A Conservative leadership contender has condemned Nigel Farage as “irresponsible and wrong” in his response to recent unrest.
Mel Stride, the shadow work and pensions secretary, has ruled out doing a deal with Farage’s Reform UK, branding the former UKIP boss’ comments on the far-right riots “deeply unhelpful” amid a “highly volatile situation”.
Farage has made claims of “two-tier policing” and suggested that the riots have been dealt with more harshly than other recent protests, naming the Black Lives Matter movement as an example.
In an initial video prior to the outbreak of unrest, Farage had also questioned whether the truth about the Southport stabbing was “being withheld from” the public, adding: “I don’t know the answer to that, but I think it’s a fair and legitimate question.”
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Far-right violence has spread on Britain’s streets in recent days after the suspect accused of killing three young girls was falsely identified online as an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK via small boat.
Questioned over his initial comments on LBC Radio on Tuesday, Farage said: “What happened in Southport would not have been of the same magnitude had the truth been told and told very, very quickly.”
He added: “Had those questions been answered, far from stoking riots, it would have actually calmed them down considerably.”
Farage declined to retract his comments, which spread widely on social media, in effect doubling down: “I don’t believe we’re being told the full truth yet about this person. I want to know.”
“I gave the police the opportunity to dampen down speculation. They should have done it and I bet they regret not doing it.”
Responding to the Reform leader’s recent remarks, Stride said: “Mr Farage’s comments against a backdrop of the worst public order offences the UK has witnessed for many years will inevitably have been seen as hugely unhelpful by right thinking people in what is a volatile situation.
“In making these statements he has linked the violence to community division resulting from immigration. He is irresponsible and wrong to fuel the fires of rumour and in doing so, can only further damage social cohesion.
“As leader I will reunite and rebuild trust in the Conservative Party amongst those who voted Reform at the general election. Their concerns need to be fully respected and properly addressed. Under my leadership we will do just that.
“Some have suggested that a deal should be done with Mr Farage as part of that process. That will not happen under my leadership and there will be no place for him or Reform at the Conservative table.”
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