Nigel Farage has described remarks made by one of his MPs as “ugly” after she complained that adverts were “full” of Black and Asian people. The Reform UK leader said he was “unhappy” with what Sarah Pochin had said but insisted her comments were not racist and that he would not take further action against her. At a press conference in London on Monday, he added: “I understand the basic point, but the way she put it, the way she worded it, was wrong and was ugly, and if I thought the intention behind it was racist, I would have taken a lot more action than I have.”
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During an appearance on TalkTV over the weekend, Ms Pochin, the MP for Runcorn and Helsby, had responded to a viewer who complained about the demographics of advertising, saying she thought the viewer was “absolutely right”. She added: “It drives me mad when I see adverts full of Black people, full of Asian people.” Mr Farage defended her remarks in the context of what he called “DEI madness”, referring to government measures promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The comments have drawn strong criticism from opposition politicians. Sir Keir Starmer described Ms Pochin’s remarks as “shocking racism”, saying they “tell you everything about Reform” and risk dividing the country. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp also called her wording “racist” and welcomed her apology. Labour has written to Mr Farage asking him to clarify whether he endorses her comments, while the Liberal Democrats have sought a censure motion in parliament to formally condemn her words.
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Separately, at the press conference, Mr Farage discussed the grooming gangs scandal alongside Ellie-Ann Reynolds, a former member of the government’s victims’ liaison panel who resigned last week. Ms Reynolds spoke of encountering a “very controlling atmosphere” and described the experience as “gaslighting and very manipulative”. She emphasised that the panel had originally aimed to seek justice, uncover the truth, and support victims, but their efforts had been frustrated. Mr Farage suggested that a joint initiative by the Commons and the Lords could lead to a special commission into the decades-long scandal.
