Nigel Farage has ignited a bitter row just days before the crunch Makerfield by-election by claiming Britain is a 'two-tier state against white people' and vowing to evict all foreign nationals from social housing if Reform UK were in power.
Farage's Controversial Claims
In his first Substack essay, the Reform UK leader stated that the British state is no longer working for everyone in the country. He referenced the murder of student Henry Nowak, who was handcuffed by police as he lay dying after his killer, Vickrum Digwa, claimed to have been the victim of a racist attack. Farage argued that this case exemplifies how the system treats white people unfairly.
Farage's essay, titled 'Britain Is A Two Tier State – Against White People', lists housing, healthcare, education, policing, the military, and the workplace as areas adversely affected by what he describes as 'deeply anti-white racism'. He wrote: 'Across public and economic life, the power of the Government has been brought to bear on tackling 'inequalities', in a narrow and specific sense. Anything which is seen to disadvantage a minority group is cracked down on. Anything which benefits a minority and damages the White British is likely to be left alone.'
Housing Policy Proposal
On housing, Farage claimed that rules giving priority to local people and ties to the area have been stripped away over the last century. He proposed that under a Reform government, foreign nationals in social housing would be given a three-month grace period to move to private rented accommodation, or they would lose their right to remain in the country and face deportation.
Political Reactions
Reform MP Suella Braverman expressed pride in Farage's piece, stating, 'I believe that white people are treated more unfairly than non-white people.' She argued that the murder of Henry Nowak should be a wake-up call that white people are treated differently by police.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, however, condemned Farage's remarks, saying he 'should take his nasty hate and anger and division somewhere else frankly'. She added that people in her area have had enough of such rhetoric and that serious challenges like living standards need to be addressed.
The by-election in Makerfield sees Reform's candidate Robert Kenyan in a tight race with Labour's Andy Burnham, who is reportedly set to launch a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer if he wins. Polling suggests Rupert Lowe's Restore party could split the anti-immigrant right-wing vote, potentially handing victory to Labour.
