Farage Sparks Fury
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has reached out to Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X (formerly Twitter), accusing the government and media of conspiring to promote "open borders." Farage's message aligns with Musk's recent criticisms of the UK government and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, particularly concerning the handling of far-right riots.
In a video directed at Musk, Farage voiced his concerns, arguing that the UK media, with a few exceptions, merely echoes the government’s stance. He claimed that a consensus among politicians and mainstream media supports open borders, disregarding the potential social and economic consequences. According to Farage, this consensus is driven by a desire to appear compassionate, while those who advocate for borders and national identity are marginalized.
Farage has also reiterated his controversial stance on the recent Southport stabbings. Despite widespread criticism and a dip in his popularity, Farage continues to question the transparency of authorities regarding the incident. He suggests that the lack of information led to the violent riots that have shaken England, culminating in nearly 500 arrests.
Farage's comments have sparked significant backlash, including accusations of incitement. Brendan Cox, the widower of murdered MP Jo Cox, strongly criticized Farage, accusing him of "peddling conspiracy theories" and inciting unrest. "This is why Farage deserves the label far-right," Cox stated. "Everyone who is associated with him, has normalized him or promoted him should be ashamed."
Despite the growing controversy, Farage remains unapologetic. He dismissed the planned protest against him as "absolutely disgusting, inciteful behavior" and reiterated his commitment to the democratic process, denying any involvement in violence or street protests.
Farage’s approval ratings have seen a notable decline, with a seven-point drop in his net favorability score over the past week. A protest against Farage and Reform UK is scheduled for Saturday, with organizers accusing him of excusing and inciting racist violence. The Home Office has offered Farage additional security in response to the escalating threats against him.