Nigel Farage is facing calls to denounce one of his party members who expressed frustration over the prominence of Black and Asian individuals in advertisements. Sarah Pochin, a Reform UK MP, voiced her discontent during an appearance on TalkTV when responding to a viewer’s inquiry about demographic representation in TV commercials.
Pochin aligned with a caller’s assertion that the portrayal of non-white individuals in ads amounted to a negative portrayal of white people. She stated, “It bothers me to see adverts predominantly featuring Black or Asian individuals, rather than white individuals.”
Under further questioning by host Peter Cardwell, Pochin stood by her views, emphasizing her belief that a “woke” culture had overtaken television, failing to accurately represent the average white person or family in advertisements. She criticized the lack of diversity in TV ads, attributing it to a perceived influence of a specific ideological group within the industry.
Anna Turley, Chair of the Labour Party, criticized Pochin’s comments, urging Farage to clarify his stance on the matter. Turley condemned the focus on skin color in defining British identity, deeming such categorization divisive rather than unifying.
In response to the backlash, Pochin later retracted her statements, claiming she misspoke and intended to highlight the advertising industry’s excessive focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. She expressed regret for any offense caused and pledged to communicate more precisely in the future.