Nigel Farage has been accused of "sacrificing Reform votes" after his decision not to stand in July's general election sparked widespread backlash.
In a heated row with GB News presenter Camilla Tominey, Farage hit out at those criticising his move and claimed he "didn't have time" to work on both the Reform UK campaign and the US election campaign.
Camilla was in disbelief at Farage's defence and fumed that Reform supporters "have been blindsided" by his decision.
The GB News host told the former Ukip leader: "I can't quite work out what difference the timing makes? I appreciate you'd be squeezed, but you're either running for Reform or you're not. Regardless of whether it's a six week campaign or a six month campaign."
Rebutting Farage's claims that he "simply couldn't do both", Camilla fumed: "You didn't need six months because you're so recognisable! Everyone knows who you are. You would have been in a head in a seat like Clacton. You don't need to do the Grand Tour for six months - you're Nigel Farage!"
Nigel responded: "If you've ever fought an election, you'll know that what it comes down to is data. If you walk in with zero Intel, you've got a very, very major problem."
Camilla then highlighted the "central contradiction" to Farage's decision, and noted his stance on the Conservatives and his belief that the UK is "going to hell in a handcart".
She scolded Farage: "You're a man of the people and you've basically turned around and said, at the end of the day, America is bigger than Little England, therefore I'm going to go and help Trump."
Farage was infuriated by the remark, hitting back: "By choosing the path I have for the next six weeks, I'll be speaking to millions of people. If I decided now I'm going to go for a constituency, I'd have been speaking to about 80,000.
"And by the way, isn't it the dullest election campaign you've ever seen in your life?"
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Camilla interjected, claiming "that's why you should have been here", to which Farage raged: "I am in it! I couldn't have been in it, and for the constituency, that is the point.
He continued: "I couldn't do both, it's literally impossible. When you start with zero data, it can't be done. So I'm going to be part of the national debate. You bet your life on it."
Camilla agreed with Nigel's argument that there is "concern for national security" with the US, but criticised Farage for "taking an enormous gamble" with his decision.
She explained: "You've got no guarantee that Donald Trump is going to win the US election. You've handed an extraordinary electoral advantage to Rishi Sunak, the man you've been spending recent months and years criticising.
"I've spoken to Telegraph readers about this, they're now not going to vote for Reform because you're not at the helm of it. So you have sacrificed Reform votes."
Nigel strongly disagreed, responding: "I tell you what I could do, I could change my mind this morning, move down to Kent, fight a seat. And you won't see or hear of me for the rest of the election campaign."
Camilla immediately hit back: "Of course we would see and hear of you! You'd be seen and heard on GB News, you've got an extraordinary social media following, you've got millions on Twitter, and TikTok."
Nigel then reaffirmed his argument, concluding: "I can do all those things, but I can't do that and focus on a constituency. That's the point.
"Six weeks made it very, very difficult. Impossible to do both, difficult to find a seat I've chosen. I want to be part of the national debate, not just in a constituency. And I will be there, and believe you me, I'm going to do my best to expose some of the absolute nonsense things that are being discussed over immigration and economics. They are absolutely top of my list."
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