Honorary President of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, has hit out at Lord Michael Heseltine's remarks about the political party, following an appearance at the Hay Festival.
Speaking at the event, Heseltine slammed Reform and claimed that "racism is basically what underpins UKIP and Reform".
Heseltine added: "I have lived through some of the most tumultuous events of our time, and anyone who is looking for the common theme, it's racism."
Reacting to the remarks on GB News, Nigel Farage criticised Heseltine and condemned his "bile and hatred" against the Reform party.
Nigel Farage hit out at 'old bore' Michael Heseltine
GB News / PA
In a discussion with host Camilla Tominey, Farage said of Heseltine: "I've heard that from him time and time again. By the way, I thought he had finally been put out to grass, but clearly not.
"He is, of course, a fanatical pro-European, fanatical globalist. If he's in my personal company, he sort of physically has to be away from me."
Infuriated by Heseltine, Farage fumed: "I have done some debates with him head to head. He's filled with bile, hatred, and intolerance.
"He's a proper, full-on, modern-day liberal. And he can't accept that anybody else has a different view."
Lord Michael Heseltine claimed Reform is the 'underpin of racism'
PA
When asked if Heseltine "avoids speaking" to Farage, he revealed: "Rather than saying I've got a different point of view, he sinks to abuse.
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"He's been doing it over and over with UKIP and with me. Whether he does it so much that people still listen. He's an old bore."
Camilla then pressed Farage on his upcoming appearance on Question Time, as he was "horrified" by the BBC's latest move against the Reform campaigner.
Farage was given a form ahead of his appearance which asked him to disclose his "sexuality" and "ethnicity", under "clause 13, diversity monitoring".
Reacting to the form on his social media platform, Farage said: "Diversity Monitoring? What a trick!
Farage said Heseltine is 'full of bile and hatred'
GB News
"Goodness gracious me. They want to know about my sexuality. What? I'm going to keep that very private. They want to know my ethnicity. There's my answer, it's a big no. Go to hell."
Recalling the incident on GB News, Farage explained: "I couldn't believe it. Having done 36 Question Time's in the past, albeit, not for five years.
"I had to put name, no problem with that, email, okay, fine, phone number - all right, you better have that in case I get delayed in traffic.
"And then I had to look to clause 13. Yes. Was I happy for my data to be shared? And I never check. I never checked the details, but once I did, I was horrified."