Arsonists targeted Nigel Farage by pushing a firebomb through the letterbox of his home, the Reform Party leader has revealed. Farage, 62, said the petrol bomb fortunately burnt out before causing any significant damage during the incident last year. He has labelled the event as an 'outright arson attempt'. Farage recalled how the attack, which came at the start of 2025, occurred while he was not inside the property - with the politician discovering the damage only when he opened his front door. Police have investigated, but as yet no suspects have been identified.

Speaking from Norfolk while currently touring the country ahead of local elections , Farage said the attempted arson had not been the only attack he has experienced over recent months. He said: 'There are huge dangers in this job. I'm acutely aware of the love for me, but equally the levels of antipathy that exist. Sometimes things happen when there are cameras there, but there are plenty of times when things don't make the news, like pints of beer being thrown over me or the attack on my home. I also had to write off a car once because it was attacked by protesters when I was in it.'

Farage revealed the multiple threats against his safety had prompted him to up his security, with Thailand-based British billionaire Christopher Harborne gifting him a seven-figure sum. Thought to be in the region of £5million, the money was given to Farage before he re-entered politics ahead of the 2024 general election. As it was classed as a gift, it was not taxed or declared as it did not count as a political donation. Describing Harborne as an 'ardent supporter' - who has donated millions more to Reform - the politician said he was grateful for his security having 'tried and failed' to receive funding from the Home Office. The crypto investor was by Farage's side when a protester threw a banana milkshake over the politician as he met voters in Clacton-on-Sea in 2024. He was also pelted with rubbish from a building site in Barnsley during the same week.

Due to the increased threat against him, the Home Office did step in to offer him private security - but last October he claimed parliamentary authorities had reduced his security detail by 75 per cent. The Clacton MP said: 'I would rather not be discussing any of this but I am having to because someone has got hold of material about my private finances, which is outrageous, and which I believe was illegally obtained.' Speaking about Harborne, who handed Reform the biggest single donation in history to a political party from a living person, Farage added: 'This money was given to me so that I would be safe and secure for the rest of my life. 'I have tried and failed in the past to get security funded by the Home Office and I don't think the state will ever help me. 'I'm very much on my own and will be for the rest of my life, and I have to face up to that grim reality. 'Christopher is an ardent supporter who is deeply concerned for my safety.' Aside from the risk of in-person attacks on Farage, the politician expressed his fears over 'violent' rhetoric online. He said: 'There is also the online threat, with people encouraging the use of violence against me, which we have reported to the police several times with no response that I can discern whatsoever and the pretty much point-blank refusal of the British state to help me.'

Following today's revelation, Reform UK issued a statement calling for 'broader discussion' over protection of MPs. It said: 'For the first time, Nigel Farage has revealed his home was targeted in an arson attack in 2025. 'Politicians must be able to engage with the public without fear of violence. 'We are calling for a broader discussion on protecting all MPs in public office'. The Reform party is set to make huge gains in next month's local elections, an AI-powered model has shown. Labour is set to lose control of 50 local authorities, while the Green Party will also experience a surge. In an update to its local elections model ahead of the 7 May contests, data insight firm Bombe projected Reform will win the most council seats overall. Nigel Farage's party are forecast to perform particularly well in working-class towns in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and the North of England.

They will also enjoy success in some urban wards, including pockets of the Manchester area, Newcastle and across the Midlands, according to the research. Meanwhile, the Greens are predicted to win outright control - or become the largest party - in a number of inner London boroughs. These include Lambeth, Lewisham, Hackney, Southwark and Greenwich while, outside the capital, Zack Polanski's party is also expected to perform well in Manchester, Oxford and Cambridge . Overall, according to the latest Bombe model, Reform will gain control of 14 councils, while the Greens will gain control of eight.

The Liberal Democrats are predicted to lose two councils and the Tories will lose three, while there could be a huge increase in the number of councils left under no overall control. Reform are projected to gain around 1,380 council seats across England, with the Greens gaining an extra 700 councillors. Labour are forecast to lose 1,400 seats, with the Tories losing just over 200, and the Lib Dems shedding 160 councillors. The research also suggested a significant number of wards are sitting on a knife-edge ahead of the 7 May vote.