Nigel Farage sparks furious row as he wades into Leeds riots: 'Politics of the subcontinent!'
Nigel Farage's comments on the Leeds riots have sparked backlash
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Nigel Farage has sparked a furious row online with his comments on the Leeds riots, with a local MP slamming him for “inflaming a situation with misinformation”.
Yesterday evening, riots broke out on a residential street in Hareshill following a disturbance involving social services and children, who were quickly taken away to a safe space.
Meanwhile, crowds gathered as police soon swarmed the area, and widespread chaos broke out, with members of the public overturning a police car and setting a double-decker bus on fire.
The Reform UK leader has blamed the unrest in Leeds on the “politics of the subcontinent”.
Nigel Farage's comments on the Leeds riots have sparked backlashPAThe Clacton MP, who is currently in America attending the Republican National Convention in support of Donald Trump, issued a statement online reacting with fury to the disturbance.
“The politics of the subcontinent are currently playing out on the streets of Leeds,” he wrote. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Local Labour MP Alex Sobel quickly fired back at Farage and called on him to issue an apology for his comments.
He replied to the Clacton MP online: “This is a situation you know nothing about and no one has briefed you on.
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Widespread chaos broke out on the streets of Hareshill
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“You are inflaming a situation with misinformation.
“Politicians have a responsibility to not exacerbate situations particularly with no knowledge of them.
“I expect you to issue an apology.”
The Reform leader quickly snapped back minutes later: “When will you and the Labour Party apologise for irresponsible mass migration?”
West Yorkshire Police earlier issued a statement where they strongly discouraged people from speculating on the cause of the unrest, and have dispelled "incorrect information" which is circulating online about the potential culprits.
Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, has also urged the public to refrain from speculating and sharing unproven information online.
Members of the public overturned a police car and set a double-decker bus on fire
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'I’m reassured no one has been seriously injured but suggest those who are using this to inflame community tensions to think again,' she wrote.
She later added: “I would urge everyone to refrain from speculation on social media and if members of the public believe they have footage of criminal behaviour, I would ask for this to be passed on to the police.”
Police have said that no one has been reported injured so far, adding they believe the disorder was "instigated by a criminal minority intent on disrupting community relations".
Officers reviewing footage of the incident say all criminal offences would be investigated and "the full weight of the law" will be brought against those responsible.
Harehills is a suburb located in east Leeds with a population of just over 30,000 people living across 11,000 homes.
It was ranked among the most deprived areas in Leeds in 2020.