A supporter of Nigel Farage has been caught on camera suggesting that immigrants arriving in tiny vessels should be made “target practice”. This grisly comment comes as the General Election campaign is in its closing days. A Channel 4 clandestine journalist managed to record this disturbing call for violence against migrants crossing the English Channel. The channel’s reporter also captured an individual insulting the Pride flag by branding it a “degenerate” banner and making unfounded allegations that LGBT+ community members are paedophiles.
Mr Farage shared his disappointment about these remarks, saying he found them absolutely appalling.
Meanwhile, in another segment of the campaign, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sent out an urgent call for support to his campaigners. With just a week left to prevent a Labour government, he expressed his concerns about the risks of a political shift towards the left. He was also challenged by questions about his party’s sharp attack “don’t let your family’s future fall into Labour’s hands”. These words were coupled with a Tory poster featuring a man, a woman and a child raising their hands in surrender.
Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer was also under the spotlight over the magnitude of his political desires after accusations that the Labour Party had tempered its backing for Clacton candidate Jovan Owusu-Nepaul and redirected him to assist a West Midlands campaign.
Conversing at a public event (entry £5) in Boston, Lincolnshire during the campaign, Mr Farage stated, “We’ve had few candidates who have spoken out turn, much like commoners. They are not part of the mainstream political discourse as you would expect from Oxford grads. However, in certain instances, a few have disappointed us, and we severed ties.”
Mr Farage’s comments were broadcast shortly after Channel 4 News unveiled its clandestine probe into Reform UK’s campaign at Clacton, where Farage is competing against the current Conservative MP, Giles Watling.
The media house captured Andrew Parker, a campaigner, suggesting military trainees utilise incoming migrants in small boats in Kent for “target practice”, as well as voicing a racial insult aimed at the Prime Minister and branding Islam a “revolting cult”.
Mr Parker clarified in a correspondence to Channel 4 News that neither Farage nor the Reform Party were privy to his personal stance on immigration.
In his clarification, he expressed, “I’ve never engaged in conversations about migration with Nigel Farage or the Reform Party. Any opinions I aired during those recordings are my own individual stances on whatever topic I addressed. I did not share my personal opinions with any representative of the Reform Party UK or Nigel Farage prior to my deployment for canvassing.
“I eagerly offer my sincere apologies to Nigel Farage and the Reform Party if my personal views have cast a negative light on them and tarnished their reputation, as this was far from my intentions.”
In response, Mr Farage expressed his disappointment, stating: “I’ve been shocked by the statements reportedly made by a small number of individuals connected with my local campaign, particularly our volunteers. They won’t continue to be part of the campaign any longer. What was communicated by some in these dialogues does not represent my personal beliefs, the views of most of our supporters, or the policies of Reform UK. The language utilised is totally unacceptable.”
On that same day, the Guardian ran a story revealing that Reform UK had discontinued its backing for Raymond Saint, its candidate from Basingstoke, Hampshire. Saint supposedly showed up on a list of BNP members disclosed on the WikiLeaks website over ten years ago.
In the past, Mr Farage clearly stated his unwavering stance against allowing anyone with connections to the BNP or similar groups to join his party.
Meanwhile, Mr Sunak addressed an audience in Leeds, Thursday evening, stating: “Colleagues, we have immediate responsibilities to handle. We only have a week to prevent Britain from falling into the hands of a Labour government. A Labour government that would boost everyone’s taxes by £2,000, shifting our politics to the left and altering the rules to retain their power for several decades. We can’t let Britain unintentionally wander into this.”
Moreover, the Prime Minister justified the aggressive tone of his party’s recent smear campaign during an interview with GB News. He insisted, “I don’t want individuals to give up to Labour, I don’t want them to yield to their taxation hikes. I don’t want our borders, welfare system, or national security to be yielded to Labour. Got it? I’m ready for the battle. I invite people to join me in this struggle. We shouldn’t concede our nation to this, we are capable of doing better”.
Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, discussed his aspirations and whether a sweeping victory could be considered a “missed chance” in a conversation with Sky. He highlighted that the initial phase should be seen as a deposit. Although it doesn’t represent everything they aspire to do, he insisted that reducing the waiting list is crucial before they can achieve necessary changes due to the difficulty of stimulating the economy. He emphasised that stabilising the economy is a priority.
Starmer, defending his contest with Nigel Farage in Clacton on Thursday, refuted any suggestions that his party’s backing for their candidate, Mr Owusu-Nepaul, had been diluted. The latter has enjoyed considerable media and online exposure during the election campaign.
Starmer articulated their resolve, stating, “Our aim is to give tough competition to the Tories and Reform wherever they exist. We won’t retreat in Clacton; in fact, we won’t back down anywhere in the country.”
Starmer provided insights into their strategic approach: “Our operations head directs us to the areas where we most need to ramp up our campaign, and Clacton unquestionably falls under that category. He then praised their representative in Clacton, saying that he is an exceptional candidate who works under him. “I’m fully backing him and his campaigning efforts. He’s making noteworthy strides in Clacton, bringing positivity even in challenging situations,” he noted. – PA