Police hate crime talk compared Farage's views on Islam to a racially aggravated offence
Right-leaning outlets report that a talk at a hate crime conference attended by North Yorkshire Police drew a comparison between Nigel Farage's remarks on Islam and a racially aggravated offence. Only GB News and the Daily Express covered it, and the Express presents parts of the account as alleged.
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The story, neutrally told
A talk given at a hate crime conference attended by North Yorkshire Police officers compared Nigel Farage's views on Islam with a racially aggravated criminal offence, according to GB News and the Daily Express. GB NewsR “The session that was given to police drew a direct comparison between Mr Farage's views on Islam and a racially aggravated criminal offence.” Read at GB News ↗ Daily ExpressR “A speaker at the "hate crime conference" allegedly drew comparisons between the Reform UK leader’s beliefs about Islam not being compatible with British values to a racially aggravated offence.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Attendees watched a 2024 interview in which Farage said "growing numbers of people do not subscribe to British values", citing Muslims and pro-Palestine marchers in London. GB NewsR “attendees watched a 2024 interview in which Mr Farage warned that "growing numbers of people do not subscribe to British values," citing Muslims and pro-Palestine marchers in London.” Read at GB News ↗ Daily ExpressR “attendees watched a 2024 interview in which Farage said “growing numbers of people do not subscribe to British values,” citing Muslims and pro-Palestine marchers in London.” Read at Daily Express ↗ His comments were set alongside a 2024 hate crime in which a Muslim bus driver was racially abused. GB NewsR “Mr Farage's questioning of whether Islam is compatible with British values was placed alongside footage of a man racially abusing a Muslim bus driver.” Read at GB News ↗ Daily ExpressR “Attendees were asked to think about the relationship between Farage’s words and a hate crime which took place in 2024, in which a Muslim bus driver was racially abused.” Read at Daily Express ↗
The talk also used GB News footage in which presenter Matt Goodwin showed a YouGov poll finding that over half of Britons considered Islam incompatible with British values. GB News says the material disagreed with the poll and argued that Islamic teachings align with democracy and religious tolerance. GB NewsR “The material disagreed with the findings and argued that Islamic teachings aligned with democracy and religious tolerance.” Read at GB News ↗ Daily ExpressR “presenter Matt Goodwin showed a YouGov poll showing that over half of Britons considered Islam incompatible with British values.” Read at Daily Express ↗ The Express names the speaker as Abbas Najib, a former police officer who is chief executive of the charity Better Communities Bradford. It quotes him allegedly asking who would "get into trouble" and "did the most harm". Daily ExpressR “The event was delivered by Abbas Najib, a former police officer and now the chief executive of Better Communities Bradford, a charity.”“Ask yourself, who is going to get into trouble between those two gentlemen? And who did the most harm?” Read at Daily Express ↗ The Express says the conference was a multi-agency event run through the Inclusive Communities Joint Coordination Group for Hate Crime Awareness Week, and that only a small number of officers attended. Daily ExpressR “The conference was attended by a small number of police officers as part of their work on hate crime.”“The event was a multi-agency/community conference delivered through the Inclusive Communities Joint Coordination Group as part of Hate Crime Awareness Week.” Read at Daily Express ↗
The Express, citing The Telegraph, says the lecture has reportedly also been shown to students, council staff and civil servants working on Prevent, as part of a programme called Project Unity. Daily ExpressR “The lecture has reportedly been shown to students, council staff and civil servants who are working on the counter-extremism Prevent programme.” Read at Daily Express ↗ GB News dates the session to the York and North Yorkshire Hate Crime Conference in 2025 and describes it as an independent talk. Neither article carries a response from Farage, Reform UK, North Yorkshire Police or Najib. GB NewsR “North Yorkshire Police officers attended a hate crime conference in a session at the York and North Yorkshire Hate Crime Conference in 2025.” Read at GB News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present the talk as an attack on Farage and GB News delivered to police. The Express headline stresses "Fury" and a public-funding angle.
- Emphasis
- The comparison with a racial offence, Farage's and GB News's own words, and the Express's quoted remarks by the speaker.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither carries a response from Farage, Reform UK, the police or the speaker. GB News gives little detail on the organisers. The Express notes the small attendance and multi-agency setup only briefly.
- Charged language
- “Fury as police lectured”“lectured”“It’s all kicking off again.”
- For example
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“Police were reportedly “lectured” about Nigel Farage in a publicly funded talk about Islamophobia.” — Daily Express
“Nigel Farage and GB News have been likened to Islamophobia in a talk given to police.” — GB News
What every side reports
- The talk was given at a hate crime conference attended by North Yorkshire Police officers.
- It compared Farage's views on Islam and British values to a racially aggravated offence.
- It showed a 2024 Farage interview and GB News footage of Matt Goodwin presenting a YouGov poll.
- The material was set alongside the racial abuse of a Muslim bus driver.
Where accounts differ
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How firmly the account is presented
- Left
- No left-leaning coverage.
- Centre
- No centre coverage.
- Right
- GB News states the comparison as fact. The Express uses "reportedly" and "allegedly" and says police were "lectured" and that there was "Fury".
Nigel Farage person
His 2024 remarks are the subject of the talk. Neither article carries a response from him.
“Earlier this month, Reform UK was accused of racism by the Green Party after Farage announced he would ban the burka if he became Prime Minister.” — Daily Express
GB News organisation
GB News reports on itself, noting that its footage was used and that the material disagreed with the poll findings presented on its programme.
“The talk also featured footage from GB News, where presenter Matt Goodwin presented a YouGov poll” — GB News
Matt Goodwin person
He is mentioned as the presenter whose YouGov poll segment was shown. No comment from him is reported.
“presenter Matt Goodwin showed a YouGov poll showing that over half of Britons considered Islam incompatible with British values.” — Daily Express
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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GB NewsR ·
Nigel Farage and GB News likened to Islamophobia in talk given to police
Critical GB News reports that it and Farage were likened to Islamophobia in a police talk, stating the comparison as fact and giving the content of the material.
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Fury as police lectured about Nigel Farage in Islamophobia talk
Critical The Express leads on "fury" over a publicly funded talk and hedges most claims as reported or alleged, adding context on wider criticism of police over Islamism.
- 29 Sep 10:58 First GB NewsR Nigel Farage and GB News likened to Islamophobia in talk given to police
- 29 Sep 18:14 +7h 15m Daily ExpressR Fury as police lectured about Nigel Farage in Islamophobia talk
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.