Cleverly Questions Farage on Parliament's Role

Tory leadership contender James Cleverly has publicly criticized Nigel Farage, urging him to choose between being a serious politician or a social media influencer. This rebuke comes as riots have erupted across the UK, with Cleverly accusing the Reform UK leader of making provocative statements aimed at generating online traffic rather than contributing to meaningful political discourse. He emphasized the responsibility politicians have to communicate thoughtfully, especially when their words can have significant real-world consequences. Cleverly's comments were directed at Farage's controversial claims regarding "two-tier policing" and his remarks surrounding the Southport stabbings, which have drawn parallels to right-wing conspiracy theories. He stressed the importance of Parliament as a serious institution and questioned whether Farage views it as merely a platform for gaining attention and monetizing content. Another leadership candidate, Mel Stride, echoed Cleverly's sentiments, stating that Farage would not be welcome in the Conservative Party under his leadership. Stride condemned Farage's response to the riots as "irresponsible and wrong," further criticizing his attempts to link the unrest to a supposed conspiracy involving the government and media. Farage has continued to defend his statements, alleging that the truth about the Southport stabbings was being concealed. He claimed that misinformation surrounding the suspect's background contributed to the violence, asserting that false narratives were used to incite far-right groups.