Achi news desk-
Mr Farage had demanded a place on the main panel of the BBC’s four-way leaders’ debate, which Fiona Bruce will host this Thursday.
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Tuesday. the broadcaster announced that they were adding an extra program as it was “evident from a wide range of opinion polls that support for Reform UK has been growing”.
Mr Farage said he was “pleased” that the BBC had recognized the growing support for his party.
I am pleased that the BBC recognizes that support for Reform UK has been growing in this election.
We must now be included in the head to head debate with Sunak and Starmer on June 26th. https://t.co/c4icGbiomo
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 18, 2024
However, he said it should also be included in the head-to-head debate between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer on June 26.
The SNP’s spokesperson on Europe and the European Union, Alyn Smith, said that the BBC should now organize a special leaders’ debate on Brexit.
“Figures like Farage, and his fellow Brexit supporters, Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, must be taken to task for the damage they have caused by supporting the harshest possible form of Brexit – the public broadcaster cannot let them down. hook
“The SNP is the only party in this campaign that promises a full return to the European Union, and an end to the austerity and economic damage that Westminster’s damaging Brexit has caused.”
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A statement from the public broadcaster said: “The BBC has been reviewing its program schedules during the General Election campaign.
“He added this [Question Time] programme, and the new prime time scheduling slot for the Panorama interview, reflect the fact that it is clear across a wide range of opinion polls that support for Reform UK has been growing.
“As a public service broadcaster the BBC recognizes that the party’s policies and proposals deserve scrutiny at a time convenient for mass audiences.
“For the sake of fairness we have offered the same scheduling opportunity to the Green Party.”
Meanwhile, Reform UK is considering suing a company it has contracted to vet candidates.
The party has been hit by a series of revelations about the online activities of some of its prospective MPs, from links to a British fascist leader to suggestions that the UK should have remained neutral in the fight against the Nazis and admiration of “great” Hitler. ” the ability to inspire action.
Reform said it was consulting lawyers after paying Vetting.com £144,000 to scrutinize more than 400 of its applicants in April.
The company said its working assumption was that it would have had the summer to complete the work.
But Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the General Election for July 4.
Mr Farage told LBC Radio: “Have we struggled with one or two candidates? Yes, we have.
“We paid a large amount of money to a well-known betting company, and they didn’t do the job.
“We have been stitched up politically, and that has given us problems. And I accept that and I’m sorry for that.”
He dismissed as “absolute nonsense” questions about candidate Jack Aaron, who is standing against Defense Secretary Grant Shapps in Welwyn Hatfield, over comments about Hitler’s personality traits.
Mr Aaron said in a social media post in 2022 that Hitler was “basically incoherent in his writing and logic” but was “brilliant” at using certain personality traits “to inspire people to action”.
Asked about the suggestion that Mr Aaron thought Hitler was “great”, Mr Farage said: “This is complete nonsense. I guess … if you were to ask me, you know, was Hitler a good public speaker? And I say yes – suddenly I’m a fan.
“This is nonsense.”
Mr Aaron told The Times: “Yes, Hitler was as great as he was very bad. How is that controversial to say, given that he was able to turn the Germans to such destructive actions, including killing many members of my own family?
“I strongly believe, as a psychologist, in separating intelligence and talent from morality, so that we can adequately diagnose problems and help people.”
The Times also reported that Queen’s Park and Maida Vale candidate Angela Carter-Begbie questioned the King’s loyalty to Britain, claiming he was “under the WEF” – a reference to the World Economic Forum, which holds an annual meeting Davos for global leaders and businesses. .
She is reported to have said that it was “about time King Charles showed where he really lies (sic)”, adding that she was “not a fan”.
Vetting.Com is co-owned by Colin Bloom, who was Boris Johnson’s No 10 faith adviser, but the company insists it is “politically neutral”.
Mr Farage said: “This is the stitching up of an establishment. The owner of the betting company has deep ties to the Tory Party and they have serious questions to answer.”
A spokesperson for Vetting.com said: “A few months ago, we approached all the main political parties in the UK to offer our automated background screening services. We were very pleased to be invited to help Reform.
“Everyone’s working assumption was that the election would be in the autumn, giving us the summer to complete this work.
“Given the specific need for applicant consent, as well as our systems requiring basic personal data such as dates of birth, our automated software was unable to process Reform applicants with the data provided when it was provided.
“We do not intend to litigate this publicly, and we send our best wishes to Reform as they shake up the UK political landscape.
“Mr Bloom has had nothing to do with the UK Conservative Party since 2022 and remains politically neutral.”
