Carol Vorderman faced a wave of criticism on social media after launching a blistering attack on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, likening him to a "snake oil" salesman and a "grifter." The former Countdown presenter's outburst came after Farage announced his resignation as the Member of Parliament for Clacton on Tuesday, July 7, triggering a by-election in which he intends to stand again.
Vorderman's Tirade Against Farage
In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, July 8, Vorderman mocked Farage's decision to step down, accusing him of twisting facts and avoiding scrutiny. She wrote: "So, Nigel Farage has just done this big announcement about how he's stepping down as MP in Clacton to 'let the people decide' whether he should be an MP or not. Basically, he's going to stand in Clacton and force a by-election hoping against hope that the good people of Clacton will vote him in again."
She continued: "Which of course is not a certainty now that Restore is picking up votes. Anyway, I've just wasted 15 minutes of my life listening to the bloke. I mean, I have never heard such snake oil twisting of facts as Farage." Vorderman added: "He is grubby, he is divisive, he's a grifter, he's a liar, he's a spinner, and all of his really is to basically avoid the Parliamentary Standards Committee, which he calls the establishment."
Public Backlash and Support
Vorderman's comments drew immediate backlash from social media users. One user commented: "Old Carol is a nasty bully; she would do well in the Green Party." Another wrote: "That's up to the people of Clacton, show some respect." A third user remarked: "I was 100% against Farage, now that this silly bint is on the case, it's dropped to 94%." However, some users defended Vorderman, with one noting: "But if he IS re-elected, the investigation, currently paused, restarts; he doesn't walk away from it while still an MP and has to declare all other gifts etc 12 months before THIS election."
Farage's Resignation and By-Election
Farage's resignation as MP for Clacton came amid intense scrutiny of his financial arrangements. He announced he would stand as a candidate in the resulting by-election, a move that has sparked criticism from political rivals and voters alike. Farage framed the decision as letting "the people decide" whether he should remain an MP, but Vorderman and others have accused him of attempting to avoid the Parliamentary Standards Committee.
Previous Criticism of Farage-Trump Ties
This is not the first time Vorderman has publicly criticised Farage. She previously issued a scathing takedown of his friendship with former US President Donald Trump, after Farage attended an event at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort earlier this year. Vorderman reshared a photo of Farage and Trump together, questioning: "How come every Right-Wing solution to poverty, hunger, health and employment involves giving rich people more money?"
