During an appearance on the BBC’s Question Time programme, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was grilled by the audience over a Channel 4 news broadcast, which showed one of his supporters, Andrew Parker, making racist comments about Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Farage claimed the comments were a “set-up” and said they may have been paid for. Parker was also heard making inflammatory remarks about Islam and suggesting that army recruits should “practice” shooting at small boats bringing illegal migrants to the UK. In a statement, Parker apologised for the remarks, explaining he didn’t want to damage the Reform Party’s reputation.
Speaking on the same programme, Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay condemned Parker’s comments as “horrific”. Addressing comments made by his own party’s campaigners, Ramsay insisted concerns would be “properly investigated.” The event was initiated by an audience member, who asked “What is it about your party that attracts racists?”
In addition to Parker’s remarks about Sunak, Reform UK’s campaign has attracted controversy over comments made by some of its candidates, including Edward Oakenfull, who wrote offensive social media posts about the IQ of sub-Saharan Africans. Mr Oakenfull claims his comments had been “taken out of context.” Farage disowned the candidates in question and suggested his party was forced to find candidates quickly following the PM’s unexpected calling of a general election for July.
During the programme, Sunak said the comments made in the Channel 4 report had upset him. He has two daughters who, he says, have seen and heard Reform supporters using abusive language directed at him. Essex police has confirmed that it is scrutinising the comments to identify whether any criminal offences have been committed
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