General election latest: Starmer blames Farage ‘lack of leadership’ for Reform racism storm as he backs Sunak
Sir Keir Starmer accused Nigel Farage of not doing enough after a Reform campaigner was recorded making a racial slur towards the prime minister.
Andrew Parker was exposed referring to Rishi Sunak as a “f****** p***” in a Channel 4 investigation.
Sir Keir said that it is the leader who sets the “tone, the culture and the standards” of a political party, adding: “I don’t think (Nigel Farage) has shown the leadership he should’ve shown. There’s no good condemning remarks after the event.”
During his stint on Question Time on Friday, Mr Farage repeated claims that Mr Parker is an actor and he described the expose as “a political set-up of astonishing proportions”.
He added he was “not going to apologise” as what had happened was a “set-up, a deliberate attempt to smear us”.
said there was a “pattern of racist and misogynistic views” within Reform UK.
Speaking to Times Radio, Tom Tugendhat said “There is a real pattern of racist and misogynistic views in the party. I think it’s absolutely right to call it out.”
1719663585
Reform activist filmed making slur about Sunak denies being racist because he has ‘had Muslim girlfriends’
A Reform UK activist filmed making a racial slur about prime minister Rishi Sunak claims he cannot be racist as “he has had Muslim girlfriends”.
Andrew Parker was recorded by a Channel 4 undercover reporter saying army recruits should use migrants arriving by small boats in Kent as “target practice”, and labelling Islam a “disgusting cult” in widely condemned comments.
Reform activist who used slur says he can’t be racist ‘as he had Muslim girlfriends’
Andrew Parker had said army recruits should use migrants arriving by small boats in Kent as “target practice”, and labelled Islam a ‘disgusting cult’ in widely condemned comments
Maryam Zakir-Hussain29 June 2024 13:19
1719662013
Starmer shares Sunak’s ‘digust’ at racial slur made by Reform UK campaigner
Sir Keir Starmer said he shared Rishi Sunak’s disgust after a Reform UK campaigner used a racial slur to describe the prime minister.
The Labour leader accused Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of not doing enough following the incident, and added that it is the leader who sets the “tone, the culture and the standards” of a political party.
Speaking to reporters in the South East of England, he said: “I don’t think (Nigel Farage) has shown the leadership he should’ve shown. There’s no good condemning remarks after the event.
“If you lead a party you set the tone, and the culture, and the standards of your party, and I don’t think he’s done enough in terms of leadership.”
Asked if he sympathises with the Prime Minister following the racial slur, Sir Keir said: “I do, and I thought what he said about his daughters in particular was very powerful.
“And I’m glad he said it and I share his disgust at the comments that were made.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain29 June 2024 12:53
1719661130
Sunak tells former soldiers his plans for a veterans’ bill
Rishi Sunak told former soldiers of his plans for a veterans’ bill, if the Tories are re-elected, during a campaign visit in his North Yorkshire constituency.
Mr Sunak had tea and munched on a cake at the Ellerton Lakeside Cafe, near Northallerton, as he chatted with about a dozen veterans who had gathered for Armed Forces Day, joking that: “You need a lot of sugar to get through my day.”
Listening to the men, he said: “That’s why we now have, like they do in the US, we have a dedicated office for veteran’s affairs, a minister in the Cabinet, funding. So, we’re at the start of that journey.”
He said: “If we’re re-elected, we’re actually going to have a veteran’s bill, we’re going to pass our first ever veteran’s bill in Parliament. That will bring together all the things that we need to do - put some things in law that will improve the service that we’ve providing. That hasn’t happened before - a flagship veteran’s bill that (veterans’ minister) Johnny Mercer’s been working on which will just continue to improve the support.”
Mr Sunak listened as he was told about initiatives to tackle veterans’ homelessness, mental health problems and issues facing service families at the nearby Catterick Garrison.
He said: “We want to make sure all of you get the support you are entitled to.”
The Prime Minister did not take questions from reporters during the 20 minute-long visit.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain29 June 2024 12:38
1719659289
Archbishop of Canterbury urges people to avoid ‘personalised abuse’ as election race heats up
The Archbishop of Canterbury urged people to avoid “personalised abuse” in the closing stages of the election campaign as he encouraged voters to go to the ballot box.
The Most Reverend Justin Welby said: “In these last few days before the election, let us pray for all candidates taking part in this most essential act of democracy.
“Let us encourage courteous and kind debate and not use personalised abuse.
“Let us carefully consider issues and the common good, and above all vote.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain29 June 2024 12:08
1719657227
‘Panicking’ Rishi Sunak in final weekend of campaigning to save his own seat
Rishi Sunak’s Labour opponent in his Richmond and Northallerton seat in Yorkshire has accused him of “panicking” as the prime minister campaigned to save his own seat in the last weekend before polling day.
Tom Wilson, the 29-year-old NHS worker and musician who spoke to The Independent last weekend, has questioned why the prime minister’s team apparently tried to arrange a close hustings in the seat with farmers and then pulled out.
Mr Sunak, who was campaigning in the north east yesterday to be close to his seat for the weekend, is potentially facing the prospect of being the first prime minister to lose his constituency in an election in British history.
‘Panicking’ Rishi Sunak in final weekend of campaigning to save his own seat
Rishi Sunak‘s team asked for a hustings to be arranged in his own constituency and then pulled out as he tries to make sure he saves his own seat
Maryam Zakir-Hussain29 June 2024 11:33
1719653563
What to expect on the General Election campaign trail on Saturday
Here is your guide to the main developments in the General Election campaign on Saturday:
What to expect on the General Election campaign trail on Saturday
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will aim to win back support from veterans on Armed Forces Day.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain29 June 2024 10:32
1719652670
Tugendhat does not rule out Tory leadership if Sunak quits after election
Security minister Tom Tugendhat did not rule out a run at the Tory leadership if Rishi Sunak quits following the General Election.
Asked if he wanted to be leader, he told Times Radio: “What I want to do is to make sure we’ve got a Conservative leader in this country and that’s why I’m supporting Rishi Sunak.
“Because the alternative with Keir Starmer, I’m afraid, is higher taxes, more regulation, worse growth and more unemployment.
“What we need to do is to make sure that Conservatives across this country win their seats and that’s exactly what I’ve been focused on.”
Pressed again on the issue of what happens after the election, he said: “Well, we’ll deal with hypotheticals in a different way.
“I mean, the reality is Rishi Sunak is the candidate, there’s only two candidates for prime minister, there’s Rishi Sunak and there’s Sir Keir Starmer.
“One of them is committed to lowering your taxes, protecting your borders and making a difference in everybody’s lives. The other, I’m afraid, is Sir Keir Starmer who is committed to raising your taxes, to making life a little bit harder for everybody and to lecturing you on how to live your life.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain29 June 2024 10:17
1719651414
Tom Tugendhat: ‘There’s a pattern of racist and misogynstic views in Reform'
Security minister Tom Tugendhat said there was a “pattern of racist and misogynistic views” within Reform UK.
He told Times Radio: “There’s many decent people vote for every political party and there’s many decent people who will vote for Reform.
“But what we’re trying to do is to remind people, to try to make clear to people, what it is that Reform really is.”
He said Nigel Farage has “clearly done almost no due diligence on who he’s asking to carry his message”.
“There is a real pattern of racist and misogynistic views in the party. I think it’s absolutely right to call it out,” he added.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain29 June 2024 09:56
1719649788
Badenoch says Farage ‘doesn’t care’ about Reform racism and misogyny claims
Kemin Badenoch warned that Nigel Farage did not care about allegations of misogyny and racism in his party as it was “all a big show for him”.
It comes as footage from a Channel 4 undercover investigation, released on Thursday, showed Reform campaigner Andrew Parker using a racist term about Rishi Sunak and suggesting migrants should be used as “target practice”.
During his stint on Question Time on Friday, Mr Farage repeated claims that Mr Parker is an actor and he described the expose as “a political set-up of astonishing proportions”.
He added he was “not going to apologise” as what had happened was a “set-up, a deliberate attempt to smear us”.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain29 June 2024 09:29
1719649292
Kemi Badenoch urges former Tory voters to ‘come back’ and not support Reform UK
Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch has said prospective Reform UK voters are “good people” who “don’t know who they’re voting for” as she addressed former Tory voters less than a week before the General Election.
Ms Badenoch, who is running for re-election in the redrawn North West Essex seat, told The Times she still believed the Tories could win the election but it was “going to be a hell of a fight”.
She said: “What I am asking those people who are Reform voters, or considering voting Reform, is that you are good people, I know that you feel some disappointment with our party, but don’t let these people who claim to be like you get in.
“They are not like you all. They are a totally different thing.”
Ms Badenoch continued: “I really want Reform voters to know that we’ve heard you. We understand. But you need to come back to the Conservative Party.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain29 June 2024 09:21
NewerOlder