He confesses he’s been guilty of rabble-rousing, and he’ll even admit to voting for the Greens. And the Ukip leader says he’s got used to being called a racist and xenophobe. But there’s one thing he won’t stand for... being called a hooligan

'I voted Green in 1989 in the European elections,' said Nigel Farage

What is your earliest memory?

I’d like to say England winning the World Cup in 1966 but it’s not true because I was only two! I think it was in 1968; a trip to the beach at Whitstable with my family. I still have a sense of how cold the water was and I remember being stung by a wasp, which hurt.

What sort of child were you?

I was quite difficult. From the age of about 12 I was somewhat uproarious, questioning of authority of all kinds, a bit of a rabble-rouser, but I don’t think I was ever malicious. I was a handful, my mother would agree.

What has been your biggest achievement?

May 25 last year, leading Ukip to winning a national election, winning the European election. I have to be honest, that was a pretty good feeling.

What has been your biggest disappointment?

That I didn’t come in to politics a bit later. I missed the boom in commodity prices, which I had been waiting for all my working life. A lot of my mates have retired – they are very, very well off. It was one of those once in a 100 year-type booms and I just missed it.

What is your best character trait and your worst?

That’s easy. My best is my boundless optimism and energy. I am a bit like the Duracell bunny – I just keep going. Being optimistic allows me to drag a few people with me. My worst would be that I am sometimes intolerant, a bit judgmental. I have a slight tendency to write some people off.

Who is your dream dinner date?

It would have to be Churchill. It would be enormous fun and I’d hope it would go on until 1am. Make that 2am.

What are you scared of?

I don’t like snakes. We were touring a historical site in Turkey where the guide hadn’t seen one for 20 years. I walked into some bushes with my rucksack on and there was a big brown one, eight or nine feet long, right in front of me. I was absolutely terrified. I am also scared of the ground because when you hit it in an aeroplane it really hurts. [Farage cheated death in a plane crash in 2010.] I hate flying and in this job you have to. Even before I had my crash, I was a nervous flyer. My fear of flying is irrational: look at the statistics, whizzing around one junction of the M25 to go and have tea with someone is far more dangerous, but I’m still not keen.

What is the worst thing anyone has ever said to you?

I was called a football hooligan once in public and I didn’t like that. I am many things but a hooligan I am not. I have been called everything this year, absolutely everything, racist, xenophobe – there’s a list as long as your arm.

'I was called a football hooligan once in public and I didn’t like that. I am many things but a hooligan I am not. I have been called everything this year, absolutely everything, racist, xenophobe,' said Nigel

What is your most treasured possession?

I am the proud owner of a Dead Man’s Penny [a WWI memorial plaque issued to fallen soldiers’ families] which I bought on eBay. The plaque is to a Victoria Cross winner, a man who won the VC in the very same company in the very same action as my grandfather when he was wounded. The VC is in a museum and even if it wasn’t I couldn’t possibly afford it, so the plaque is a very special thing to own. I am a 1914-1918 nut and have been for 30 years. People used to think I was kooky but now it is all the rage.

Describe the best night of your life.

There have been dozens of best nights, which tended, if I’m being honest, to begin as lunches that progressed through high tea into an evening out. My experience is that the best parties, the most fun, the biggest laughs in life are never ever planned. It’s a slight problem with this job that I can’t really do that now.

Who would you like to say sorry to and why?

There’s a long list. I’ll start with my mum. She’s had a lot to endure.

What has been your most embarrassing moment?

The most recent was dropping that glass of champagne when I was interviewed by Steph and Dom from Gogglebox. It was a summer’s evening and I had on the lightest pair of trousers I own and it looked just terrible, like I’d had an accident of some description.

Tell us a secret about yourself.

I voted Green in 1989 in the European elections.

What one law would you change if you could?

The smoking ban. I would amend it – we don’t need to repeal it. I think smokers used to be incredibly selfish – they used to light up everywhere and not give a damn about non-smokers. But there is a happy, perfect, beautiful, libertarian compromise where pubs can have smoking and non-smoking rooms and restaurants can have a separate room where you can go and have a coffee and a cigar or whatever you like. Who can complain about that? The thought that we are closing down so many pubs in this country directly because of this ban is bad for our communities, bad for society.

Who is your hero?

Nelson. He was an extraordinary figure, amazingly single-minded and I think his achievements were astonishing. I love the story of the great blizzard of the 1780s in north Norfolk, when only one boy, one eight-year-old boy, made it to school through all the huge snow drifts to sign the register, and that was Horatio Nelson. It says something about his character – and he was unconventional too.

If you could edit your past what would you change?