 | |
| Author | Nigel Farage |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Politics, autobiography |
| Publisher | Biteback Publishing |
Publication date | March 2015 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (paperback),e-book |
| Pages | 320 |
| ISBN | 978-1-84-954863-2 (paperback) |
| Preceded by | Fighting Bull |
The Purple Revolution: The Year That Changed Everything is a political memoir byNigel Farage, then-leader of theUK Independence Party (UKIP). It is published by Biteback Publishing, and released on 17 March 2015.
Near the start of the book, Farage declares that he rarely scripts or practises his speeches, and how he does not regret any of them, saying "The more risk you take, the more likely it is that things will go really well, or really badly".[1]
In one chapter, Farage writes of his being hit by a car in 1985, his suffering fromtesticular cancer the year after, and his plane crash while campaigning in the2010 general election. He uses these three near-death experiences to state his opinions on theNational Health Service, saying that he has seen "the best and worst" of it.[2]
Farage declares his support forRand Paul, whom he calls his "politicalDoppelgänger".[2] He also praises the late trade union leaderBob Crow, who he claims was the only trade unionist who did not supportbig government and mass immigration.[3]
He also goes on to allege that theConservative Party is intercepting communications by UKIP politicians.[2] Farage stated in the book that if not elected as MP forSouth Thanet in the2015 general election, he would quit as UKIP leader.[3] The book ends by saying "So over to you, dear voter. It is all down to you now".[2]
TheWestern Gazette noted that as the book had sold out on pre-orders, "despite divided public opinion, plenty of people are keen to hear what the controversial politician has to say".[1]
Writing forThe Guardian,Nick Cohen said that the book revealed "a small-minded man living in a bubble of self-aggrandisement". He pointed out that Farage regularly pointed out individuals' ethnicity or nationality in a variety of situations, including surgeons and bar staff. In his opinion, Farage had "relentless" self-pity, exemplified by his claim that he could have become wealthier had he stayed in commodity trading rather than entering politics. However, he pointed out that left-wing criticism of Farage and UKIP was becoming counter-productive, with too-frequent accusations of prejudice leading to the left being seen as having a "hectoring and joyless culture".[4]
The Independent'sJohn Rentoul criticised how Farage spelt the word "Revolution" with the word "Love" reversed, likening it to the "mindless anti-politics" of anti-voting activistRussell Brand, who had also used it onhis own book. He was not impressed by Farage saying that he had not changed his political views since leavingDulwich College in 1982, "not something of which a self-aware person would be proud". Rentoul however stated that he supports Farage'sEuroscepticism from a left-wing perspective, and saw it as a reason why UKIP were gaining support inLabour-dominated areas.[5]
Ann Treneman of theNew Statesman criticised how Farage made his statements on the National Health Service off his own personal experiences. She said that the book "would be an absolute hoot, if only it were parody".[2]
