Nigel Farage breaks silence to make key demand over UK riots in furious letter
The Reform UK leader issued a statement after rioters tried to storm hotels housing asylum seekers on the sixth day of escalating disorder sweeping Britain.
Nigel Farage has called for Parliament to be recalled after six days of riots across England.
The Reform UK leader and Clacton MP insisted MPs should return to Westminster during the summer break for an "honest debate" about immigration.
He also hit out at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's "faltering" response to the crisis and warned the army may need to be brought in to restore order.
It comes as the PM is expected to chair a Cobra emergency response meeting today after "thugs" tried to storm hotels housing asylum seekers yesterday.
In a statement on X, Mr Farage said: "I have been totally appalled by the levels of violence seen in the last couple of days.
Anti-immigration protesters break into a Holiday Inn hotel in Rotherham, as police officers with riot shields were pelted with projectiles.
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"The level of intimidation and threat to life have no place in a functioning democracy.
"That so many police officers have been injured trying to keep the peace is shocking, and we should not discount the use of the army if the situation were to deteriorate further."
Mr Farage said that the riots will be stopped but "deeper long-term problems remain".
He added: "Ever since the soft policing of the Black Lives Matter protests, the impression of two-tier policing has become widespread.
"The Prime Minister's faltering attempts to address the current crisis have only added to that sense of injustice.
"The majority of our population can see the fracturing of our communities as a result of mass, uncontrolled immigration, whether legal or illegal.
Parliament must be recalled for a proper debate. pic.twitter.com/OrQa7o38a1
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) August 5, 2024
"Yet to attempt to debate this in the public arena leads to immediate howls of condemnation.
"A population explosion without integration was always going to end badly, I have said this for many years.
"We must have a more honest debate about these vital issues and give people the confidence that there are political solutions that are relevant to them. A recall of Parliament would be an appropriate start to this."
Other MPs including Tory leadership contender Dame Priti Patel have also said Parliament should be recalled so the Commons can debate the riots.
It comes after the Prime Minister vowed rioters would "regret" engaging in "far-right thuggery" and promised those involved in unrest would "face the full force of the law" as he addressed the nation on Sunday.
Monday's Cobra meeting is due to involve relevant ministers and police representatives who will discuss the response in the coming days to ensure there is no repeat of the violent scenes.
