Nigel Farage Makes Light Of Concerns Over A Reform Mayor's Huge Pay Rise. No One Else Is Laughing.
Reform UK has made no secret of its ambitions to win the next general election, and is currently leading in the polls.
So far, it has an outright majority over 10 local authorities after a major victory in May's local elections.
But, judging by the Reform leader's response to a development in Scarborough council, handling any more than that may prove difficult.
On the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the presenter asked for his response to reports that Scarborough town council have given its Reform mayor, Thomas Murray, a 600% pay rise.
But Farage immediately hit back: 'I've no idea! Whether what you say is true or not, I've no idea.'
'Is that the right thing to do in principle?' Kuenssberg asked.
'I've no idea, it's a town council – 600%, what is it from what?' Farage said.
She replied: 'A payment of £500 up to £3,500 –'
'I don't know, is he or she doing it as a full-time job? I've no idea,' he said dismissively.
But Kuenssberg kept pushing: 'In principle is that the right thing to do?'
He replied: 'What we could do is get multi-millionaires to stand as candidates everywhere, and indeed our [government waste] DOGE team are doing the work, unpaid, right?
'If people have got resources and they want to do it for free, that's great. I don't know the Scarborough circumstances.'
The Reform-run council defended the hike, which was approved in a meeting last Wednesday, saying the mayor should not be left 'out of pocket' for an unpaid position considering it involved an increase in responsibilities.
They also noted that savings had already been made elsewhere – ignoring the irony that Reform has reportedly promised to give council taxpayers 'better value for money and reduce excessive expenditure'.
#bbclaurak: What about Scarborough town council Nigel Farage: I've no ideaLK: Scarborough TC have given its Reform mayor a 600% pay-rise... is that the right thing to do?NF: I've no idea... I've no idea... pic.twitter.com/2YU3Ys5M5m
— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) July 20, 2025
His responses impressed very few people on social media as the public raged over his 'unserious' reaction – and even accused him of 'running' from problems...
Yeah if you can't keep a handle on 10 councils, you probably shouldn't attempt four nations, 350 constituencies and 26 government departments. https://t.co/NQuVbcMUNr
— A-Aron (@aaronlspence) July 20, 2025
Unserious, irresponsible, and dangerous. https://t.co/qMDe9f6AdQ
— Luke Warner (@LukeVWarner) July 20, 2025
Nigel Farage is a fraud. https://t.co/Akm6utFQfb
— Alistair Manhire (@AlistairManhire) July 20, 2025
Doesn't know. Doesn't care. Never has done. Complete fucking charlatan. Will this country ever move on from this reductive gobshite? https://t.co/8tRQ7E8Oce
— Adam Abbott (@adrock73) July 20, 2025
Firstly, why is he getting still more air time? Secondly, what do you expect? Nothing is ever down to him. Not me mate, big boy done it and ran away. https://t.co/TOtWsZ1oTV
— Barbara Nadel (@BarbaraNadel) July 20, 2025
Farage also seemed dismissive of other, much larger, questions about money elsewhere in the interview when he was asked how much it would cost to privatise 50% of the water industry – one of Reform's major policy proposals.
He just said it 'doesn't need to be a big sum of money.'
So commentators on X quickly drew attention to the way Kuenssberg scrutinised Reform's economic credibility...
Brilliant scrutiny of Reformonics from @bbclaurak'So you don't know how much it would be…'No… https://t.co/i0K0Cfjy8C
— Vicky Spratt (@Victoria_Spratt) July 20, 2025
Whenever a policy requires more detail than can fit on the back of a beer mat, Farage is lost. https://t.co/JF9LehWoqh
— Jon Hollis (@JonHollis9) July 20, 2025
More of this kind of scrutiny on Reform's economic credibility, rather than on the poll ratings, please. https://t.co/1tiPUiYUc3
— Theo Bertram (@theobertram) July 20, 2025
Straight out the Trump playbook - say something that sounds good but have no way of backing it up. I understand that people are disillusioned with existing establishments parties, but to just blindly start following and voting for Farage will be a catastrophic mistake. https://t.co/bmtDm6NNOD
— Stuart Wright (@weebaldy79) July 20, 2025
Related...
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