Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage, MEP

Nigel Farage (born 03 April 1964, Farnborough) is a British politician who was the leader of the UK Independence Party from 1999-2009, then 2010-July 2016. He was a founder of is an MEP for UKIP since 20.07.1999 (re-elected).

Education

Born in London, Farage was educated at Dulwich College, London.

Resignations

May 2015 elections

Farage resigned as leader of UKIP having failed to gain the seat of Thanet South during the 2015 general elections. Speaking about his defeat, he insisted he had 'never felt happier', with a 'weight lifted off his shoulders'.

He re-joined the leadership seat after 4 days, as the party had found 'overwhelmingly evidence' that UKIP members did not want Farage to go.

In March 2017, the pressure group Hope Not Hate called on Kent Police to investigate claims that Farage exceeded his spending limits during the 2015 general election campaign. The group allege that Farage's campaign failed to appropriately declare at least £26,302 in its electoral returns, and possibly well over £35,000, spent on campaign staff, billboards and mobile ad-vans. Farage strongly rejected the claims.

Brexit referendum 2016

After the victory for the 'Leave' camp, Nigel Farage resigned as leader once more, saying he had fulfilled his political ambitions and that it was time for him to take a rest. Speaking at a press conference in Westminster, he said: 'During the referendum I said I wanted my country back … now I want my life back.'

However, Farage also decided to stay on as leader of the party’s group in the European parliament, creating a separate power base in Brussels and wielding some influence over funding.

Comments after Paris attacks

Following the January 2015 attacks in Paris including the murder of 12 people at the offices of magazine Charlie Hebdo, Farage commented:

We do have, I'm afraid, I'm sad to say, a fifth column that is living within our own countries, that is utterly opposed to our values.

We're going to have to be a lot braver and a lot more courageous in standing up for our Judeo-Christian culture.

Farage's comments, which seemed to imply generalised Muslim responsibility and to paint Muslims as external to European society and cultural heritage, were criticised by other politicians. Liberal Democrat Tim Farron said 'Nigel Farage's politics of blame has no place in modern, diverse and tolerant Britain'.

Affiliations

• Member, Conference of Presidents
• Member, Committee on Fisheries

Former Affiliations

• Member, Conference of Presidents
• Substitute, Committee on Fisheries

Record and Controversies

Declaration of Financial Interests

Paid Functions or Activities:

• Journalism
• Commodity Banking

Support Received in Connection with Political Activities:

• Financial: Office provided free of rent - granted by J. Longhurst

Further Information:

• Employment of Kirsten Farage

Former Declaration of Financial Interests

Paid Functions or Activities:

• Journalism
• Commodity Banking

Support Received in Connection with Political Activities:

• In terms of staff: granted by J.Longhurst
• In terms of material: Office accommodation free of rent

Record of Parliamentary Votes

• Abstained from voting the directive on "establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy" (A5-0027/2000). The directive covers all water management aspects in order to achieve a 'good status' of all waters by 2015.
• Abstained from voting the directive on "national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants" (A5-0063/2000). The amendment allows setting less ambitious national emission ceilings for sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia (NH3) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), which would result in more damage to human health and the environment.
• Voted against the directive on "waste electrical and electronic equipment" (A5-0100/2002). The amendment sets higher reuse and recycling rates for IT and telecommunication equipment. Rejected due to lack of absolute majority.
• Abstained from voting the report on "Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network" (A5-0135/2002). The Trans-European Network of Transport (TEN-T) is a network of so-called 'transport corridors' through Europe. This amendment calls for a full Strategic Environmental Assessment of these transport corridors and calls on the Commission to improve methods for analysing the environmental and economic impact of the TEN-T.
• Voted against the regulation concerning "traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms and traceability of food and feed products produced from genetically modified organisms" (A5-0229/2002). The amendment allows customers the right to choose GM free food.
• Voted against the directive on "environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage" (A5-0145/2003). According to the amendment, polluters have to pay for environmental clean-up, and it supports an EU-wide regime which makes polluters liable for the damage they cause to wildlife, water and land.
• Voted against the directive on restructuring the "Community framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity" (A5-0302/2003). The amendment aims at giving tax benefits to environmentally friendly sources of energy, which would make them cheaper and more competitive to conventional (more polluting) sources of energy. It also gives tax benefits to environmentally friendly uses of energy for transport, for instance trains. Rejected due to lack of absolute majority.

Personal Information

Curriculum Vitae

• Secondary education. Has worked for British, French and American companies operating in the commodity markets, especially the London Metal Exchange (since 1982).
• In the UK Independence Party:

National Chairman (1998-2000);

Chairman of the European Election Committee (2002-2004);

Chairman, South East Counties (since 1999);

National spokesman (since 2000).

• Member of the European Parliament (since 1999).
• Vice-Chairman of the EDD Group (1999-2004).

Contact

Address:

Parlement européen

Bât. Altiero Spinelli

04F158

60, rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60

B-1047 Bruxelles/Brussel

Phone:

+32 (0)2 28 45855

Fax:

+32 (0)2 28 49855

Email:

nigel.farage AT europarl.europa.eu

Website:

This article is part of the MEPedia project of Spinwatch.

Resources

• European Parliament, Declaration of Members' Financial Interests: Nigel Farage, 22 February 2008, accessed 08 February 2009.
• European Parliament, Declaration of Members' Financial Interests: Nigel Farage, 16 July 2009, accessed 04 November 2009.
• European Parliament, MEP Directory: Nigel Farage, accessed 08 February 2009.
• European Parliament, MEP Directory: Nigel Farage, accessed 06 November 2010.
• Friends of the Earth, EU Vote Watch, accessed 07 February 2009.