Nigel Farage has stated that “bigots” and “extremists” are not welcome in Reform UK. He made this claim as he outlined his plans to “professionalise” the party after the recent general election.
Speaking in Birmingham, the former UKIP leader admitted the party had made mistakes in the past. He acknowledged that Reform UK had not been “professional enough” to properly vet its candidates. This comes after a series of scandals involving some of the party’s would-be MPs. Several candidates were linked to far-right figures, and others had made offensive comments about Adolf Hitler.
Despite these controversies, Farage believes the party is “coming of age.” He stressed that Reform UK must now ensure it is not infiltrated by extremist groups. “We don’t want extremists, we don’t want bigots,” he said. “We represent the silent, decent majority of this great country.”
Social media reaction
Farage’s comments sparked a wave of reactions on social media. Many critics pointed out the irony of his statement, given his past associations with controversial figures. Twitter users were quick to mock his claims, suggesting that his political history contradicts his current stance.
One user wrote, “Farage saying ‘bigots aren’t welcome’ in Reform UK is like a fish saying water isn’t welcome in the sea.” Another added, “He built his career on division and fear, now he’s acting surprised that extremists are in his party.”
Farage’s plans for Reform UK
Farage admitted that Reform UK had been too relaxed about candidate selection in the past. He said the party had been vulnerable to being “hijacked” by individuals with extreme views. Moving forward, he promised to implement stricter vetting processes.
The goal, he said, is to make Reform UK a more credible political force. Farage remains optimistic about the party’s future, especially after winning five seats in the general election. He believes the party is now ready to step into the spotlight and attract more mainstream support.
Controversies still haunt the party
Despite Farage’s promises, Reform UK faces a long road ahead. The scandals involving far-right links have damaged the party’s reputation. Critics argue that it will be difficult for Farage to distance himself from extremism, given his past.
Farage insists that the party is ready to move on and leave its controversial past behind. However, many remain sceptical. For now, his attempts to professionalise the party and reject extremism are being met with doubt from both critics and supporters alike.
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