![Reform UK councillor Darren Grimes sparked controversy by warning that Britain is “on the brink [of] demographic extinction.”](https://www.spottednews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/gbnewsdarrengrime-750x422.jpg)
On GB News, Reform UK councillor Darren Grimes sparked controversy by warning that Britain is “on the brink [of] demographic extinction.” During an appearance with presenter Camilla Tominey, Grimes argued that the Labour government prioritises “foreigners” over “the British public” by refusing to scrap the two-child benefit cap. Critics swiftly pointed out that Grimes’s language echoes the discredited “Great Replacement” theory—a far-right conspiracy claim that white populations are being deliberately replaced by non-white immigrants.
📺 “On the brink [of] demographic extinction”
At around 1:15 into the segment, Grimes told Tominey:
“We’re prioritising foreigners over the British public. We’re on the brink [of] demographic extinction. We need to get our country and our people back.”
GB News reposted the clip, captioning it:
“Reform UK Councillor @DarrenGrimes_ pushes back against claims the public doesn’t support scrapping the two-child benefit cap, arguing: ‘We’re prioritising foreigners over the British public.’”
Shortly afterward, watchdog account Reform Party UK Exposed tweeted:
“Hi @DurhamCouncil, is ‘The Great Replacement Theory’ a view of the council? It seems your councillor is pushing it on TV.”
🧠 What is the Great Replacement theory?
Originally formulated by French author Renaud Camus, the Great Replacement theory posits that white European populations are being demographically and culturally replaced by non-white immigrants—especially from Muslim-majority countries—through mass migration, higher birth rates among migrant communities, and declining birth rates among native whites. Mainstream experts and scholars have thoroughly debunked it as a racist conspiracy rooted in misunderstanding demographic data.
According to Cambridge demographer Dr. Elizabeth Gartland:
“There is no coordinated ‘Replacist’ conspiracy. Demographic shifts occur over decades due to changing fertility rates, migration policies, and economic factors—not due to secret elites plotting to overthrow white majorities.”
⚠️ Why Grimes’s comments matter
By invoking “demographic extinction,” Grimes taps into a narrative that has inspired violence in the past—most notably the 2019 Christchurch attacker, who frequently cited the Great Replacement theory. When elected officials or public figures use coded language that mimics extremist conspiracy rhetoric, it risks normalising bigotry and stoking social division.
Professor Adrian West, a political scientist at the University of Manchester, noted:
“Centrists and right-leaning politicians who borrow phrasing from white nationalist movements can inadvertently lend credibility to these toxic ideas. It’s crucial for public figures to address immigration and welfare policy without resorting to race-baiting conspiracy tropes.”
🤔 How this debate affects policy
Grimes’s remarks came as Reform UK campaigns to eliminate the two-child benefit limit, arguing that lifting it would aid British families. Instead of focusing on concrete economic solutions, Grimes’s rhetoric shifts the conversation toward immigration anxieties. Critics say this distracts from genuine policy debates—such as improving childcare support or increasing wages—and instead foments unfounded fears about population replacement.
Labour MP Zara Mahmood responded:
“Our demographic challenges are about an ageing population and low birth rates among all communities—not a sinister plot to replace ‘Anglo-Saxons.’ Suggesting otherwise only polarises voters and undermines unity.”
Reactions
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DEI
Recently, Darren Grimes, the former GB News presenter who was elected as a Reform councillor in Durham at last week’s local elections, has refused to attend diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) training sessions.
It was then pointed out to him that the council’s training programme for new councillors doesn’t actually offer any DEI sessions.
Grimes said: “I will not be attending DEI training or climate change training. I do not believe in anti-white racism or making my voters colder and poorer.”
Related: Watch: Hartley-Brewer and Grimes battle over benefits – reactions
