Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, has claimed his “security situation has changed significantly” following accusations that he incited recent riots across the UK.
Speaking to GB News, Farage said the narrative put out by the “liberal left against conservative figures is frankly inciteful”.
He attributed the change in his security to “left and right commentators, conservatives, Labour saying that I was inciting the riots as if somehow, I was linked with the Tommy Robinson wing of politics”.
The UK battled weeks of unrest earlier this year following a knife attack in Southport, which sparked violent demonstrations in several UK cities.
Nigel Farage faced claims that he had incited the riots in the UK
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Farage told GB News: “I genuinely believe in my case, that what’s been said by some national broadcasters literally is insightful.”
He added: “”Remember, Wes Streeting only held his seat against a pro-Gaza candidate by simply a few hundred votes?
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“I think they’re aware of that threat, electoral threat, to them and this is the sectarianisation of politics.
“I don’t think they understand some of the real hatred that is building up on the left towards anybody who expresses even a vaguely conservative view.
“Now, look we talk about the threat from the far right. Of course it exists. We know there are people out there that love violence.
“I honestly don’t believe the far-right is very big in Britain. I don’t think most of those people out on demonstrations were members of the far-right.
Riots broke out in the UK earlier this year
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“They were just enraged people who are really, really worried about what’s happening in our towns and cities.”
The controversy began when Farage questioned the handling of the Southport stabbing incident on social media.
Following the attack, in which three young girls died, Farage posted on X (formerly Twitter): “I just wonder whether the truth is being withheld from us. Something is going horribly wrong in our once beautiful country.”
Farage later defended his remarks, saying: “I think it’s perfectly reasonable to ask what is happening to law and order in our country. And who are the perpetrators? Why? Very legitimate questions I was asking.”
The Reform UK leader has defended his comments
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Farage’s comments sparked widespread criticism from politicians and media figures.
Brendan Cox, husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, slammed Farage’s remarks, saying they made him “nothing better than a Tommy Robinson in a suit”.
Former police counterterrorism chief Neil Basu directly called out Farage, accusing him of giving the EDL “succor, undermining the police, creating conspiracy theories, and giving a false basis for the attacks on the police”.