Election latest: Farage responds after Reform campaigner filmed making ‘very prejudiced’ comments | Politics News
Reform campaigner filmed saying Channel migrants should be used as ‘target practice’
A Reform UK campaigner has been filmed saying migrants crossing the Channel should be used as “target practice”.
In footage recorded by a Channel 4 undercover reporter, the same campaigner used a racial slur against Rishi Sunak.
Another Reform figure was filmed making homophobic remarks.
The clips were recorded in Clacton, where Reform leader Nigel Farage is a candidate.
Responding to the footage, Mr Farage has said the comments were “very wrong”.
“There was an activist that said some pretty unpleasant things,” he said.
“Very very prejudiced, very wrong.
“He’s somebody who turned up to help … all political parties encourage volunteers.”
He added that the campaigner in question would “not be welcome back” and that the two other figures featured in the footage would also no longer be working with the campaign.
In the footage, the undercover reporter captured canvasser Andrew Parker talking about people coming ashore at Deal in Kent.
Mr Parker said: “Army recruitment – get the young recruits there, with guns, on the f****** beach, target practice. F****** just shoot them.”
Mr Parker said in a statement, sent to Channel 4 News: “I would like to make it clear that neither Nigel Farage personally or the Reform Party are aware of my personal views on immigration.”
He added: “I have never discussed immigration with either Nigel Farage or the Reform Party and that any comments made by me during those recordings are my own personal views on any subject I commented on. At no time before I was sent out to canvass did I discuss my personal views with any representative of the Reform Party UK or Nigel Farage.”
Another Reform figure was filmed reacting to a Pride symbol on a passing police car.
He says: “You see that f****** degenerate flag on the front bonnet? What are the old bill doing promoting that crap?”
The other candidates for the Clacton constituency are:
- Jovan Owusu-Nepaul, Labour;
- Matthew Bensilum, Lib Dems;
- Craig Jamieson, Climate Party;
- Tony Mack, independent;
- Natasha Osben, Greens;
- Tasos Papanastasiou, Heritage Party;
- Andrew Pemberton, UKIP;
- Giles Watling, Conservatives.
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