Farage hails Trump 'inspiration' at Reform UK rally

Nigel Farage has told a rally of Reform UK supporters that Donald Trump's election as US president should "serve as an inspiration".

Speaking in the North West Essex constituency of Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, Farage said his party was gaining in support and had targeted the traditionally safe Tory seat.

Badenoch and Farage clashed recently over party membership figures.

The Tory leader told reporters she was "not at all" worried about Farage's rally, held at Parklands Quendon Hall, in Quendon, near Stansted Airport.

The Tory leader has a majority of 2,600 in the North West Essex seat, with Labour coming second and Reform 11,000 votes behind in third place at last year's election.

For Reform UK to take the seat, it would need a massive swing of almost 17%.

In late December, Badenoch had disputed Reform's claim that its membership had overtaken that of the Conservatives, accusing Farage of "fakery".

Reform strongly denied the accusation and said it was considering legal action.

At the rally, Farage dismissed the prospect of a legal battle, and said the "next best thing was to come and visit and meet my fake members in the North West Essex constituency".

Farage admitted "this is typical old Conservative territory".

The constituency, which used to be called Saffron Walden, has been won by the Conservatives for 100 years.

Farage was elected MP for Clacton in north-east Essex in July - winning the seat from the Conservatives.

Ahead of the rally, Badenoch dismissed Reform UK as a "protest party".

She told broadcasters she was "not at all" worried about Reform's presence in her patch.

Farage spoke to a few hundred of his supporters seated in a hotel marquee festooned with fairy lights.

"I think also we're beginning to see a wave that is crossing the Atlantic from the east coast of America," he said.

"Donald Trump, standing on a platform many of whose policies were not dissimilar to what we put to the British people in that contract last July, has won this incredible victory and got off to the most amazing start."

To applause and some cheers, he went on: "I hope and believe that many things that will happen in America will serve as an inspiration to us."

Speaking to the BBC ahead of the rally, Farage said he has spoken to Elon Musk after the two clashed over different opinions on far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

Musk had said Farage "doesn't have what it takes" and should be replaced as Reform UK leader.

Laughing, Farage said he told Musk "it's not happening".

"Elon's a hero. He bought Twitter. He's brought free speech back. He's the most successful entrepreneur in the world. We agree on a lot. We may disagree on some things," said Farage.

"Do you know what? I don't get bullied; I don't get pushed around, even by the richest man in the world. I have my particular view of Mr Robinson; he has a different one."

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