Geeta Guru-Murthy has apologised after making a comment about Nigel Farage’s recent speech while reporting on the BBC.
After a news report showed a clip of the former UKIP leader’s Reform UK speech and it cut back to the studio, Guru-Murthy said something she apologised for hours later.
In the speech the right-wing politician – who controversially appeared on I’m A Celebrity last year- quoted Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who previously said: ‘Aggressive young males are coming into Poland.’
Farage also defended his previous use of the word ‘invasion’ when describing migrants arriving in Dover on small boats.
‘I happen to think that invasion frankly was pretty appropriate,’ he said, doubling down on the language after major backlash.
When cameras cut to Guru-Murthy, 56, in the studio she said: ‘Nigel Farage with his customary inflammatory language there at a Reform UK press conference.
‘He declined to stand for a seat. But we will have more on what Farage is saying.’
After her comments, the former Brexit Party leader took to social media and demanded the presenter apologise.
Sharing a clip of the incident on X, he asked: ‘What happened to impartiality [Guru-Murthy] and [BBC press office]?’
Two hours later the journalist made an on-air apology for breaching the BBC’s policy on political neutrality.
Guru-Murthy said: ‘Now, an apology. Earlier today we heard live from Nigel Farage, speaking at that election event we just saw.
‘When we came away from his live speech, I used language to describe it which didn’t meet the BBC’s editorial standards on impartiality. I’d like to apologise to Mr Farage and viewers for this.’
Farage said ‘credit where credit is due’ and thanked the presenter for her apology, adding: ‘I hope the BBC will not continue to display prejudice in this election campaign.’
This comes after Farage was accused of spreading ‘pure Islamophobia’ while speaking about Rishi Sunak’s proposal to reintroduce National Service.
Asked by Trevor Phillips if he supported the policy on Sky News, Reform UK’s honorary president referred to the policy as a ‘joke’.
He added: ‘Look, it’s totally impractical – the Army has shrunk from 100,000 to 75,000 in 14 years of conservatism and, most interestingly, we have a growing number of young people in this country who do not subscribe to British values, in fact loathe much of what we stand for.’
Asked by Sir Trevor if he was referring to Muslims Farage said: ‘We are.’
Councillor Jamal Chohan posted about the moment on X, saying: ‘This is pure Islamophobia and it is outrageous that Sky News continue to give Nigel Farage any platform to spread it – a man that has lost ALL SEVEN attempts at being a member of parliament.
‘He misled the public on Brexit, and now he is misleading the public again by quoting a survey conducted by the Henry Jackson Society.’
Farage has declined to stand as an MP but will be involved in campaigning, as he said US politics interests him more.
He said: ‘I have thought long and hard as to whether I should stand in the upcoming general election.
‘As honorary president of Reform UK, I am fully supportive of Richard Tice’s leadership and urge voters to put their trust in him and Lee Anderson.
‘I will do my bit to help in the campaign, but it is not the right time for me to go any further than that.
‘Important though the general election is, the contest in the United States of America on November 5 has huge global significance. A strong America as a close ally is vital for our peace and security. I intend to help with the grassroots campaign in the USA in any way that I can.‘
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