General election latest: Farage under fire after claiming Sunak ‘doesn’t care about our culture’

Nigel Farage has come under fire for claiming that Rishi Sunak doesn’t care about “our culture”.

Speaking after the Prime Minister left the D-Day 80th anniversary events early, the Reform UK leader told Sky News: “It shows the man doesn’t understand. He is not patriotic. He doesn’t care about our history, our culture.”

But Mr Farage was criticised by Labour’s Shabana Mahmood who accused him of engaging in “dog whistle” politics.

Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the shadow justice secretary said: “This is a classic Nigel Farage trick. Lean just far enough to signal a bit of a dog whistle and then lean straight back and sound perfectly reasonable…”

Tory cabinet minister Mel Stride added on the show: “I think they were deeply regrettable comments… I feel very uncomfortable with that.”

The Reform UK leader defended his comments as he appeared on the show via video link from Clacton, where he is running as an election candidate.

He said: “I know what your question is leading at – 40 per cent of our contribution in World War One and World War Two came from the Commonwealth.

“He is utterly disconnected by class, by privilege from how the ordinary folk in this country feel. He revealed that, I think spectacularly, when he left Normandy early.”

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