Claim 2fed7458Checked 21 Jul 2026
TrueOn the truth scale
“Nigel Farage did not state in the book that he had alcoholism or gambling problems.”
Reasoning & Evidence21 Jul 2026
The best available evidence supports that Nigel Farage did not state in his book (Fighting Bull / Flying Free) that he or his father had "alcoholism" or "gambling problems" using those specific terms.
In the interview context, Farage acknowledged he "talk[s] a little bit in the book about some of the problems [his father] had" but denied explicitly labeling them as "alcoholism" and "gambling," responding "I didn't say that in the book, no."
Regarding Farage himself: Multiple sources confirm the book discusses heavy drinking culture in the City and Farage's own heavy drinking (he wrote "I was handling millions and drinking more or less continuously," per The Independent). However, Farage explicitly positioned himself as not an alcoholic. The Times review of Fighting Bull records him saying: "I've been lucky… I can pack it up for a week and it's not a problem… My father was made in the way it took him over and it wrecked him. But I'm lucky. I'm one of those people who can take it or leave it." The Independent similarly quotes: "I really enjoy going for a drink, but I don't need it." No source mentions Farage claiming to have gambling problems.
Regarding Farage's father: It is well-documented (BBC, Wikipedia, The Independent) that Farage's father, Guy Farage, was an alcoholic who left the family home when Nigel was five and later gave up drinking. However, these characterizations come from BBC profiles and interviews, not from the book text itself. No book review of Fighting Bull or Flying Free confirms the book uses the terms "alcoholism" or "gambling" for the father's condition.
The claim is not contradicted by any available evidence, and Farage's own statement — that he discussed "some of the problems" but didn't use those labels — is consistent with what reviews and profiles report about the book's content.
Sources:
- Times Online (archived), "Nigel Farage: Brimming over with bile and booze" — https://web.archive.org/web/20110811094714/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7069638.ece
- The Independent, "Nigel Farage: 'Politicians govern through fear'" — https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-politicians-govern-through-fear-6297949.html
- BBC News, "The Nigel Farage story" — https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36701855
- BBC News, "Profile: Nigel Farage, UKIP leader" — https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-20543513
- Wikipedia, "Nigel Farage" — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Farage
- Biteback Publishing, "Fighting Bull" — https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/posts/fighting-bull-the-autobiography-of-nigel-farage-published-25th-march
- High Profiles, "Nigel Farage" interview — https://highprofiles.info/interview/nigel-farage/
From article
I didn’t say that in the book, no.
Listen, drink is an extraordinary thing. It’s very, very deeply embedded within our culture, and when I left school and went into the City – well, everything revolved around it. I’m very honest about the culture. You know, looking back on it now, many people would be repelled by it. And some people who go through that lifestyle are lucky and some are desperately unlucky, and you never know which you’re going to be. Lots of people who were my drinking mates in the City have been through the most disastrous downward spirals, and a lot of them are dead. A lot of them are dead. I lived through all of that and I’m very candid: I say I am lucky. I am lucky.
Sources opened