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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Lisa McLoughlin

Nigel Farage arrives back at Heathrow after coming third on I’m A Celebrity

Nigel Farage beamed as he landed in Heathrow Airport on Wednesday morning following his stint on I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in Australia.

The former UKIP leader, 59, appeared in good spirits as he tipped his hat to waiting photographers after touching down in London.

The politician donned a salmon-coloured blazer, trousers and beige shirt for his trip – attire more suited to the sunnier climes he travelled from.

Farage came in third place on Sunday night’s I’m A Celebrity final, while former Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson was crowned King of the Jungle and Tony Bellew came in second.

After being interviewed by hosts Ant McParlin and Declan Donnelly, Farage exited the jungle and was met by his girlfriend, the French politician Laure Ferrari, marking their first public appearance together.

The pair have been rumoured to be together since 2017 when she moved into his home as a lodger. Farage split from his wife of 18 years, Kirsten, that same year.

Farage was in good spirits following his long-haul flight from Australia (PA)

Elsewhere, Farage landed at Heathrow just hours after Rishi Sunak narrowly avoided defeat over his Rwanda Bill to allow deportation flights of illegal migrants to go ahead to East Africa.

While Farage ruled out standing as a Conservative candidate while Sunak is leader, he hinted that a return to politics could still be on the cards.

Following his jungle stint, the former MEP said the Conservatives have “literally lied to the electorate at four successive general elections” about immigration numbers and had “broken every promise” they have made.

Asked on Good Morning Britain on Monday if he will stand as a Conservative candidate at the next election, Mr Farage said: “I don’t think under this leadership there is very much prospect of that.

“I am looking at a Conservative government that is in total shambles, facing tomorrow effectively a confidence vote on an issue that affects every single living human being in our country, namely immigration on a level that never happened even during Tony Blair’s days.

“Rishi is a lame duck walking and the Conservative Party are headed for total defeat.”

Mr Farage, former Ukip and Brexit Party leader, did not completely rule out a return to politics, or even the possibility that he could join the Conservatives under a different leader, saying “never say never”.

The possibility that Mr Farage might try to stand as a Conservative candidate has been rumoured since his appearance at the party conference in Manchester in October.

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