‘Key worker’ Nigel Farage reported to police over 100-mile trip to film ‘racist’ video during lockdown

Nigel Farage has been reported to the police after receiving criticism for travelling 100 miles during lockdown to make a film about migrants.

The Brexit Party leader travelled from his home in Kent to Pett Level in East Sussex before moving on to Hastings, for a short video where he attempted to investigate the number of migrants that were still coming to Britain during the pandemic.

The film was branded “racist” and “xenophobic” on social media, but people were also furious that Farage appeared to be breaking lockdown rules by travelling so far to film it. It’s not like this is “essential” travel or exercise... is it?

In response to the growing backlash, a spokesperson for Farage sugge​ste​dthat he​qualifies as a key worker due to his work for LBC Radio.

Farage's representative has been quoted by The Mirror as saying:

Nigel was working as a broadcaster. His interviews taken as part of the report were later used on LBC Radio.

It’s true that the government has said that journalists and broadcasters can be considered as “key workers”. But Downing Street also said that these rules only apply to reporters who are covering stories about the coronavirus, which he wasn't.

Naturally, Farage using the "key worker" excuse riled people up even more, seeing as actual key workers across the country are making huge sacrifices right now and saving lives while risking their own.

Now things have escalated again as police confirm they’ve received numerous reports about Farage’s video.

A Sussex Police spokesperson told The Mirror:

We can confirm that we have received reports of a recent video involving Nigel Farage which was filmed in East Sussex.

All such reports are considered by Sussex Police in line with the national guidance during these current times.

As with all forces our approach is to engage at the time with people that are away from home, to explain the stay at home advice.

We are clear that the public should avoid making non-essential journeys, not only for their own safety but for the safety of others.

We remind everyone to follow the Government guidelines around restrictions on travel and to work from home where this is possible.

So if we were you, Nigel, we'd maybe lay low for a while. Oh, and cut out the 100-mile journeys, because peoples' lives are at stake.