Nigel Farage was caught on tape talking disparagingly about “Black Africa” during the 2019 election campaign.
While in the I’m A Celebrity jungle, Mr Farage has clashed over race issues with YouTuber Nella Rose. He dismissed suggestions Black people do not like him because of his views on immigration, saying: “You’d be amazed, they do. If you came with me through South London, you’d be astonished.”
Now The Mirror has heard audio of Mr Farage in which he uses the phrase “Black Africa”. Speaking at the end of a podcast recording, the former Brexit Party leader complained about pressure he was coming under from Tory-supporting newspapers not to stand candidates in places Boris Johnson was hoping to make gains in the 2019 election.
Taking aim at the then Editor of the Daily Mail Geordie Greig, Mr Farage said: “I think the way Geordie is behaving is verging on Black Africa. The intimidation of candidates, it is not pretty.” The recording was made on November 12, 2019 a day after Mr Farage announced he would withdraw Brexit Party candidates in the 317 seats the Conservatives had won at the previous election.
Black Africa is an outdated term for the region of Africa south of the Sahara where Black people are in the majority. Mr Farage appears to be using the term to refer to corruption.
Georgie Laming, Director of Campaigns at HOPE not hate, said the recorded remarks came as “no surprise”. He added: “We have long known that Farage stirs up division for his own gain. So long as he remains in the spotlight, Farage must be called out.”
In an interview last weekend, Mr Farage’s girlfriend Laure Ferrari said suggestions he is racist “couldn’t be further from the truth”.
Mr Farage and Ms Rose have had several conversations about race during his stint on I’m A Celebrity. Early during the series she confronted him over his views on immigration, saying: “Why don’t Black people like you? You want us gone.”
A further clash came last week as the campmates talked about cultural appropriation and the Jamaican patois pronunciation of water. Mr Farage said: “If a white person does a black accent, that’s considered to be a crime. That they should be cancelled.” Ms Rose responded: “It depends on what context, if you’re taking the p*ss, then you’re taking the p*ss, but if you’re not then you’re not.” Mr Farage complained that it was “can’t win territory”.
The former Brexit leader who is now a presenter on GB News is pulling out all the stops to try to be king of the jungle. He has pre-recorded a selection of videos for the TV channel explaining to his fans how to vote. In one he pleads: “I’m asking you to vote remain, no seriously, vote for me to remain in the jungle. The easiest way to do it is to get the I’m A Celebrity app that gives you five free votes or you can phone or text.”
Mr Farage was an MEP from 1999 to 2020 when the country officially left the EU. He has also stood to be an MP seven times, but failed seven times.
