Nigel Farage has revealed the three words that drove his decision to return to politics last year.
The Reform UK leader made the admission during a discussion with Canadian author Jordan Peterson at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference in east London today.
Speaking about his return to politics on June 3 last year, Farage recalled: "I thought, well, you know, this really rather comfortable, lovely life, I've got about to disappear. I thought, why am I doing it? And I came up with three words. Family, community and country."
He acknowledged these were "the things that matter to me about absolutely everything".
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaks during an interview with Jordan Peterson
PA
Farage made his comments while addressing thousands at the ExCel Centre conference, where he spoke candidly about his personal life.
"I may not necessarily be the best advocate for monogamous heterosexuality or stable marriage, having been divorced twice," he admitted.
The Reform UK leader emphasised the importance of cultural foundations, stating: "What underpins everything is our Judeo-Christian culture, and that's where we need to start."
His appearance at the conference came a day after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch had addressed the same event.
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Kemi speaking to the crowd at the Arc conference yesterday
PABadenoch had taken aim at Farage during her speech, claiming that "strong men have lots of words but no plan. They promise everything and deliver nothing".
Farage called for a "complete 180 shift in attitudes" to create a more optimistic society that would encourage higher birth rates.
"We have got to start telling kids that hard work is good, that success is good, that there aren't any shortcuts in life. That making money is good," he told the conference.
He expressed concern about young people becoming disincentivised, noting that "another million young people since the start of the pandemic are on disability benefits because they are suffering from depression".
The Reform UK leader also criticised what he called a "miserable" and "declinist" attitude in British politics.
"God, doesn't Rachel Reeves make you want to reach for the cry tissues," he said of the Chancellor. He recalled that Britain had possessed a "spirit of optimism" during the late 1980s and through much of the 1990s.
Addressing claims of splitting the conservative vote, Farage dismissed suggestions that the British right is divided.
"The right is not split in this country. The Conservative Party is not on the right in any measurable way," he declared.
