Brian Cox Slams Nigel Farage in Heated BBC Exchange

Published: 08 September 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

British politics witnessed a fiery exchange this weekend when celebrated Scottish actor Brian Cox took aim at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage during a high-profile appearance on the BBC’s Sunday Morning with Laura Kuenssberg. Cox, a Golden Globe award-winning star of both stage and screen, openly criticised Farage, branding him “selfish” and “uninformed,” while also urging the United Kingdom to re-embrace Europe in light of mounting global crises.

The encounter unfolded after Mr Farage’s interview with Ms Kuenssberg, in which the veteran politician faced tough questioning over his personal finances, property dealings and broader political stance. The discussion took an increasingly tense turn when the host raised issues regarding Farage’s tax affairs and financial arrangements, describing them as “not exactly straightforward.” Mr Farage, visibly irritated, rejected the premise of the question and defended his track record, insisting he had long been an entrepreneur who paid taxes, created jobs and managed business interests transparently.

Brian Cox, who was present as a guest on the programme, made no attempt to disguise his disdain for Farage’s performance. He accused the politician of being “a bit of a bully,” pointing to his repeated attempts to dominate the conversation and dismiss probing questions. Cox remarked that he was “dazzled” by how so many people appeared seduced by Farage’s style of politics, despite what he described as its aggressive and shallow underpinnings. “I find him very venal, quite honestly, as an individual,” Cox stated firmly. “He’s selfish and on the whole quite uninformed. I just don’t trust the man.”

The actor went further, using the platform to argue for a renewed British alignment with Europe. Highlighting the war in Ukraine as a pressing reason for unity, Cox declared that “there’s never been a more positive time that we need to be in Europe. We need to be Europe again because of what’s happening in the Ukraine. If we don’t recognise that now, we’re lost.” His intervention drew sharp contrasts with Farage’s long-standing Eurosceptic agenda, which helped drive the UK’s departure from the European Union.

Farage, for his part, attempted to parry criticism by defending his financial conduct and reiterating his credentials as a businessman. He explained that payments for his work with GB News were directed through his company, which he claimed was entirely standard practice. He also addressed questions about property ownership in Clacton, noting that while a house in the constituency was purchased by his partner, there was nothing unusual about the arrangement. “The fact that she’s bought a house, I mean, why not?” he responded sharply.

Pressed further on whether he would consider publishing his personal tax returns—a move some critics argue would boost transparency—Farage refused outright. He described such demands as “an intrusion too far,” stating bluntly that he had no intention of releasing them. According to the official register of members’ interests, the Reform UK leader has declared more than £313,000 in earnings from his work with GB News since becoming a Member of Parliament, income that is channelled through his private business interests.

The clash between Farage and Cox has quickly reverberated across political and cultural circles, highlighting once again the polarising nature of the Reform UK figurehead. For many of his supporters, Farage remains a champion of sovereignty and national independence, while detractors, such as Cox, argue that his politics are divisive, self-serving and dangerously detached from the geopolitical realities now facing Britain and Europe.

This confrontation on live television not only underscored the deepening divisions in the UK’s political discourse but also revealed the extent to which cultural figures like Brian Cox are willing to step into the fray. With Farage positioning himself as a contender for national leadership and Cox warning of the perils of isolation from Europe, the debate over Britain’s direction in a volatile world looks set to intensify further.