Former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has said he believes Reform UK ‘flirts’ with ‘unsavoury elements’ and revealed he found Nigel Farage’s comments on Rishi Sunak’s cultural values ‘disturbing’.
Speaking to GB News, Kwasi Kwarteng said: “I think they flirt with some pretty unsavoury elements. And we can't pretend that racism doesn't exist. We can't pretend that a lot of pretty unsavoury characters are attracted to his message. I’m not saying he's racist. I mean, I know him quite well. I’ve been on his show, but I think there are people in the shadows.
“And the other thing that was quite disturbing in the course of the campaign was when Rishi Sunak made the mistake, and it was a terrible mistake of not staying at the D-Day [commemorations].
“Nigel then said, Oh, well, he doesn't get our cultural values.
“I know Nigel said [it was about class], but lots of people heard that and read something else into it. And it's that sort of ambiguity that people are concerned about.
“Whether you agree with him or not, I think [Farage’s comments] essentially endorse Putin's position. That's the danger. But I think it marked a high peak in this campaign. I think after that, people were less receptive to his message.
“I remember when in the 90s, people used to say, we've got a terrible problem with young people. It was true. But we managed to come back after a while in opposition.
“I think what Farage does, and it's very interesting, with his TikTok presence, is that he's a populist. He knows how to use popular media. He knows how to reach a section of the electorate that traditional politicians can't do. And I think that makes him very effective.
“But his message, I don't think, is a new one. It's not particularly attractive to me.”
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