Nigel Farage has said he is part of a “similar phenomenon” to the misogynist influencer Andrew Tate, as he claimed that there were forces in society trying to “stop young men from being young men”.
The Reform UK leader used the last day of campaigning before the general election to appear alongside Derek Chisora, the controversial boxer and Reform UK supporter, in a boxing gym in Clacton, where Farage is making his eighth bid to be elected as an MP.
Farage used the visit to speak about what he described as the feelings of “emasculation” among young men, saying: “Look at the football. You know, they’re told: Go to Germany. Please don’t drink more than two pints of beer. You what? Don’t chant at the football matches. You what? Oh, and don’t tell jokes that might offend the Germans. I mean, come on. We are trying to stop young men being young men.
“That’s why Tate got the following he got. So maybe I’m part of a similar phenomenon,” he said. Since December 2022, Tate has been facing charges in Romania of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women, which he denies.
Farage led a rally in the centre of Clacton in chants of “we want our country back” as he once again sought to make immigration the centrepiece of his campaign after arriving at the rally on a military-style vehicle to the sound of Eminem’s Without Me.
“How are you getting on for dentists in Clacton?” he asked. “Well, then you should have come by dinghy.”
The Reform UK leader’s comments come against the backdrop of concerns about the rise of role models and influencers associated with a model of toxic masculinity.
A poll of 200 people by JLP found earlier this week that Reform UK was the top choice of political party among 23% of those aged 16 to 17. However, among young men it was on level pegging with Labour, on 35%.
Farage’s appearance came a day after a second Reform candidate defected to the Conservatives. Georgie David, who had been Reform’s candidate for West Ham and Beckton, said the vast majority of people standing for the hard-right party were “racist, misogynistic and bigoted”.
Liam Booth-Isherwood, who had been the candidate for the Erewash constituency in Derbyshire, also cited “reports of widespread racism and sexism in Reform” as his reason for defecting to the Tories last week.
Farage defended his appearance alongside Chisora, who was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence in 2010 after being found guilty of assaulting his then girlfriend.
Asked if Chisora was a good role model, he replied: “You show me someone who has lived a perfect life and never been in trouble. For these young kids he’s a fantastic role model. He’s got a huge following in the country. And yeah, he is a good role model. Imperfect as we all are.”
After taking part in some mock sparring with Farage for the cameras, Chisora reluctantly answered questions about his own past, but insisted he was “born again”.
Young men who spoke to the Guardian at the gym – which was run by a supporter of Farage and had Reform UK banners hung up on the walls – cited the Reform UK leader’s social media presence as one of the reasons why he had a prominent following.
“Everything is not the same in the country and you feel there has been a massive decline, so maybe he’s the change we need,” said one who cited Farage’s position on immigration and the supposed idea of a “woke” culture.
“I think the world is way too woke and it’s past the point of repair. You have to be careful about anything you say. Even supporting him can cause you to be labelled a racist.”
But in a sign that other policies had cut through, another approvingly cited – in some detail – Reform UK’s proposals to lift the income tax personal allowance to £20,000.
