Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, faced a turbulent appearance before a US House judiciary committee hearing on censorship, where Democrat members accused him of being a 'Putin-loving free speech impostor' and a 'Trump sycophant'. The hearing, held while Farage missed Prime Minister's Questions in the UK, saw him questioned about free speech in Britain, which he described as 'awful' and 'authoritarian'.
Democrat congressman Jamie Raskin challenged Farage's commitment to free speech, noting that he had called for a ban on a pro-Gaza protest near Remembrance Sunday. Raskin also questioned why journalists from critical outlets were barred from Reform events. Farage denied knowledge of any bans, stating he could not recall banning anyone in 25 years.
Another Democrat, Hank Johnson, accused Farage of advocating for free speech to solicit donations from Elon Musk, the owner of X. Farage countered that Musk has been 'abusive about me virtually every single week', adding 'but it's a free country'. Jerrold Nadler questioned why the committee sought evidence from 'a fringe politician from the United Kingdom'.
Under questioning from Republican members, Farage cited cases of Lucy Connolly, jailed for a tweet urging arson at hotels housing asylum seekers, and Graham Linehan as examples of threats to free speech. He denied calling for US sanctions on Britain, saying he only wanted persuasion.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey mocked Farage's trip, writing on X: 'If you don't like it over here Nigel maybe don't catch a return flight?'
