Farage's Remarks Spark Debate Over Attitude Toward Women
When Nigel Farage told a journalist this week she should “write … and we won’t bother to read it,” it provoked an immediate and divided reaction. Some viewed it as a “masterclass” in handling mainstream media, while others described it as “rude, dismissive, misogynistic, arrogant.”
Behind the scenes, Farage’s interaction with Anna Gross of the Financial Times—met with laughter and applause among Reform UK supporters present—caused concern and anger among lobby journalists across the political spectrum.
As Farage was leaving the event, a political reporter noted that he had upset the journalist. Farage responded,
“Good.”
This was not the first time Farage faced accusations of patronising female journalists. When former BBC Radio 4 Today presenter Mishal Husain questioned him about the potential consequences of shooting down Russian planes last October, Farage replied:
“I think you’re playing a silly little game.”
One month later, he dismissed her question about his prospective chancellor in similar terms.
Amid a busy news cycle, this latest condescension might have gone unnoticed. However, in a week when Farage appointed a hardline anti-abortion theologian as his head of policy and pledged to take action on abortion on his party’s first day in government, questions have arisen: does Reform UK, and its leader in particular, have a problem with women?
Accusations of Patronising Female Journalists and Trump Influence
Jane Martinson, former chair of Women in Journalism, identified Farage’s encounters with female journalists as reflecting Donald Trump’s influence.
“Nigel Farage is really offering a sort of Trump-lite for the British people, patronising a respected journalist and newspaper because he disagrees with its scrutiny,”
she said.
“This is all about ignoring the public’s right to know and trying to control your own message by turning on the messenger, especially if they’re just ‘silly’ women.”
Controversial Appointment and Anti-Abortion Stance
Reproductive rights and equality campaigners reacted with alarm after Farage appointed a rightwing theologian who opposes abortion even in cases of rape, incest, or serious health risk to replace Zia Yusuf as his head of policy. The Cambridge University professor, who leads the Centre for a Better Britain thinktank, is an influential figure within Trump’s administration and is admired by Vice-President JD Vance, who described him as his “British sherpa.”
Kerry Abel, chair of Abortion Rights, called it
“an alarming moment for Britain”
and accused Farage of
“borrowing tactics from America’s culture wars,”
particularly concerning anti-abortion ideology.
This appointment came shortly after Matt Goodwin, Reform UK’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election, was accused of advocating a “biological reality” check for “young girls and women” following the emergence of YouTube footage.
Concerns Over Rhetoric and Gender Equality
Heejung Chung, director of the UK Women’s Budget Group, views Farage’s rhetoric and treatment of women as part of a disturbing trend that undermines discussions on gender inequality and women’s rights in ways that would have been “unthinkable” five years ago.
“It feels like a consistent and deliberate tactic,”
she said.
“I don’t think it’s that he’s an old-fashioned guy with questionable views, he wants to distract people into thinking their problems are because of women, or equality and diversity policies, or immigrants. Like Trump in America, it shifts the discourse, and that is very dangerous.”
Political Responses and Labour’s Position
There are indications that Labour and other left-wing groups are prepared to confront Farage on this issue. On Thursday, Keir Starmer condemned plans to repeal the Equality Act, which provides women with additional workplace protections, describing them as
“dangerous”
and arguing that Reform UK aimed to return women to the “old days.”
Stella Creasy, Labour MP for Walthamstow, characterized the attack on the 2010 legislation as
“calculating, playbook, rage-bait politics”
and poor economic policy. She said,
“The Equality Act gives the labour market more talent, which is good for productivity and good for growth. What this is about is saying: ‘Here’s somebody to blame for why the world isn’t fair.’ It is not saying: ‘How do we fix it?’”
Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, called for unity against the
“nasty thread of misogyny”
he identified in Reform UK. He also noted that Farage posed a political risk, observing that
“Reform have already got a problem with women voters.”
Voter Demographics and Polling Insights
While Reform UK’s voter base has historically been predominantly male, there has been some change. In the last election, 61% of Reform UK voters were men, but polling for 2026 voting intention shows this figure has decreased to 55%, according to More In Common.
Luke Tryl, More In Common’s executive director, described a “Reform seesaw” among women who support the party. Women in focus groups expressed concerns about the risks of backing Farage but were also attracted by the radical change his party promised.
Farage should be cautious about comparisons to the US president, as polling indicates that 25% of women cited Farage’s support for Trump as their primary reason not to vote Reform, compared with 21% of men.
Tryl also suggested Farage reconsider his approach to journalists at future press conferences, stating,
“Rudeness is a sort of thing that people do notice. It’s a sort of thing which, if it becomes a pattern, could go down badly. If you think about that seesaw, it’s all weighing down the side which says ‘this is too much of a risk.’”
Reform UK Response
When asked for comment, a Reform UK spokesperson stated,
“Nigel Farage treats all journalists equally. Scrutiny is a two-way street.”
