Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told BBC Breakfast presenter Sally Nugent he does not believe a remark describing Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch as a “Nigerian scammer” was racist, during a heated exchange on Tuesday's programme.
The comment was made by Raheem Kassam, whom Nugent described as a former chief of staff to Farage. Nugent asked Farage directly: “Do you think that's racist?”
Farage's response to the remark
Farage replied: “A, he's not a former chief of staff. B, he's currently in America, and C, he's Indian. He's of Indian heritage, so?” When Nugent asked whether that meant Kassam 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.”
Nugent pressed again on whether he supported the comments, and Farage reiterated his position, adding: “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.”
Continued questioning on air
Nugent then asked: “Do you think that's racist? Do you think the phrase 'Nigerian scammer' is racist?” Farage responded: “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.”
When Nugent noted that Kassam was a close associate of Farage, he replied: “So what? People say all sorts of things on Twitter, every single day.” Pressed once more on whether the phrase was racist, Farage eventually said: “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?”
Farage's final position
Although he described the comment as “over the top”, Farage told Nugent he does not believe the remark was intentionally racist. BBC Breakfast airs on BBC One weekdays at 6am.
