The word “tetchy” is of uncertain origin. It’s possibly derived from the French word “tache”, meaning “flaw” or “blemish”, as on a painting.
Nigel Farage was certainly “tetchy” during a string of broadcast interviews on Tuesday morning.
The Reform UK leader would have been hoping to mark 23 June as the 10th anniversary of the day Britain voted to leave the European Union in 2016. But instead of celebrating Brexit, he was unusually boxed on to the ropes over the issue which has dogged him for two months – the mysterious £5m he received from the cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne in the spring of 2024, just before Farage announced he would become Reform leader again and would fight the election in Clacton.
Questioned by Sally Nugent on BBC Breakfast and Nick Robinson on Radio 4 Today, Farage was far from his usual cheerful, self-confident “Teflon” self who generally manages to laugh off every allegation thrown at him. Nugent was especially persistent and firm in her grilling, and Farage was consistent in his explanations as to what Harborne’s “gift” was for, and what he did with it. “None of your business…none of your business,” he kept saying, with rising exasperation. “Nobody cares,” he repeated, “nobody cares” – perhaps hoping that what works for Donald Trump in America will help him.
