Nigel Farage has delivered a blunt and expletive-laden assessment of his own party's past failures, admitting that Reform UK's vetting of political candidates has been historically "piss poor." The party leader pledged a rigorous overhaul of the selection process ahead of crucial elections in May.
A Frank Admission of Failure
Speaking at a press conference in Scotland on Thursday 15 January 2026, the Reform UK leader was unequivocal when questioned about the adequacy of his party's candidate checks. "Yeah, piss poor," stated Mr Farage. "Piss poor. Sorry it's crude but it's been piss poor in the past and it won't be in the future."
He expressed profound frustration, stating that nothing angers him more than seeing his relentless work undermined by individuals who had not been properly scrutinised. Farage attributed past crises to candidates who "haven't told us the truth" and a party apparatus that failed to uncover it through a lack of effort and professionalism.
Legacy of Scandals and a Prison Sentence
This stark confession follows years of damaging controversies surrounding Reform's representatives. The most prominent case is that of the party's former Welsh leader, Nathan Gill, who is currently serving a 10-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Gill was convicted for accepting bribes in exchange for making pro-Russian statements.
While Farage has previously said he "can't apologise" for the lack of vetting before the 2024 general election, his tone in Scotland was markedly more contrite and focused on future change. He emphasised his anger at being thrust into repeated political crises through no direct fault of his own.
A Promise of Rigour for May's Elections
Looking ahead, the Reform UK leader made a direct promise that the party is now "doing everything we can" to ensure all candidates standing in the upcoming May elections are "fit and proper people."
He confirmed that Reform UK will unveil its full slate of candidates for the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) election at a special conference scheduled for the first week of March. This event is positioned as a showcase for the new, more stringent vetting regime Farage insists is now in place.
The admission represents a significant moment for a party seeking to solidify its political credibility. Whether this pledge of improved candidate vetting can prevent future scandals and restore voter trust remains a central question for Reform UK's campaign trajectory.
