What's happened
Reform UK candidate Ian Gribbin's controversial statements praising Hitler's offer of neutrality and disparaging Winston Churchill have caused outrage. Nigel Farage's party faces backlash as Gribbin's comments on women and Churchill come to light. Reform UK has defended Gribbin's remarks, stating they were not endorsements but intended to provoke debate.
What's behind the headline?
What the papers say
According to The Independent, Nigel Farage defended Gribbin's comments as 'ordinary pub talk,' while The Guardian reported Reform UK's spokesperson saying the remarks were 'probably true.' Sky News highlighted Gribbin's apology for his comments, emphasizing his regret and the context of his family history. The Mirror focused on the criticism faced by Reform UK and Nigel Farage's response, highlighting the party's need to address the controversy.
How we got here
Ian Gribbin, a Reform UK candidate, made controversial statements online praising Hitler's offer of neutrality and denigrating Winston Churchill. His remarks on women and Churchill have drawn significant backlash. Reform UK's response to the controversy has raised questions about the party's stance on historical figures and societal issues.
Go deeper
- How has Reform UK responded to the backlash?
- What impact could this controversy have on Reform UK's election prospects?
- Why are Gribbin's comments considered controversial?
Common question
More on these topics
-
Adolf Hitler was a German politician and leader of the Nazi Party. He rose to power as the chancellor of Germany in 1933 and then as Führer in 1934.
-
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the northwestern coast of the European mainland.
-
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Headquartered at Broadcasting House in Westminster, London, it is the world's oldest national broadcaster, and the largest broadcaster in the world by number of employees.
-
Reform UK is a populist political party in the United Kingdom. It was founded as The Brexit Party with a focus on Euroscepticism in November 2018, until being renamed on 6 January 2021.
-
Nigel Paul Farage is a British politician. He has been leader of the Brexit Party since 2019, and served as Member of the European Parliament for South East England from 1999 until the United Kingdom's exit from the EU in 2020.
-
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008.