Nigel Farage’s abrupt cancellation of a BBC interview amidst controversy over his party’s candidates’ bizarre comments is the first bump on his election campaign. Here’s the full story.
Farage Cancels Interview
Nigel Farage, the newly self-appointed leader of Reform UK who returned to UK politics after changing his mind about supporting Donald Trump in the upcoming US elections, has pulled out of a high-profile interview with the BBC’s Nick Robinson.
Farage Backs Out
Robinson had been due to interview Farage as part of a week-long plan for the BBC’s Panorama programme to interview each party’s leaders, but Farage bottled it at the last minute.
Controversial Candidate’s Remarks
The decision for Farage to rearrange the interview came amidst a burgeoning controversy involving a Reform UK candidate’s inflammatory remarks about gender issues and World War II, just days after Farage decried Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to skip part of the D-Day commemorations.
Last-Minute Cancellation
On the night of Tuesday 11th June, to the surprise of many, Farage cancelled his interview with Nick Robinson at the last minute.
Motives Questioned
Although the BBC confirmed that Farage would partake in the series at a later date, the immediate cancellation left many questioning the motives behind his abrupt decision.
Scandal Erupts
However, the reason behind Farage’s withdrawal is not hard to guess, following a scandal that erupted less than 24 hours before the scheduled interview.
Candidate’s Nazi Comments
Ian Gribbin, a Reform UK candidate for Bexhill and Battle, had made incendiary comments online in which he suggested that the UK would have been better off accepting Adolf Hitler’s offer of neutrality in World War II rather than opposing the Nazis as the fascists dominated Europe.
Praising Putin
Gribbin also described Winston Churchill as “abysmal” and praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for his “maturity.”
Misogynistic Remarks
As if the Nazi-apologising and Putin-admiring were not bad enough, Gribbin’s unearthed misogynistic remarks added further fuel to the fire.
Lie About Tax
In a series of posts for the website UnHerd, Gribbin wrote to women, “Do you think you could actually work and pay for it all too like good citizens? Men pay 80% of tax – women spend 80% of tax revenue. On aggregate as a group you only take from society.”
“Sponging Gender” Comment
It is vitally important to point out that Gribbin’s statement is a lie.
Farage Downplays Issue
As the final nail in his political coffin, he finished by writing, “Less complaining please from the ‘sponging gender’.”
Spokesperson Defends
In response to the uproar, Farage attempted to downplay the situation, claiming that controversies are an inevitable part of snap elections as his party had not had sufficient time to vet all the candidates properly.
Historical Misrepresentation
Similarly, a Reform UK spokesperson defended Gribbin, stating, “Through offence archaeology, the BBC has found that Mr. Gribbin has made a series of comments about a number of subjects. They were written with an eye to inconvenient perspectives and truths. That doesn’t make them endorsements, just arguing points in long-distance debates.”
Farage Downplays Issue
They added, “His historical perspective of what the UK could have done in the Thirties was shared by the vast majority of the British establishment including the BBC of its day, and is probably true. Again, no endorsement, just pointing out conveniently forgotten truths.”
Sunak Warns Voters
While it is true that there were some, particularly in the British aristocracy, that supported capitulating to the Nazis rather than fighting them, including the owner of the Daily Mail, Lord Rothermere, who was close personal friends with Hitler and Mussolini, the claim that the BBC supported such a move is similarly a lie.
Media Savvy Farage
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who had previously been reticent to discuss Farage, seized the opportunity to caution the many voters who were increasingly changing their support from the Conservatives to Reform UK.
Political Strategy
Sunak stated, “So the choice for everybody, there’s only going to be one of two people whose prime minister, Keir Starmer or myself.”
Voter Impact Unclear
He added, “A vote for anyone who’s not a Conservative candidate is just making it more likely that Keir Starmer is that person.”
Farage to Re-Engage
While Farage’s withdrawal from the interview was a setback, it is expected that, as a seasoned media performer who never misses an opportunity to get himself heard, he will undoubtedly re-engage with the BBC and other media outlets soon.
Farage Avoids Controversy
Nigel Farage’s last-minute decision to cancel his interview with the BBC’s Nick Robinson indicates that he is smart enough not to want to take on a political interview under a cloud of controversy.
Voter Impact Unclear
However, it remains to be seen if the controversial and inexplicable remarks of Ian Gribbin will sway any voters thinking of voting for Reform UK that the party may not be as ready to take up seats in Parliament as they claim.
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