Reform's David Bull slams Tory Chairman over Nazi comparison | The Daily T

Key Concepts

• Conservative Party's Accusation: The Conservative Party, specifically through its chairman Kevin Hollingra, is accused of likening Reform UK members to Nazis due to Reform UK's new black football shirt with a gold badge.
• Reform UK's Response: Dr. David Bull, chairman of Reform UK, vehemently denies the accusation, calling it slanderous and a desperate tactic by a failing Conservative Party. He argues it insults their voters and demonstrates poor judgment by the Tories.
• Nigel Farage Allegations: The transcript addresses reports of Nigel Farage's alleged past racist views and flirtations with antisemitism during his school years.
• Reform UK's Stance on Farage: Dr. Bull clarifies that while he doesn't know the specifics of Farage's youth, he asserts Farage is not a racist and that Reform UK is maturing as a party, needing to choose its battles and language carefully.
• Economic Policy and Tax: The discussion touches upon economic policy, with Reform UK proposing an alternative budget and advocating for lower taxes to stimulate growth, contrasting with Labour's perceived fiscal irresponsibility.
• Immigration: Open border policies are criticized, with Reform UK suggesting increased immigration health surcharges and removing foreign criminals as potential measures.
• Nathan Gill Bribery Case: The sentencing of Nathan Gill for taking bribes from Russia is mentioned, with Dr. Bull expressing disappointment and suggesting the sentence was insufficient.
• "Playing the Ball, Not the Man": A principle of political discourse is discussed, with Dr. Bull arguing that while generally applicable, Hollingra's comments were so distasteful they warranted personal criticism.
• "Fourth Reich" Accusation: Some Tories are reported to genuinely believe Reform UK represents a "far-right danger" or the "Fourth Reich," which Dr. Bull attributes to their panic over Reform UK's rising poll numbers.

Reform UK Chairman's Reaction to Conservative "Nazi" Accusation

Dr. David Bull, Chairman of Reform UK, expresses strong condemnation of remarks made by Kevin Hollingra, Chairman of the Conservative Party. Hollingra is reported to have implied that Reform UK members are Nazis after the party unveiled a new black football shirt with a gold badge. Dr. Bull views this as a slanderous attack on Reform UK's voters, many of whom are former Conservative supporters. He criticizes the Conservative Party for standing by Hollingra's "disgraceful and appalling comments," questioning their judgment.

Dr. Bull highlights the irony of the accusation, particularly when speaking to people in Wales who are concerned about open border immigration policies and want their country back. He suggests the Conservative Party should focus on reviving their own party, which he describes as a "dead corpse," rather than attacking Reform UK. He notes Hollingra's initial tweet of the shirt, followed by its deletion and then re-uploading with a link, suggesting a "crisis of conscience" and a decision to "double down." Dr. Bull argues that this tactic is particularly damaging as it uses language more commonly associated with the left to attack their own undecided voters. He believes Hollingra's comments were so disrespectful and distasteful that he should resign.

The "Badge" Controversy and Tory Fears

The transcript delves into the specific reason behind the "Nazi" accusation: the design of Reform UK's badge, which some Tories allegedly believe resembles "someone else's badge." Dr. Bull dismisses this as a poor taste joke at best, but asserts that some Tories genuinely fear Reform UK, viewing them as a "far-right danger" or the "Fourth Reich." He attributes this fear to the Conservative Party's panic over Reform UK's surging poll numbers, citing a current poll placing Reform UK at 33% and predicting them to win 373 seats.

Dr. Bull advocates for a positive election campaign, urging parties to set out their plans for improving the country. He points out that the Conservative Party's own policies, such as granting indefinite leave to remain to 3.8 million people who came legally under Boris Johnson, have contributed to the issues that are driving voters to Reform UK. He suggests the Conservatives need to "take a long cold hard look in the mirror."

Addressing Allegations Against Nigel Farage

The discussion shifts to allegations that Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, was a "schoolyard racist" and had flirtations with antisemitism. Dr. Bull clarifies that while he doesn't know what happened when Farage was younger, he is aware of a story broken by Michael Crick regarding Farage potentially singing Nazi songs. However, Dr. Bull states that this was debunked, and when asked if Farage was a racist, Crick reportedly said "no."

Dr. Bull acknowledges the increased scrutiny Reform UK faces due to its success in the polls. He states that as a party involved since 2019, they have had to "grow and mature and develop" and need to position themselves in a "statesmanlike manner." While he hopes the allegations about Farage's youth are untrue, he emphasizes that Reform UK is transitioning from a "protest party" to a "party of government" and must choose its battles and phrasing carefully. He questions the appropriateness of accusing someone of past actions from their school days, especially when many children say regrettable things. He reiterates his personal knowledge of Farage, stating, "He's definitely not a racist."

Economic Policy and Alternative Budget Proposals

The conversation touches upon economic policy, particularly in the context of an upcoming budget and potential tax rises. Dr. Bull criticizes Labour's past promise not to increase personal taxes, noting their subsequent increase in employer National Insurance. He states that Labour has created a "25 billion pound black hole" and it is their responsibility to fix it.

Reform UK has put forward an alternative budget with proposals including:

• Increasing the immigration health surcharge.
• Capping foreign aid.
• Ensuring money is reinvested in the UK.
• Removing all foreign criminals from the country.

Dr. Bull emphasizes that if Reform UK were in government, "hard decisions" would be necessary. However, their core aim is "lower tax" to empower individuals and businesses, leading to economic growth. He argues that current policies are "stifling" entrepreneurs and contributing to a significant number of people leaving the UK, including 11,000 non-doms and a quarter of a million people since Labour came to power. He stresses the importance of empowering wealth creators and supporting young people (18-25) who are not in employment, education, or training.

Nathan Gill Bribery Case and Personal Reflections

Dr. Bull briefly discusses the case of Nathan Gill, who received a 10-year sentence for taking bribes from Russia. Dr. Bull expresses sadness, stating he met Gill in the European Parliament and believes the sentence was insufficient, calling those who take money and betray the country "traitors." He also suggests that questions need to be asked of other politicians who have faced scrutiny regarding foreign powers.

Conclusion on Football Shirts and Political Discourse

The interview concludes with a lighthearted mention of Reform UK's football shirts. Dr. Bull confirms he hasn't been involved with football kits. The interviewer then reflects on the broader issue of political discourse, suggesting that while Hollingra's joke about the shirt might have been in poor taste, people are perhaps "getting a bit silly" by looking for "hints of fascism or Nazism." The interviewer suggests that if Hollingra made a bad joke, one should be able to "walk away" and not necessarily call for cancellation, framing it as a joke that "landed rather flat."