A Mirror probe shows the Reform MP has made £140,000 from the Cameo messaging platform – but spoken in Parliament 22 times and mentioning his Clacton constituents on just three occassions
Reform leader Nigel Farage filmed as many as 2,000 fan videos over the past 12 months – but spoke in parliament only 22 times.
A Mirror probe reveals the Brexit MP has trousered more than £140,000 from selling personal messages on the US-based Cameo platform since December last year. Last year he even got up before the rest of his family on Christmas morning to log on and send a message.
His speaking records show he stood up in Parliament on only 22 occasions over the same period – speaking about grooming gangs, Ukraine and the migrant boat crossings. But he has mentioned his constituents in Essex just three times. In contrast he has spoken about the UK’s deal to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands – and Donald Trump’s opposition to the move – on six occasions.
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And an analysis of figures published on his Register of Interests suggest – based on a charge of £71.75 a pop – he filmed as many as 1,976 videos. That figure is likely to be lower as he can charge up to £3,776 for business videos. The figures also show he has earned more than £1million from second jobs on top of his £91,346 MP salary. That includes £400,000 as a brand ambassador for Direct Bullion – a precious metals and gold dealer.
But during his time as an MP, he has faced attacks over his record of meeting constituents while jetting more than 3,500 miles to the USA for paid gigs. Locals in the Essex town of Clacton are “furious” at the Cameo revelations and claim they had not seen Mr Farage in the area since his election. Mum Sarah Corner, 32, said she voted Reform and Nigel Farage at the 2024 election for a “total change” but regrets her decision.
The part-time waitress said: “I thought Reform would make a difference. I felt that after so many years of the Conservatives, something had to change. Reform and Farage made a lot of noise and frankly I thought, ‘Why not?’ I’ve not seen him once. I’ve seen stuff on social media after he’s been, but nothing in person. It feels like he’s cashing in. Clacton has huge issues.
“We’ve got deprivation, there’s a jobs shortage, schools and doctors are over subscribed. We don’t get a fair deal compared to the rest of Essex. We certainly don’t get a fair deal compared to London. I’ve not heard Farage speak about that. It’s all about migrants. I appreciate we’ve got a problem with migration in Britain. But Clacton needs sorting out. He’s like the rest, lining his pockets to suit his own agenda.”
Mr Farage’s Cameo messages include inside jokes for people’s birthdays – but he has used the phrase “Brexit means Brexit” in his videos. In one message he tells a punter: “It has come to my attention that you have no rizz and have been acting very skibidi lately.”
On Mr Farage’s Cameo Business profile, he states: “They call me Mr Brexit… some people say I am controversial, and I couldn’t care less.” And his other Cameo account – offering personal messages – states: “Nigel Farage’s Cameo videos offer fans a unique opportunity to receive personalised messages from the former UK politician and Brexit leader.
“Customers can request messages for a variety of occasions, from birthdays and retirements to roasts and motivational pep talks. Nigel is often asked to reference his political views on Brexit, immigration, and the Reform UK party, as well as mention specific TV shows, sports teams, and even silly inside jokes. His videos provide an entertaining and lighthearted way for fans to connect with him and his signature straight-talking, anti-establishment style.”
In October 2021 Mr Farage read a greeting supporting the IRA, raising his drink and saying “up the RA” in a clip sent to Brian Ó Céileachair after his friend Aidan Hart paid £73 for a congratulatory birthday greeting. Mr Farage was elected in July last year but said he would not be holding face-face surgeries in his constituency over fears the public will “flow through doors with knives in their pockets”.
He told radio station LBC he had been advised not to accommodate the “old-style” physical meetings between MPs and constituents. Mr Farage said: “Do I have an office in Clacton? Yes. Am I allowing the public to flow through the door with their knives in their pockets? No, no I’m not.”
When asked why Clacton residents would flow through the door with knives in their pockets, he said: “Well they did in Southend. They murdered David Amess and he was a far less controversial figure than me.” Conservative politician Sir David was fatally stabbed during a surgery in his Southend West constituency in 2021 by an Islamic State-supporting terrorist.
However, by September it emerged the Speaker’s Office has “no record” of telling Mr Farage not to hold in-person surgeries. The following month in October he was forced into a U-turn when asked, “Which one of you is lying” – in reference to the conflicting claims – Mr Farage responded: “The speaker’s office is always right.”
A spokesman for Nigel Farage said: “Nigel Farage has voted more times in the House of Commons since the last general election than Kemi and Keir put together. Nigel was in Clacton this weekend meeting local businesses, voters and publicans. All voters of Clacton will be the judge of Nigel’s performance at the next election, not Daily Mirror reporters with an axe to grind.”
Plumber David Adcock, 57, said he voted for Farage but had not seen him once. Mr Adcock, who has lived in Clacton all his life, said: “I’d give him the benefit of the doubt over a bit of extra work. As long as it doesn’t take up too much time and if he was working hard here. But I’ve not seen him once. If he wants to be a millionaire, good luck to him. Do what you want.
“But don’t take our money to be the local MP. That should come first. It’s a gravy train for him. I love Clacton, but it’s in a mess. We’ve been forgotten for 30 years. Farage got elected on a promise of change and we’d be stood up for. But he’s too busy showing off and making money.”
Margaret Corner, 77, a retired shoe fitter, said she was “angry” but “not surprised” at our revelations. She said: “I’ve voted Labour all my life. I could see straight through him and always have. I told my friends, he won’t represent us. This shows that. It makes me angry. We’ve been used. But I’m not surprised.”
Taxi driver Martin Jeeves, 56, said the Cameo figures were “insulting”. He said: “He was never going to be here all day, everyday. But I’ve not seen him once. He’s always on television talking about things which have not got anything to do with Clacton. I voted for him and I wish I hadn’t. I was fed up of the other parties but I think he’s been worse. He’s taking the mick. I wish I could earn all that money posting video messages.”
Retired Ray Edwards, 76, said Farage should “quit now”. He said: “This town hasn’t improved for years and since the election it’s not got better. I’ve seen him once but didn’t get chance to speak to him. He must have an incredibly expensive lifestyle. That’s not what people around here are earning. They’re having to do 12 and 14 hour days as well.”
Last week Mr Farage was accused by award-winning movie director Peter Ettedgui of making anti-semitic remarks at school. The Brexit MP allegedly said “Hitler was right” and “gas them” while making “hissing noises”. But the Clacton party chief dismissed the allegations and said “banter” in the schoolyard can look different “in the modern light of day”.
In September the Mirror revealed Mr Farage’s slippery tax affairs over the purchase of a property in Clacton. Despite Mr Farage announcing last year he had bought a house in his constituency, in fact it was his partner Laure Ferrari, 46, who shelled out almost £900,000 for the plush home. As her sole property, she would be liable for nearly £32,000 in stamp duty, according to HMRC’s online calculator. If Mr Farage had bought it himself, it would have cost him at least £75,000 as second home duty – saving £44,000.
