𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Nigel Farage hit back at Sir Keir Starmer after the Prime Minister branded him “spineless” in a racism row. Sir Keir took the swipe after the Reform leader was accused of racist behaviour during his schooldays, which Mr Farage denies.

The Prime Minister said the Brexiteer does not have a “good track record” because he failed to take action against Reform MP Sarah Pochin over remarks about the number of ethnic minorities appearing in TV adverts. Speaking as he travelled to the G20 summit in South Africa, Sir Keir said: “He needs to explain those comments.

“I put that challenge indirectly to him at Prime Minister’s Questions. He needs to explain the comments, or alleged comments that were made, and he needs to do that as soon as possible.

“He hasn’t got a good track record in relation to this because Sarah Pochin, his MP, made some clearly racist comments and Nigel Farage has done absolutely nothing about it.

“The man is spineless. If that had been someone in my party, I’d have dealt with it straight away.

“He needs to explain the latest allegations and whilst he’s at it he needs to explain why he’s too spineless to take action in relation to what is obvious racism in the comments of his fellow MP.

“So far he’s said absolutely nothing about it. He’s got plenty to say about plenty on things, apart from showing some leadership when it comes to racism.”

But the Clacton MP branded Sir Keir’s comments as “utterly ludicrous”.

Mr Farage said: “For the weakest Prime Minister in living memory to call me spineless is utterly ludicrous.

“The voters will have their say on both of us at the ballot box next May.”

A Reform source added that the PM was “desperate, sinking in the polls and lashing out”.

It comes after Mr Farage earlier this week denied claims reported in the Guardian of racist behaviour while at Dulwich College as a teenager and has threatened to take legal action.

Sir Keir had called on Mr Farage to explain himself over the allegations during PMQs on Wednesday.