Tom Tugendhat has launched a scathing attack on Nigel Farage, accusing him of dangerous conduct during the UK riots—challenging both his credibility and the government’s response. Here’s the full story.
Tugendhat Attacks Farage
Conservative leadership contender Tom Tugendhat has launched a scathing attack against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for his role in amplifying the far-right riots which followed the fatal stabbing of three young girls in London.
Farage Stirs Controversy
In the days following the tragic murders, as the riots were still spreading across England and Northern Ireland, Nigel Farage, the occasionally present MP for Clacton, waded into the discussion of the riots with comments that, in typical Farage-fashion, immediately caused controversy.
Farage’s Viral Video
Farage posted a video of himself flanked by Union Jacks on X, formerly Twitter, where he amplified online misinformation, asking, “Was this guy being monitored by the security services? Some reports say he was, others less sure … I just wonder whether the truth is being withheld from us.”
Backlash Over Misinformation
Farage’s comments quickly went viral, leading many rioters to incorrectly believe that the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker and sparked an immediate backlash, with many accusing him of irresponsibly inciting panic and distrust during a time of national crisis.
Tugendhat: “Not Leadership”
During a speech in London, Tugendhat, the former Security Minister, condemned Farage’s “irresponsible and dangerous” decision to amplify false information about the incident by suggesting that the authorities were withholding information from the public.
“Irresponsible and Dangerous”
Tugendhat stated, “I want to be clear: this is not leadership. It is deeply irresponsible and dangerous.”
Social Media Criticised
Tugendhat’s criticism was not saved purely for Farage as, during his lengthy speech, he called out social media sites for amplifying the misinformation during the riots.
Criticism of Musk
He saved particular ire for X, formerly Twitter owner Elon Musk, for using their platform to spread fear and misinformation.
“Delusional and False”
Tugendhat called Musk’s suggestion that the riots showed that “civil war was inevitable” in the UK “delusional and simply false.”
Social Media Challenges
He stated, “The question as to how we operate on social media is a difficult one. I refuse to be on TikTok because the algorithm is set by a foreign dictatorship.”
Farage Targeted Again
In another sly attack on Farage, a frequent social media user, Tugendhat added, “Others make different choices.”
Critique of Starmer
Tugendhat also turned his attention to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s handling of the riots, despite Starmer being commended by many in the police and justice system for accelerating the judicial process in response to the unrest.
Lack of Leadership
Tugendhat stated, “If he [Starmer] had chaired a daily Cobra meeting – with senior police officers, the security services, the army and others – the prime minister could have given the police more of what they needed … [He] could have cancelled leave, extended mutual aid, and confronted the rioters earlier with an overwhelming police presence. We did not see this leadership.”
Farage’s “Two-Tier” Theory
Though Tugendhat denounced Farage’s claims of a “two tier” police system, a conspiracy theory Farage, along with other far-right agitators, has promoted, which suggests that police give preferential treatment to left-wing and ethnic minority protesters over far-right ones, he did criticise what he referred to as “inconsistent” policing during the riots.
No Two-Tier Policing
Tugendhat stated, “A two-tier approach suggests there is an active choice to treat communities differently. I don’t believe that that is the case.”
Call for Tougher Policing
However, he did call for the police to crack down harder on protests of all kinds, adding, “As security minister, I constantly had to encourage the police to make arrests on the day as crimes were being committed rather than waiting until after the protest had finished. Once people had crossed the line they needed to be met with immediate and uncompromising force.”
Anderson Responds
In response to Tugendhat’s accusations, Lee Anderson, a former Conservative who defected to Reform and now sits as one of the party’s five MPs, stated, “Once again we see the Tories try to gaslight and shift the blame from their failures and broken promises over mass immigration. It is no wonder that polling out today shows a third of Conservative supporters do not care who their next leader is.”
Tugendhat’s Leadership Vision
Tugendhat touched on other topics during his speech, laying out his platform should he become leader of the Conservatives with a series of familiar right-wing grievances.
Critique of “Critical Race Theory”
He despaired that “equality of opportunity” had become “critical race theory” and called for a shift towards celebrating the UK’s history rather than apologising for the past.
National Security Police
Additionally, Tugendhat called for the establishment of a new “national security police force” to address issues related to counter-terrorism and to streamline the existing structure, which he described as a “confused mix of national and local responsibilities.”
Speech and Leadership Prospects
Tom Tugendhat’s speech, though mainly a critique of Farage and the Labour government’s handling of the recent riots, was also a roadmap for his potential Conservative leadership, giving an intriguing look at what the party might be like under his tenure as leader.
Uncertain Impact
However, with the Conservative leadership race failing to capture headlines or the public’s imagination, it remains to be seen if his recent speech will do anything to secure his leadership or if his criticism will be lost in the noise of recent days.
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