Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has slammed Nigel Farage as a “master of conspiracy” after he speculated that the RAF Fairford suspects could have links to Iran and small boats.
Following the news that five men had been arrested near the airbase on Sunday, Farage wrote in a post on X that he had been warning for months about “Iranian agents” coming into the UK across the Channel in small boats.
“We deserve to be told the truth about the Fairford bomb plotters’ identities,” he added.
These comments were echoed by a number of senior Reform figures despite police requesting people not speculate on the matter.
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The following day, Farage posted a video on social media in which he claimed to have received intelligence that the Iranian regime was using the small boats “to get their operatives into Britain”.
However, less than an hour later, police confirmed all five men arrested were British nationals who were all residents of London.
This was followed by the men being released on bail while the police investigate “multiple lines of inquiry”.
Farage has been criticised by many for his comments, which seem to have been debunked by recent developments.
Speaking to the Guardian on Monday, culture secretary Lisa Nandy labelled the Reform leader a “master of the conspiracy theory” who is “good at using the very real sentiment that a lot of people feel, of anxiety and distrust.”
Nandy added: “Particularly in this era of mis- and disinformation, I think he’s very agile at exploiting that for political gain.”
Meanwhile, Green Party peer Jenny Jones accused Farage of “irresponsible nonsense” adding: “Once again Farage’s attempts to whip up division by scapegoating some of the world’s most vulnerable people has left him with egg on his face.”
Farage has denied accusations he had linked the Fairford suspects to Iran and small boats.
When it was put to him by Sky News that he “suggested these people could have come on small boats,” the Clacton MP replied: “I didn’t. We have a massive problem, counter-terrorism are constantly worried.”
Well, he might want to look back at what he said then.