Kirsten Farage, born Kirsten Mehr, is a German-born former bond broker and parliamentary assistant best known for her marriage to British politician Nigel Farage. The couple married in 1999 and have two daughters together. In February 2017, Kirsten publicly confirmed that they had been living separate lives for several years.
Although Nigel Farage has spent decades in British politics, Kirsten has largely remained outside the public eye. She has built a career in finance, worked behind the scenes in politics, and raised a family while dealing with the pressures of having a well-known husband.
Her story is more than a political marriage. It also offers a glimpse into the challenges of balancing work, family responsibilities, and personal privacy.
Who Is Kirsten Farage?
Kirsten Farage is a German woman who became known to the British public through her relationship with Nigel Farage, the former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader and prominent Brexit campaigner.
Before becoming associated with British politics, she worked in the financial sector. Her professional background included government bond trading and work at a German bank.
Unlike her husband, Kirsten never developed a prominent public political career. Instead, she became involved in the administrative side of his work, helping to manage demanding responsibilities behind the scenes.
Her relatively limited media appearances have also contributed to public curiosity about her background, family, and life following her separation from Nigel Farage.
Early Life and German Background
Kirsten Farage was born in Hamburg, Germany, and was originally known as Kirsten Mehr.
Although her German nationality and birthplace have been reported by established news organisations, relatively little verified information is available about her childhood.
Details about her parents, siblings, school years, and university education have not been extensively documented in reliable public sources.
What is known is that she eventually entered the financial industry, working in a professional environment that required strong communication and organisational skills.
Her German background later became an important part of public discussion about the Farage family, particularly during the years when Nigel Farage was campaigning against Britain’s membership of the European Union.
Kirsten Farage’s Career in Finance
Long before she became known as Nigel Farage’s wife, Kirsten had an established professional background in finance.
Contemporary news reports described her as a former City bond trader and government bond broker. She also worked as an interpreter at a German bank.
Government bonds are financial securities issued by governments to raise money. Trading them involves working in financial markets, following economic developments, and handling transactions.
Kirsten’s work in this field indicates that she had professional experience independent of her husband’s political career.
Her financial background is particularly interesting because Nigel Farage also worked in financial markets before becoming a prominent political figure.
Their connection to the banking industry eventually brought them together.
How Kirsten Met Nigel Farage
Kirsten Mehr met Nigel Farage in 1996 during a business trip to Frankfurt, Germany.
At the time, Nigel was working in finance, while Kirsten was employed at a German bank, where she worked as an interpreter.
Their meeting developed into a personal relationship, and they married in 1999.
For Nigel, this was his second marriage. His first marriage, to Gráinne Hayes, had ended in divorce in 1997.
Kirsten became part of his family at a time when his political career was beginning to grow. Nigel was elected to the European Parliament in 1999, the same year they married.
Over the following years, his political commitments would become increasingly demanding.
Marriage to Nigel Farage
Kirsten and Nigel Farage’s marriage attracted public attention because of his outspoken political views and her German nationality.
Nigel became one of Britain’s best-known Eurosceptic politicians. He was closely associated with UKIP and later played a significant role in the campaign for Brexit.
Kirsten, meanwhile, continued to maintain a relatively private family life.
The marriage brought together two people with professional experience in financial markets, but their public roles were very different.
While Nigel appeared regularly on television, gave interviews, and travelled for political events, Kirsten was more frequently involved in family responsibilities and administrative work.
As Nigel’s profile increased, the demands of public life placed pressure on their relationship.
Kirsten Farage’s Role as a Personal Assistant
One of the lesser-known aspects of Kirsten Farage’s professional life is her work as Nigel Farage’s secretary and parliamentary assistant.
She helped with administrative responsibilities during his time as a Member of the European Parliament.
The position involved managing correspondence, supporting his schedule, and helping him prepare for political commitments.
In a 2014 interview, Kirsten described the difficulty of working for someone with such demanding hours.
She explained that the job regularly extended into the evening and that her husband’s political schedule left limited time for ordinary family activities.
Her employment also attracted political scrutiny because her salary was funded through parliamentary arrangements.
Sky News reported in 2017 that she had worked as his secretary on an annual salary of approximately £27,000. This was a historical figure, not a statement about her present-day earnings.
The arrangement became part of a wider debate about politicians employing family members using public funds.
Nigel defended her employment by arguing that the role required unusual working hours and a level of availability that would be difficult for another employee to provide.
Whatever the political debate surrounding the arrangement, Kirsten’s work was an important part of her public professional history.
Kirsten Farage’s Children and Family Life
Kirsten and Nigel Farage have two daughters together.
Nigel also has two sons from his first marriage to Gráinne Hayes, giving him four children in total.
The couple’s daughters grew up with connections to both Britain and Germany.
Their family background included two languages and two national cultures, something that became particularly relevant during the Brexit debate.
In April 2018, Nigel Farage confirmed that two of his children held both British and German passports.
He also explained that they spoke German fluently and maintained important connections to their mother’s German family background.
For Kirsten, raising children within a politically prominent family brought challenges.
In her 2014 newspaper interview, she acknowledged that Nigel’s demanding career had reduced the amount of time the family could spend together.
Family holidays, regular routines, and everyday time together were affected by his political responsibilities.
Despite public interest, the family generally avoided making the children a central part of Nigel’s political image.
Why Kirsten Farage Attracted Media Attention
Kirsten Farage’s German nationality became a subject of political discussion because her husband’s career was closely associated with immigration and European Union policy.
As UKIP leader, Nigel regularly argued for tighter immigration controls and criticised the European Union’s freedom of movement arrangements.
Journalists questioned how these positions related to his own international family background.
In April 2014, Nigel was challenged about employing his German wife as his secretary.
He defended the arrangement, describing Kirsten as a highly skilled professional and arguing that her employment was different from the immigration issues he was discussing.
The subject also arose during a May 2014 LBC interview with presenter James O’Brien, when Nigel was questioned about his previous comments concerning foreign languages being spoken in public.
Kirsten and the couple’s bilingual daughters became part of that discussion.
These exchanges placed Kirsten in the news even though she was not the politician making the policy arguments.
It is important to distinguish her husband’s public positions from Kirsten’s own beliefs, which she has rarely discussed in detail.
Her Rare Public Interview in 2014
Kirsten Farage gave a rare newspaper interview in May 2014, during a period of significant political success for UKIP.
The interview offered a glimpse into her personality and the realities of family life.
She discussed Nigel’s demanding schedule, his health habits, and the difficulties associated with his political career.
Kirsten expressed concern about his smoking, drinking, and limited opportunities for rest.
She also defended him against accusations of racism, making clear that she did not share the negative characterisation of him presented by some critics.
Perhaps the most revealing part of the interview concerned family time.
Kirsten described a household in which political responsibilities often took priority over ordinary domestic activities.
Her comments suggested that living with a highly visible politician involved considerable personal sacrifices.
The interview received coverage from publications including The Guardian and The Independent.
It remains one of the clearest publicly documented accounts of Kirsten speaking about her life in her own words.
Kirsten and Nigel Farage’s Separation
In February 2017, Kirsten Farage publicly confirmed that she and Nigel had been living separately for several years.
Her statement followed reports about Nigel’s living arrangements in London.
Speaking through a statement reported by the Press Association, she explained that her husband had moved out of the family home some time earlier.
She also made clear that the separation was already known to those personally involved.
Her comments were widely reported by ITV News, Sky News, and other major British news organisations.
The announcement clarified that the marriage had been experiencing difficulties long before the separation became a major news story.
Rather than providing extensive personal details, Kirsten addressed the situation briefly.
The couple’s separation was publicly confirmed in 2017, but reliable reporting does not clearly establish whether they subsequently completed a legal divorce.
For that reason, descriptions of Kirsten as Nigel Farage’s former partner or estranged wife are more precise than making an unsupported claim about a final divorce.
What Happened After the Separation?
Following the 2017 announcement, Kirsten largely disappeared from regular national news coverage.
There have been relatively few well-substantiated reports about her professional activities, relationships, or personal circumstances since then.
This lack of information should not be mistaken for evidence that she stopped working or withdrew from every aspect of public life.
It simply reflects how little of her subsequent life has been reliably documented.
Nigel Farage continued his political career and remained a prominent figure in British public debate.
Kirsten, by contrast, has not established a similarly visible media presence.
Her choice to remain relatively private has meant that much of the public information about her still comes from interviews and reporting published between 2014 and 2018.
Where Is Kirsten Farage Now?
As of 2026, Kirsten Farage maintains a low public profile, and detailed, independently verified information about her current life is limited.
There is no widely documented recent interview in which she provides a comprehensive update on her personal or professional circumstances.
Reports from 2017 confirmed that she had lived in the family’s home in Kent, but historical reporting should not be treated as proof of her present residence.
Similarly, there is insufficient reliable evidence to make definitive claims about her current employment, income, or relationship status.
People searching for Kirsten Farage today are therefore most likely to encounter older news coverage relating to her marriage, her work as a parliamentary assistant, and the couple’s separation.
These remain the best-established parts of her publicly known story.
Kirsten Farage’s Age and Birthday
Kirsten Farage’s exact date of birth is not consistently documented across established news sources.
Several online biographies publish specific birth dates or ages, but these details are not always supported by clearly identified original records.
It is therefore sensible to approach precise age claims with caution.
Her birthplace, Hamburg, and her professional and family history are more firmly established through contemporary reporting.
A biography can still provide a useful account of her life without presenting an uncertain birth date as confirmed fact.
Kirsten Farage’s Net Worth
There is no reliable, publicly verified estimate of Kirsten Farage’s personal net worth.
Her past employment in financial markets and her work as a parliamentary assistant are documented, but they do not provide enough information to calculate her wealth.
Financial circumstances depend on many factors, including savings, investments, property ownership, liabilities, and other assets.
None of these can be accurately determined from a former job title or a historical salary alone.
Some online profiles attach specific monetary figures to her name without showing credible financial evidence.
Such estimates should be treated as speculation rather than established facts.
Does Kirsten Farage Have Political Views?
Kirsten Farage has been closely associated with British politics through her marriage and administrative work, but that does not necessarily mean she shares every political opinion expressed by Nigel Farage.
Her rare public statements have mainly concerned family life, her husband’s character, and practical matters relating to his career.
There is no sufficiently detailed public record of her independent political positions to describe her as an active campaigner for a particular set of policies.
This distinction matters because people connected to politicians are sometimes assumed to hold identical views.
Working for a politician and being related to one are not the same as having an independently documented political career.
Why Kirsten Farage’s Story Still Matters
Interest in Kirsten Farage has continued because her life intersects with several important themes in modern British politics.
Her marriage connected a German financial professional with one of Britain’s most outspoken Brexit campaigners.
Her work as a parliamentary assistant contributed to debates about political employment and public funding.
Her family life highlighted the personal pressures that can accompany a demanding political career.
And her public separation in 2017 showed how a private relationship can become national news when one partner is a familiar political figure.
Yet Kirsten’s background also stands independently of these political debates.
She had experience in finance before her marriage, worked in demanding administrative roles, and helped raise a bilingual family.
Those aspects of her life deserve recognition alongside the attention generated by her husband’s career.
Conclusion
Kirsten Farage is a German-born former financial professional and parliamentary assistant whose life became publicly known through her marriage to Nigel Farage. Born Kirsten Mehr in Hamburg, she worked in banking before meeting Nigel in Frankfurt in 1996 and marrying him in 1999.
Together, they raised two daughters while navigating the demands of his increasingly prominent political career.
Kirsten also worked as his secretary, a role that brought both professional responsibilities and public scrutiny.
Their separation was confirmed in February 2017, after which Kirsten largely remained outside the media spotlight.
Although many details about her present life are not publicly verified, her documented background reveals a woman with her own professional history and a substantial behind-the-scenes role during an important period of British politics.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is Kirsten Farage?
Kirsten Farage, originally named Kirsten Mehr, is a German-born former bond broker and parliamentary assistant. She is best known for her marriage to British politician Nigel Farage, whom she married in 1999.
2. Where was Kirsten Farage born?
Kirsten Farage was born in Hamburg, Germany. She later worked in the German financial sector before moving into family life and professional activities connected to British politics.
3. How did Kirsten Farage meet Nigel Farage?
Kirsten met Nigel Farage in Frankfurt in 1996 during one of his business trips. She was working as an interpreter at a German bank at the time. They married three years later, in 1999.
4. How many children does Kirsten Farage have?
Kirsten and Nigel Farage have two daughters together. Nigel has two additional sons from his first marriage, making him the father of four children.
5. Are Kirsten and Nigel Farage still together?
No. Kirsten publicly confirmed in February 2017 that they had been living separate lives for several years. However, the precise legal status of their marriage after the separation is not clearly established in reliable public reporting.
6. What did Kirsten Farage do for a living?
Kirsten worked in the financial industry, including government bond trading and banking. She later worked as Nigel Farage’s secretary and parliamentary assistant, helping with correspondence, scheduling, and administrative responsibilities.
7. How old is Kirsten Farage?
Her exact age cannot be stated with confidence based on consistently verified mainstream reporting. Some online biographies provide specific dates of birth, but these should not automatically be regarded as confirmed.
8. What is Kirsten Farage’s net worth?
Kirsten Farage’s net worth has not been reliably disclosed. Although her previous career and historical parliamentary assistant salary have been reported, there is insufficient evidence to estimate her current personal wealth.
9. Does Kirsten Farage have German citizenship?
Kirsten is German-born and has been identified in news reporting as a German national. Her German heritage is also part of the family’s background, and her two daughters were reported to hold both British and German passports.
10. Where is Kirsten Farage living now?
Her current residence has not been reliably confirmed in recent public reporting. Earlier reports connected her to the family home in Kent, but those historical details do not establish where she lives today.
11. Was Kirsten Farage involved in Brexit campaigning?
Kirsten worked in an administrative capacity connected to Nigel Farage’s political career. However, there is no clear evidence that she independently held a major public leadership role in the Brexit campaign.
12. Why is Kirsten Farage famous?
Kirsten Farage is primarily known as Nigel Farage’s estranged wife. Public interest in her life also comes from her background in finance, her work as his parliamentary assistant, their bilingual family, and their widely reported separation in 2017.
Sources and Further Reading
The biographical information in this article is based on reporting from established news organisations. The following sources provide additional background and original reporting.
- The Independent – Kirsten Farage’s 2014 interview and personal background
- The Guardian – What we learned from Kirsten Farage’s newspaper interview
- Sky News – Kirsten Farage’s 2017 separation statement
- ITV News – Nigel and Kirsten Farage’s separation
- The Guardian – Nigel Farage confirms his children’s German passports
- ITV News – Questions about Kirsten Farage’s employment
- The Irish Times – European Parliament rules concerning family employment
This article distinguishes documented public information from personal details that have not been reliably verified. It does not assume that older reporting reflects Kirsten Farage’s current private circumstances.
