Nigel Farage brands Reform MP Sarah Pochin’s comments ‘ugly and wrong’ amid racism row
Nigel Farage described one of the MP’s comments as “outrageous” and “wrong” and said: “It drives me crazy to see adverts full of black people, full of Asian people.”
The Reform UK leader said he was “unhappy” with what Sarah Pochin said but stopped short of describing her remarks as racist.
He told a press conference in London: “I understand the basic point, but the way he phrased it, the way he phrased it was wrong and outrageous and if I thought the intent behind it was racist I would have taken much more action than I have already.”
During an appearance on TalkTV at the weekend, Ms Pochin, MP for Runcorn and Helsby, responded to a viewer who complained about the demographics of the ads by saying they were “absolutely right”.
She later added: “It drives me crazy seeing ads full of black people, ads full of Asian people.”
Farage said he was “unhappy” with the MP’s actions but said the comments came in the context of “DEI mania”.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer described Ms Pochin’s comments as “shocking racism”.
Asked whether the MP’s comments were racist, the Prime Minister said: “This is shockingly racist and the kind of thing that will tear our country apart and tells you everything about Reformation.” he said.
He said Mr Farage needed to face questions about it “because either he doesn’t see it as racist, which in itself is shocking in my view, or he thinks it is racist and has shown absolutely no leadership”.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp, meanwhile, said Ms Pochin’s comments were “racist” and it was “right for her to apologise”.
Speaking to LBC, he said: “He absolutely should not have said that. It was completely wrong.”
“He apologized. I think the way he phrased it was racist, he shouldn’t have said it, and it’s right for him to apologize.”
Earlier on Monday, Labor wrote to Mr Farage asking him to “urgently clarify” whether it supports his comments and whether they are welcome in the party; The Liberal Democrats have requested a motion of no confidence in Parliament to formally rebuke Ms Pochin’s remarks.
Asked what was wrong with the ad comments, speaking to TalkTV on Saturday, he said: “It doesn’t reflect our society and I think the average white person, the average white family, is no longer represented.”
