Nick Ferrari ended a phone conversation with a caller during his LBC show on Monday (19 October) after a heated exchange about the new 'Palestine Poppy' pins. The presenter cut off a listener named Khaled following a disagreement over whether the symbol should be associated with the traditional Remembrance poppy.
Clash over the poppy's purpose
During the call, Khaled argued that remembrance should honour everyone who has lost their lives, asking: "People have lost their lives; we should honour everybody. My point is, why is it a selective remembrance?"
Ferrari responded: "You can't hijack the poppy and then send no funds to veteran charities." When Khaled mentioned the situation in Gaza, Ferrari said: "The poppy was set up with a very, very simple goal, and it doesn't need to be sullied in this fashion."
He added: "Have your own badge! Of course, if you want it. Absolutely, let people buy it, and of course, protest about some of the appalling tragedies that are taking place in the region, but don't lock it on to Poppy Day; have it at a separate time."
Caller cut off
As Khaled began to respond, saying "But this trivial matter, when people have lost…", Ferrari interrupted and ended the call. He said: "I'm sorry if you think the death of millions of people is trivial; I think we'll leave that there because all the people that lost their lives, and by the way, my father fortunately didn't lose his life, but he served with people who did."
He concluded: "If you call that trivial, Khaled, we don't have a conversation today," before hanging up.
Reaction on social media
Following the exchange, listeners shared their views on X. One person wrote: "How disgusting. How dare he say it's trivial." Another said: "Well said, Nick Ferrari. Thank you for sticking up for our veteran communities and the poppy badge. It cannot be hijacked by any political group; it is to commemorate all who bravely fought in wars and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country."
LBC also posted a clip of the call on X, with the caption: "'My father served with people who lost their lives - you call that trivial?' @NickFerrariLBC hangs up on caller Khaled after a back and forth on the 'Palestine poppy'."
Military view on the Palestine Poppy
The controversy has drawn comment from military figures. Lieutenant Sergeant Stuart Crawford recently told GB News that the Palestine poppies were "not at all appropriate". He said: "In effect, it's trying to hijack [or] ride on the coat-tails of the familiar red poppy, and my reservations are twofold.
"The Remembrance poppy is avowedly apolitical despite what some misguided people might say, and commemorates our war dead by bringing people together in the act of remembrance. The so-called 'Palestine Poppy' is about as far away from remembrance as it's possible to be. It is unashamedly political, designed to divide rather than unite."
