Cabinet Minister's Explosive Comparison Sparks Fury
Labour's Business Secretary, Peter Kyle, has ignited a major political controversy by directly comparing Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to the late Conservative minister Enoch Powell. The incendiary remarks were delivered during a speech at the Co-operative Party conference, where Mr Kyle argued that a lack of economic growth fuels the appeal of far-right politics.
Mr Kyle stated that without sustained economic progress, rebuilding trust in democracy becomes 'almost impossible'. He went on to claim that this vacuum creates an allure for parties 'with their dogma of disruption, division and despair'.
Reform UK Placed Alongside Historic Far-Right Groups
In his address, the Cabinet minister explicitly linked Nigel Farage's party to extremist groups from Britain's past. Mr Kyle said, 'We see it today with Reform, just as we did in previous times with the National Front and the British National Party.' He framed the situation as a cause-and-effect relationship, stating: 'Lack of economic growth it is the cause. Nigel Farage, today's incarnation of the politics of Enoch Powell, is the effect.'
Enoch Powell remains a deeply controversial figure in British politics, largely due to his 1968 'Rivers of Blood' speech, which was widely condemned for intensifying racial tensions.
A History of Heated Exchanges
This is not the first time Peter Kyle has engaged in a public spat with the Reform leader. The feud escalated earlier this year following Mr Farage's opposition to the Government's Online Safety Act.
In July, Mr Kyle, who was serving as the technology secretary at the time, claimed that opponents of the act were effectively siding with predatory figures. He argued that if Jimmy Savile were alive today, he would use the internet to exploit children, and insisted that anyone against the Act, like Mr Farage, was 'on their side'.
Mr Farage described these comments as 'absolutely disgusting' and demanded an apology, questioning how low the Labour government would sink in its desperation.
The Co-operative Party conference also heard from Communities Secretary Steve Reed, who spoke about politicians 'who feed off the decline and division', indirectly pointing to Reform UK. Reform UK was contacted for a comment regarding the latest allegations.
