Lib Dems table EDM calling on Parliament to rebuke Sarah Pochin’s racist comments

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats have tabled a censure motion, calling on Parliament to rebuke Sarah Pochin’s racist remarks and for Reform Leader Nigel Farage to withdraw the whip.

The party is calling on the Government and Conservative Party to back the motion, adding that it’s about time the Conservative Party “stood up for British values of decency and tolerance”.

It comes as Pochin doubled down on her shameless and offensive comments, and gave a half hearted apology without showing a shred of remorse.

The motion tabled by the Lib Dems, if adopted by the government and passed by the House, would be an unprecedented rebuke of the Runcorn and Helsby MP’s remarks. It would show that Parliament found the remarks unacceptable and racist and that Nigel Farage should immediately withdraw the whip from Pochin.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson, Max Wilkinson MP said:

“Sarah Pochin’s remarks were blatantly racist. Decent MPs from across party lines should now come together to condemn this disgraceful behaviour and show the public that this will never be tolerated by Parliament.

“Over the weekend, the Shadow Home Secretary showed how spineless the Conservative Party has become by failing to immediately call out Pochin’s racist remarks for what they were. It’s about time they stood up for the traditional British values of decency and tolerance, rather than weakly bowing down to Farage.

“If racism has no place in his party, as he continues to protest, then Nigel Farage should prove it by withdrawing the whip immediately. Failure to do this will show total contempt for the vast majority of decent British people.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The text of the Liberal Democrat Early Day Motion is as follows:

Conduct of the hon. Member for Runcorn and Helsby

That this House censures the Honourable Member for Runcorn and Helsby for racist and inexcusable remarks made on Talk TV on Saturday 25th October, which were damaging, divisive and risk bringing the House collectively into disrepute; and calls on the Honourable Member for Clacton to withdraw the Whip from the aforementioned Member.