Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said he believes men are more prepared to sacrifice their family lives for their careers in a way that women aren’t.
Speaking to journalists at an event in Parliament, Farage said this was a key reason that more men are successful in business. His comments came in response to a question about whether most senior jobs go to white men based on merit.
“No, I think the truth of it is in many, many cases, women make very different life choices to men,” he said.
“Look at business. Men are prepared to sacrifice their family lives in order to pursue a career and be successful in a way that fewer women are.
“And those women that do have probably got more of a chance of reaching the top than the blokes.”
Farage is the leader of the right-wing populist Reform UK Party and said his party is more attractive to male voters because they are more “impulsive” than women.
Asked if his party needed to attract more women in leadership roles, he said: “I’ve spent my entire life trying to appeal to women – I’ve had a bit of trouble with them once or twice”.
Natalie Fleet, a Labour Party MP, said Farage’s comments were “like something out of the 70s”.
“He clearly has no idea about the sacrifices women make!” she wrote on social media.
“Perhaps he can explain to women across Britain how his plan to dismantle the NHS would leave us paying thousands more for healthcare…”
These Farage quotes are like something out of the 70s.
— Natalie Fleet MP (@NatalieFleetMP) March 27, 2025
He clearly has no idea about the sacrifices women make!
Perhaps he can explain to women across Britain how his plan to dismantle the NHS would leave us paying thousands more for healthcare… https://t.co/M4fVyNL3Nj
Currently, Reform UK is dominated by men in leadership positions. Farage is leader, Richard Tice is deputy leader, Nick Candy is treasurer and Zia Yusuk is chair.
Polling released by YouGov earlier this year showed a quarter of all Britons (24 per cent) would consider voting for Reform UK at a future election. Men are more likely to vote for the minor party (29 per cent) compared to 19 per cent of women. Interest in voting for the party increases with age and is most popular among those over 65.