The Reform leader made the characteristically combative remarks during a party rally at the Norfolk Showground at which he also mocked a small group of around 20 protestors as "pathetic".

The hour-and-a-half event was attended by a crowd of around 1,000 people and featured speeches by Mr Farage and former Tory Robert Jenrick, Reform's 'shadow chancellor'.

Reform representatives claimed as many as 1,300 people attended the event (Image: Henry Durand)

During the rally, the party unveiled several of its candidates for next month's council elections, at which it has high hopes of taking over at County Hall.

Reform believe they can take control of the authority, with all 84 council seats up for grabs. It is currently dominated by the Conservatives, who have 51 councillors.

Before taking to the stage, Mr Farage held a series of press interviews at which he wasted little time going on the offensive.

His first target was Ms Mason-Billig, the Conservative leader of Norfolk County Council, who used an EDP column this week to brand Mr Farage's criticism of her administration "guff".

The war of words followed an earlier article by Mr Farage in this newspaper in which he accused her council of "maladministration" and criticised the pay packets of its top executives.

Nigel Farage criticised both Rupert Lowe and Kay Mason-Billig ahead of the event (Image: Henry Durand)

Ms Mason-Billig struck back, pointing out that chief executives in Reform-controlled councils earned comparable or even higher salaries in regions such as Kent.

She also said his criticism of her council's finances were "nonsense" and borrowing had paid for services including libraries, schools and roads.

But Mr Farage stood by his comments.

"She sounds a bit desperate and sounds like she knows she's going to lose," he said. 

"Norfolk has gone on increasing council tax by the max year on year. What I can see is terrible - some terrible financial decisions have been made, and I promise we will do better."

On executive pay, he refused to concede the point. 

"We pay the same because we are delivering," he said. "What we want to do is have highly paid top people, but fewer people in the £100k-plus bracket - that's our ambition. 

Norfolk County Council leader Kay Mason Billig fired back at Mr Farage's intial comments in today's EDP (Image: Norfolk Conservatives)

"With all respect to her, when any administration becomes a one-party state they naturally become a bit complacent.

“Her comments were about tackling the man and not the ball."

Mr Farage then turned his sights on Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe, who is standing candidates in the county council elections under the banner of his new party, Restore Britain.

Mr Lowe departed Reform last year following a bitter and public falling-out with the party's leadership, and has since set up his own political operation in Norfolk. 

Mr Farage made no attempt to disguise his contempt.

Asked what drove Mr Lowe, he said he was motivated by "loathing, hatred, bitterness and anger."

Rupert Lowe and Nigel Farage have frequently clashed following Mr Lowe's departure from Reform (Image: Social Media)

"He got elected on our ticket and within nine months my fellow MPs did not want to work with him because of his behaviour.

“He wanted to join the Tory party, now he's formed Restore, you will not be asking me this question in two years' time."

Outside the Showground gates, around 20 protesters gathered for a demonstration ahead of the event with the intention of telling Reform "to do one".

The demonstrators featured a mix of left-wing critics and backers of Mr Lowe's Restore Britain group.

Only a handful of protestors attended the event (Image: Henry Durand)

Drivers heading into the rally greeted them with gestures and horns as they passed.

Mr Farage claimed he was disappointed at the modest turnout from his opponents, however.

 "I was very upset - I was hoping for a far bigger protest than we got," he said. 

"These protesters are pathetic.

“You name me one other party leader who will go in front of a room with at least 1,000 people, many of whom are not members. 

“No one else dares even do it, and these people want to stop me from doing it. Why don't they just become part of the democratic process? 

“Why don't they have meetings and invite members of the public - see how many turn up."

© Norwich Evening News