Succession actor Brian Cox branded Nigel Farage ‘venal and selfish’ as he launched a blistering takedown of the Reform leader
Succession star Brian Cox has launched a blistering takedown of Nigel Farage – branding him “venal and selfish”.
The actor accused the Reform UK leader of being “quite uninformed” after he was interviewed on the BBC’s Sunday Morning with Laura Kuenssberg. Mr Cox, who was a guest on the show, said he was “dazzled” at the way people are seduced by Mr Farage.
The Scottish Golden Globe award winner told Ms Kuenssberg he had been unimpressed with the politician’s manner as he was quizzed on the flagship show. During the interview he said he took objection when the host said his tax affairs are “not exactly straightforward”.
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Mr Cox said: “I find him very venal, quite honestly, as an individual. He’s selfish and he’s on the whole quite uninformed.
“I am just dazzled at the way a lot of people have been seduced by him, because he’s a bit of a bully – you can tell that from the way he conducted that interview with you (Ms Kuenssberg). A lot of it was badgering, badgering, badgering.
“I just don’t trust the man, and also now there’s never been a more positive time that we need to be in Europe. We need to be Europe again because of what’s happening in the Ukraine. If we don’t recognise that now, we’re lost.”
During the interview, Mr Farage bristled at the way he was being questioned. Ms Kuenssberg said that although the Reform leader had said he bought a house in his Clacton constituency, it was actually owned by his girlfriend.
And Parliamentary records show payments for hosting a show on GB News are made to the company he owns rather than directly to him.
He said: “I take objection to the very premise of that question.” Ms Kuenssberg also pointed out that the wannabe PM has a separate company for his earnings outside of being an MP.
Addressing the house purchase, Mr Farage shot back: “The fact that she’s (Ms Ferrari) bought a house, I mean, why not?” And he continued: “I have been for 30 years, in my own way, an entrepreneur.
“I’ve run companies for 30 years. I’ve employed lots of people directly. I’ve employed loads of people as contractors. As it happens, I still employ quite a few people as contractors.
“I have a company that does a variety of things. Media income is just one of them. And you know, what do we want?
“People in politics who have paid tax, lots of tax, who’ve created lots of jobs or not.” Pressed on whether he would release his own tax return he said: “I haven’t published my own personal tax returns. I personally think that’s an intrusion too far, I don’t believe it’s necessary.“
He continued: “I’m not inclined at the moment to do that.” The official register of members’ interests reveals that since becoming an MP, Mr Farage has declared £313,293.20 of income from news channel GB News.
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