Jeremy Vine fans have hit out at the show in their droves after one caller was allowed to spew a “disgusting” rant about Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
On Wednesday’s show, the programme’s host, Mr Vine, welcomed Conservative commentator Lin Mei and Starmer-backing Phil Jones onto the panel to debate Mr Farage’s performance in the polls compared to Labour’s Keir Starmer.
There was plenty for the two to debate, from Mr Starmer’s attacks on Mr Farage during the Labour Party Conference this week, including the claims his opponent “doesn’t like Britain”, to Mr Farage’s response in which he said the Labour leader was “unfit to be Prime Minister”.
Recent polling results also played a part in the discussion, with it emerging last week that Mr Starmer is currently the least popular PM since records began.
Jeremy Vine: Lin Mei and Phil Jones took part in the debate
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Kicking off the discussion on Wednesday’s show, Mr Vine and his panel watched a clip from Mr Farage’s speech on Tuesday in which he hit back at the PM for comments made during the Labour Party Conference.
“It’s just, politics never gets less interesting, does it?” Mr Vine said afterwards with a chuckle. “Let’s just talk about the tactic here, Phil. Do you think Starmer was right to take Farage on personally?”
Mr Jones replied: “Yes, 100 percent. You know, we’re right, this is a big moment in politics. Most people in this country… I know Reform are becoming popular, what, 29, 30 percent, but most people reject Farage and all his party stands for.
“They believe, as Starmer said, in a tolerant society, fair play,” he added before he turned his attention to Reform UK’s own party conference in the summer.
Jeremy Vine: Phil Jones supported Starmer’s attacks on Farage
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“The idea that this woman, Lucy Connolly, goes to the Reform conference – a woman who, I won’t use the swear word, who wants to burn people alive in hostels and hotels, as she said on X – and then get a standing ovation at the Reform conference…
“That’s not the sort of society or country that most people in Britain want to live in. Most people reject Farage and all he stands for.”
Political commentator Ms Mei then weighed in: “I do agree, there are some nasty factions and supporters of Reform, but then I can say the same for Labour. And by a long shot, I do not agree with everything Farage or Reform says.
“However, I think some cheap shots were made, and I think, yes, you’re right, he had to take this stance, being the leader of Labour, but I think his stance is actually going to embolden and have more supporters towards Reform.
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Jeremy Vine: The Channel 5 host welcomed calls from viewers
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“When I say a cheap shot, I mean just branding anyone who supports Reform or alluding to just racism. I hate how the word racism is thrown at people,” Ms Mei added, before stating that she believes saying Mr Farage “didn’t like Britain” was a “mistake”
Mr Jones butted in: “You’re making a mistake here. The Reform supporters are there already. This is about getting people on the left to come back to Labour, because there is a majority in this country who I think are decent, centre-left and left-of-centre, who would support him. Because he’s gone a little bit right, and this is a way of getting those people back to the fold.”
Following the discussion, Mr Vine turned to the phone line. Colin, an 80-year-old from Staffordshire, was first up to make the argument for either Mr Farage or Mr Starmer.
After claiming he’d rather vote “for my neighbour’s dead cat” than Mr Farage, Colin proceeded to mispronounce the Reform UK leader’s name as a sign of his disdain.
Jeremy Vine: Lin Mei hit out at Starmer
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When pressed on why he dislikes Mr Farage so strongly, Colin became emotional as he replied: “I’m old. I’m 80 years of age. My father could remember fighting fascists in East London. And I remember my father telling me, ‘That’s the enemy’.
“And you look at Farage and you don’t see a fascist. You don’t see a fascist. What you see is the start of a slippery slope.”
Mr Vine interjected: “I mean, listen, I respect your emotion, but it’s slightly odd for a fascist to try and get elected, isn’t it? I don’t think that’s what Hitler did.”
“Didn’t Hitler try to get elected? Didn’t he get elected?” Colin hit back, to which Mr Vine conceded: “Well, yes, fair enough. Yes, indeed. Well, he was in a minority government, wasn’t he, Hitler? You think you really want to make that comparison, Colin, with Farage?”
Refusing to budge, Colin in no uncertain terms responded: “Look, learn from your history.”
The debate and clips of the discussion were soon shared on X by the show’s official account, and it’s safe to say it sparked quite the reaction among those at home.
Blasting Colin’s stance, one X user fumed: “This is so stupid. Hitler wanted to centralise control in government and rampage around Europe wiping out certain ethnicities. Farage wants to control the border. These things are not the same FFS.”
A second concurred: “I don’t remember Farage saying he wanted to murder all the Jews, disabled, LGBQT+, Roma, communists etc. What a disgusting comparison.”
Jeremy Vine heard from Colin from Staffordshire
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“Hysterical far-left in full flow!” a third blasted, while a fourth weighed in: “Think that he’s got carried away with that one, a bit away with it too. If Reform doesn’t work out as expected, they’d be out in 4 years, Labour has just proved that.”
Elsewhere, a fifth typed: “I (100 percent) back Farage. Starmer has really annoyed me by calling me a racist, which I’m not, and I voted Labour and him in!
“Never again! I just do not want all these illegals coming over every day in boats, it’s against national security and not safe for the UK citizens!”
However, there were some who sided with Mr Jones, in particular, in his criticism of the Reform UK leader.
“Phil Jones (whoever he is) is completely correct,” one X user argued while a second fumed: “Honestly can’t believe, or understand how anyone with an ounce up top can’t see through Farage, and what he really stands for #JeremyVine.” (sic)