Unearthed video footage has revealed Nigel Farage blasted the BBC for its audience selection almost a decade before the latest Question Time scandal.
Farage, 60, was leading Ukip into the 2015 General Election when he received a rough ride from audience members at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster.
He said: “There just seems to be a total lack of comprehension on this panel and indeed amongst this audience which is a remarkable audience even by the left-wing standards of the BBC, I mean this lot is pretty left-wing, believe me.”
Veteran BBC presenter David Dimbleby replied: “Nigel, let me just say one thing. This is an audience chosen very carefully, not by the BBC, but by an independent polling organisation to represent the balance between all parties.”
Following a round of applause, ex-Labour leader Ed Miliband added: “It’s never a great idea to attack the audience, Nigel.”
However, Farage replied: “No, the real audience are sitting at home, actually.”
Ukip went on to win 3.9 million votes but only managed to win the Essex seaside of Clacton, with Farage narrowly missing out on winning Thanet South.
The unearthed footage from 2015 resurfaced after Farage announced a boycott of the BBC over last Friday’s Question Time audience.
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David Dimbleby claimed the BBC audience was representative
BBC
Farage, who was speaking to voters in Birmingham, received a rough ride during discussions about Reform UK’s racism row and immigration.
Confirming his BBC boycott on Saturday, the Reform UK leader said: “I have just been invited to appear on Laura Kuenssberg. I’m refusing until the BBC apologises for their dishonest Question Time audience.
“Our state broadcaster has behaved like a political actor throughout this election. Reform will be campaigning vigorously to abolish the licence fee.”
Doubling down during his rally in Birmingham on Sunday, Farage added: “I’ve had enough of the BBC. We will renew our campaign with added vigour to say the state broadcaster has abused its position of power.
Nigel Farage appeared on the BBC in the 2015 debate
BBC
“And we will campaign as the leading opposition voice, not just in Parliament, but across the country too, for the abolition of the BBC licence fee.”
The BBC has categorically refuted Farage’s latest claim.
Speaking ahead of the Question Time special on Friday, BBC host Fiona Bruce said: “Each of our two guests will face 30 minutes of questions from our audience who represent a mix of political sentiments, including many who are still making up their minds and supporters of both the Greens and Reform.”
However, the BBC was forced to issue a separate apology earlier in the general election campaign after a host accused Farage of using “customary inflammatory language”.
Nigel Farage appearing on the BBC
BBC
The incident took place when the former Brexit Party MEP defended describing European migration as an “invasion” at a Reform UK press conference.
BBC journalist Geeta Guru-Murthy was found to have breached impartiality rules over the comments.
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.”
The BBC also issued a separate apology in March after writing an article which described Reform UK as “far-right”.
