Lee Anderson clashes with BBC presenter over Farage's by-election absence

Published Aug 14, 08:08 AM UTC

Reform UK chairman Lee Anderson clashed with BBC Radio 4 Today programme presenter Justin Webb over Nigel Farage's decision to skip the Clacton by-election result declaration. Anderson initially cited a credible threat, but when pressed by Webb, he changed the explanation, saying Farage preferred to celebrate with supporters. Essex Police denied warning of any threat. The interview grew tense as Anderson accused Webb of being 'very rude' and interrupting. Farage won the by-election with a majority of over 12,000 votes, but his absence from the count drew scrutiny. The article also notes Farage resigned as MP last month amid an investigation into an undeclared £5 million gift from a crypto billionaire, which he calls a 'witch-hunt'.