Nigel Farage had a fiery clash with Sky News’ Beth Rigby after defending Reform MP James McMurdock, who was convicted 18 years ago for assaulting his then-girlfriend. Farage brushed off the incident as “irrelevant,” claiming McMurdock is now a “good example to young tearaways.”
From Conviction to Controversy
James McMurdock, now an MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, didn’t disclose his past conviction during his election campaign. The story surfaced earlier this year, revealing that McMurdock was sentenced to 21 days in a young offenders’ institute in 2006 for kicking his girlfriend “around four times.”
Initially, McMurdock claimed he had only “pushed” his partner—a version of events that crumbled when court records were unearthed by The Times.
Farage Takes Aim at the ‘Mainstream Media’
In a heated exchange, Beth Rigby pressed Farage on the discrepancy between McMurdock’s account and the court’s records. Farage dismissed the focus on the issue, saying:
“What’s happened is happened. Whether there are discrepancies or not, I don’t know. What I know is he’s a fine young man who’s turned out really very, very well.”
When Rigby pushed further, Farage turned defensive, accusing the media of being out of touch:
“This is why mainstream media like you are losing the affections of the British public. Let’s worry about where the country is going, not an inside Westminster story you want to harp on about.”
A Spent Conviction or a Red Flag?
Farage doubled down, calling McMurdock’s spent conviction irrelevant:
“I’m saying a spent conviction is irrelevant. He’s picked himself up from a terrible situation and made a big success.”
Farage also argued that someone with a criminal record could still have a future in public office:
“If we think they’re good enough… There are young offenders’ institutes today full of people. If half of them turned out as well as James McMurdock, we’d be a better country.”
A Divisive Defence
While Farage paints McMurdock as a reformed man and a role model, critics see the incident—and its attempted downplaying—as a troubling red flag. Farage’s insistence on focusing on “where we are today” hasn’t convinced everyone, with many questioning whether a past of domestic violence can or should be brushed aside so easily.
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