Labour leader Keir Starmer has criticized Nigel Farage as “completely lacking courage” for his failure to denounce a Reform UK council member’s derogatory remarks about children in care being “extremely wicked.” The Prime Minister condemned the Reform UK leader for claiming he didn’t have the time to disapprove of the remarks, which Starmer described as “highly objectionable.” When pressed to condemn them, Farage informed lawmakers that he had only half a minute to respond before diverting the discussion to highlight a Reform-led council’s actions regarding asylum hotels.
During PMQs, Labour MP Darren Paffey highlighted the “disgusting” comments made by Reform UK’s Andy Osborn, who is under investigation for possibly breaching the members’ code of conduct. Paffey asked Starmer to address the issue, emphasizing that while the Labour government is actively supporting care leavers, a Reform councillor has shamefully labeled children in care as ‘extremely wicked.’ Paffey called on the Prime Minister and others in the House to join him in condemning Reform’s offensive rhetoric and sought assurance that the Labour government would persist in safeguarding and promoting opportunities for all care leavers.
In response, the PM stated that November signifies the inaugural care leavers month, underscoring that every child deserves assistance to realize their potential. He highlighted the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, mandating every local authority to aid care leavers in finding secure housing. The PM expressed disappointment at the opposition parties for voting against the bill, labeling the remarks about children in care as “highly objectionable” and urging Mr. Farage, the member for Clacton, to condemn them promptly.
Farage’s brief response reiterated his time constraints before transitioning to inquire about the closure of migrant hotels, citing the Reform-led West Northamptonshire Council’s actions in response to public safety concerns. He sought the PM’s approval for expediting the closure of these hotels to address the safety issues raised.
Starmer further criticized Farage for his failure to denounce his councilor’s comments and also censured the Reform leader for inaction against MP Sarah Pochin following her controversial remarks regarding advertisements featuring Black and Asian individuals. Farage previously expressed discontent with Pochin’s comments but clarified that they were not intended to be racist.
Pochin later apologized for any offense caused by her remarks and clarified that she did not intend to offend anyone, attributing the comments to poor phrasing amidst the ensuing backlash.
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