Furious Nigel Farage tied in knots in live interview - 'I didn't have a clue' (2024)

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was grilled in an LBC radio interview about repeating misinformation on social media about the accused killer in the Southport attack

Nigel Farage reacted furiously as he was taken to task for fuelling speculation about the Southport attack in a fiery interview.

The Reform UK leader was grilled by LBC over repeating misinformation on social media about the tragic incident, where three girls were fatally stabbed. In a clip posted on X/Twitter last week, Mr Farage questioned whether the truth about the attack was being withheld by the police and speculated that the suspect was known by the security services.

Pressed about platforming the incorrect theories, Mr Farage admitted he “hadn’t got a clue” what was true when he posted it. He refused to delete a video featuring the claims despite reports suggesting the information came from a fake news site amplified by Russian state TV.

And today he defended amplifying the claims, which have been blamed for fuelling riots across the country. He added: “People wanted to know the truth and if they had known the truth, the riots would not have been of the same magnitude.”

Mr Farage said it was "utterly legitimate" to ask questions about the suspect of the attack, which left three children dead. LBC presenter Tom Swarbrick agreed but accused him of not just asking questions, but of "filling the silence" with provocative claims.

The Clacton MP hit back: "I don't believe we're being told the full truth yet about this person". Mr Farage stopped short of accusing the police of outright lying but continued to speculate, saying: "I don't believe we're being told the full truth about this person."

But he furiously defended platforming the misinformation and said "at no point in the last week or in the previous 30 years have I ever encouraged the use of violence". Mr Swarbrick pointed out those accused of stirring up violence online have been told they'll feel the force of the law. Asked if he worries about a knock on the door from police, Mr Farage simply said: "No... what, for asking the truth about the perpetrator?"

The right-wing politician lambasted his critics, adding: "I have had nothing to do with any form of street violence now or at any point in my career and being arrested at this level. This level of incitement to violence against me, which is utterly baseless has led to a huge increase in my security." He then accused LBC of "splitting hairs" in its grilling of him.

Widespread anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim riots have ripped through the country in recent days, with a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham deliberately set on fire. Misinformation about the identity of the suspect in the Southport attack, including false claims that he was Muslim and/or arrived on a small boat, has been cited as the trigger point for the violence. It later emerged that Axel Rudakubana, a 17-year-old from Lancashire who was born in Cardiff, had been charged with the murders.

On Monday Mr Farage was slapped down by politicians, including Dame Priti Patel, after making claims about “two-tier policing” as he sought to compare the riots to Black Lives Matter protests. Dame Priti criticised the comments and said there was a "stark difference" between protests and violence. She said: "There's a clear difference between effectively blocking streets or roads being closed to burning down libraries, hotels, food banks and attacking places of worship. What we have seen is thuggery, violence, racism."

Labour MP Dawn Butler said: "You have the nerve to blame BLM for something you have stoked! Understand the consequences of your actions." Labour MP David Baines added: "Arsonist appalled at flames". Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, echoed: "Arsonist calls fire brigade, while explaining why fire was inevitable and justified…"