Nigel Farage clashed with BBC Breakfast presenter Sally Nugent on Tuesday over comments made by his former aide Raheem Kassam, who described Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch as a "Nigerian scammer". The Reform UK leader repeatedly declined to label the phrase racist during a heated exchange on the programme.
Farage pressed on aide's online comments
Nugent raised the remarks Kassam made online and asked Farage whether he believed the phrase was racist. Farage responded that Kassam, who is currently in America, was not a former chief of staff and is of Indian heritage, prompting Nugent to question whether that meant he could not be racist.
Farage said: "I don't know, you tell me the answer to that. As far as the scam is concerned, well, it's a strong word, but it's pretty clear that Kemi Badenoch often does not tell the truth about things that have happened and tries her very best to reinvent her past."
Host refuses to drop the matter
Nugent pressed him again on whether he endorsed the characterisation of Badenoch as a "Nigerian scammer", prompting him to repeat his earlier position. He added: "I just said to you, very, very clearly, that the word scammer is about someone who doesn't always tell the truth. There are quite a few instances over the last couple of months of her not telling the truth."
Nugent responded: "Do you think that's racist? Do you think the phrase 'Nigerian scammer' is racist?" Farage added: "I've just explained to you that there are two different words. One is scammer, and the other is Nigerian. He's of Indian heritage. Ask him how he describes himself. Kemi Badenoch calls herself British; she grew up in Nigeria. By the way, this is not a debate I'm getting involved in. Somebody in America is making a comment on Twitter."
Farage gives a direct answer
Nugent interrupted Farage as he continued, pointing out that Kassam was a close ally of his. He appeared unfazed, stating: "So what? People say all sorts of things on Twitter, every single day."
Despite Farage making clear he had no intention of revisiting the comment, Nugent persisted in questioning whether he considered the phrase racist. Eventually, he answered: "No, I don't. I don't think saying someone grew up in Nigeria is racist, no, I don't. I don't think it is, you tell me. What do you think?"
While he acknowledged the comment was "over the top", Farage told Nugent he does not believe the remark was deliberately racist. BBC Breakfast airs on BBC One weekdays at 6am.
