UK prime minister Rishi Sunak “hurt” after being called “Paki”

The incident sheds light on ongoing racism and discrimination within British political parties.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has become the target of a racial slur from a supporter of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, sparking outrage and highlighting ongoing issues of racism in British politics.

A supporter of the right-wing party referred to Sunak using the derogatory term "Paki," a slur commonly directed at individuals of South Asian descent, particularly those from Pakistan. The incident was exposed by a news channel that aired a recording of the campaigner using the slur, which was seen by Sunak's daughters.

Sunak expressed his deep hurt and anger, attributing the use of such language to the culture within the Reform UK party.

"When my two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign for Nigel Farage calling me an effing 'Paki,' it hurts and it makes me angry," Sunak stated. "I think he [Farage] has some questions to answer. When you see Reform candidates and campaigners seemingly using racist and misogynistic language and opinions without challenge, it tells you something about the culture within the Reform Party."

Nigel Farage, Chief of Reform UK, condemned the remarks as appalling and distanced himself from the campaigner's comments. Farage stated that individuals who did not reflect the views of his party or its supporters would be removed.

"I apologise for being set up by somebody who said vile things. One of the problems, of course, is that I single-handedly destroyed the BNP, so you're going to find some people who don't have a home to go to who come to us. When we find out who they are, we simply get rid of them," Farage said.

Despite Farage's condemnation, the incident has led to significant scrutiny of Reform UK's internal culture. Following the allegations of offensive and racist comments, the party dropped three parliamentary candidates. However, due to the registration deadline, these candidates will remain on the ballot despite no longer being endorsed by the party.

Nigel Farage, a controversial hard-right candidate making his eighth attempt to win a seat in Parliament, has himself sparked numerous controversies due to his bigoted speech during campaigns. According to the anti-racism organisation Hope Not Hate, Reform UK has been forced to withdraw at least 166 candidates since the beginning of the year due to offensive comments.

Rishi Sunak, the first person of colour to become the British Prime Minister, has consistently faced derogatory remarks for being of Indian origin. With the election coming up on the 4th of July, it remains to be seen if racially attacking the Prime Minister will benefit or damage the far-right Reform UK party.

This incident underscores the persistent issue of racism within British politics and raises questions about the inclusivity and integrity of political parties. As the election approaches, the impact of these events on voter sentiment and party dynamics will be closely watched.