Nigel Farage dodges media questions after Donald Trump’s humiliating defeat
The Reform leader swiftly wrapped up a press event without taking questions from journalists
Nigel Farage dodged questions from the media at a press conference following his ‘friend’ Donald Trump’s humiliating defeat in the mid-term elections earlier this week.
Reform held a press conference yesterday to unveil its new armed forces spokesperson, Angus MacIntyre.
As first reported by The National, following the livestreamed announcement, Farage refused to take questions from journalists.
On Wednesday, Trump, who Farage previously said he was ‘proud’ to call a friend, emerged defeated from the US mid-term elections.
Farage opened the event with a speech focused on the need for greater spending on defence rather than on benefits, and what he described as the “relentless prosecution” of British military personnel.
The Reform leader made a brief reference to the Iran war, which has been cited as a major factor in Trump’s Republican Party losing control of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Farage said: “We can agree or disagree with the Iran war, that isn’t the point. The point is we and the Americans work hand in glove.
“The point is for all the dreams that Mr Burnham might have about European defence, without America we are defenceless.”
Farage and MacIntyre repeatedly referred to historical cases involving British soldiers during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, including the case of Soldier B as well as Bloody Sunday.
“Soldier B” refers to the former soldier accused of murdering 15-year-old Daniel Hegarty during a British Army operation in Londonderry in 1972.
MacIntyre also used his speech to rail against the prosecution of former service personnel, who he argued the government treats “as criminals”.
Following MacIntyre’s speech, Farage returned to the stage and enthusiastically praised MacIntyre.
“What a guy. Have I got the right guy?” he asked the audience.
Despite Farage having said earlier this week “I don’t go with the consensus that Trump’s going to get absolutely smashed”, there was no opportunity for journalists to quiz him about Trump’s massive losses.
Instead, Farage quickly wrapped up the event and left the stage without taking questions.
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
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