Nigel Farage today claimed ‘we are trying to stop young men being young men’ as he compared his own appeal to that of self-styled ‘misogynist’ Andrew Tate.
The Reform UK leader lamented young men being unable to ‘tell jokes that might offend the Germans’ during the Euro 2024 football championships.
He also hit out at restrictions on the sale of alcohol to England fans during the tournament.
Mr Farage – who is hoping to be elected an MP at tomorrow’s general election – made the remarks at a campaign event in the Clacton seat he is trying to win.
He arrived at a boxing club in the Essex seaside town alongside boxer Derek Chisora.
The Reform leader defended the 40-year-old as ‘a fantastic role model’, despite Chisora’s 2010 conviction for assaulting his girlfriend.
Ahead of polling day on Thursday, Mr Farage faced a fresh grilling over his views on controversial social media influencer Tate.
The 37-year-old has previously boasted of being ‘absolutely sexist’ and ‘absolutely a misogynist’.
Asked about his own appeal to young male voters and Tate, who Mr Farage has previously described as an ‘important voice’ for young men, the Reform leader said: ‘Oh I think Andrew Tate’s built a huge following amongst these people, despite a lot of imperfections – serious imperfections.
‘I think a lot of young men feel emasculated. I mean, look at the football.
‘You know, they’re told go to Germany, please don’t drink more than two pints of beer – you what?
‘Don’t chant at the football matches – you what? Oh, don’t tell jokes that might offend the Germans, I mean, come on.
‘We are trying to stop young men being young men – that’s why Tate’s got the following he’s got so what I’m doing is maybe a part of a similar phenomenon.’
Quizzed about who is trying to ‘stop young men being young men’, Mr Farage said: ‘Everybody, everybody, everybody.
‘I mean, you know, actually, the Football Association giving out these messages – ‘don’t chant at a football match’.
‘If I couldn’t drink beer and chant at a football match when I was 21 I wouldn’t go.’
There have previously been attempts to stop England fans singing the ’10 German bombers’ chant during matches.
During Euro 2024, England manager Gareth Southgate called for fans not to chant about casualties in the Second World War at the German-hosted tournament – a call echoed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
There were also alcohol restrictions placed on England fans during the national side’s opening game against Serbia, including the sale of only low-strength beer and
At other games, England fans have been able to buy full-strength beer in stadiums but have still been limited to two beers per purchase.
Mr Farage also defended his decision to appear alongside Chisora at today’s campaign event in Clacton.
Asked about Chisora’s conviction for assaulting a woman in 2010 and whether the boxer is a good role model for young men, the Reform leader said: ‘You know what?
‘You show me someone who’s lived a perfect life and never been in trouble. With these young kids here, he’s a fantastic role model.
‘He’s got a huge following in the country and yeah, he is a good role model – imperfect as we all are.’
Asked why he was out supporting Mr Farage, who last year appeared on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity show, Chisora said: ‘God Save the King.’
The boxer said himself and Mr Farage were ‘good buddies’ and the Reform leader ‘is going to win’ the seat in Clacton.
He added that the politician ‘was amazing in the jungle’.