Reform candidate should apologise for ‘over-the-top’ Lammy remark – Farage
The Hampshire Reform mayoral candidate who suggested David Lammy should “go home” to the Caribbean should apologise for his remarks, Nigel Farage has said.
Chris Parry, Reform’s candidate for the Hampshire and the Solent mayoralty, suggested that is where the Deputy Prime Minister’s “loyalty lies” in a historical tweet which came to light at the end of last year.
Senior Reform figures have previously declined to condemn what Labour has described as the “racist and grossly offensive” posts by the retired Naval officer from Portsmouth.
Asked for the first time about Mr Parry’s social media posts, Mr Farage said his comments were “a bit rich”, and those about Mr Lammy in particular – who was born in London to Guyanese parents – were “over the top”.
Speaking at a press conference in central London, the Reform leader was asked whether Mr Parry was a good representative of the party in light of his views.
Mr Farage told reporters: “He also criticised quite strongly many white politicians, called them unpatriotic and suggested they went to live in other countries.
“Look, some of his comments are a bit rich. I get that. He is intensely patriotic. He’s risen to the rank of rear admiral, he’s given enormous service to this country.
“But I do think his comments on Lammy were over the top, and he should apologise for them.”
Anna Turley, the chairwoman of the Labour Party, said the Reform leader had “failed to take any action on his mayoral candidate’s racist comments”.
She also criticised Mr Farage for not apologising to fellow school pupils who accused him of racism when they attended London private school Dulwich College in the 1970s.
Ms Turley said: “Farage needs to finally grow a backbone and apologise to those who have bravely come forward and shared their deeply shocking experiences about his alleged behaviour.
“And then show some leadership on this issue by throwing Chris Parry out of his party.
“The division and decline Farage peddles is not the path Britain needs.”