Nigel Farage, the former UKIP leader and current president of Reform UK, has defended his controversial remarks claiming that young Muslims in the UK “do not subscribe to British values.” His comments, made during a Sky News interview last Sunday, have sparked widespread criticism and accusations of Islamophobia.
In a tense exchange with journalist Robert Peston on Wednesday night, Farage reiterated his stance, arguing that some Muslim communities are trying to “change our way of life.” He singled out the communities in Burnley, Bradford, and Leeds as examples.
Farage, 60, denied attempting to alienate Muslim communities and instead claimed that divisions within these communities are the real issue. “Muslims viewed different parts of their community as ‘other’,” he said. “That’s the problem.”
Peston challenged Farage’s perspective, suggesting that efforts should focus on building bridges between communities rather than alienating them. “What people feel when you characterize a group of people in that way is you are broadly saying they are ‘other’ and that is not helpful,” Peston argued.
Farage countered by stating, “No, they think we’re ‘other’, that’s the problem. I don’t think we’ve ever had before a group of people who think we should change our way of life to adapt to what they think. And I’ll tell you who the most worried people are – the most worried people are British Muslims, working, bringing up their kids, paying their taxes.”
The controversy began when Farage claimed on Sky News that a growing number of young people in the UK, specifically young Muslims, do not adhere to British values. His remarks drew sharp rebukes from across the political spectrum. Conservative Minister Steve Baker called his comments “ignorant and offensive,” while Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid Cymru, labeled them “outright Islamophobia.”
Farage pointed to local election results in Burnley, Bradford, and Leeds as evidence of his claims. In Burnley, several Labour councillors were re-elected as independents after leaving their party over disagreements on calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Bradford saw a similar trend with the election of independent councillors, reflecting internal party conflicts over the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The debate over Farage’s comments underscores ongoing tensions regarding multiculturalism and integration within the UK, highlighting the complex dynamics at play within diverse communities.
