Nigel Farage repeatedly tried to shut down questions over Reform MP James McMurdock, who was jailed in 2006 for kicking his then-girlfriend but went on to claim he had pushed her
Nigel Farage loses his cool when quizzed about Reform MP’s conviction
Nigel Farage lost his temper during a grilling about one of his MPs serving time in prison.
The Reform UK leader said James McMurdock’s conviction for repeatedly kicking his former girlfriend was “irrelevant” and branded him a “fine young man”. Mr Farage repeatedly tried to dodge questions and instead whined about the “mainstream media”.
Last month court documents emerged showing Mr McMurdock was sent to a young offenders’ institution for “kicking to victim on around four times”. He previously claimed he was jailed for “pushing” the victim after a night out in 2006.
When he was quizzed about the discrepancy by Sky News’ Beth Rigby, he bellowed: “It’s a spent conviction, end of conversation.” He claimed not to have read the court documents.
Pressed further by Ms Rigby he said: “We’re busy. We’re building a new political party. You are talking about a spent conviction from 20 years ago. What’s happened has happened.
“Whether there are discrepancies or not, I don’t know. What I know is he’s a fine young man who’s turned out really very, very well.”
Mr Farage faces questions about what he knew about Mr McMurdock’s past. When asked about the impact on the victim to see the MP’s differing account, the furious Reform leader said: “I’ll believe anything you say.”
When Ms Rigby pointed out that it was what the court documents said, he vented: “This is why the mainstream media, like you, are losing the affections of the British public. Let’s worry about where we are today….”
He then dismissed it as “an inside Westminster story”. Ms Rigby pointed out: “If you want to professionalise the party, then these are questions people are going to ask. And if it was another political party and this has happened, you would expect me to ask them as well.”
Mr Farage wrongly claimed no Labour MP had been quizzed about Mike Amesbury, a suspended MP facing a common assault charge after an incident in October. The Mirror asked Keir Starmer about it at a press conference days later.
When his conviction came to light shortly after the general election Mr McMurdock disputed the details and said some might see it as a “teenage indiscretion”. The assault happened at the end of a night out in 2006. Mr McMurdock was sentenced to 21 days after admitting the attack.
He was elected to represent South Basildon & East Thurrock after getting 98 more votes than Tory Stephen Metcalfe. His conviction came to light when the victims’ mother contacted the Daily Mail voicing her anger that he had been allowed to stand.
In a statement at the time he said: “A generous person might call it a teenage indiscretion, but I do not expect everyone to be so kind. Nearly 20 years ago, at 19 years of age, at the end of a night out together, we argued, and I pushed her. She fell over and she was hurt.”
He said he was sorry for what had happened, and added: “Despite being 38 now and having lived a whole life again I still feel deeply ashamed of that moment and apologetic. Despite us both being very drunk, I handed myself into the police immediately and admitted my fault.”
There are no rules preventing MPs who have served time in prison from standing. There is also no legal requirement for them to reveal they have been jailed.