Nigel Farage could sue Tory leader Kemi Badenoch over fake membership counter claims
NIGEL Farage is considering legal action after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused him of using a fake membership counter.
The Reform UK boss hit back after the Opposition leader claimed he was “manipulating his own supporters” with a website display which was “coded to tick up automatically”.
Last night, the ticker showed Reform’s membership hitting over 144,000 — making it bigger than the Conservative party, which stands at about 132,000.
Mr Farage called Ms Badenoch’s claims “disgraceful” and demanded an apology.
He vowed: “I’m going to take some action in the next couple of days. I’ve got to decide what it is.”
And asked if he was going to sue for libel, Mr Farage told reporters: “I am certainly not going to take it lying down.
“I think it’s an absolutely outrageous thing for her to have said.
“I know she’s got a very bad temper. I know she’s well known for lashing out at people, but I am not at all happy.”
He says he will confirm within two days exactly what he plans to do if she does not apologise for her “intemperate outburst”.
Reform UK demonstrated to several media outlets its ticker was linked to real-time member counts, showing evidence it is not automated.
The row erupted after Mr Farage declared on Boxing Day that Reform UK had surpassed the Tories in membership, projecting the ticker on to Tory HQ in London.
But a Tory source said: “Fake Farage is clearly rattled.”