huffingtonpost - 24 hours ago

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (C), MP Sarah Pochin (L)Nigel Farage has refused growing calls for Reform UK to punish his MP Sarah Pochin after she was accused of making “racist” remarks at the weekend.While responding to a caller’s question on Talk TV on Saturday, Pochin said: “It drives me mad when I see adverts full of black people, full of Asian people, you know people who are anything other than white.”After backlash, the MP for Runcorn and Helsby released a statement on X saying her comments were “phrased poorly”, adding: “I unreservedly apologise for any offence caused.”But she insisted: “British TV adverts have gone DEI mad.”As criticism continued to grow, Farage was asked during a press conference on Monday if he would be withdrawing the whip from Pochin.He said Pochin’s words were “without doubt ugly”.He admitted that, if read on their own, her comments could be taken “read as very, very unpleasant indeed”.“I am unhappy with what she has done, I can’t underestimate that and she fully knows how I feel,” Farage said.“However it was in the context of DEI [diversity, equity, inclusion] madness madness in the advertising industry, which anybody with half a brain knows has been going on since 2021.“I understand the basic point but the way she put it was ugly.”He continued: “If I thought the intention behind it was racist, I would have taken a lot more action that I have done today – and that is because I don’t.”Amid further scrutiny, Farage said that the remarks were “clumsy” but he did not think the sentiment behind them was racist.The Reform leader’s remarks come off the back of increased pressure from their political opponents.Prime minister Keir Starmer said Pochin’s comments displayed “shocking racism” and “the kind of thing which would tear our country apart”.Labour chair Anna Turley also wrote to Farage on Monday, calling for him to clarify on whether Pochin’s remarks are endorsed by Reform.She said: “It is not clear what, if anything, Sarah Pochin thinks she has done wrong.”Turley added: “At the time of writing you have made no public comment about Sarah Pochin’s remarks, which is uncharacteristically reticent of you.”The Labour chair asked if he endorses Pochin’s comments, if “her views on race are welcome in Reform UK” and if she will keep the party whip.“Sarah Pochin’s comments were a disgrace. And your silence is deafening,” Turley said. “You have the power to withdraw the Reform UK whip from Sarah Pochin. You should do it today.”The Liberal Democrats tabled a censure motion on Monday, calling on parliament to rebuke her remarks and urging for Farage to withdraw the whip from Pochin – which would force her to sit as an independent.If adopted by the government and passed by the Commons, this would be an “unprecedented rebuke” of Pochin, according to the Lib Dems.Lib Dem home affairs spokesperson Max Wilkinson said: “Sarah Pochin’s remarks were blatantly racist.“Decent MPs from across party lines should now come together to condemn this disgraceful behaviour and show the public that this will never be tolerated by parliament.“Over the weekend, the shadow home secretary showed how spineless the Conservative Party has become by failing to immediately call out Pochin’s racist remarks for what they were.“It’s about time they stood up for the traditional British values of decency and tolerance, rather than weakly bowing down to Farage.“If racism has no place in his party, as he continues to protest, then Nigel Farage should prove it by withdrawing the whip immediately. Failure to do this will show total contempt for the vast majority of decent British people.”Related...LBC Presenter Takes Aim At Farage For Calling Female Journalist Love During InterviewReform UK MP Condemned For Claiming There Are Not Enough White People In TV AdvertsBBC Question Time Audience Laugh At Nadine Dorries As She Struggles To Explain Reform Immigration Plan

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