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Keir disgusted by Reform activist's slur & praises PM's response as powerful

29 June 2024 , 12:44
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Rishi Sunak said the comments have made him "angry"
Rishi Sunak said the comments have made him "angry"

SIR Keir Starmer says he was disgusted by racist comments Reform UK campaigners have made about Rishi Sunak.

Campaigners for Nigel Farage’s party were recorded making racial slurs about Britain's first PM of Indian descent.

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer at Aldershot Town Football Club on Saturday qhiquqiduixtprw
Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer at Aldershot Town Football Club on SaturdayCredit: PA
Rishi Sunak, at a local community champion for veterans, said he was hurt by the comments
Rishi Sunak, at a local community champion for veterans, said he was hurt by the commentsCredit: AP

Reform volunteer Andrew Parker was recorded in Clacton, Essex, suggesting migrants should be shot by soldiers as they arrive on UK beaches.

The PM said it “hurts and it makes me angry” and that Mr Farage “has some questions to answer”.

Asked if he sympathised with Mr Sunak, Sir Keir said: "I do. And I thought what he said about his daughters in particular was very powerful.

Spectacular New Year fireworks light up London sky as huge crowds celebrate across UK for first time in three yearsSpectacular New Year fireworks light up London sky as huge crowds celebrate across UK for first time in three years

"I am glad he said it. I share his disgust at the comments that were made."

Mr Sunak on Friday said: “My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign for Nigel Farage calling me an effing p***.

"It hurts and it makes me angry, and I think he has some questions to answer.

“And I don’t repeat those words lightly. I do so deliberately, because this is too important not to call out clearly for what it is.”

Asked if he thought Mr Farage was fit to become an MP given all the scandals engulfing his party, Sir Keir added: "I don't think he's shown the leadership he should have shown.

"There's no good condemning remarks after the event. If you lead a party, you have to set the tone and the culture and standards in your party.

"And I don't think he's done enough in terms of leadership."

It comes as Mr Farage claims the Reform activist who allegedly hurled the racist slurs at the PM is an actor who was doing a comedy sketch at the time.

The unapologetic Reform leader suggested the incident was instead a "complete and total set-up" on Question Time last night.

He faced a barrage of angry questions from the audience, before claiming the footage was "a complete and total setup".

Robbie Williams poised to launch his own brand of energy drinks to rival PrimeRobbie Williams poised to launch his own brand of energy drinks to rival Prime

He has since reported Channel 4 to the elections watchdog.

In a letter to the Electoral Commission, Reform said it was “wholly unbelievable” for it to be a coincidence and Channel 4’s piece “cannot be described as anything short of election interference”.

Channel 4 strongly denies the claims and stands by its undercover reporting.

Separately, Mr Farage is embroiled in a dispute with the BBC, claiming the audience for Friday’s Question Time special was “rigged”.

He also now refused to appear on the flagship Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show unless the corporation apologises.

But Reform has dropped three of its candidate following reports of offensive comments, a spokesman for the party said.

Edward Oakenfull, who was standing in Derbyshire Dales, Robert Lomas in Barnsley North and Leslie Lilley in Southend East have all been dropped.

But the trio will still appear on the ballot paper as Reform candidates owing to it being too late for them to be excluded.

Nigel Farage on BBC’s Question Time on Friday night
Nigel Farage on BBC’s Question Time on Friday nightCredit: BBC

Sophia Sleigh

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