Labour's Wes Streeting calls for debate with Nigel Farage to take on 'toxic rhetoric' in 'battle of ideas'

16 June 2024, 12:06 | Updated: 16 June 2024, 13:04

Labour's Wes Streeting has called for a debate with Nigel Farage
Labour's Wes Streeting has called for a debate with Nigel Farage. Picture: Alamy/LBC

By Kit Heren

Wes Streeting has said he would welcome a debate with Nigel Farage as a chance to expose his "toxic rhetoric".

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The Shadow Health Secretary told LBC's Lewis Goodall that his party should take on the Reform UK leader in "the battle of ideas".

Reform have called for a one-on-one debate between Mr Farage and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, which Sir Keir's party had not previously responded to.

Mr Streeting said he didn't underestimate Mr Farage as a campaigner, but that "he'd never been called to account for anything, by way of delivery."

He said: "I think the best thing that the Labour Party could do, to take the wind out of the sails of the populist who kind of promise this illusory change at the end of the tunnel, which never quite arrives, is to deliver real change in government."

Wes Streeting joins Lewis Goodall | Watch again in full

Mr Streeting said that some of Mr Farage's comments about Muslims in the UK had "dehumanised people". The Reform leader was criticised last month for saying that a "growing number" of young Muslims "do not subscribe to British values".

Mr Streeting said: "I think that when you demonise people for for being different, I think that has real world consequences," he said.

Asked if Mr Farage was "toxic", Mr Streeting said that "some of his rhetoric has been".

Lewis Goodall: 'It's a combination of the dishonesty of Boris Johnson, the fecklessness of Liz Truss, and the political lack of ability of Rishi Sunak'

"I'd happily have a debate with him about this," he added.

But Mr Streeting also joined other politicians in condemning the two recent physical attacks on Mr Farage on the campaign trail, both of which have resulted in criminal charges.

Nigel Farage
Nigel Farage. Picture: Alamy

He said: "I don't mind saying that, you know, that battle of ideas has got to be a debate about the issues not I mean, slinging milkshakes at the guy. I mean, that's outrageous. throwing rocks in is absolutely appalling."

He drew attention to a photo of Mr Farage meeting the rival Labour candidate Jovan Owusu-Nepaul in the Clacton constituency where both men are standing.

"He bumped into Nigel Farage on the street, they had a bit of banter, shook each other's hands and moved on to campaign for themselves and for their parties.

"That's what an election campaign should be. It should be a battle of ideas. It should be good natured. It should give people a real choice."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
Speaking via video link to a Kyiv conference, the Prime Minister reaffirmed that Britain is ready to commit British troops on the ground in Ukraine in order to maintain peace.

‘Russia is a menace in our waters, in our airspace, and on our streets’: PM raises defence spending by £6 billion a year

Breaking
Breaking News

Pensioner arrested over 'Day of the Jackal threat to kill PM' posted on social media

Police at the scene in central London on Monday at 'Fast Eddie's' mansion

Three knifed at playboy’s notorious £15m London mansion where Bonnie Blue filmed sex party

The body of Scottish businessman Campbell Scott was found in a remote area 60 miles from Nairobi

Scottish businessman's body found in sack in Kenya with 'his hands and feet bound with rope'

A Biscoff ice cream product has been recalled

Popular Biscoff treat urgently recalled from shelves amid health fears after 'undeclared' allergy risk discovered

Polish Armed Forces Day Celebrated In Warsaw, Poland

NATO scrambles warplanes in Poland after Russia launches latest strikes on Ukraine

Mikel Arteta (Arsenal manager) applauds the fans on the final whistle at the Arsenal v West Ham United

'Over my dead body': Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta won't concede Premier League title to Liverpool

Amanda Pritchard's resignation as Chief Executive is expected to be confirmed this afternoon

NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard to step down from her role

Jose Mourinho was appointed Fenerbahce manager in 2024

Galatasaray accuse Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho of making 'racist statements'

Exclusive
Ofcom will 'name and shame' social media companies that don't take action to cut down abuse of women and girls

Social media companies to be 'named and shamed' for not protecting women and girls online, Ofcom chief tells LBC

Video footage shows police rushing towards the Hart Space during the attack

Horror footage shows moment police rush towards Southport dance studio while killer is still inside

Registered XL Bully dogs must be housed securely, neutered, kept on a lead and muzzled in public

Man in his 80s seriously injured after XL bully attack in Warrington

Ocean Infinity is searching for the downed plane

British team launches 'final search' for MH370, in bid to solve mystery of vanished plane 11 years on

The BBC has pulled the documentary from iPlayer while it does more 'due diligence'

BBC Gaza documentary cameraman ‘celebrated October 7 attacks’ as cost of film is revealed

Bessborough Road, where the crash took place

Pedestrian in her 40s killed in London bus crash as car driver arrested for dangerous driving

Energy bills are set to rise again

Energy bills to increase again as price cap rises more than expected