PIERS Morgan slammed Nigel Farage for bailing out of standing as an MP in the election, blasting: “You’ve bottled it”.
The Sun's columnist, 59, went head to head with the Reform president, 60, over Farage’s refusal to put himself up as a candidate in July.
In the heated debate on BBC Question Time, Piers fumed: “You’ve had all year to think about this election.
“You knew it was coming.”
But Farage hit back, saying he had stood for election “time and again” amid claims the six-week campaign was not enough time to prepare.
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He added: “I've had one serious attempt to stand for parliament but do you know what happened?"
Mr Morgan interjected to say: "He lost"
But Mr Farage contested: "They cheated so badly that the agent got a nine-month prison sentence.
“They massively overspent and cheated. I've stood once before.
“I know how difficult it is when you've got the big parties who treat the law with contempt. I didn't feel with six weeks from scratch I could do it.
“I will be part of this campaign. I will be part of this debate. I do think there are very serious issues to discuss."
Farage has stood for election as an MP on seven occasions and has lost each time.
The Piers Morgan Uncensored host - who had already branded Farage a "little weasel" - shouted across the panel "you bottled it" while Farage hit back with "you've never stood".
The blazing argument forced the show’s host Fiona Bruce to intervene and stop the argument between the TV host and the Brexit frontman.
The duo clashed again when Piers pressed Fargae on comments made by Reform's deputy leader Ben Habib.
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Mr Habib had suggested that channel migrants who "scupper" their dinghies should "suffer the consequences of their actions".
Piers asked Farage: “When he was asked, 'You would leave them to drown?'… he said absolutely”
“Do you denounce it?”
Farage replied: “Well of course”
Mr Morgan slammed the language as “utterly reprehensible”.
After the show, Piers shared a photo with his eight million followers on X/Twitter of the panel, minus Farage, enjoying a drink.
In the post he jibed Farage was a "toad".
Before appearing on the politics panel show, Morgan had said: "Well, this should be fun.
"Haven’t seen Farage since the little weasel tried to stab me in the back with Trump."
The pair have been rivals since Farage allegedly sent ex-US President Donald Trump a list of reasons he should not accept an interview on Piers' show, Piers Morgan Uncensored in 2022.
Farage claimed yesterday would have been the day he announced his own candidacy for Westminster Rishi Sunak not called a snap election for July 4.
Piers also questioned why Rishi Sunak has not settled his £1,000 debt with him over the Rwanda policy.
The Prime Minister bet Mr Morgan £1,000 earlier this year that deportation flights to Rwanda would take off before the next election.
Mr Morgan asked Tory MP Damian Hinds, who was also on the panel: “Why isn’t he paying it?
He added: “He’s richer than the King.”
Farage was also quizzed on Brexit and told the audience in Epsom, Surrey: "Why did people vote for Brexit, there were lots of reasons get control of our lives was the main one, of which borders were the most important part.
"Labour opened the door to migration in the most incredible way. Under the Conservatives that has just accelerated.
"The point about Brexit is it gives us total control about who can live in this country."
