The only way is Essex … for Trump? Nigel Farage ally says the Donald has ‘promised’ to visit Clacton now Reform leader has become its MP _ Hieuuk
They are both maligned by their critics for their orange skin, unique sense of style and taste, and their political views.
So would Donald Trump feel at home with the people of Essex? We may soon find out.
One of Nigel Farage‘s close political allies has revealed that the former (and possibly future) US president has ‘promised’ to visit the Reform leader in Clacton now that he has managed to become an MP for the coastal constituency.
Andy Wigmore, who was one of the ‘Bad Boys of Brexit‘ alongside Mr Farage, said he attended a meeting in which the Republican nominee vowed to come to the UK and take in the sights on the North Sea coast.
However, when it might take place could be up to the US electorate, with Trump hoping to beat Kamala Harris in November’s presidential election to secure a second term in the White House.
‘I was there when he made the promise and Trump is unpredictable so win or lose [November’s presidential election] I think he will try,’ Mr Wigmore told ITV News.
‘Who knows, but Trump likes the unusual and is very loyal to those who are loyal to him.’
One of Nigel Farage’s close political allies has revealed that the former (and possibly future) US president has ‘promised’ to visit the Reform leader in Clacton now that he has managed to become an MP for the coastal constituency
Andy Wigmore, who was one of the ‘Bad Boys of Brexit’ alongside Mr Farage, said he attended a meeting in which the Republican nominee vowed to come to the UK
However, the visit to see the sights on the North Sea coast, including Clacton’s famous pier, may be held up by the US presidential election
He added that he had reminded Team Trump of the vow since the election and ‘they laughed and loved it’.
Trump’s last official trip to the UK was in 2019, when he made a state visit and met the late queen. But he visited his golf properties in Scotland last year in a private capacity.
Last month Mr Farage said ‘you never know … he loves the UK’, when asked by the Telegraph if Trump may visit him in his constituency.
While the Republican hardliner has yet to visit Essex, Mr Farage has been to see him in the United States since becoming an MP on July 4.
Before the vote, Mr Farage’s election agent, Peter Harris, told the Independent: ‘I just don’t think people fully grasp how big a win for Nigel will be here.. I am pretty sure Nigel will win, although we are taking nothing for granted and I just pray Trump wins in November. If he does he will definitely visit Clacton and it will be like nothing that has happened here ever before.’
Trump’s last official trip to the UK was in 2019, when he made a state visit and met the late queen (above)
But he visited his golf properties in Scotland last year in a private capacity (pictured)
However, Mr Farage has played down this latest rumour, telling ITV: ‘I’ve never asked him. He’s never promised. This just is not true.’
Earlier this week the Reform leader defended jetting off to the US for the second time in just over a month, saying he ‘works seven days a week’.
Mr Farage is heading to Scottsdale, Arizona, this weekend for a lucrative speaking gig.
It will be the 60-year-old’s second visit to America since entering the House of Commons as his Essex constituency’s representative at Westminster.
Last month, Mr Farage travelled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to meet up with his friend just two weeks after becoming an MP.
He headed across the Atlantic straight after attending the State Opening of Parliament on 17 July.
Some of his new constituents in Clacton were left furious by Mr Farage’s decision to head to America so soon after being elected.
The former UKIP leader’s upcoming visit to Scottsdale will see him attend a ‘Keep Arizona Free Summit’ as the keynote speaker on Saturday.
Mr Farage has already earned nearly £12,000 for the speaking engagement, with the five-figure sum paid to him as a deposit.
Speaking to The Mirror, the politician said he had ‘absolutely no idea’ how much his final fee will be and said his staff deal with the ‘admin’.
Defending his trip, Mr Farage told the newspaper: ‘I have previous commitments, contracts I have signed, which I will honour, because I am not the sort of person who lets people down otherwise you get a terrible reputation.
The former UKIP leader’s upcoming visit to Scottsdale will see him attend a ‘Keep Arizone Free Summit’ as the keynote speaker on Saturday
‘They advertised the fact I was coming a long, long time ago. So, number one, I don’t breach things that I have previously agreed to. Number two, unlike everybody else I work seven days a week.’
He added: ‘I shall be in Clacton all day tomorrow, I shall be in Clacton all day Thursday, I will leave Clacton at midnight on Thursday and getting an early flight on Friday.
‘I’m there [Clacton] a couple of days a week which is about as much as most MPs, I would have thought.
‘At the moment I’m not living there but that takes a bit of time and that’s in the process, as we speak.’
Mr Farage said he had ‘a couple’ of other speaking engagements booked, and nothing ‘firm’ booked beyond the end of the year.
His register of interests as an MP, published last week, revealed he had been paid an £11,783.55 deposit by the AZ Liberty Network for the Scottsdale meeting.
It also revealed a £98,000 payment for his work at GB News, and £16,500 earned for recording personalised videos via the Cameo website.
Mr Farage also receives a salary of £91,346 a year as an MP.
