Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has come under fire after attributing recent riots in Leeds to the “politics of the subcontinent.”
His remarks, made while he attended the Republican National Convention in Minnesota, sparked significant controversy and criticism.
On Thursday, July 18, as reports of unrest surfaced from Leeds, Farage took to social media to express his views.
“The politics of the subcontinent are currently playing out on the streets of Leeds,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Within hours, he added, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
The disturbance in the Harehills area of Leeds led authorities to advise residents to stay indoors. Police were called to Luxor Street around 5 p.m. on Thursday in response to an “ongoing disturbance” involving agency workers and children.
The situation quickly escalated while the children were relocated to a safe location. Crowds gathered, and objects were hurled at the police, intensifying the chaos.
On Friday, the chief executive of Leeds City Council clarified that the disorder had been triggered by a “family incident.” Local residents suggested the conflict arose from a dispute involving children in care.
Farage’s comments provoked a strong backlash from various quarters. Labour MP Stella Creasy criticized him, saying his remarks were “ill-informed, ill-judged and ill-considered.”
She added, “It’s not a surprise that yet again he seeks to stoke division rather than calm tensions, but Mr. Farage would do well to do his homework before blowing his dog whistle.”
Alex Sobel, Labour’s MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, also rebuked Farage in a post on X.
“This is a situation you know nothing about and no one has briefed you on. You are inflaming a situation with misinformation. Politicians have a responsibility to not exacerbate situations, particularly with no knowledge of them. I expect you to issue an apology.”
Alex Sobel
Farage Completely Wrong
Nick Lowles, chief executive of Hope Not Hate, accused Farage of making “cheap political attacks from America.”
He asserted, “The ‘politics of the subcontinent’ has nothing to do with this trouble,” and claimed Farage had the facts “completely wrong.”
The unrest in Leeds drew condemnation from Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who expressed her dismay at the violent scenes.
“I am appalled at the shocking scenes and attacks on police vehicles & public transport in Leeds tonight. Disorder of this nature has no place in our society. My thanks go to West Yorkshire police for their response. I am being kept regularly updated.”
The riots, which saw a double-decker bus set alight and a police car overturned, are believed to have been sparked by the removal of four children from a family in Harehills by social services around 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Despite the chaos, police and fire crews were reportedly stationed about a mile away from the center of the disturbance, leaving residents to tackle the flames independently.
The fire service confirmed on Friday, that, following a risk assessment, it was deemed unsafe for their crews to intervene directly.
A fire service spokesman acknowledged the efforts of local community leaders who helped manage the situation, allowing the fires to be extinguished safely just after midnight.
“We want to assure the public that we were ready to respond promptly if lives or homes were in danger,” the spokesman added.
The events in Leeds and Farage’s controversial comments have further fueled the ongoing debate about the role of politicians in managing public sentiment and the responsibility they bear in preventing the escalation of tensions.
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