FARAGE’S TV MELTDOWN
Marr skewers him over NHS, gun laws, climate change and views on migrants
‘Simple-minded rabble rouser’
NIGEL Farage was accused of having a ‘meltdown’ on TV yesterday as he was confronted over his controversial past views on immigration, privatising the NHS and relaxing gun laws.
The Brexit Party leader clashed with BBC presenter Andrew Marr, who was accused of asking ‘ludicrous’ questions.
In uncomfortable scenes, the journalist tried to ask Mr Farage whether he stood by previous statements including saying efforts to curb climate change were ‘the stupidest thing in human history’.
He was also questioned about his belief that HIV-positive migrants should not be allowed to move to the UK and 2016 Leave campaign posters which showed a line of mainly non-white people with the slogan: ‘Breaking point’.
But, reacting angrily, the Ukip founder said: ‘ This is ludicrous. This is absolutely ludicrous. I’ve never in my life seen a more ridiculous interview than this.
‘You are not prepared to talk about what is going on in this country today. You’re in denial, the BBC’s in denial, the Tory and Labour parties are in denial.
‘I think you’re all in for a bigger surprise on Thursday week [at the Euro elections] than you can even imagine.’ Other questions covered his previous backing of an insurance system to replace the NHS.
Mr Farage was also asked if he still held his views on a range of issues – including reintroducing handguns, feeling uncomfortable about foreign languages being spoken on trains and support for Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
His furious reaction to the questions prompted criticism from Tory and Labour MPs last night. Labour’s David Lammy said: ‘Nigel Farage goes into meltdown when asked about his climate change denial, admiration for [Vladimir] Putin and desire to privatise the NHS.’
Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan said: ‘Catastrophic interview for Farage on BBC Marr, proving he is a single issue anti-Europe, simple-minded, non-patriotic, rabble rouser and that his party has zero credibility on anything else.’
Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd added: ‘As always, Farage is pushing his false Brexit betrayal narrative that is deliberately misleading. No solutions, no realism, no policies. Becomes rattled when confronted with his own opinions that are so at odds with good British values.’
The row erupted in a dramatic interview in which Mr Farage demanded that his party is made part of the negotiating team if it performs as well as expected in the European Parliament elections on May 23. The Brexit Party is currently outpolling the Tories and Labour combined, and is expected to win 34 per cent of the vote.
Mr Farage insisted he did not want to become Prime Minister and would never have a manifesto despite pledges to put up candidates in the next general election.
He also acknowledged that there could be another Brexit referendum, saying he was ‘mentally preparing’ himself for one. He stressed: ‘If we had a second referendum, I think Leave would win by a bigger margin. I’m thinking we may well have it forced upon us.’
He said Theresa May’s proposed Brexit deal, which has already suffered three defeats in Parliament, is a ‘new European treaty’. But, asked if he wants to be leader of the country, he replied: ‘ No, not particularly. If we can win these elections, absolutely I’m going to demand that Brexit Party MEPs become part of the Government negotiating team and we can perhaps talk some sense into them.’
Mr Farage acknowledged that leaving the EU on No Deal terms could lead to ‘ some short-term economic disruption’. Meanwhile, former PM Tony Blair yesterday urged pro-EU supporters who feel they can no longer vote for Labour to endorse another party which backs Remain.
He said Labour would be ‘hoovering up’ Remain votes if it had taken a ‘stronger position’ on the issue and he condemned a potential ‘soft Brexit’ as unworkable.
Mr Blair said it is ‘important the anti- Brexit side is larger and stronger than the Farage side’ in the upcoming elections.
He told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday: ‘I do come across people who cannot vote for Labour, in which case I say, “Don’t stay at home – vote for any of the other parties”. At the end of this there’s going to be a totting up and...it’s important that the Remain side comes out because MPs will be making decisions based on that.’