Nigel Farage has been accused of turning a 'blind eye' to racism

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Nigel Farage has been accused of turning a ‘blind eye’ to racism(Image: Getty Images)

Nigel Farage is accused of turning a “blind eye” to racism after failing to sack a candidate who said David Lammy should “go home” to the Caribbean.

Pressure is mounting on the Reform leader to sanction Chris Parry after the remark came to light more than a week ago. Mr Farage’s number two, Richard Tice, today refused to criticise the Hampshire and the Solent mayoral candidate despite having the comment read to him.

London-born Deputy Prime Minister Mr Lammy has called on Reform to tackle “1950s-style hate”. And in a letter to Mr Farage today, Labour chairwoman Anna Turley wrote: “If you take racism among your members and representatives at all seriously or consistently, you must remove Mr Parry from your party and withdraw him as your candidate for the Hampshire and the Solent mayoralty.

David Lammy has called on Reform to deal with '1950s-style hate' within its ranks

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David Lammy has called on Reform to deal with ‘1950s-style hate’ within its ranks(Image: PA)

“Failure to do so will demonstrate that you are prepared to turn a blind eye to racism when it suits you, and drag your party further into the gutter.”

In February Mr Parry shared a news story about slavery reparations on Twitter/X, writing: “Lammy must go home to the Caribbean where loyalty lies”. In an interview with Talk TV on Monday evening, Mr Parry refused to say whether he believed the Deputy PM’s “primary loyalty” is to the UK.

Asked if he had written the post, Mr Parry said: “I’m not going to talk about it. People should go to Twitter and see what was written and the context in which it happened.

“All I’m saying is if you’re the foreign secretary of this country (as Mr Lammy was at the time) your primary loyalty must be to this country.” And when asked if Mr Lammy’s primary loyalty was the UK, Mr Parry responded: “Ask him.”

Chris Parry has not apologised for the remark

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Chris Parry has not apologised for the remark(Image: Net)

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On Monday Reform MP Danny Kruger refused to condemn Mr Parry, claiming he was not aware of the “context” of the remark. And despite the controversy, Mr Tice claimed at a Westminster press conference this morning: “I’m not familiar with what was said.

“At the end of the day, David Lammy, he’s a Cabinet minister. Whether we think he’s doing a good job or a bad job, is just part of politics. That’s day to day life and he will, I’m sure, continue to claim he’s doing a great job. We challenge him.”

After Mr Parry’s comment was read out to him, Mr Tice declined to respond further, saying only: “I’ve given an answer.”

In a letter to the Reform leader, Ms Turley wrote: “Although this was first reported more than a week ago, your party has yet to take any action.” And she continued: “So Mr Parry has been given the opportunity to withdraw and apologise for his comments, and he has not done so. He has been given the opportunity to explain his comments, and he has not even done that, choosing instead to suggest that it is up to Mr Lammy to say where his loyalties lie. And Reform has still taken no action.

“This is not difficult. Political disagreement over matters of policy is perfectly legitimate, but calling into question the loyalties of a politician on the basis of his ethnicity is racist. Telling a black British man from London to “go home to the Caribbean” is racist. It should have no place in our politics, and no place in your party.”

She said Reform had “sometimes” taken action against representatives and candidates found to make racist statements. She pointed to the party revoking the membership of Ian Cooper, former leader of Staffordshire County Council, for reportedly abusing Sadiq Khan, Mr Lammy and other public figures online.

Asked if Mr Parry’s comment was racist, Mr Kruger – who defected from the Tories to Reform in September – said on Monday: “I’m afraid to say without knowing the context of them, without having understood the point that’s being said, I can’t comment in detail, that is one for Nigel and the party leadership to decide.

“But I do recognise that Chris Parry is a distinguished public servant, it’s good to have his support for Reform.”

Keir Starmer referred to the remark at PMQs last week, accusing Mr Farage of sowing “chaos and division”.