Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage sacked members of his campaign team on Thursday after they were caught on video making racist and homophobic comments.
Farage, a former EU MP who has tried and failed seven times to run for the UK parliament, is seeking a seat in next month’s general election, called by the UK’s embattled Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
An undercover investigation broadcast on Channel 4 filmed campaigners from his Reform UK party making racist and homophobic comments in Farage’s constituency of Clacton-on-Sea in south-east England last week.
One campaigner, Andrew Parker, labelled Islam “the most disgusting cult” and called for Muslims to be kicked “out of mosques” which should be turned into pubs. Speaking to the electorate, Parker also called for army recruits to carry out “target practice” by shooting migrants trying to cross the Channel illegally by boat.
Channel 4 also filmed George Jones, Reform UK’s campaign organiser, explaining why the party is focusing on Clacton:
“Look around you. The real England. You know what I mean? Not like London when you’re a foreigner in your own country.”
He later made homophobic remarks, including calling the LGBT flag “degenerate.”
Farage was “appalled”
In a statement to Channel 4, Farage said he was “appalled” by the comments from “a handful of people associated with my local campaign” and announced they would no longer be involved. Farage also added:
“The appalling sentiments expressed by some in these exchanges bear no relation to my own views, those of the vast majority of our supporters or Reform UK policy.”
In a separate statement, Parker said that “neither Nigel Farage personally nor the Reform Party is aware of my personal views on immigration”.
According to anti-racism organisation Hope Not Hate, Reform UK has had to withdraw 166 candidates since the start of the year, most of whom have made racist or offensive remarks.
Farage’s party is third in the polls behind the ruling Conservatives and the opposition Labour Party.
