Tugendhat Targets Farage’s ‘Reckless Rhetoric’ as He Calls for Unity Amid UK Riots

Conservative leadership contender Tom Tugendhat criticizes Nigel Farage for his 'irresponsible language' regarding the riots in the UK. Tugendhat, aiming to succeed Rishi Sunak as the head of the Conservative Party, will argue that a "breakdown in societal trust" is a fundamental reason behind the disturbances.

Political journalist @fayebrownSky

Monday, August 12, 2024, 9:

Tory leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat is set to initiate a nationwide discussion on the underlying factors of the latest riots, criticizing Nigel Farage's "reckless rhetoric."

In his inaugural significant address since announcing his candidacy for the leadership of the Conservative Party, the ex-security minister will criticize a "culture of denial" that too swiftly moves past significant violent incidents without addressing their causes.

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"Over the past 20 years or more, we have frequently shied away from harsh truths, opting instead for the cozy, deceptive ease of denial and complacency," Mr. Tugendhat is set to declare on Tuesday.

"It's imperative that we confront the tendency to quickly gloss over incidents of severe violence and to be vague about who the perpetrators are and what drives them."

Mr. Tugendhat will attribute the recent disturbances to "the collapse of social trust," citing misinformation, the growth of both Islamist and far-right extremism, and the "irresponsible political rhetoric" of Reform UK leader Mr. Farage as key factors.

He plans to advocate for a strengthened emphasis on shared values, optimistic nationalism, and essential law and order to "reconstruct society."

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Extreme right-wing unrest erupted in various UK towns and cities following a stabbing incident that resulted in the deaths of three young women in Southport on July 29.

Unverified information spread on the internet suggested that the individual in question, originally from Cardiff, had entered the UK as a refugee via boat.

Mr. Farage has come under fire for suggesting that "the truth might be kept from us" following the incident, and for alleging that there appears to be a double standard in UK policing.

He refuted claims that he incited the unrest and stated that he denounces "every form of political violence."

Sky News reached out to Reform UK for their reaction to Mr. Tugendhat's comments about Mr. Farage.

Mr. Tugendhat's remarks occur as the Conservative Party faces internal disagreement on how to deal with Reform UK, which secured four seats in the recent general election, coinciding with the Tories experiencing a historic low in their seat count.

The Member of Parliament for Tonbridge is making his second attempt to become the leader of the Conservative Party, after his initial run in the 2022 leadership contest where he was ousted in the third round of MP voting.

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Ex-military man Mr. Tugendhat is competing with five other candidates to succeed Rishi Sunak. Among his competitors are former home secretaries James Cleverly and Dame Priti Patel, ex-immigration minister Robert Jenrick, previous business secretary Kemi Badenoch, and former work and pensions secretary Mel Stride.

In recent criticisms directed at Mr. Farage, Mr. Stride has charged the MP from Clacton with "propagating conspiracy theories," whereas Mr. Cleverly has suggested that the leader of Reform UK must choose whether he is a politician or a "social media content creator." Additionally, Ms. Patel has refuted his statements regarding biased policing, stating they are "incorrect."

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In another segment of his address, Mr. Tugendhat is anticipated to criticize the prime minister for inadequate leadership amid the unrest and to call on law enforcement to employ "unyielding force" when addressing violent disturbances.

He will also attack Labour's policy on early release from prison, a program the new administration attributes to the prison overcrowding issue left by the Conservatives, potentially leading to rioters receiving shorter sentences.

Previously, officials from Downing Street stated that they will continue to be highly vigilant regarding the violent unrest, even though the situation seemed to calm down during the weekend.

Sir Keir Starmer has called off a scheduled vacation to Europe to "ensure that we can respond to the disorder," according to a spokeswoman.

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