Keir Starmer ignites bitter war of words with Nigel Farage, branding him ‘toxic disgrace’
The Reform UK leader claimed one in three schoolchildren in the city do not speak English as their first language and referred to it as the “cultural smashing of Glasgow”.
Keir Starmer has reopened a war of words with Nigel Farage (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer reignited his war of words with Nigel Farage, claiming the Reform UK leader is a “toxic, divisive disgrace”. The Reform UK leader claimed one in three schoolchildren in the city do not speak English as their first language and referred to it as the “cultural smashing of Glasgow”. But the Prime Minister told reporters: “He’s a disgrace. He’s a toxic, divisive disgrace. All he wants to do is tear communities apart.”
Sir Keir said he was “proud” of how diversity and compassion are celebrated in Scotland, and that he wants to “serve every community in Scotland”.
“I don’t go around picking and choosing, and trying to divide. I think it’s particularly poor that he’s reached right into children now to start that divide.
“All he’s interested in is the politics of grievance and the politics of division.”
He said the Clacton MP was doing it to distract from allegations of racist comments in the past that he “can’t give a proper explanation for” and why he is not launching an inquiry into “pro-Russian links” in his party.
“I’ll tell you why he doesn’t want to do that – because they’re a pro-Putin party,” he added.
But it comes hours after Labour was accused of “electoral fraud” after postponing votes for powerful new regional mayors.
Local Government Secretary Steve Reed delayed elections in four regions until 2028, even though candidates have been chosen and campaigning is underway for polls previously due next May.
Critics accused the Government of running scared because it feared a series of humiliating losses, and an analysis of recent polling by website Electoral Calculus found that Reform UK was the party most likely to win all four elections.
The regions where mayor votes are delayed include Greater Essex, Norfolk & Suffolk, Hampshire & the Solent, and Sussex & Brighton.
Reform leader Nigel Farage said: “The government are basically committing electoral fraud upon the electorate.
“It just shows the total and utter disdain this country has for liberty, democracy and freedom.”
Mr Farage added: “There really is no good reason why these elections should not go ahead. But then of course there is one very big reason why these elections should not go ahead, and there’s no prizes for guessing.
“Electoral Calculus put out their predictions an hour ago, that Reform would have won all four of these contests, and would have won them quite comfortably.
“The government are basically committing electoral fraud upon the electorate who had every opportunity to put Reform mayors in place.”
Speaking in a campaign video, the Reform UK leader highlighted how nearly one in three pupils in the city speak English as a second language, which he described as “cultural smashing of Glasgow”.
He added it was unfair to taxpayers that “people like this should come into Britain illegally”, adding that his party would make it a “really big issue” in next year’s election.
