ITV I’m A Celebrity’s Nigel Farage returning to politics and slams ‘small-minded’ critics

Nigel Farage is plotting a return to frontline politics if his jungle adventure goes to plan as rumours swirl he could be the next Tory leader.

The gobby Brexit frontman branded anyone considering boycotting I’m A Celebrity because of his appearance on the show as “small minded”. And he joked he’ll push a ‘free beer for everyone’ manifesto to win over his telly campmates.

The pompous campaigner didn’t hold back in his final interview before the ITV series kicks off, laying into the predicament of the Conservative party ahead of next year’s election. He vowed not to let the reality TV experience change him and insisted he would “bring people to the programme” rather than reduce the number of viewers after some fans said they won’t watch.

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Asked about his controversial appearance on the show which will net him up to £1million, Farage said: “My hopes are that I do well. My hopes are that I don’t fall to pieces. Well, that’s a fear really, isn’t it? I mean, if it goes wrong, it’ll be a disaster.

“But look, I’ve never ever been frightened in life of doing things, of taking gambles. This is a gamble, obviously, but I think it’s one that’s worth taking. It has been a good year and some would say, ‘Well, why risk it?’ But in my view, if things are going well, just keep going.”

Farage, 59, worked in the City before leaving to enter politics and became one of the founder members of the UK Independence Party, at that time known as the Anti-Federalist League. By 1999 he was one of three UKIP members voted in to the European Parliament, representing the south-east of England and he won re-election four times.

But when it comes to his attempts at becoming an MP he has had no success and is a serial loser. He stood for election to the House of Commons seven times, in five general elections and two by-elections, but is yet to win. These include defeats in the election in Eastleigh in 1994, Salisbury (1997), Bexhill and Battle (2001), South Thanet (2005), Buckingham (2010) and finally South Thanet again in 2015, when he narrowly lost out and managed 32% of the vote..

Discussing politics and his future, he made it clear he was open to returning after his jungle stint and may try yet again to become an MP. It comes after last month the staunch Brexiteer declared: “I’d be very surprised if I were not Conservative leader by ‘26. Very surprised.”

Starting with a dig at the Tories and the PM’s new Foreign Secretary, he said: “I think the David Cameron appointment is probably, if not the final, then perhaps the penultimate nail in the Conservatives election coffin for next year.

“I mean, the whole thing is over. They are deteriorating very, very rapidly and there is absolutely no chance of them coming back from this. As far as I’m concerned, well look, I would look at this in the longer term. But in the shorter term, I’m not doing this [IAC] for overt political reasons. In the longer term, well, I might be interested in having another go at some point.”

Asked about trying to win votes for the elections in the jungle, where public votes are also needed for success, he laughed and said: “I tell you what, the only manifesto pledge is – do what I’m doing, get outside your normal daily life and do something different and take a bit of a chance.

“And free booze for everybody!” Many people are offended and outraged Farage is appearing on the show with thousands saying they won’t watch the show this year.

Asked what he thought about this backlash, he boasted: “Do you know what? There’s a lot more people who haven’t watched the programme that know me or supported me – some of the millions that have supported me over the years – I think net, I’ll bring people to the programme, not diminish. All right?

“Anyone who’s a lover of I’m A Celebrity who doesn’t watch it just because I’m on it has got to be an incredibly small-minded person.” Farage insists he will not be aiming to talk about political subjects all the time in camp, but admits they tend to follow him around.

He said: “I have no intention of going in and arguing about Brexit, but as I find wherever I go, even at family events, everybody else wants to talk about it. So I’m sure that’ll be raised.

“The immigration thing, well, obviously, and again I won’t raise it, but the sort of incredible prejudice that is being shown against Israel and against Jewish people frankly is a subject that will get linked to immigration in the camp. So I think it’s almost unavoidable with me being there that these conversations won’t happen, but I’m not going in to have a political bully pulpit or anything of the kind.”

Told his language in the past on such subjects had been divisive, he said: “The point about having opinions is people hate you for having opinions if you’re not prepared to listen to the other person’s point of view. But I’m always more than willing to listen to other people’s point of view.”

Previous contestants have declared the jungle experience as life changing, and others break down in tears when receiving letters from home. Father-of-four Garage seems unlikely to be someone saying similar things in three weeks’ time. He added: “I’m A Celebrity might change the perception of me as a person, but it won’t change me as a person, no.

“I am what I am. I’m open minded. I listen to all points of view despite the fact I hold my own views very strongly. And as I say, I believe I’m relatively normal. But hey you can all judge that over the next few weeks…”

I’m A Celebrity starts on Sunday night at 9pm on ITV and ITVX.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk