Boris Johnson branded 'a cheerleader, not a leader' by Nigel Farage: 'If you are Brexit minded, this isn't a disaster'

Boris Johnson branded 'a cheerleader, not a leader' by Nigel Farage: 'If you are Brexit minded, this isn't a disaster'
Farage on cheerleader
Ben Chapman

By Ben Chapman


Published: 05/07/2022

- 19:32

Updated: 06/07/2022

- 00:11

Nigel Farage spoke about his reasoning for having Brexit Party candidates withdraw from the running ahead of the 2019 general election

Nigel Farage has said that Boris Johnson departing could be a "moment of opportunity" for Brexit.

The GB News presenter spoke following the resignations of Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid, heaping further pressure on the Prime Minister's position.


Farage said on GB News: "If you are Brexit-minded, I don't think you should view the process that has unstoppably begun in the last hour as a disaster.

Nigel Farage says a new Conservative Party leader could galvanise the party.
Nigel Farage says a new Conservative Party leader could galvanise the party.
Image: GB News

"I take the contrary view, the view that Boris Johnson was the right man for the moment in 2019 which is why I took the difficult decision to step aside for him in that election."

The former Brexit Party leader delved into his reasoning to withdraw candidates from the 2019 general election, saying it was vital to get Brexit done, regardless of the deal in the offing.

Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid have opted to resign amid the Chris Pincher row.
Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid have opted to resign amid the Chris Pincher row.
Image: GB News

"We had to get Brexit over the line, even if it was imperfect and not a great deal. He was the right man for that moment in 2019, but Boris Johnson is a cheerleader, not a leader," Farage stated on his GB News show.

"This is an opportunity for the Conservative Party to move on, now is the time for the Conservative Party to stand up for honesty, decency and integrity, It's time for the Conservative Party to get back to a genuinely pro-business, pro-growth agenda.

Boris Johnson faces extreme pressure following the resignations of Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid.
Boris Johnson faces extreme pressure following the resignations of Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid.
Image: PA

"It's time for the Conservative Party to stop trying to be all things to all people, and stand up for the basic principles in which it believes."

Farage says the potential departure of Boris Johnson could represent a "remarkable opportunity" for the Conservative Party to "reset" and tackle the vital issues facing the country.

"I think out of all of this comes a remarkable opportunity for the Conservative Party to reset, Keir Starmer is hardly inspiring, this is not Tony Blair they're fighting.

"If they can get the right leader to tackle the issues head on such as the cost-of-living crisis, those problems such as our dependence on importing energy from other parts of the world that we could be producing here and have the guts and the courage to take on the cross Channel migrant crisis.

"If it upsets the French, so blooming what? If we get a leader to tackle all of those things, all will not be lost, then actually this could be a moment of real opportunity."

You may like