NIGEL Farage put his head in his hands as he played back the apology that Labour rebel
Angela Smith produced after stumbling over her words during a discussion about race this morning.
The newly independent politician left her former party in protest at its alleged antisemitic tendencies but was embroiled in a race debate herself when she fumbled on BBC Politics Live this morning. Ms Smith told the panel: “This is a really important debate and we need to work through it rather than running away from it. I understand that. And I would add that a white working class woman finds life hard enough a being working class, a BME woman will find it even harder.
“But it’s not just about colour.
“The recent history of the party I’ve just left suggests it’s not just about being black or a funny tinge.”
Mr Farage cringed: “Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
“This is not good.
“She’s talking about people who are a ‘funny tinge’ - not good when you’ve just launched a group that’s against
racism.
“So she decided that what she’d do is she’d do a face-to-camera apology.
“I’ve got to tell you folks it looks like a hostage video.
“It is just appalling.”
The former UKIP played the apology, in which Ms Smith said: “I’ve seen the clip on Politics Live and I’m very sorry about any offence caused.
“And I’m very upset that I spoke so badly - it’s not what I am.
“I’m committed to fighting racism whenever I find it in our society.”
But Mr Farage was having none of it.
He blasted: “When in a hole, stop digging.
“And I called it a hostage video - that’s what it looks like.
“It is so low-grade and low-quality; you don’t know whether to laugh or to cry!”
Seven MPs have resigned from Labour and will create a new Independent Group in the House of Commons in the most significant split in British politics for a generation.
Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Gavin Shuker, Mike Gapes and Ann Coffey fired a broadside at Jeremy Corbyn as they quit, condemning his stance on Brexit and response to allegations of anti-Semitism in the party.