Anna Turley, who chairs the Labour Party, has written to Nigel Farage saying his silence is ‘deafening’ and calling on him to withdraw the whip from Sarah Pochin today
Nigel Farage faces calls to break his “deafening” silence after a Reform MP said seeing adverts full of Black and Asian people “drives me mad”.
Anna Turley, who chairs the Labour Party, has written to the Reform UK leader demanding to know why he has not responded to comments made by Sarah Pochin. Responding to a caller’s question on Talk TV at the weekend, Runcorn and Helsby MP Ms Pochin said: “It drives me mad when I see adverts full of black people, full of Asian people, you know people who are anything other than white”.
Ms Turley wrote to the Reform chief: “Sarah Pochin’s comments were a disgrace. And your silence is deafening.
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“Saying that seeing black and Asian people in TV adverts “drives me mad” is racist. You have the power to withdraw the Reform UK whip from Sarah Pochin. You should do it today.”
On Sunday Health Secretary Wes Streeting said Ms Pochin’s remarks were a “disgrace” and said the silence from Mr Farage on the row “says it all”. Deputy PM David Lammy said the Reform leader should sack her over the “terribly racist” remarks.
Ms Pochin apologised for offence she may have caused by saying “it drives me mad when I see adverts full of Black people, full of Asian people”. Amid a major backlash, she said she hadn’t meant to offend anyone and the comments were “phrased poorly”.
But she doubled down on her claim that many adverts are “unrepresentative of British society”. Mr Streeting said: “She’s only sorry that she’s been caught and called out, and she said the quiet bit loud.”
Mr Lammy told reporters on Sunday: “Her statements were mean, were nasty and were racist. Our country is so much better than this. Unbelievably nasty statements.
“All of us are neighbours in this country. All of us, recognise the contribution of the Windrush generation, black Britons particularly in so many areas of our life. These were terribly racist remarks.
“Nigel Farage should sack her effectively and certainly say something and apologise for what she has said. I’m disgusted by what she said, not just on behalf of myself or my family or the people of London, but on behalf of our country.”
The Mirror has contacted Reform UK for comment.
Anna Turley’s letter in full
Dear Nigel,
I am writing to you regarding comments made by Reform MP Sarah Pochin on Talk TV on Saturday 25 October.
Responding to a caller’s question, Sarah Pochin said: “It drives me mad when I see adverts full of black people, full of Asian people, you know people who are anything other than white”.
Following the widespread criticism that she subsequently received, Sarah Pochin was forced to issue a statement on X in which she said that her comments were “phrased poorly” and added that “I unreservedly apologise for any offence caused.”
However, in the same statement she doubled down on her previous comments, saying that “British TV adverts have gone DEI mad”.
It is not clear what, if anything, Sarah Pochin thinks she has done wrong.
At the time of writing you have made no public comment about Sarah Pochin’s remarks, which is uncharacteristically reticent of you. I am writing to you to urgently clarity Reform’s official position:
- Do you endorse Sarah Pochin’s comments? And can you confirm if her views on race are welcome in Reform UK?
- Will you withdraw the Reform UK whip from Sarah Pochin?
Sarah Pochin’s comments were a disgrace. And your silence is deafening.
Saying that seeing black and Asian people in TV adverts “drives me mad” is racist. You have the power to withdraw the Reform UK whip from Sarah Pochin. You should do it today.
I look forward to your urgent response.
Anna Turley MP
Chair of the Labour Party