Dashboard/Nigel Farage/Sky News interview with Beth Rigby in Scotland: local election hopes, council tax promises and NHS funding
Interview · 14 Apr 2026
Sky News interview with Beth Rigby in Scotland: local election hopes, council tax promises and NHS funding
Video: YouTube: Sky News (official channel). Retrieved 9 Oct 2026.
No BS Index for this transcript
Only 13 rated questions; a transcript needs 15 for a number. Claims that held up: 63% of 8 checked (Bluff 18.8 of 50). Its claims still count towards the overall score.
Answers questions · observed, not scored
77%
13 questions rated. Fewer than 15, so this does not enter the index. Answered = 1, Partly answered and Declined openly = ½, Dodged = 0.
Answered 8Partly answered 4Declined openly 0Dodged 1
Beth Rigby
Nigel, thanks for speaking to us today. We're here in Scotland. You're about to do a rally. The stage is set. You're polling second here.
What does success look like for you in these mayoral elections?
AnsweredAsked what success looks like in these elections. Says becoming the opposition in Scotland and coming first in Wales.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
Okay. Let Let's go on to delivery because with your councils, there were promises made by candidates across multiple areas to freeze or cut council tax during last year's elections. And some of them have been reneged on. Well, North Northamptonshire candidates signed a letter pledging a freeze in council tax in that council's gone up 4.99%.
Partly answeredTold candidates' pledges to freeze or cut council tax have been broken, as in North Northamptonshire. The captions catch only the start of a reply about his own campaigning as leader before he is interrupted; the answer continues under x05.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
But But But Nigel, North Northamptonshire candidates signed a letter pledging to freeze council tax. It's gone up by 4.99%.
AnsweredPressed on the North Northamptonshire pledge and the 4.99% rise. Says with thousands of candidates some say different things, and he was careful not to over-promise.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
message then to the the voters of North Northamptonshire that were given a leaflet with your face on it, and then that happened.
Partly answeredAsked for his message to North Northamptonshire voters given a leaflet with his face on it. Points to lower council tax rises across Reform councils, without addressing those voters.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
point is is that you are stressing that you can't control what local candidates are promising, but this comes back to the delivery risk, doesn't it? Because if voters see a promise on a leaflet in Northamptonshire, and that's reneged on
Partly answeredPut to him that broken local promises are a delivery risk. Says he never saw the leaflet and would have condemned it, without addressing the wider risk.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
Yes, but do you understand Do you see Do you acknowledge the risk, and how can you fix that?
DodgedAsked whether he acknowledges the risk and how he would fix it. Turns to his campaign message and says Reform has delivered, without acknowledging the risk or saying how it would be fixed.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
But do you need to tighten the message because you're finding But if if you were if you were a if you were a voter in Northamptonshire, you're going to be annoyed, aren't you? Because you were promised one thing. You voted for candidates, and your council tax has gone up.
Partly answeredAsked whether he needs to tighten the message, as voters in Northamptonshire will be annoyed. Says he did all he could to make the message clear, without saying whether anything will change.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
Your Your opponents will say it makes you not credible. What do you say to that?
AnsweredTold opponents will say this makes Reform not credible. Says he cannot control what thousands of individuals say.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
A year ago, just go back to where we were last April, I also asked you about the NHS ahead of the last local elections. You clearly told me you did not want NHS The NHS to be funded through general taxation. You said it doesn't work.
AnsweredTold he said a year ago that the NHS should not be funded through general taxation. Denies saying it.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
I'm really really really sorry. said it doesn't work. It's not working. It Is that still your position?
AnsweredAsked whether that is still his position. Says it has never been his position, that the NHS is funded through general taxation and the question is how the money is spent (reply continues under x17).Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
So you do want it funded through general taxation.
AnsweredPut to him that he does want it funded through general taxation. Says money is raised through taxation, the question is how it is spent, and sees no contradiction.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
want to look at insurance models potentially.
AnsweredPut to him that he wants to look at insurance models. Says he would use insurers or private providers if that treats more people for the money.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
Okay. So you want You're going to have a clear model for that come the next general election.
AnsweredAsked whether he will have a clear model by the next general election. Says yes.Our model rated this
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4 further exchange(s) not rated: procedural or ceremonial questions (a tribute, thanks or condolence that asks for nothing), or questions the speaker did not take.