To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Nigel Farage has been accused of spreading ‘pure Islamophobia’ while speaking about Rishi Sunak’s proposal to reintroduce National Service.
Asked by Trevor Phillips if he supported the policy on Sky News, Mr Farage, Reform UK’s honorary president referred to the policy as a ‘joke’.
He added: ‘Look, it’s totally impractical – the Army has shrunk from 100,000 to 75,000 in 14 years of conservatism and, most interestingly, we have a growing number of young people in this country who do not subscribe to British values, in fact loathe much of what we stand for.’
Asked by Sir Trevor if he was referring to Muslims, Mr Farage said: ‘We are.’
Mr Farage later told GB News: ‘National service on any scale is literally impossible unless you build up the size of the Army, and you need another 20,000 people to be trainers if you were doing it seriously.
‘We now learn from (Home Secretary) James Cleverly that only 30,000 people out of 700,000 school leavers would be doing military service, which shows you what a joke it is.’
Farage’s comments have sparked outrage (Picture: Sky News)
Councillor Jamal Chohan posted about the moment on X, saying: ‘This is pure Islamophobia and it is outrageous that Sky News continue to give Nigel Farage any platform to spread it – a man that has lost ALL SEVEN attempts at being a member of parliament.
‘He misled the public on Brexit, and now he is misleading the public again by quoting a survey conducted by the Henry Jackson Society.’
Days ago, Mr Farage said he won’t be standing in the UK election because he cares more about the US election’.
The Reform UK honorary president still insisted he wanted to ‘do his bit to help’ the party over the next six weeks.But the former I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here contestant’s attention to UK politics appears to be wavering due to his commitment to launch his party across the pond.
More Trending
He said: ‘I have thought long and hard as to whether I should stand in the upcoming general election.
‘As honorary president of Reform UK, I am fully supportive of Richard Tice’s leadership and urge voters to put their trust in him and Lee Anderson.
‘I will do my bit to help in the campaign, but it is not the right time for me to go any further than that.
‘Important though the general election is, the contest in the United States of America on November 5 has huge global significance. A strong America as a close ally is vital for our peace and security. I intend to help with the grassroots campaign in the USA in any way that I can.‘
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.