Nigel Farage is under pressure to denounce the outdated views within his party following remarks made by one of his MPs regarding an “LGBT supporting” alliance. Danny Kruger, who recently switched from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, expressed concerns about a coalition of left-wing parties, equating support for LGBT rights with backing Hamas in a video shared on Reform UK’s YouTube channel.
Critics have labeled Kruger’s comments as antiquated and inappropriate, urging Farage to disavow them. This comes after Farage expressed anger over a controversial statement by Reform’s Sarah Pochin, who made divisive remarks about Black and Asian representation in advertisements but was not called out for racism.
During a membership drive event for Reform UK, Kruger, the son of TV personality Prue Leith, cautioned that the UK could potentially be governed by a nationalist party that supports Hamas and LGBT causes. He highlighted the party’s opposition from various political factions, emphasizing the need for Reform to counter these challenges.
Kruger emphasized the urgency of preventing a potential alliance of parties advocating for Hamas and LGBT rights against the United Kingdom’s interests. He underscored the importance of supporting Reform as the only means to prevent such a scenario, even urging former Conservatives to join the cause.
In response to Kruger’s statements, Labour MP Polly Billington criticized the divisive rhetoric employed by Reform, particularly targeting LGBT individuals. She emphasized the importance of upholding British values of decency and respect, warning against the divisive politics that Reform represents and calling on Farage to take a stand against such views.
Kruger failed to elaborate on his concerns regarding LGBT rights when questioned by the media but warned of the dangers of a coalition that could potentially come to power after the next election. He advocated for voting for Reform as a means to ensure a sensible and moderate government.
A Labour source condemned Kruger’s remarks as unacceptable and regressive, stating that such divisive attitudes have no place in mainstream politics and urging Kruger to reflect on his statements. This incident follows a previous controversy involving Reform MP Sarah Pochin’s remarks about diversity in advertising.
Farage expressed displeasure with Pochin’s comments, acknowledging the inappropriateness of her words but stopping short of labeling them as racist. Despite calls for action against Pochin, Farage emphasized that her intentions were not racially motivated, sparking criticism from various political quarters.
Reform UK has been approached for a response regarding Kruger’s statement.