Keir Starmer has spiky jab at Nigel Farage after Reform MP’s ‘canine whistle’ rant
Keir Starmer lashed out at Nigel Farage after Reform chief whip Lee Anderson accused Labour of engaging in ‘dog whistle’ politics in a tense PMQs spat
PMQs: Keir Starmer responds to Anderson’s ‘dog whistle’ claims
Keir Starmer has lashed out at Reform after being accused of peddling “dog whistle” politics during a tense PMQs spat.
The PM urged Reform UK’s chief whip Lee Anderson to ask his leader, Nigel Farage, to explain “stories in today’s papers”. It comes after former classmates claimed Mr Farage had made racist and antisemitic remarks during his schooldays – which he denies.
After Mr Anderson challenged him in the Commons, Mr Starmer quipped he “didn’t realise he was quite so good at stand up comedy”. The Reform MP had said: “While the Labour frontbench continue to peddle their own form of dog whistle politics, Reform UK are getting on with the day job.”
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The remark was met with laughter and jeers. Mr Starmer responded: “He talks about dog whistle. Last week, his leader (Mr Farage) said he didn’t have time to condemn the racist comments of his fellow MP for Runcorn (Sarah Pochin).
“He also said he didn’t have time to condemn his party calling children in care evil. I wonder if he (Mr Anderson) could ask his leader next door to whether he’s got time for his explanation for the stories in today’s papers.”
It comes seven days after Mr Starmer branded the Reform chief “utterly spineless” for failing to condemn a Reform UK councillor for describing children in care as “downright evil”.
At last week’s PMQs, the PM slammed Mr Farage after the Reform leader said he didn’t have time to condemn the comments, which Mr Starmer called “utterly appalling”. When asked to condemn them, Mr Farage told MPs he only had 30 seconds, before going on to try to boast about a Reform-led councils action on asylum hotels.
The exchange last week came after Labour MP Darren Paffey raised the “vile” comments from Reform UK’s Andy Osborn, who is being investigated for an alleged breach of the members’ code of conduct.
Knowing that Mr Farage was set to ask a question, the PM said: “The comments about children in care being evil are utterly appalling. And now the member for Clacton (Mr Farage) has heard them. I’m sure he’ll want to condemn them right now.”
But Mr Farage said: “I’ve only got 30 seconds,” before going to ask the PM a question about asylum hotels. Mr Starmer criticised Mr Farage for failing to condemn his councillor’s comments. The PM also hit out at the Reform leader for a lack of action against MP Sarah Pochin after she claimed it drove her “mad seeing adverts full of Black and Asian people”.
In October, after Ms Pochin made her comments, Mr Farage said he was “unhappy” with the “ugly” comments made by Ms Pochin but insisted her intention was not to be racist.
At today’s PMQs, Mr Anderson asked the PM to give an assurance that council elections will go ahead in full next year. He goaded Mr Starmer: “Go on, be a man.”
