Nigel Farage challenged over canvasser’s racist slurs

Speaking on Friday, Mr Sunak said the comments in the Channel 4 footage hurt adding: “It makes me angry.”

He said his two daughters “have to see and hear Reform people who campaigned for Nigel Farage” using racist language against him.

He said Mr Farage had “some questions to answer”.

In addition to the slur directed at the prime minister, Mr Parker was also heard describing Islam as “the most disgusting cult out” and suggesting army recruits should carry out “target practice” by shooting at small boats bringing illegal migrants to the UK.

In a statement, Mr Parker said he wanted to “apologise profusely to Nigel Farage and the Reform Party if my personal views have reflected badly on them and brought them into disrepute as this was not my intention”.

Essex Police have said they are “urgently assessing” comments in the programme “to establish if there are any criminal offences”.

The subject came up as the first question on the Question Time Leaders’ Special when an audience member asked: “What is it about your party that attracts racists?”

Mr Farage argued that he had done more to drive out the far-right than any living person in British politics.

“I took on the BNP just over a decade ago. I said to their voters, if this is a protest vote but you don’t support their racist agenda, don’t vote for them, vote for me, destroyed them.”

He went on to reiterate claims he made earlier in the day that Mr Parker was an actor who had an alter ego and suggested it was “a political setup of astonishing proportions”.

“This was designed to hurt us, and sadly some people believe it.”