A former I’m A Celeb contestant who spent three weeks in the jungle with Nigel Farage has launched a blistering attack on the Reform UK leader.
Fred Sirieix accused Mr Farage – who yesterday announced he was standing as an MP in a major U-turn – of having “no vision” and no interest in making the UK a better place. The pair both took part in last year’s series of the popular ITV reality show.
Mr Sirieix wrote: “I spoke at length and extensively with Nigel Farage for 3 weeks while in the jungle. I wanted to make my own mind up about him and his views. Conclusion is simple. He was very good at washing the dishes in the river but when it comes to politics he has no plan and no substance.”
And in a further post on Twitter/X the First Dates host wrote: “No vision. No concrete policies. He is not interested in making the UK/the world a better place. He just rants.”
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While they were on the show, Mr Sirieix accused the former UKIP boss of destroying the economy as a result of Brexit. Mr Farage dismissed this as “b*****s”.
Mr Farage announced he was taking over as leader of the right-wing party from Richard Tice yesterday. He said immigration should be the central issue of the election and announced he’d stand in Clacton in Essex.
That was despite previously having suggested he wouldn’t want to spend his Fridays there on constituency duty if he was elected. Speaking to Good Morning Britain today, Mr Farage said: “I don’t want to join the Conservative Party, I think the better thing to do would be to take it over.”
News that Mr Farage is back in the mix is a body blow to Rishi Sunak, and follows a mega-poll suggesting the Tories could be reduced to just 140 seats on July 4.
The YouGov poll suggests Labour would secure a majority of 194 – a historic wipeout and the second largest majority ever, surpassing Tony Blair’s achievements in 1997.
Home Secretary James Cleverly tried to play down the danger Mr Farage poses his party. “The last time I heard him make reference to Clacton, he was saying that he didn’t want to spend every Friday in Clacton,” Mr Cleverly told Sky News.
“Reform has always been a vehicle for Nigel Farage’s self-promotion, I think Richard Tice is now discovering that rather painfully.”