Marco Pierre White praises 'really impressive Nigel Farage' as he blasts Keir Starmer's 'freebies'

Marco Pierre White has praised Nigel Farage as a "really impressive, clever, thoughtful" individual and says he can see why the polls for Reform UK "are showing what they're showing".

The celebrity chef and restaurateur has also blasted Sir Keir Starmer, saying "the last thing" the prime minister and other high-profile members of the Labour Party should be doing is "accepting freebies".

He was speaking to ITV West Country at Old Down Manor near Bristol, which is owned by Reform's candidate for West of England Mayor - the businessman and Brexiteer, Arron Banks.

Asked what he thinks of Farage as an individual, White said: "I met him the other day. I thought he was a very impressive individual, really impressive."

He added: "He [Farage] has done his apprenticeship, hasn't he. He has served his time in the field. I can see why the polls are showing what they're showing."

The chef, who lives near Bath, describes himself as a "true socialist", but was speaking to ITV to endorse Reform's mayoral candidate for the West of England. He said he thinks people have "become disillusioned with the traditional parties" and when asked if Farage's Reform is becoming a credible alternative, White said: "Just look at the polls."

He also criticised Keir Starmer and some members of his cabinet for "accepting freebies", referring to the row that erupted within months of Labour winning the July general election.

It started with controversy over high-end clothes bought for the prime minister's wife by Lord Alli, and then grew to work clothes worth more than £20,000 and glasses worth more than £2,000.

Sir Keir later paid back more than £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality received since becoming prime minister, but his Chancellor Rachel Reeves later came under fire for accepting tickets to see Sabrina Carpenter. She has since said she will no longer take them.

"As prime minister of the UK, the last thing you should be doing is accepting freebies, or any of your Party," White said. "If you get invited to a dinner party, that's different, but when there's these high-profile events, you would have thought they would have learnt, wouldn't you?"

He also claimed Labour isn't creating enough opportunities for young people. "I was always taught to work hard, always taught to better myself. And I think we should create a world which creates aspiration, where people can better themselves.

"That's the world I came from. I don't think at this moment in time they're [Labour] encouraging and creating opportunities for the young. That's maybe where I have a little bit of a problem."

White owns restaurants across the UK under several brands and also runs a hotel, the Rudloe Arms, near Bath.

He blamed new policies, like increased employer National Insurance Contributions, for "crippling" the hospitality sector. "My world is the restaurant world, the hotel world, hospitality," he said. "It's tough. Restaurants are going bust every week, hotels are struggling. If you look at the pubs, they're closing down.

"Employment laws are changing, minimum wage has gone up, NI has gone up, utilities, food costs. Don't be surprised. If you look at the Labour government of old, Gordon Brown lowered the VAT to assist. If you look at what Boris did, he helped.

"This government doesn't seem to help."

White claims Labour "doesn't understand small businesses", but the government would insist it is supporting them by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,000.

On free clothes, Rachel Reeves, Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner have all said they would not accept any more.

West of England mayoral candidates (in alphabetical order by surname):

Arron Banks - Reform UK

Helen Godwin - Labour Party

Oli Henman - Liberal Democrats

Mary Page - Green Party

Ian Scott - Independent

Steve Smith - Conservative Party

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