Independent Media | Campaigning Journalism
The confrontation between Nigel Farage and a Channel 4 News journalist did not end well for UKIP [VIDEO]
Nigel Farage found himself entirely out of his depth when up against Channel 4 News correspondent Ciaran Jenkins on 22 February. The former UKIP leader misrepresented data to claim Sweden was the rape capital of Europe due to Muslim immigrants. A claim that was soon to be taken apart entirely.
The Sweden incident
On 20 February, Nigel Farage attempted to provide ‘evidence’ for claims by US President Donald Trump that Sweden is suffering a rape crisis due to high immigration. Using the platform granted him by LBC radio, Farage stated to thousands of listeners that, due to Muslim immigration, “Malmo is now the rape capital of Europe”.
Malmo in Sweden is the rape capital of Europe due to EU migrant policies. Anyone who says there isn't a problem is lying to you. pic.twitter.com/Aw7GvsECeX
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) February 20, 2017
Facing a challenge, Farage tweeted what he claimed to be a UN graph that appeared to back his claims.
Read on...
Reported rapes in Sweden trebled from 2003-2010. The UN graph below says it all. But @BuzzFeedUK want to pretend there is no problem. pic.twitter.com/UNPU45q4tg
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) February 21, 2017
While the chart pleased UKIP and Trump supporters, Channel 4 News correspondent Ciaran Jenkins decided to fact-check Farage in real time. Across several tweets, Jenkins debunked Farage’s claims entirely. It turns out the UN never made this graph. And a look at actual UN charts reveals a major rape issue. Not for Sweden, but for the United States.
Farage gets the Channel 4 News treatment
Viewers have come to expect straightforward and high-quality journalism from the team at Channel 4 News. And Jenkins stayed true to form during the exchange. He began politely, and retained his composure throughout. Systematically picking Farage apart.
Respectfully @Nigel_Farage the "UN graph below" does not "say it all". pic.twitter.com/QTfDyWeWWJ
— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) February 22, 2017
He began with the misrepresentation of data.
The data comes from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. It comes with this crucial caveat: pic.twitter.com/3466MeKDQT
— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) February 22, 2017
Respectfully, saying the "UN graph says it all" does not appear to be exercising the "caution" that the source of the data advises.
— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) February 22, 2017
As Tim Newburn, Professor of Criminology, explains to Buzzfeed News: pic.twitter.com/RbwsjnFFKp
— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) February 22, 2017
Then, Jenkins moved on to share the actual position of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Because it was this organisation’s data that Farage misrepresented in the graph.
UNODC research provides important context for understanding sexual violence statistics around the world.
— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) February 22, 2017
On that point, here is a graph the UNODC did produce. They did not produce then graph you attribute to them. pic.twitter.com/FvT2pSlWzM
— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) February 22, 2017
Sweden scores 3/3 on enforcing sexual violence laws.
Source: UNODC pic.twitter.com/T7WCPWfOgI— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) February 22, 2017
USA scores 2/3 on enforcing sexual violence laws.
Source: UNODC pic.twitter.com/sK9RIUGAuC— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) February 22, 2017
Why the focus on a country that does enforce rape laws rather than those that do not?
Where is the greater threat to victims?
— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) February 22, 2017
Winning Twitter wars is not enough
The critical issue is that, as is becoming a frequent occurrence, the facts seemingly made no impact on the supporters of Farage or Trump.
Do you know what you can do with your fucking chart?
— TCPATRIOT (@yankeeclipper68) February 22, 2017
Given the choice between a lie which validated their bigotry and truth which challenged it, they opted for the former. And this is the real challenge facing opponents of the far-right, from liberals through to anti-fascists: how do you change minds which have no desire to change?
History would suggest that, instead of courting the far-right, we need to repair the bridges between the majority which don’t follow their ideology. The liberals, the left, the progressives, the anti-fascists. Because the narrow confines of the liberal establishment cannot win this battle on its own. It must wake up to the fact that the progressives to its left are allies, instead of treating them as the left fork of an extremist pincer movement. That way, the far-right will be outnumbered and outgunned where it counts – in the battle of ideas.
Get Involved!
– Support The Canary, so we can keep bringing you the news that matters.
Featured image via YouTube Screengrab
We need your help to keep speaking the truth
Every story that you have come to us with; each injustice you have asked us to investigate; every campaign we have fought; each of your unheard voices we amplified; we do this for you. We are making a difference on your behalf.
Our fight is your fight. You’ve supported our collective struggle every time you gave us a like; and every time you shared our work across social media. Now we need you to support us with a monthly donation.
We have published nearly 2,000 articles and over 50 films in 2021. And we want to do this and more in 2022 but we don’t have enough money to go on at this pace. So, if you value our work and want us to continue then please join us and be part of The Canary family.
In return, you get:
* Advert free reading experience
* Quarterly group video call with the Editor-in-Chief
* Behind the scenes monthly e-newsletter
* 20% discount in our shop
Almost all of our spending goes to the people who make The Canary’s content. So your contribution directly supports our writers and enables us to continue to do what we do: speaking truth, powered by you. We have weathered many attempts to shut us down and silence our vital opposition to an increasingly fascist government and right-wing mainstream media.
With your help we can continue:
* Holding political and state power to account
* Advocating for the people the system marginalises
* Being a media outlet that upholds the highest standards
* Campaigning on the issues others won’t
* Putting your lives central to everything we do
We are a drop of truth in an ocean of deceit. But we can’t do this without your support. So please, can you help us continue the fight?
Support us 
