At the Makerfield byelection count, Labour peer Thangam Debbonaire clashed with Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin during a Sky News interview, asking: "You don't like being on television with brown people, do you Sarah?" The heated exchange also touched on a £5 million gift from a billionaire to Nigel Farage, which is under investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner.
Dispute Over Farage's Gift
Pochin defended Farage, claiming the gift was received before his political career and thus didn't need declaring. She also alleged that the Labour government had spitefully removed Farage's security. Debbonaire countered, stating Parliament provides security and accused Pochin of talking rubbish.
References to Previous Comments
Debbonaire referenced Pochin's past remarks on TalkTV, where she complained about ads featuring black and Asian people. Pochin had said it "drives me mad" and claimed such ads don't reflect society. During the interview, Debbonaire challenged Pochin to deny the quote.
Clash Over Domestic Violence Video
The pair also argued over a video Pochin posted urging the England team to "keep winning" to prevent domestic violence. Debbonaire accused her of not standing up for women and implying only foreign men pose a danger. Pochin defended the video, citing a link between team losses and increased domestic violence.
Debbonaire's Stance
After the interview, Debbonaire told the Guardian she stands by her comments, stating she will call out prejudicial beliefs. She highlighted recent far-right riots and urged politicians to challenge Reform UK's rhetoric.
