Nigel Farage has admitted Reform UK could have won more votes if it had avoided the vetting scandal that rocked the party’s general election campaign.

The Reform UK leader said “we don’t want extremists, we don’t want people who think that way, because we represent the silent, decent majority”.

It comes after Lee Anderson tore up a BBC licence fee reminder letter live on stage at the Reform UK conference, as he tore into the state broadcaster.

Speaking about Britain’s history, Mr Anderson said the UK should hold up its hands and apologise for things the country got wrong.

He told the conference: “We’ve been responsible for some awful things… things like the BBC!”

To rapturous laughter and applause, Mr Anderson continued: “Just a few weeks back they sent me a reminder for my TV licence, and some of you may have seen I ripped it up online.”

He then revealed he’d been sent a new letter, and asked the audience what he should do with it, before tearing it to shreds on stage.

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