Nigel Farage has repeatedly, over many years, called for or expressed openness to replacing the NHS with an insurance-based system: 1. **2012 (UKIP era):** Farage was recorded saying: "I think we are going to have to move to an insurance-based system of healthcare," expressing he would feel "more comfortable" if healthcare money went "through the marketplace of an insurance company" rather than central government (The Independent, BBC News). 2. **2015 (UKIP era):** Farage told the BBC that replacing the NHS with an insurance-based system was "a debate that we're all going to have to return to" (BBC News, Full Fact). 3. **January 2025 (LBC interview):** As Reform UK leader, when asked if he was "open to a French-style insurance model for the NHS," Farage replied: "Open to anything." He discussed the French mutual insurance system and said "let's have a much deeper, broader thing" (Byline Times, Full Fact, BBC). 4. **December 2024 (Telegraph interview):** Farage was quoted saying: "The funding of the NHS is a total failure. The French do it much better with less funding. There is a lesson there. If you can afford it, you pay; if you can't, you don't. It works incredibly well" (Full Fact, South Wales Argus). The second part of the claim — that Farage said "if people can pay, they should pay for NHS treatment" — is directly supported by the December 2024 Telegraph quote. **Important nuance:** Farage and Reform UK have consistently maintained in their manifestos (2015 UKIP, 2019 Brexit Party, 2024 Reform UK) that the NHS should remain "free at the point of delivery." Full Fact notes that Labour's use of the "open to anything" clip omits context where Farage had just said "Yes" to being "completely committed to free at the point of delivery." However, Farage's own language — "if you can afford it, you pay" — and his repeated calls for moving to an insurance-based model are accurately characterized. The phrase "wants everyone to forget" is political rhetoric rather than a verifiable factual assertion. Farage has not literally tried to suppress these statements; he has continued making similar comments publicly. But the factual core — that he called for replacing the NHS with an insurance-based system — is accurate and well-documented. Sources: - Full Fact, "Is Labour right to claim Reform UK would 'scrap the NHS'?" — https://fullfact.org/health/reform-nigel-farage-pay-for-nhs-labour/ - Byline Times, "Nigel Farage Says He Is 'Open to Anything' When It Comes to Replacing NHS With 'Insurance-Based Model'" — https://bylinetimes.com/2025/01/27/nigel-farages-latest-nhs-comments-spark-fresh-scrutiny-of-reform-uks-health-policy/ - BBC News, "Nigel Farage: NHS debate 'will be needed' on insurance system" — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30877758 - BBC News, "Reform unlikely to introduce insurance-based health system" — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c39z71kmexdo - The Independent, "Nigel Farage caught on video suggesting NHS should be run privately" — https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-caught-on-video-suggesting-the-nhs-should-be-run-privately-9857389.html - The Independent, "Britain must look at replacing the NHS with an insurance system, Nigel Farage says" — https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/britain-must-look-at-replacing-the-nhs-with-an-insurance-system-nigel-farage-says-10044823.html - Politico, "Nigel Farage breaks with his Welsh leader over insurance system NHS" — https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-nigel-farage-breaks-with-his-welsh-leader-over-insurance-system-nhs/ - South Wales Argus, "UK should 're-examine' NHS funding model, says Farage" — https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/national/25044655.uk-re-examine-nhs-funding-model-says-farage-ahead-reform-rally/