Nigel Farage has held a press conference in Westminster today amid growing outrage over the grooming gangs scandal, the mishandled release of Epping sex offender Hadush Kebatu, and mounting criticism of asylum accommodation spending.
The Reform UK leader spoke about the release of the Epping sex offender, Prince Andrew and the grooming gangs scandal.
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Prince Andrew not in 'the top of the list of national priorities'
15:01 , Nuray BulbulMr Farage was asked about Prince Andrew and whether Parliament should intervene.
He said that while some “liberals” would like to see him driven out of the country, he believes Parliament should only step in during truly extreme situations.
Mr Farage suggested that Prince Andrew still faces consequences, noting he has renounced his dukedom and will likely seek a new home abroad. He added that, given Andrew’s current situation, there is no need to “give him a kicking” and handling it immediately is not a national priority unless one enjoys ruining someone’s life.
Grooming gang victim highlights racial aspect of abuse
14:52 , Nuray BulbulEllie Reynolds, a grooming gang survivor, said: “It’s overwhelming that every media outlet has focused on a comment by Sarah, which is understandable. Yet it has taken decades for the media to acknowledge grooming gangs targeting white children—a form of racial motivation that is also racist.”
I’m offering Labour an opportunity says Farage
14:46 , Nuray BulbulMr Farage was asked how he could be “confident” his committee would address the issue if most members were Labour MPs.
He replied that success depends on Parliament as a whole, including Labour MPs, embracing the effort.
He suggested they might initially resist but framed it as an opportunity for them to adopt and make the idea their own, given their current political standing.
Mr Farage described his approach as “quicker, cleaner, and better,” capable of correcting some wrongs, while expressing skepticism that the official inquiry would produce anything meaningful before the next general election.
He added that Labour MPs, including Jess Phillips, face “enormous electoral pressure” due to the ethnic and religious composition of their constituencies.
Farage says Sadiq Khan has failed grooming gang victims
14:44 , Nuray BulbulMr Farage was asked whether Sir Sadiq Khan had “failed grooming gang victims” in London.
The Reform leader responded: “Yes, he has failed. He has been denying that grooming gangs operate in London, and the Met have done the same. I can tell you that someone here has spoken to London social services, who confirmed that grooming gangs do exist. It’s harder to identify specific gangs in central London than in places like Rotherham, due to the city’s size and diverse communities. London may be the last major grooming gang scandal to come to light, and it seems we’re very close to uncovering it.”
Indefinite leave to remain poses a looming crisis
14:40 , Nuray BulbulNigel Farage criticised the “Boriswave” of migration, warning of a “ticking time bomb” regarding indefinite leave to remain.
He added that he is “preparing policy” on home affairs and justice issues.
Farage calls Sarah Pochin's words 'ugly'
14:35 , Nuray BulbulMr Farage was asked about Sarah Pochin’s remarks and whether he considered them “racist.”
He said the words she used on TalkRadio were “ugly” and could be interpreted as very unpleasant.
Mr Farage expressed his unhappiness with her actions, noting that she knows how he feels.
However, he said her comments were made within the broader context of what he called “DEI madness” in the advertising industry, which he believes has been ongoing since around 2021.
While he acknowledged her wording was wrong and unattractive, he added that he does not believe her intent was racist; otherwise, he would have taken further action.
Nigel Farage offers better option
14:32 , Nuray BulbulMr Farage says he is proposing a “better, quicker, more open and more transparent solution.” He wants to give Parliament a chance to reestablish itself in voters’ eyes as a fair and effective institution, saying, “It’s time for parliament to step up and do its job.”
Mr Farage argues that MPs underestimate the power Parliament and its select committees hold.
These committees can summon anyone, including former MPs from constituencies affected by grooming gangs, and he doubts those MPs were unaware of warning signs.
Parliament can also sanction those who refuse to appear and require them to swear an oath, with liars facing perjury charges. He calls it an “enormous opportunity” for Parliament and the government to restore public trust in the institution and politicians.
Nigel Farage and fellow Reform MPs to meet with Lindsay Hoyle
14:30 , Nuray BulbulMr Farage and fellow Reform MPs are scheduled to meet Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle this evening to raise several points.
Mr Farage noted that Hoyle is “keen to reestablish Parliament at the centre of our national debate.” They will also urge the Home Affairs Committee to quickly establish a subcommittee and expand it into a commission that includes peers.
Mr Farage says to focus on Pakistani grooming gangs
14:23 , Nuray BulbulMr Farage said the Government has “deliberately broadened the scope” of the inquiry beyond victims of Pakistani grooming gangs to include other women, while stressing he does not intend to diminish the experiences of Samantha Walker and the other four.
He emphasised that the country—and survivors like Ms Reynolds—want a “laser focus” on this unique and longstanding issue.
Mr Farage added that he believes the government aims to delay meaningful action, running a lengthy inquiry that produces no results before the next general election, pointing to the Covid inquiry as an example.
Reynolds: Survivors were pressured not to discuss their abusers’ backgrounds
14:17 , Nuray BulbulMs Reynolds criticises Labour’s effort to broaden the inquiry beyond ethnic minority grooming gangs, claiming it was “because they don’t want to vocalise the ethnicity of these men.”
She says survivors were pressured not to discuss their abusers’ backgrounds, adding, “It felt like we were being stripped of our voices. We’re not going to be stripped of our voices any more.”
Ellie Reynolds gives her opinion on the inquiry
14:16 , Nuray BulbulEllie Reynolds, who resigned from the inquiry last week, described it as a “mess from the start.” She accused the government of creating a “very controlling atmosphere” that was “gaslighting” and “manipulative”.
She added that participants were treated in a “degrading” and “controlling” way and were not allowed to seek support from family or other survivors on the panel.
Farage claims Labour’s inquiry will not succeed
14:14 , Nuray BulbulMr Farage criticises the Government’s inquiry as “flawed” and unlikely to succeed, promoting Reform’s “better solution” before handing over to Ellie Reynolds, who left the inquiry last week.
The grooming gang scandal shames the nation
14:12 , Nuray BulbulMr Farage said he initially struggled to believe the scale of the scandal, thinking that something so shocking “couldn’t have happened without it breaking as a massive public story beforehand.”
By 2014, he noted, it had become a national issue, causing widespread anger in the UK and disbelief abroad. He added that despite several inquiries since then, little has been done, calling the scandal “a stain on our country” and “one of the worst things” he has seen, with strong evidence that it continues, even close to where he was speaking.
Nigel Farage begins talk about the grooming gang scandal
14:10 , Nuray BulbulHe describes it as a “mass industrial scale sexual assault and rape by anonymous unknown persons” that has been happening in the UK on an “unimaginable” scale.
Mr Farage also highlights a significant racial and ethnic aspect, claiming that “a large part of these crimes can be attributed to racism in its absolute worst form.” He accuses the establishment of responding with “abject cowardice, and wilful neglect.”
Nigel Farage joined by grooming gang survivor
14:00 , Nuray BulbulNigel Farage is set to speak and will be accompanied by Ellie Reynolds, a grooming gang survivor who resigned from the government inquiry last week, Reform has confirmed.
Nigel Farage arrives for press conference
13:59 , Nuray BulbulMr Farage has arrived to the press conference, which is set to take place shortly.
London police are probing 9,000 potential grooming cases
13:53 , Nuray BulbulNigel Farage is expected to highlight the Met Police’s decision to re-examine 9,000 child sex abuse cases. The review forms part of a wider probe into grooming gangs after Sadiq Khan was accused of “stonewalling” questions on the matter.
Scotland Yard has informed the Mayor that suspected grooming gang and child exploitation cases from the past 15 years will be revisited as part of this investigation, following Baroness Casey’s national review of grooming gangs.
Susan Hall, leader of the Conservative Group in the London Assembly, said she had “repeatedly raised” the issue with the Mayor but had been “repeatedly stonewalled.”
The Prime Minister trusts Khan regarding the handling of grooming gangs in London
13:45 , Nuray BulbulWhen asked whether the Prime Minister has confidence in Sadiq Khan regarding grooming gangs in London, his spokesman emphasised that the PM acknowledges the issues highlighted in Baroness Casey’s audit, including inconsistencies in how the Metropolitan Police and local authorities record child abuse.
The spokesman welcomed the Met’s renewed focus on historic cases and noted that the Mayor is committed to holding offenders accountable.
He reiterated that the PM does have confidence in the Mayor, though the specifics of addressing the issue in London are ultimately for Khan to handle. This comes as the Met plans to review 9,000 child sexual exploitation cases in the city.
Latest report reveals Home Office mismanaged asylum accommodation
13:35 , Nuray BulbulA scathing report by the Home Affairs Committee has revealed that the UK Home Office has mismanaged asylum accommodation, leading to a significant increase in taxpayer costs. Originally projected at £4.5 billion for the 2019–2029 period, the cost has now surged to £15.3 billion.
The report criticizes the Home Office for its reliance on hotel accommodations, which cost approximately £145 per night per person, compared to £23.25 for community housing.
This approach has led to excessive profits for private contractors, with companies like Clearsprings and Mears earning over £45 million in excess profits, yet the Home Office has failed to reclaim these funds
The early release of Hadush Kebatu
13:15 , Nuray BulbulMr Farage is also expected to touch upon the early release of Hadush Kebatu.
The 41-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker, was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford on Friday, October 24, 2025, after serving just 31 days of a 12-month sentence for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, Essex. He was due to be transferred to an immigration detention centre for deportation but was erroneously freed due to human error amid staffing shortages and high workloads.
Appointment of inquiry chair
12:55 , Nuray BulbulThe government must appoint an independent chair (or co-chairs) to lead the inquiry. This is crucial, as previous candidates withdrew over trust concerns.
Grooming gangs inquiry faces delays and survivor concerns
12:35 , Nuray BulbulThe Government’s national inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation, prompted by the Casey Audit, aims to uncover systemic failures in how authorities handled grooming gangs. The audit found victims were often treated as if they had “consented,” data was poorly recorded, and agencies repeatedly missed signs of organised abuse.
In June 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the inquiry would proceed. The Metropolitan Police is reviewing around 9,000 historical cases, while a specialist taskforce continues to investigate and arrest offenders.
However, progress has been slow. The inquiry chair has not been appointed, with candidates withdrawing over trust and independence concerns. Several survivor advisers have resigned, citing a lack of meaningful involvement. Disagreement over the scope—whether to focus only on grooming gangs or include all forms of child sexual exploitation—has further delayed the process.
Critics warn that delays and perceived conflicts of interest risk undermining public confidence. The inquiry’s terms of reference are yet to be finalised, and survivors are calling for a transparent, independent process that genuinely addresses past failings.
Nigel Farage to 'offer a solution' to the grooming gangs inquiry
12:15 , Nuray BulbulThe press conference will begin at 2pm.
I will offer a solution to the failing grooming gangs inquiry at 2pm.
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) October 27, 2025
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