The Spectator magazine, and the Telegraph newspaper, both owned by the Tory-supporting Barclay brothers, have run dubious news items today claiming that “Nigel Farage’s immigration rhetoric may harm ‘Out’ campaign”. Their stories were conveniently timed to coincide with the launch of UKIP’s “Say No To the EU” referendum campaign that took place this afternoon in London.
Journalists Sebastian Payne and Matthew Holehouse both ran the figures, the fieldwork for which was conducted on the 8th of May, as “new” – and claimed that UKIP’s involvement in the EU referendum campaign may be damaging for the ‘Out’ cause. This is despite UKIP being the party that secured the referendum for the United Kingdom.
The Survation poll, commissioned the by pro-EU, pro-mass migration, ‘British Future’ organisation claims that 58 per cent somwhat or strongly agree that ‘Ukip risk bringing prejudice into debates on immigration’. The question, asked of people at the height of the highly contentious election campaign, reveals results that are not just dated, but that don’t mention the UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who consistently polls above his own party in terms of popularity.
Despite this, both outlets ran with headlines that specifically lashed out at Mr Farage.
But most of the people who felt this way described themselves as “leaning in” in that they would prefer to stay inside the European Union. UKIP sources have told Breitbart London that the way the poll was reported not only attempts yet another character assassination on Mr Farage, but does so in a cynically timed manner.
“It’s pathetic journalism,” said one UKIP source. “We highlighted the problems with this reporting to the journalists in question. They ignored us.”
Interestingly, 44 per cent of people said that they valued UKIP as “an important new voice who are saying what most people think”. Only 33 per cent of people disagreed.
Forty-one per cent of people said that they view UKIP as a “mainstream party with a right to their view” while just 28 per cent disagreed.
Though the polling starts with perfunctory questions about the Conservative Party, it is clear as the data continues that it is a “hit job” attempt on UKIP by British Future, who chose the questions.
Mr Farage launched the UKIP ‘Out’ campaign this morning, with a large focus on the immigration issue.
He said that the party had plans for over 300 public meetings, and said: “I do believe that we can win this referendum,” before going on to detail how immigration would be the major issue.
“The question of why we are bordeless Britain will dominate this campaign,” he remarked.
Mr Farage was met with “gotcha” questions from Westminster journalists, specifically with regards to his comments on ISIS and the Kurdi family – that of the boy who tragically lost his life when his parents took him on an illegal boat from Turkey to Greece.
UPDATE: The Telegraph journalist Matthew Holehouse replies on Twitter: “refreshing change from merely lifting my stories I suppose”. Breitbart London has never “lifted” a Telegraph story without full credit, unlike the Telegraph does to Breitbart London.
@RaheemKassam refreshing change from merely lifting my stories I suppose
— Matthew Holehouse (@mattholehouse) September 4, 2015
UPDATE 2: Holehouse tweets again, asks “how high you jump when asked”. Claims his article was “perfectly interested [sic] bit of polling”. His tweet was also favourited by the author of the Spectator piece Sebastian Payne.
@RaheemKassam perfectly interested bit of polling. Just delighted how high you jump when asked
— Matthew Holehouse (@mattholehouse) September 4, 2015
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.