Conservative leadership contender Mel Stride has sharply criticised Nigel Farage for allegedly fuelling conspiracy theories following the tragic Southport killings. Here’s the full story.
Unrest Spreads Across UK
Following the horrific attacks in Southport, widespread unrest rampaged throughout the United Kingdom, fuelled by misinformation online which spread like wildfire.
Farage Stirs Controversy
Amidst the grief and outrage at the actions of the far-right riots, Nigel Farage, leader of the anti-immigrant Reform UK and occasionally present MP for Clacton, waded into the discussion of the riots with comments that, in typical Farage-fashion, immediately caused controversy.
Farage’s Video Fuels Tensions
Farage posted a video of himself flanked by Union Jacks on X, formerly Twitter, where he amplified some online misinformation, stating, “Was this guy being monitored by the security services? Some reports say he was, others less sure … I just wonder whether the truth is being withheld from us.”
Backlash Against Farage
Farage’s comments quickly went viral, sparking an immediate backlash, with many accusing him of irresponsibly inciting panic and distrust during a time of national crisis.
Stride Condemns Farage
One of Farage’s most high-profile critics was Mel Stride, the Conservative MP and leadership contender who condemned Farage’s “deeply unhelpful” comments.
Stride: Farage Fueled Conspiracy Theories
Speaking on Sky News, Stride stated, “I think one element of this debate which has been skated over and shouldn’t have been are actually the remarks made by Nigel Farage, for example, when the terrible incident in Southport first occurred.”
Widespread Violence and Arson
The riots that erupted following the Southport murders were marked by widespread violence, including hotels which housed asylum seekers being set alight and attacks on mosques, which were reportedly targeted due to false rumours about the suspect’s religious background.
False Reports Spread Online
Several online accounts, which purported to be news sites, reported that the suspect behind the Southport attacks was an asylum seeker named Ali Al Shakati, who was allegedly on the MI6 watchlist.
The Truth Revealed
This was a lie. The suspected attacker was Axel Rudakubana, born to Rwandan parents in Cardiff, Wales. However, despite this, far-right influencers, grifters, and agitators like Andrew Tate, Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, and Nigel Farage amplified the post on social media.
Misinformation Escalates Disturbances
Farage’s comments and the rapid spread of misinformation on social media were seen as significant factors in the escalation of these disturbances. As unrest spread, the situation became increasingly difficult for law enforcement to control, leading to calls for more robust measures to combat the dissemination of false information during crises.
Farage Defends His Actions
Facing mounting criticism, Farage attempted to defend his actions, denying that he intended to incite the violence and disorder that quickly threatened to tear the country apart.
Farage: “Absolutely Disgusting”
In an interview with TalkTV, Farage stated, “Some of what’s been said is absolutely disgusting, it’s cowardly, it is unjust. I’ve been fighting elections for over 30 years because I believe in the democratic process. I’ve never at any point in those 30 years been involved in violence, been involved in street protests, been involved in any of those things.”
Authorities Criticise Farage
Despite repeated assertions from authorities that comments like those made by Farage were adding to the misinformation rapidly spreading online, the Reform leader tried to pivot and suggest that his only concerns were around transparency and accountability.
Farage Shifts Blame to Authorities
Farage stated, “One of the reasons the Southport riots were as bad as they were, one of the reasons the mosque itself was targeted, is because the authorities didn’t tell us quickly enough what the truth was.”
Farage: “Simple Question”
He added, “Now, we then learnt a few hours later he was born in Cardiff, he wasn’t an Islamist extremist at all… My question as to whether he was on a watchlist still hasn’t been answered. And because I asked a simple question, that suddenly becomes ‘incitement’.”
Calls for Responsible Leadership
In the wake of the unrest, calls for a more responsible and measured style of leadership are growing, especially as the tragedy in Southport and the suffering of the families affected have been forgotten amidst the violence on the streets.
Farage’s Political Future Uncertain
However, it remains to be seen whether Farage, a figure who thrives on controversy, will be able to adjust to the new political reality of the country or continue to stoke the fires of anti-immigrant sentiment, as has worked so well for him in the past.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Stuart Boulton.
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