Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Nigel Farage's calls to scrap race discrimination laws would make Nazis proud, says Tory MP

Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi likened Mr Farage’s call to scrap race discrimination laws to Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi Minister of Propaganda

Matt Dathan
Friday 13 March 2015 10:19 EDT
Comments
Nadhim Zahawi, an Iraqi-born Conservative MP who sits on the Number 10 policy board, likened Mr Farage’s call to scrap race discrimination laws to Joseph Goebbels, the Reich Minister of Propoganda in Nazi Germany and one of Adolf Hitler’s closest advisers
Nadhim Zahawi, an Iraqi-born Conservative MP who sits on the Number 10 policy board, likened Mr Farage’s call to scrap race discrimination laws to Joseph Goebbels, the Reich Minister of Propoganda in Nazi Germany and one of Adolf Hitler’s closest advisers (Getty Images )

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The Tories appear to be so scared of Nigel Farage that they’ve resorted to comparing the Ukip leader to the Nazis.

Nadhim Zahawi, an Iraqi-born Conservative MP who sits on the Number 10 policy board, likened Mr Farage’s call to scrap race discrimination laws to Joseph Goebbels, the Reich Minister of Propoganda in Nazi Germany and one of Adolf Hitler’s closest advisers.

“It’s a remark that Goebbels would be proud of,” he told LBC Radio. He also branded the Ukip leader “deeply racist”.

Mr Zahawi added: “I came here from Iraq, but I absolutely feel British and proud of it. To be told this man could run the country and discriminate against you in eight weeks’ time is frightening. I am disgusted by that.”

Last night Mr Farage sought to clarify his comments and hit back at all three political leaders, who attacked the Ukip leader for his latest outspoken remarks. David Cameron described Mr Farage’s comments as “deeply concerning” and accused him of “attention seeking”, Ed Miliband said he was “wrong, divisive and dangerous” while the Lib Dem leader said Mr Farage "instills fear by confusing a lot of these things”.

Mr Farage said: "I suggest the real racists in our society are those who hear me say 'British' and think 'white'. I'm the only leader arguing for Britain's employers to favour British workers, no matter what their colour. Given the unemployment rates amongst young people , I'm now the only party leader standing up for them, black, white, or otherwise."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in