Nigel Farage backs Christian street preacher whose sermons described homosexuality as an “abomination” and warned of eternal punishment

Nigel Farage has come under fire after publicly backing a Christian street preacher whose sermons described homosexuality as an “abomination” and warned of eternal punishment.

The Reform UK leader appeared in a video supporting Essex pastor Stephen Clayden after Colchester City Council attempted to place restrictions on his public preaching activities, according to reports in The Guardian.

The row has prompted condemnation from Labour, which accused Farage of aligning himself with divisive figures rather than distancing himself from inflammatory rhetoric.

A Labour spokesperson told The Guardian that Farage had once again surrounded himself with “extreme voices” and should have condemned the pastor’s remarks instead of offering public support.

“This is just the latest in a string of examples that show Farage and Reform stand for division and are not on the side of working people,” the spokesperson said.

In the recording, Farage told Clayden he was “fully on your side” and offered to put him in touch with contacts linked to the Free Speech Union campaign group.

Clayden has argued that council officials objected both to the volume and content of his street sermons, including references to hell, judgement and homosexuality.

Social media footage cited by The Guardian showed Mr Clayden preaching that various groups of sinners, including “sodomites”, would face “the lake of fire”.

In another sermon referenced by the newspaper, he told passers-by that “the Bible says homosexuality is an abomination”.

Clayden had previously described homosexuality as “vile, disgusting and wicked” during a church gathering, while insisting his comments reflected biblical teaching.

Responding to the criticism, Clayden defended his remarks and said his sermons addressed many forms of sin, not homosexuality alone.

“As our local MP here in Clacton-on-Sea, Farage is giving his support to a local church which has been issued with a notice restricting their freedom of speech,” he said.