb history, and his signing sparked a backlash .

Metro.co.uk has contacted Channel 4 for comment.

Banged up series one is available to watch on Channel 4.

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Liz Truss spotted in background at Nigel Farage's birthday bash where Donald Trump sent message

Former Prime Minister Liz Truss attended Nigel Farage's 60th birthday party in London, where guests reportedly included Jim Davidson, Lee Anderson, Holly Valance and Made in Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo

• 08:29, 4 Apr 2024

Former Prime Minister Liz Truss rocked up to Nigel Farage's 60th birthday party last night.

The 49-day Tory leader was among the guests at the bash, who also reportedly included controversial comic Jim Davidson and actress Holly Valance. A video message from Donald Trump praising former UKIP leader Mr Farage was shown to those gathered in Belgravia.

Ms Truss could be seen in the background of a shot shared by Tory MP Dame Andrea Jenkyns , one of Rishi Sunak's harshest critics. Dame Andrea wrote: "A pleasure to be invited to Nigel Farage's 60th birthday bash — a true patriot, conservative to the core, and, like him or loathe him, one of the most influential politicians of our generation. Cheers!"

Also there, according to Politico, were Made in Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo - a friend of Mr Farage - Reform UK MP Lee Anderson and Tory right-winger Mark Francois. Ms Valance attended with her husband Nick Candy, who has previously donated thousands to the Tories.

Another reported guest was controversial historian David Starkey, who last year claimed anti-racists are "trying to destroy white culture" - and accused left-wingers of being "jealous" of Jews because of the Holocaust. Guests were shown a video from Mr Trump, who Mr Farage has previously campaigned for in the US. He offered Mr Farage “congratulations on a truly remarkable 60 years on Earth, your achievements have been incredible.”

Mr Farage has been linked with a return to the Tory fold after appearing at the Conservative Party Conference in October. After pictures of Ms Truss at the bash were shared on social media, musician John Spiers wrote: "If you thought that Nigel Farage's crusade to take over the Conservative Party was over I've got news for you ... here's a Conservative MP at Nigel Farage's 60th birthday with the previous Tory PM, Liz Truss in the background. He's the next leader."

In February Keir Starmer lashed out at Mr Sunak over the rumours, telling the PM at PMQs : "The Prime Minister has lost control of his party to the hoards of redcoats of malcontents, the tin foil hat brigade over there, the extremists who wrecked the economy, all lining up to undermine him, humiliate him and eventually to get rid of him.

"When will he ever stand up to them and end the pathetic spectacle of a Tory Party that used to try and beat Nigel Farage now giving up and dancing to his tune instead?"

MORE ON Conservative Party Donald Trump Jim Davidson Nigel Farage Liz Truss Holly Valance Politics

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HELL freezes over: Temperatures in tiny US town plunge to -25C as big freeze grips US

By Richard Jeffries

Published: 24/12/2022

Christmas Eve 2022 is officially the day Hell froze over...and it's snowing in Tehran!

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HELL has frozen over.

The tiny town in Michigan, US, was blanketed in deep snow today as temperatures plunged to minus 25C, with the wind making it feel at least 10 degrees colder.

Roads were blocked and the edges of nearby Lake Michigan froze as people struggled to get in and out of Hell, a popular summer tourist destination for locals in America's upper Midwest.

It came as the huge winter storm ripping through the United States claimed at least 19 lives and wrecked Christmas getaway plans for tens of millions with more than 7,000 flights cancelled.

The freezing over of Hell sparked a frenzy on Twitter, with some concluding the end of days was nigh.

Others said Hell freezing over was the ultimate evidence that the world needed to take global warming far more seriously.

Mike Andrews summed up the response, writing: "It’s happened! Hell has frozen over!"

Others claimed it was a "headline writer's dream" while several users posted weather forecasters from their own home towns adding "It's hotter than Hell here!".

The Michigan Beach Guide says people "would be surprised how beautiful Hell is".

It goes on: "We have more than 400 acres of hiking and biking trails that wind through a picturesque chain of lakes.

"The 17-mile Potawatomi Trail stretches through marshes and wetlands, and the sprawling Pinckney Recreation area is stunning."

There are many theories as to how the town of Hell got its name. The most popular involves a man in the 1840's named George Reeves who, when asked by officials what he wanted to name the settlement he helped start, replied, 'Call it Hell for I care!'

Another story of the town's origins comes from the frontiersmen who traveled the low-lying wetlands at the height of mosquito season. After traveling through such wet and infested terrain they referred to it simply as "Hell."

The freezing over of Hell comes as heavy snowfall also blanketed parts of Iran, with rare blizzards striking the capital city Tehran on Christmas Eve. The Iranian city - where summer temperatures are among the hottest on Earth and can exceed 50C - saw temperatures fall below freezing overnight, catching locals and local transport networks off-guard.

Record snowfall has also been reported in other world cities, including Moscow where nearly 40cm of snow has fallen in recent days.

The last time a similar depth of snow was recorded in Moscow in mid-December was in 1989. Close to 119,000 people and over 12,500 vehicles were deployed to clear the snow, according to Moscow city authorities, with snowfall forecast to continue until the New Year.

"It's a snow Armageddon! In Moscow there is such a storm that you can't walk or drive," state-controlled Channel One said in a report.

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