RICHARD Madeley has clashed with Nigel Farage over the politician’s comments about Muslims – asking him “What on earth were you talking about?”
Farage sparked a backlash on Sunday by saying a “growing number of young people do not subscribe to British values”.
The Reform UK president later revealed he was talking about British Muslims – after claiming they “loathe much of what we stand for”.
Madeley grilled Farage about the comments in a heated Good Morning Britain interview today.
The presenter said IPSOS Mori polling from 2018 proved former UKIP and Brexit Party leader Farage was wrong,
He said: “They found absolutely conclusively Muslims in the UK attach more importance to being British than the general population.”
Madeley added: “85% feel they truly belong to Britain, 55% feel that their national identity as British is very important to them.
“That compares to 44% of the general population. So I’m bound to ask – what on earth were you talking about there?”
Farage replied: “What I said is that a growing number of young people do not subscribe to British values.
“In fact, they despise them in many ways. All of your viewers would have seen the local elections.
“In parts of our inner cities we saw sectarian politics – people voting purely on religious lines, councillors getting elected and screaming Allahu Akbar.”
He claimed that 23% of British Muslims aged between 18 and 24 think jihad is a good thing.
Farage added: “Now that of course is not a British value in any way at all.
“It’s a very disturbing trend that’s particularly prevalent among the young.”
Madeley said: “The poll that you just quoted from has been very heavily criticised as self-selecting.
“People were basically drawn in through a series of clicks and by the time they were asked to register their opinion they had already made their minds up.
“You also said that you could take someone to a particular street in Oldham and there would be nobody there who speaks English.
“Well again that’s just not true – the ONS says that only 0.7% of people in Oldham don’t speak English, less than one in a hundred.”
Farage claimed it was “undoubtedly true” a growing number of young people “don’t only subscribe to our values but support Hamas”.
The politician made his original remarks in an interview with Sky News presenter Trevor Phillips on Sunday.
He said: “We have a growing number of young people in this country who do not subscribe to British values.
“In fact, loathe much of what we stand for. I think we see them on the streets of London every Saturday.”
Asked by Phillips if he was referring to British Muslims, Farage answered: “We are.”
Tory MP Steve Baker slammed the comments – praising British Muslims in his Buckinghamshire constituency.
Baker said: “I am proud that in Wycombe, British Muslims are councillors, mayors, council chairs and parliamentary candidates.
NIGEL Farage will not stand as an MP at the election - in a huge relief for Rishi Sunak.
The leading Brexiteer decided last week now is “not the right time” to push for a Westminster seat.
The Reform Party President made the call after sleeping on the decision overnight following Rishi Sunak’s sudden election announcement.
His decision will be seen as a huge boost for the Tories who were fearful he could take support away from their core vote.
Farage, in a statement, said that he had thought “long and hard” about the decision.
He added: “I will do my bit to help in the campaign but now is not the right time to go further than that.”
Farage said he totally backed Reform Party leader Richard Tice and Tory defector MP Lee Anderson.
He added that he would be focused on the “grassroots campaign” in the US aiding his close ally Donald Trump’s bid to return to the White House.
“They are justices of the peace and the present High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire.
“They are teachers and headteachers, doctors and pillars of our society.”
He added: “These are my colleagues, friends and supporters and I am glad.
“They deserve much better than to be the object of this clear and intolerable bigotry.
“This is why I have always fought Islamophobia and why I will continue to do so, supporting the creation of a practical definition.”
