NIGEL Farage has told of his shock after the parents of his daughter’s long-term boyfriend were arrested in a drugs raid.
His youngest child Izzy, 18, is dating Jack McKenna, also 18.
Jack’s parents admitted drug offences after police swooped on their home in South East London.
Last night broadcaster Nigel, 59, said: “As a family, we’re all in shock over this.”
He added that he gave his support to his daughter’s boyfriend.
From tongue scraping to saying no, here are 12 health trends to try in 2023
Darren McKenna and Lacey Tilley have pleaded guilty to two counts each of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Their 18-year-old son Jack has been dating Nigel’s daughter Izzy for two years.
The young pair were pictured together in Australia during Nigel’s recent stint on I’m a Celebrity.
Nigel said of Jack: “He’s a nice lad with no record of any kind with the police or any problems at school.
“He can’t help where he comes from, nor can any of us, it’s obviously a very difficult situation.
“I’m the least snobby person on Earth, we all come from different backgrounds and the kid deserves every chance.
“Izzy and Jack are very good together, they’re very young, but good together.
“This has been a shock for everyone involved, but I don’t want to see this affect the rest of Jack’s life.
“I will not be judgmental about the boy in any way at all.”
Jack’s parents were arrested in a swoop by Met Police officers on their £500,000 terraced family home in Bromley, South East London, on October 6 last year.
How to de-clutter if you have a beauty stash to last you a lifetime
Izzy and Jack have stayed together at the property.
It was understood that the home of Jack’s grandmother — where he and his dad regularly stayed — was also raided.
Nigel said: “I knew there had been a few ups and downs and that Jack had spent a fair bit of time staying at his nan’s house.
“But I didn’t know the full extent of what was going on.”
He added: “As a family we’re all in shock over this. This was all hidden from me, I had no idea.”
Earlier this month, Jack flew to Australia with Izzy to support her as she prepared to greet former Ukip party boss Nigel as he left the jungle.
Nigel said he had been “happy” to pay for Jack’s return flights.
Izzy — whose mum is Farage’s estranged second wife Kirsten Mehr — met Jack through mutual friends.
But now Jack faces the prospect of seeing his parents being jailed for up to ten years.
They are due to appear at Woolwich crown court, South East London, next month.
His dad, 38, is being held on remand at Category A prison HMP Belmarsh.
The McKenna and Farage families have become close as Izzy and Jack’s romance has blossomed.
Izzy lives with mum Kirsten in Oxted, Surrey — a 30-minute drive from Jack’s home.
Kirsten has visited the McKenna home for pick-ups and drop-offs.
Mr Farage said of Jack: “I’ve got to know him, he’s a good lad, he’s got ambition, he’s a bright kid who works hard and is very decent.
“Having spoken to Izzy about this, clearly Jack wants to make a success of his life and is determined his path is going to be very different from where he comes from.”
Last night a source close to the McKenna family told The Sun: “Jack is really upset, his mum and dad could be sent down for years.
“Jack’s a nice lad and wasn’t tied up in anything criminal, but he’s worried about his parents.
“Jack and Izzy are really close, they had an amazing time in Australia — they went to a water park together and to the beach.
“Izzy regularly hangs at Jack’s house and her mum has been there quite a bit.”
When Izzy was interviewed about her dad on I’m a Celebrity, she gushed that she was “incredibly proud” of him during an emotional reunion.
She said: “It’s been so refreshing to just see you as you for once. Everyone at home is amazed, shocked but in the best way.”
Farage shares a second daughter, Victoria, 23, with Kirsten and two sons with first wife Gráinne Hayes — Samuel, 34, and Thomas, 32.
In 2014, Farage said that he “hates” drugs, had never taken them himself and that he had experience of the damage they can do to young people.
But while not condoning drug use, he said they should be decriminalised in line with progressive nations like Portugal.
The then Ukip leader said: “I personally think that the war on drugs was lost many, many years ago and that the lives of millions of people in Britain are being made miserable by the huge criminal element that surrounds the illicit drugs trade.”
