Nigel Farage made a public appearance on Tuesday, delivering a speech to about 200 mega-fans in the garden of Kimberley Hall, a Norfolk country house often used as a wedding venue. The event was part of his gradual return to public life after months of hiding, with no questions allowed.
Recycled complaints and attacks
Farage's speech recycled familiar grievances, targeting the Tories, the rightwing press, immigrants, and the new prime minister. He complained about media coverage of his financial difficulties and the mention of George Cottrell's prison time for money laundering. He also attacked London as a no-go zone where no one dares wear a watch.
He called for a general election now, despite most of the country not wanting one. He criticised the new PM for using notes 266 times during his acceptance speech, saying style was all.
Audience boredom and early exits
The audience grew as bored as Farage himself, with half the crowd leaving before he finished. The speech was described as aimless and lacking heart, a man out of ideas whose time has passed.
