Nigel Farage has rejected accusations of racism leveled against one of his Members of Parliament who expressed frustration at seeing advertisements predominantly featuring Black and Asian individuals.
The leader of Reform UK expressed discontent with the remarks made by Sarah Pochin, emphasizing that while he disagreed with her choice of words, he believed her intent was not racially motivated. Despite widespread criticism from various political factions, Farage declined to take immediate disciplinary action against the MP from Runcorn and Helsby.
During a press briefing in London, Farage stated, “I am displeased with her actions. While I grasp the underlying sentiment, the manner in which she articulated it was inappropriate and unattractive. If I perceived any racist intentions behind her words, I would have responded more decisively than I have thus far.”
Both the Labour and the Liberal Democrats have urged for Ms. Pochin to lose the party whip, with Conservative member Chris Philp eventually labeling her comments as racist after initial hesitation.
In response to questioning from Keir Starmer regarding Farage’s leadership, the Prime Minister condemned the remarks as racist, highlighting concerns about the impact on national unity and criticizing Farage for his perceived inaction in addressing the issue.
Farage faced calls to address the issue promptly, with demands for stronger action to combat racism within his party. Ms. Pochin issued an apology following a backlash over her comments, where she expressed frustration at the lack of diversity in advertising and later acknowledged her remarks were poorly phrased.
During the same event, Farage urged Parliament to accelerate investigations into the grooming gangs scandal, urging for a collaborative effort between the Commons and Lords to establish a special commission to address the issue effectively.