Nigel Farage has told of his shock after the parents of his daughter's long-term boyfriend pleaded guilty to drug offences following a police raid on their home.
Mr Farage's youngest daughter Izzy, 18, has been in a relationship with Jack McKenna for two years and even took the 18-year-old to Australia during her father's time on I'm a Celebrity.
Mr McKenna’s parents, Darren McKenna and Lacey Tilley, confessed to drug offences after police raided their home in Bromley, South East London.
The politician-turned-broadcaster told the Sun newspaper: “As a family, we’re all in shock over this.”
He said: “I’m the least snobby person on Earth, we all come from different backgrounds and the kid deserves every chance.
“Izzy and Jack are very good together, they’re very young, but good together.
“This has been a shock for everyone involved, but I don’t want to see this affect the rest of Jack’s life.”
The teenager flew to Australia with Izzy to support her as she prepared to greet Mr Farage as he left the I’m A Celebrity jungle. Farage said he had been “happy” to pay for Jack’s return flights.
The teenagers met through mutual friends, but now Jack faces the prospect of seeing his parents jailed for up to ten years.
They are due to appear at Woolwich Crown Court next month. His dad, 38, is being held on remand at Category A prison HMP Belmarsh.
A source close to the McKenna family told the paper: “Jack is really upset, his mum and dad could be sent down for years.
“Jack’s a nice lad and wasn’t tied up in anything criminal, but he’s worried about his parents.”
Farage has two daughters, Izzy and Victoria, 23, with his estranged second wife Kirsten Mehr and shares two sons with first wife Gráinne Hayes — Samuel, 34, and Thomas, 32.
He came third in I’m A Celebrity after spending more than 20 nights in the jungle, alongside the show’s winner, reality TV star Sam Thompson, and runner-up, former professional boxer Tony Bellew.
He told reporters that he was “absolutely thrilled” to make it to the final and had a “super” time, but is now “excited to get back to work”.
