Nigel Farage MEP |
|
---|---|
![]() |
|
Leader of the UK Independence Party | |
In office 5 October 2016 – 28 November 2016 Acting |
|
Preceded by | Diane James |
Succeeded by | Paul Nuttall |
In office 5 November 2010 – 16 September 2016 |
|
Deputy | Paul Nuttall |
Preceded by | Jeffrey Titford (Acting) |
Succeeded by | Diane James |
In office 12 September 2006 – 27 November 2009 |
|
Deputy | David Campbell Bannerman |
Preceded by | Roger Knapman |
Succeeded by | The Lord Pearson of Rannoch |
Chair of Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy | |
Assumed office 24 June 2014 Serving with David Borrelli |
|
Preceded by | Position established |
Chair of Europe of Freedom and Democracy | |
In office 1 July 2009 – 24 June 2014 |
|
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Position abolished |
Chair of the UK Independence Party | |
In office 1998 – 22 January 2000 |
|
Leader | Michael Holmes |
Preceded by | Alan Sked |
Succeeded by | Mike Nattrass |
Member of the European Parliament for South East England |
|
Assumed office 10 June 1999 |
|
Preceded by | Constituency established |
Personal details | |
Born |
Nigel Paul Farage 3 April 1964 Downe, Kent, England |
Political party |
Conservative (before 1993) UK Independence (1993–present) |
Spouse(s) | Gráinne Hayes (1988–1997) Kirsten Mehr (1999–present) |
Children | 4 |
Residence | Single Street, Bromley, London, England |
Religion | Church of England |
Website |
Official website Parliament website |
Nigel Paul Farage (/ˈfærɑːʒ/; born 3 April 1964) is a British politician, broadcaster and political analyst who was the leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) from 2006 to 2009 and again from 2010 to 2016. Since 1999 he has been a MEP for South East England. He co-chairs the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (formerly "Europe of Freedom and Democracy") group. A prominent Eurosceptic in the UK, he has been noted for his sometimes controversial speeches in the European Parliament and has strongly criticised the euro currency.
Farage was a founding member of UKIP, having left the Conservative Party in 1992 after the signing of the Maastricht Treaty. After unsuccessfully campaigning in European and Westminster parliamentary elections for UKIP since 1994, he was elected MEP for South East England in the 1999 European Parliament election. He was subsequently re-elected in 2004, 2009 and, most recently, at the 2014 European parliament election.