Nigel Farage loses his cool in clash over 'racist remark' on BBC Breakfast
Things got heated on BBC Breakfast as Nigel Farage didn't want to answer Sally Nugent's question. On Tuesday's instalment of BBC Breakfast, viewers saw presenter Sally Nugent speak to Reform UK Party leader Nigel Farage over comments made by Raheem Kassam, a former aide to Farage. The BBC journalist raised comments that Raheem made online, in which he described Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch as a "Nigerian scammer". Nugent was quick to ask Farage if he believed that phrase was racist, as the Reform UK leader stated that Raheem, who is currently in America, wasn't a former chief of staff and is of Indian heritage.
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article gives Kassam's attack only as "Nigerian scammer". It leaves out that he also asked whether Badenoch was "a walking gaffe or an illegal immigrant" and warned people not to give her their bank details. Without this, a reader is left with Farage's account that "scammer" just means someone who does not tell the truth (S9, S13 to S14), and that account goes unchallenged. HuffPost reported the fuller remarks about the same interview that morning.
How we know
- HuffPost UK reported“warned people not to give her their bank details”Nigel Farage Claims Calling Kemi Badenoch A 'Nigerian Scammer' Is Not 'Intentionally Racist' (opens in a new tab)
- HuffPost UK reported“Raheem Kassam, a political activist and former Ukip adviser, is now a high-profile Reform UK supporter.”Robert Jenrick Refuses To Call Farage Ally's Attack On Kemi Badenoch 'Racist' In Heated Clash (opens in a new tab)
Although the BBC star interrupted, as she questioned whether that meant he couldn't be racist. Farage responded: "I don't know, you tell me the answer to that. As far as the scam is concerned, well, it's a strong word, but it's pretty clear that Kemi Badenoch often does not tell the truth about things that have happened and tries her very best to reinvent her past." Refusing to let the matter drop, Nugent pressed him again on whether he endorsed the characterisation of Badenoch as a "Nigerian scammer", prompting him to repeat his earlier position, reports the Express .
He added: "I just said to you, very, very clearly, that the word scammer is about someone who doesn't always tell the truth. There are quite a few instances over the last couple of months of her not telling the truth." Nugent responded: "Do you think that's racist? Do you think the phrase 'Nigerian scammer' is racist?" Farage added: "I've just explained to you that there are two different words. One is scammer, and the other is Nigerian.
He's of Indian heritage. Ask him how he describes himself. Kemi Badenoch calls herself British; she grew up in Nigeria. By the way, this is not a debate I'm getting involved in. Somebody in America is making a comment on Twitter ." Yet Nugent interrupted Farage as he continued, pointing out that the individual was a close ally of his. He appeared unfazed, stating: "So what? People say all sorts of things on Twitter, every single day." Ensure our latest TV stories always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source.
Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings Despite Farage making clear he had no intention of revisiting the comment, Nugent persisted in questioning whether he considered the phrase racist. Eventually, he answered: "No, I don't. I don't think saying someone grew up in Nigeria is racist, no, I don't. I don't think it is, you tell me. What do you think?" While he acknowledged the comment was "over the top", Farage told Nugent he doesn't believe the remark was deliberately racist.
BBC Breakfast airs on BBC One weekdays at 6am.
Read the original article on mirror.co.uk (opens in a new tab)