Reform UK Deputy Chairman Richard Tice erupted at a Channel 4 correspondent during a press conference, branding a question a 'revolting accusation' and telling the journalist he should be 'ashamed'.
Tice loses temper over Northern Ireland question
Channel 4 Senior Political Correspondent Paul McNamara attempted to ask Tice whether he was concerned about suggestions that Reform UK had helped inflame radical tensions in Northern Ireland. This follows comments by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who urged society to respond to Henry Nowak's death with 'cold rage'.
McNamara began: 'You've been asked whether or not you condemn the violence that we saw in Northern Ireland overnight, perhaps in part because of comments Nigel Farage made last week in relation to the Henry Nowak...'
Tice immediately interjected: 'Nonsense, absolutely ridiculous. Paul, that is outrageous. You know it is. End of story.'
McNamara tried to continue, saying: 'I'm just asking,' but Tice cut him off, snapping: 'And I've just answered. Thank you very much, Paul.'
The correspondent argued he hadn't yet been able to ask his full question, but Tice refused to let him speak, declaring: 'That's a revolting accusation and you should be ashamed of yourself.'
Background to the row
Reform UK has been accused of escalating racial tensions following the murder of Henry Nowak. Police arrested the 18-year-old as he lay dying after his killer falsely accused him of racism. Vickrum Digwa, 23, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder.
After the sentencing, Farage delivered an 'emergency address' in which he claimed Nowak's treatment should demonstrate that 'white lives matter just as much as black lives' and urged people to respond with 'pure cold rage'.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Farage of exploiting Nowak's death to create 'grievance and division'. Starmer said: 'The grieving family have asked us not to respond in the way that the leader of Reform has responded. They have lost their son in the most appalling circumstances, and they make a simple plea of us as human beings to please not exploit that.'
He added: 'Exploiting this tragedy to create grievance and division would be wrong in any circumstances, but to do it when the family are expressly saying 'please don't' is unforgivable. It shows exactly who he is.'
Farage's 'white lives matter' quote was displayed on a banner during protests in Belfast on Tuesday evening, after a Sudanese man brutally stabbed a man in his 40s, leaving him with life-altering injuries.
