British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak strongly condemned the use of racist slurs against him by campaigners from the Reform UK party, describing himself as deeply hurt and angered by such remarks. The incident occurred during the final week of the UK general election campaign, particularly in Clacton-on-Sea, eastern England, where Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is seeking election to Parliament.
One canvasser was reported using a racist slur against Sunak and making derogatory remarks about Islam, calling it "the most disgusting cult" and advocating for Muslims to be expelled from mosques, which should be converted into pubs.
In response, Sunak expressed his distress, especially for his daughters who witnessed and heard such offensive language directed towards him. He emphasized the seriousness of the issue, stating, "My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign for Nigel Farage calling me an effing Paki. It hurts and it makes me angry."
Sunak called for accountability, asserting that the campaigner involved should answer for their actions. He highlighted the gravity of the situation, underscoring that such language cannot go unchallenged.
Meanwhile, Nigel Farage dismissed the incident as a setup, suggesting that the canvasser, Andrew Parker, may have been paid to act in a video aimed at damaging Reform UK's reputation amidst their electoral campaign.
Reform UK has faced multiple controversies during this election cycle, with several candidates being dropped or suspended due to allegations of making racist or offensive remarks. Hope Not Hate, an anti-racism organization, reported that 166 Reform UK candidates have been withdrawn since the beginning of the year due to such issues.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns about racism and xenophobia in political discourse in the UK, particularly during electoral campaigns where such sentiments can become heightened and polarizing.
