Representatives from the UK’s seven main parties took part in ITV’s election debate on 1 December. During the debate, Labour’s shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon clashed with the Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage. And in doing so, he highlighted the danger of Farage’s relationship with US president Donald Trump.
Because in this exchange, Burgon exposed Farage’s position on UK independence when he said:
There’s nothing independent about taking instructions…when Donald Trump phones up
https://twitter.com/Corbynator2_0/status/1201231074929627138?s=20
Farage could do nothing but smirk.
LBC Interview
On 31 October, Farage interviewed Trump on LBC. During the interview, the two men discussed the UK’s relationship with the EU and trade deals with the US. In addition, Trump urged Farage and Boris Johnson to “get together” for the upcoming election. Trump described Farage and Johnson as “two brilliant people”.
Online reaction
People online were quick to react to Burgon’s response to Farage:
Richard Burgon hit the nail on the head when he said to Farage
"There's nothing independent about taking instructions from D.Trump when he rings up LBC."
Farage's version of Brexit isn't about any independence but about turning UK into a colony of Trump's America #ITVdebate
— Pileus Media (@thepileus) December 1, 2019
Labour's Richard Burgon takes down Farage "The Brexit party talks about independence. There's nothing independent about taking instructions on LBC when Donald Trump phones-up" #ITVDebate #richardburgon https://t.co/juu3rmq7gq#VoteLabour2019 #GE2019 #BrexitBritain #JC4PM
— Jerry Hicks (@JerryHicksUnite) December 1, 2019
A dangerous triple act
Since that Trump interview, Johnson promised not to extend the Brexit transition period beyond 2020. Then Farage agreed his Brexit Party would stand aside in constituencies taken by the Conservatives in the 2017 election. It appeared as if a deal had been struck.
So Farage and Johnson’s close relationship with Trump shows their post-Brexit UK would be anything but independent. And the NHS, if further opened up to the US market, would be anything but safe.
Farage stooped even further
And that wasn’t all. During the ITV debate, Farage’s unhealthy relationship with Trump was exposed further. Disgracefully, Farage attempted to defend Trump’s notorious misogynistic comments:
https://twitter.com/Doozy_45/status/1201248565768675333?s=20
People viewing the debate were disgusted:
.@Nigel_Farage on #ITVLeadersDebate defends Donald Trump boasting about sexually assaulting women by saying “Men say dreadful things sometimes” after “a night out with a drink”.
Absolutely outrageous. All leaders should stand against misogyny, not make excuses for it.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) December 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/startmakingsens/status/1201271480077750274?s=20
Choice ahead for the British people
Nobody who says or defends such comments should be anywhere near public office or have any public influence.
And the British people can make sure people like Farage, Johnson, and Trump have little or no influence in British politics and the NHS on 12 December. So it’s time to support a party that has the interests of the British people and the NHS at heart.
Featured image via Twitter – Corbynator 2.0
