Reform UK candidate, Ben Habib, became visibly agitated during a heated interview on BBC Newsnight, where he criticized an academic’s remarks as “garbage.” The interview with host Victoria Derbyshire focused on Reform UK’s new policy document, described as a “contract with the people,” which includes proposals on immigration and tax cuts.
Ben Habib, the co-deputy leader of Nigel Farage’s party, expressed frustration multiple times during the interview, particularly when discussing the party’s views on the teaching of British history in schools.
Heated Exchange Over History Teaching
Victoria Derbyshire presented a quote from British historian David Olusoga, who commented on Reform UK’s stance on history education. Olusoga criticized the party’s approach, saying, “Striving for balance in history is illiterate. This is not economics – this is about fomenting divisions in order to win votes.”
Habib responded angrily: “Absolute garbage! What foments division is the so-called notion of diversity, equality, and inclusion, which the government has put in place. This framework prioritizes ethnic, religious, and transgender minorities to the detriment of the majority. It’s a form of reverse racism. We would eliminate DEI and ensure all people are recognized as equal.”
Clashes Over NHS and Immigration Policies
The tension continued when Derbyshire asked Habib about NHS capacity, citing the health think tank The King’s Fund. Habib interrupted, questioning the think tank’s stance: “Is this think tank advocating that you take no steps to address the fundamental shortage?”
Derbyshire firmly reminded him she was asking the questions, to which Habib retorted: “No! Because what you’re saying – and this is common in politics and public policymaking – is that every journey is so demanding that you never take a step towards addressing the task at hand. The point is what they’re trying to say is that you can’t deal with it.”
He went on to assert that Reform UK would address NHS staffing issues and criticized immigration, calling it “the elephant in the room.” Habib accused Derbyshire of not allowing him to fully respond to her questions, adding to the overall tension of the interview.
This interview highlights the challenges and controversies surrounding Reform UK’s policies and their impact on public discourse.
