Nigel Farage gave a car-crash interview on BBC Breakfast as he was asked about Raheem Kassam’s comments calling Kemi Badenoch a “Nigerian scammer.”
On Tuesday morning, Farage was interviewed by Sally Nugent on the breakfast show when he was asked about Kassam’s comments.
Last week, Kassam, who is a Reform supporter, former UKIP adviser and friend of Farage’s, said in a post on X that Tory leader Badenoch is a “Nigerian scammer,” adding: “Don’t give her your credit card number and bank account details.”
Kassam also said: “So Kemi, tell us the truth. Are you a walking gaffe or an illegal immigrant?”
Since then, Reform figures such as Robert Jenrick and Danny Kruger have refused to condemn Kassam’s actions.
Now, party leader Farage has done the same.
When Nugent asked Farage if he thought the comments were racist, he replied that Kassam is “currently in America” and is “of Indian heritage.”
“Does that mean he can’t be racist,” Nugent hit back.
Farage went on to defend Kassam’s words by saying that Badenoch has previously not told the truth about things so the “scammer” description is accurate.
The Clacton MP bizarrely argued the controversy was a “cultural argument” about Badenoch’s national identity.
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Nugent repeatedly tried to get a clear answer from Farage about whether or not he thought the comments were racist, but to little avail.
The Reform leader repeatedly played down the issue, saying “so what” when Nugent reminded him that Kassam was a close associate of his.
A visibly angry Farage seemed to ignore the significance of the comments, much to Nugent’s bemusement.
“You are the leader of Reform UK and I’m not hearing an answer from you,” she said.
Eventually, an indignent Farage said he did not believe the comments were racist but was “over the top.”
The tense exchange and Farage’s fury at scrutiny then prompted Nugent to ask the politician a very simple question: does he want to be prime minister?
“Yes,” he replied, as Nugent continued: “I just wonder, if you become prime minister of this country, you will face scrutiny at a level that goes beyond what you’re facing now. I just wonder how much you’ll enjoy that.”
Farage then started moaning about his security.
Reacting to the exchange on X, many described it as a ‘car-crash,’