Nigel Farage said he has bought a house in Clacton and was “meeting lots of constituents on a regular basis”. The Reform UK leader has previously been criticised for not holding surgeries in his Essex constituency, with some suggesting he has spent more time abroad than in Clacton.
But speaking to LBC, Mr Farage said he was planning a “massive event” for small businesses in Clacton later in January and was “out meeting constituents I bet far more than any MP has done for many, many years in Clacton”.
Adding that he had bought a house in Clacton, he said: “That’s why you can see me out, often on a Saturday morning, out buying the essentials – limes, tonic, all that sort of thing.
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“So I’m out meeting lots of constituents on a regular basis and, you know, actually working with community groups, and I’ve made a few donations to some local charities personally, I’m thoroughly enjoying the job.”
Farage has also said he will not take legal action against Kemi Badenoch over her claim Reform UK had faked its membership numbers. He told LBC: “I’m not going to sue over it because, as I said, I do believe in free speech.
“I was offended by it, I asked for an apology and one wasn’t given so I’m going to go to her constituency on the 31st of this month. I’m going to hold a big event for all the Reform members living in her constituency, there are 417 of them when I last checked, paid-up members, bet it’s more than she’s got. There’s another 800 supporters living in the constituency.
“And I’m going to do a big joint photo, Kemi, and say ‘these are all our fake members and we are coming for you at the next election’.” The Conservative leader is MP for North West Essex.