Farage branded ‘hypocrite’ after meeting Labour activist accused of extremism by Reform

Nigel Farage was pictured meeting a Labour Party activist who Reform are now accusing of extremism and linking to chancellor Rachel Reeves.

A picture has emerged of Mr Farage meeting Arshad Khatana at the Ghousia Mosque in Leeds in 2013 when he was leader of Ukip. The pair were both taking part in an interfaith event.

It comes as Labour suspended the activist after Reform made allegations linking him to chancellor Rachel Reeves and highlighting extremist views he is claimed to have expressed.

Reform pointed out that Mr Khatana has been photographed with the chancellor on at least 27 occasions since 2010, but she has made it clear she was unaware of the “abhorrent views” he is accused of sharing.

Meanwhile, Labour have branded Mr Farage a “hypocrite” and suggested he scored an “own goal” on the issue after his meeting with Mr Khatana was revealed.

Mr Khatana is the vice chair of Leeds Council of Mosques and was a Labour Party member in Ms Reeves’ Leeds West constituency until he was suspended.

A Labour source said: “Nigel Farage has been shown up a total hypocrite once again.”

They added: “We’ll take no lectures from Reform. We’ve taken action, and they’ve still not done a thing about Sarah Pochin, who bemoaned seeing ethnic minorities on TV adverts.”

But Reform responded: “That was a chance encounter at a multi-faith meeting with religious leaders from all backgrounds over 12 years ago. Nigel has been photographed with many thousands of different people over a 30-year career in politics.

“There is a vast difference between that and describing the man as a friend, meeting him at least 27 times, having him as a member of your party, going round to his house and following him on social media.

“Will Labour now take action against Rachel Reeves if they are admitting her close friend is an extremist with deeply offensive views?”

According to Reform’s Treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick, Mr Khatana shared a video about the Pakistani military, which also glorified terrorists from two terror groups.

It featured Naveed Jatt, from Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is a proscribed terror group in the UK; Aaqib Maulvi, a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander, and Riyaz Naikoo, a known terrorist and the operational chief of Hizbul Mujahideen.

He is also accused of saying those who speak against Islam are an “evil gang” that he will help “destroy”.

Reform also claimed he has hosted preachers with “vile” views at his Leeds mosque. In September 2025, it is alleged that he hosted Muhammad Adil Shahzad, who previously said we shouldn’t use Google because it’s “run by the Jews”.

It is also claimed that, in July 2018, he hosted Hassan Haseeb ur-Rehman, who supported an Islamist murderer.

He is also accused of sharing conspiracy theories about 9/11 and an international “lending mafia” backed by “Zionist Rothschild criminals”. He allegedly called for “revenge” against India, asking for “everyone to get together and finish these evils on earth.”

Mr Jenrick hit out at Ms Reeves, who is understood to have visited Mr Khatana’s home.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “These abhorrent views are clearly not shared by the chancellor. She was not aware of these allegations.”

Labour sources pointed to how swift their action was when the allegations came to light about Mr Khatana compared to Reform UK’s refusal to take action against a councillor, Simon Evans, who liked a social media post calling for a Labour MP to be shot or their Hampshire mayor candidate Chris Parry who demanded David Lammy “went home” to Jamaica in a racist social media attack.

Mr Jenrick said: “This is an appalling lack of judgement from Rachel Reeves. She has become very close to a local ‘community leader’ in Leeds in order to save her own political skin. But this man is a fanatic who has repeatedly shown that he holds shocking views.

“Reeves says she is this man’s friend, while he’s said he only votes for her if she does what he demands. This comes at a time of renewed concern about sectarian politics seeping into our national life.

“We don’t want foreign issues and sectarian politics to dictate what happens in our parliament. Reeves must answer for this and explain why she has become so close to this man.”

The Independent has approached Mr Khatana for comment.

Hundreds lose jobs and bars to shut as US firm buys Brewdog for £33m

Beer-brewing company BrewDog has been sold to American firm Tilray Brands for just £33m, with close to 500 people being made redundant.

In total, 38 bars across the UK will be set for closure, with the deal encompassing only 11 pubs along with the brand and brewing operations.

After failing to turn a profit in recent years, BrewDog appointed administrators to oversee a sale, with Tilray – which owns a range of other craft brewing companies, along with businesses operating in the medical cannabis sector – emerging as the successful buyer.

Earlier this year, BrewDog stopped operations across its gin and vodka brands in Aberdeenshire, while last year it closed doors on several pubs it owned in a bid to stem losses. Jobs were also cut after a £37m loss was recorded across the previous year.

Following the closure, with immediate effect, of the 38 bars, there will be 484 redundancies, though 733 employees’ jobs have been preserved under the terms of the sale, and will now become workers for Tilray Brands UK.

Administrators AlixPartners confirmed that there was no offer received “from any prospective bidder which would have preserved BrewDog in its entirety”.

The administrators have also confirmed there would be “no return to any equity holders” from the sale, including the members of the public who invested in BrewDog through the company’s “Equity for Punks” scheme.

Money raised from equity sales to fans in this way was used for expanding the business, and was estimated to have raised about £75m.

“As one would expect over the past two weeks, we have received significant interest in the BrewDog business from prospective buyers across both the trade and investment communities,” said Clare Kennedy, a managing director at AlixPartners.

“In Tilray, we have secured a purchaser with a passion for craft brewing who will be an excellent custodian and sponsor of the business in the months and years ahead.

“Having done so, our priority now is to support, to the fullest extent possible, those people whose roles have been made redundant, and we would ask operators within the UK leisure sector who are in a position to assist to contact us at any time.”

Irwin D Simon, chief executive of Tilray Brands, added, “BrewDog is one of the most iconic, mission-driven craft beer brands in the UK. What makes BrewDog truly special has always been its brewers, its brewpubs and its passionate community of beer fans.

“As we begin a new chapter for this great brand, our priority is to refocus BrewDog on the craft beer excellence that made it beloved in the first place and strategically invest to return the operations to profitable growth. BrewDog’s future is bright, and we are committed to ensuring the brand continues to lead and inspire the global craft beer movement.”

Neither of the two original co-founders, James Watt and Martin Dickie, hold ongoing day-to-day roles at the firm, though Mr Watt moved to a position of “captain and co-founder” after stepping down as chief executive in 2024 following a series of complaints and controversy. Mr Dickie left the company last year due to “personal reasons”; last year, he announced plans to turn a new venture into a dominant medical cannabis company.

Reeves under pressure to keep energy and fuel prices affordable in spring statement

Rachel Reeves is coming under pressure to prepare an emergency plan to deal with a shock increase in energy and fuel prices in what is being seen as an inevitable impact of Donald Trump’s war with Iran.

With the chancellor due to give her spring statement update on the economy on Tuesday, as the conflict in the Middle East escalates further, Labour MPs have joined others in demanding she puts provides proposals to deal with a hike in oil and gas prices.

Analysts have warned that household energy bills could surge to up to £2,500 a year if the Iran conflict causes longterm disruption to global gas supplies.

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has mostly ground to a halt after Iran attacked tankers in retaliation to the US and Israeli attacks that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian supreme leader.

The strait is a critical funnel point for flows of both oil and gas from the Middle East. Britain’s benchmark gas price, NBP, leapt up by 54 per cent to 122p per therm on Monday. Brent crude, the global benchmark oil price, was up about 9 per cent at $79.40 per barrel.

Sir Keir Starmer, asked in the Commons on Monday about Britain’s supplies, insisted that the UK is taking measures to safeguard the supply, but Ms Reeves is set to face further pressure to keep energy prices affordable when she addresses MPs on Tuesday.

Graeme Downie, the Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar and a member of the Commons’ energy select committee, told The Independent: “The consequences of the actions by Iran could be felt here in the UK through increased energy bills quickly and painfully and it will be those who have the least who will be hurt the most.

“This is the latest incident which shows the importance of the UK moving faster to deter, defend and mitigate against an increasingly unstable world. What happens elsewhere on the globe, however distant it feels, will be felt closer to home through rising bills or economic instability.

“The government is already making important improvements in energy infrastructure to increase resilience and we have seen signs of acceleration to increase defence spending much faster as well. On both issues, the prime minister and the chancellor need to take urgent steps to protect our country from external flux.”

Concerns have risen with memories of the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had on forcing Liz Truss’s government to announce a £120bn bailout package to freeze energy prices.

Tom Marzec-Manser, director for European gas and LNG at Wood Mackenzie, warned: “The prospect of around 20 per cent of the world’s LNG being cut off from the market has unsurprisingly led to a sharp rise in prices this morning. The next key question for traders will be how long the Strait remains closed. Naturally, the longer it takes to reopen, the higher the price will go.”

Chris Wheaton, managing director and senior oil and gas analyst at Stifel, warned that a wholesale gas price of 250p per therm would translate to an energy price cap level of about £2,500 a year.

He told The Times: “For prices to triple, I think the current Strait of Hormuz closure lasting more than six weeks would cause that, or if the US tries to keep the shipping lanes open and fails to do so.”

Meanwhile, the Lib Dems have added their voice in calling for Ms Reeves to abandon a plan for a 1p fuel duty rise.

AA President Edmund King warned that the turmoil “will inevitably lead to price hikes,” with “record prices at the pumps” expected within “10 to 12 days.”

Lib Dem Treasury spokeswoman Daisy Cooper said: “With fuel prices poised to soar as a result of Trump’s war with Iran, it would be disastrous for Rachel Reeves to press ahead with a fuel duty hike in September.

“The chancellor must use tomorrow’s Spring Statement to scrap her planned fuel duty increase.

“It’s the least she can do to help families weather the storm, keep prices down, and ease the cost of living.”

Howard Cox from the FairFuelUK campaign added: “In light of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, Rachel Reeves must declare in her Spring Statement that fuel duty will remain frozen for the duration of her Parliament and cancel any planned increases in the Autumn Budget.

“This move would not only be economically prudent—stimulating GDP growth and alleviating inflationary pressure—but it would also provide some much-needed political relief to this government, known for its frequent U-turns.”

“The critical point for all UK politicians to consider is that had the North Sea oil and gas fields been permitted to ‘drill-baby-drill’, our pump prices would not, once again, be so vulnerable in the long term to any conflict in the Middle East.”

The Independent has approached the Treasury for comment.

Health minister resigns as she undergoes breast cancer treatment

Health minister Ashley Dalton, who has advanced breast cancer, has resigned from her post while she continues to undergo chemotherapy.

Announcing her resignation, she said: “I believe now is the right time to take the reasonable adjustments I need to both manage my condition and focus on being a constituency MP by stepping back from ministerial duties.”

Ms Dalton, MP for West Lancashire, was appointed as public health minister in February 2025 following Andrew Gwynne’s resignation and suspension from the Labour Party.

The month before her appointment, she had been diagnosed with incurable breast cancer after having undergone surgery and chemotherapy in 2014.

In her resignation letter, Ms Dalton told the prime minister she would be “forever grateful for the confidence you have shown in me”, adding: “Your government has committed to making sure that people with long-term health conditions are supported and enabled to return to or continue to work where they can.

“It is so important that we recognise the value of all of us to contribute and participate and that we stop writing people off due to health or disability.

“My constituents deserve a member of parliament to represent them with diligence and conviction.

“Whilst my oral chemotherapy treatment will not stop me from being that champion for West Lancashire, I believe now is the right time to take the reasonable adjustments I need to both manage my condition and focus on being a constituency MP by stepping back from ministerial duties.”

She said she will return to the backbenches “committed to being a powerful voice in Westminster for my constituents” and will “continue to work towards improving health outcomes for people living with cancer”.

Ms Dalton also reiterated her backing for the prime minister, saying she will continue to “support your leadership on the government’s agenda to bring about the change the country trusted us to deliver.”

Responding to her resignation, health secretary Wes Streeting said she had been an “outstanding minister… in the face of extraordinary adversity”.

“She has achieved more as a minister than many politicians achieve in their entire careers. I’m so sorry to lose her from our team, but proud of her decision and her impact,” he said.

Writing in The Times, Ms Dalton, 53, said that she needed to make a change to her workload so she could “continue to serve my constituents as they deserve, whilst adequately managing the side effects of chemo as well as caring for my elderly mum”.

She added: “The alternative would likely be more regular trips to Liverpool Aintree, making myself sick and unable to fulfil any of the roles I love.”

Last month, Ms Dalton helped present the government’s national cancer plan.

She said the days following justified her decision to step down, adding that she spent the weekend “at Aintree University Hospital, IV drip hanging from my arm, blood tests, ECG and a chest x-ray, praying I wouldn’t need to be admitted”.

Ms Dalton said she takes chemotherapy as “five tablets twice a day for two weeks, with a week of rest” as part of a three-week cycle of treatment.

She added: “And, at present, my disease is stable. Having said that, metastatic breast cancer is incurable. I will never beat it.

“In fact, when people ask when I will know I’ve beaten my cancer, I tell them ‘when I’ve died of something else’.

“But the biggest mistake anyone could make about me and my cancer is to write me off.

“Upon being diagnosed with metastatic, sometimes called advanced, or stage 4 cancer, I was told not to worry because support was available for me to access benefits and to give up work.

“For some people, giving up work and accessing support from the state is absolutely the right choice. But just as cancer is not homogeneous, neither are we people living with cancer.”

Ms Dalton said she was “incredibly grateful and incredibly fortunate that through my work as an MP and having been entrusted by the prime minister to serve in his government, I have been able to thrive despite my disease”.

Five injured in Ukrainian drone attack on major Russian oil terminal

At least five people were injured and 20 buildings damaged in a massive overnight Ukrainian drone attack on the southern Russian city of Novorossiysk, which hosts a port and a naval base, local officials said.

The Russian defence ministry said it had downed 172 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 67 over the Black Sea and 66 over the Krasnodar region where Novorossiysk is located.

This comes hours after Belgian forces seized a suspected Russian shadow fleet vessel in the North Sea with the help of the French navy on Sunday.

Defence minister Theo Francken shared a video of the operation and said the oil tanker was thought to be sailing with a “false flag and false documents”.

The vessel, named Ethera, which was on the US, EU and UK sanctions list, was subsequently escorted to the port of Zeebrugge.

“Without his shadow fleet Putin can’t wage war against innocent Ukrainians. So we take these vessels out. One by one. Till his war of aggression stops,” Francken said.

Emmanuel Macron said the seizure, which was assisted by French navy helicopters, was a “major blow” to Russia’s fleet.

Why Gran Hotel Taoro is Tenerife’s must-book luxury stay for 2026

Tenerife’s iconic Gran Hotel Taoro holds a special place in Spanish history. As the first luxury hotel in Spain, opening its doors in 1890, it was a glamorous haven for high society, welcoming everyone from King Alfonso XIII and the Duke of Kent to author Agatha Christie.

Now, after a complete renovation, the landmark hotel has been reborn as an elegant 21st-century destination that’s ready to welcome you for the ultimate five-star break.

The hotel’s carefully preserved neo-classical architecture exudes old-world elegance, while colonial-inspired interiors in earthy tones and modern five-star comforts promise a stay that feels both timeless and contemporary.

Set on a lush hilltop in northern Tenerife and overlooking the historic town of Puerto de la Cruz, the hotel’s 199 rooms and suites make the most of its enviable location, featuring breathtaking panoramic views of Mount Teide – the highest point in Spain – the Atlantic Ocean, and the palm-dotted greenery of its terraces and surrounding botanical parks.

Prepare to embark on an unforgettable culinary journey throughout your stay, with exceptional restaurants celebrating local and international flavours.

At fusion restaurant OKA, helmed by Michelin-starred chef Ricardo Sanz, Japanese fine dining is given a mouthwatering Mediterranean twist.

Two-Michelin-starred chef Erlantz Gorostiza is the mastermind behind two more restaurants: Spanish gourmet bistro Amalur, with a menu inspired by the four elements; and fine dining restaurant Lava, whose exclusive setting includes a Chef’s Counter for six guests.

Breakfast at Atlantico Buffet is the perfect way to start the day as you savour delicious dishes alongside terrace views. For leisurely poolside lunches, La Carola is the place to be, serving Mediterranean flavours and crisp Canarian wines with a generous side of Tenerife sunshine.

Secure your holiday to Gran Hotel Taoro with British Airways Holidays and enjoy a great-value holiday with quality and peace of mind. You’ll benefit from ATOL protection from the moment you book, a 24-hour helpline and a generous checked baggage allowance. Book your holiday with a low deposit and spread the cost with flexible payments* – so all that’s left to focus on is enjoying your holiday in style.

If you upgrade to Club Europe, you’ll enjoy a host of additional benefits including lounge access,** increased checked baggage allowance, and priority check-in and boarding. Members of The British Airways Club benefit from collecting Avios, earning tier points and using Avios towards the cost of holiday packages.

Spend your days at the Gran Hotel Taoro relaxing by three heated pools, set amidst beautifully landscaped gardens and providing a postcard-perfect setting for some downtime.

If you want to up the relaxation factor further, head to the serene sanctuary of the Sandara Wellness Center, which offers a range of exclusive treatments in partnership with luxury French brand Anne Semonin.

Guests who want to explore the history, culture and natural wonders of the local area – including Puerto de la Cruz, the oldest tourist destination in the Canaries – can take advantage of the hotel’s new X-Plora programme, offering a range of tailor-made experiences both within and beyond the hotel grounds through the dedicated concierge team.

More than a luxury retreat, Gran Hotel Taoro is a grand hotel reborn: a destination where heritage, culture and five-star service come together in one of Tenerife’s most treasured and authentic settings. Book with British Airways Holidays to experience this Spanish icon’s remarkable return in 2026.

British Airways Holidays packages include a generous checked baggage allowance for each customer and come with full ATOL protection for complete peace of mind. Secure your Tenerife holiday to Gran Hotel Taoro with a low deposit and enjoy flexible payments until you fly*.

*Based on two sharing. Full balance due four weeks before departure. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply. **Subject to availability

• Secure your holiday with a low deposit and spread the cost with flexible payments.*

• All holiday packages include a generous checked baggage allowance.

• ATOL protection from the moment you book your holiday package giving you financial reassurance.

• Quality car hire with no hidden fees, 24-hour support and roadside assistance.

• Upgrade to Club Europe (Business Class) for a host of additional benefits including lounge access,** increased checked baggage allowance, delicious food and drink options and dedicated check-in and priority boarding.

• Members of The British Airways Club benefit from collecting Avios, earning tier points and using Avios towards the cost of holiday packages.

MPs’ pay to increase £19,000 by 2029 – here’s what they will earn

MPs will have received a £19,000 pay rise by the end of this parliament, the watchdog has announced.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) said on Monday that the salary of an MP will increase to £98,599 in 2026-27 before rising to £110,000 by 2029.

Announcing the decision, the body said MPs were facing increased levels of abuse and dealing with more complex workloads in their role.

It means £12m more will be spent on the pay of the Commons’ 650 MPs by the expected date of the next election.

The announcement comes just 24 hours before chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to give her Spring Statement with an update on the state of the country’s finances, and amid fears she will have to raise taxes again in the autumn.

With the war in Iran set to hit energy prices and Ms Reeves’ £20bn headroom further, it is expected that money will be tight again.

It also comes at a time when a number of public sector workers including teachers, doctors, nurses and fire fighters are threatening strike action over their restricted pay increases.

In 2025, IPSA applied an interim increase of 2.8 per cent to £93,904. In the last year, the body has engaged the public in a wide-ranging programme of consultations to help guide decisions about MPs’ pay over a longer period.

Additionally, IPSA has undertaken a process to benchmark MPs’ pay against other responsible roles in the wider public sector, and parliamentarians in similar democracies around the world.

In a statement, it said that its analysis suggests MPs should receive a salary of around £110,000 by the scheduled end of the current parliament in 2029, from £91,346 at the start of parliament in 2024.

Richard Lloyd, IPSA’s chair, said: “The role of an MP has evolved. They are dealing with higher levels of complex casework, and abuse and intimidation towards MPs and their staff has been growing.

“In reaching our decision for 2026-27 we have benchmarked MPs’ pay against other responsible, senior roles in civic society and similar worldwide democracies, as well as considering our own core principles and the wider economic context.

“In future years we will continue to consider prevailing economic and fiscal conditions when confirming annual pay decisions taking into account the experience of people outside of parliament.”

As an initial step towards this figure, IPSA’s decision on pay for 2026/27 includes a 1.5 per cent benchmarking adjustment, as well as a 3.5 per cent cost-of-living increase.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “Politicians should not be insulated from the consequences of their own actions. Their pay should be linked to real living standards measured by GDP per capita.”

Saturday Night Live facing backlash for ‘shameful’ Tourette’s sketch

Saturday Night Live is receiving backlash for its “shameful” sketch about the racial slur incident at last weekend’s Baftas.

Last month, Scottish campaigner John Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome, shouted a racial slur while actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan were presenting an award, and the BBC later broadcast the pre-recorded moment, which had happened two hours earlier.

The moment sparked widespread debate, with Davidson, whose life inspired the film I Swear, stating he was “upset and distraught” by the situation and was allegedly told that any offensive involuntary tics would be cut from the broadcast.

SNL, which was hosted by Heated Rivalry star Connor Storrie, poked fun at the subject with a controversial sketch that was released online after being edited out of the latest episode due to time constraints.

It features the sketch show’s cast members playing controversial celebrities, including Mel Gibson, JK Rowling, Bill Cosby and Kanye West, who all inexplicably claim Tourette’s is to blame for their problematic behaviour.

“I’m Mel Gibson, and as I probably should have pointed out decades ago, I too suffer from Tourette’s which explains a lot of the things I’ve said or yelled through the years,” Andrew Dismukes said in character as Braveheart star Gibson. In the past, Gibson has made racist, antisemitic, and homophobic comments, which he has apologised for.

Ashley Padilla said while playing Harry Potter author Rowling: “Tourette’s isn’t just blurting out an offensive word. It can be a years-long obsession with something like trans life and a deep anger that someone who was born with a wand in their pants would want that one removed and replaced with a Horcrux.” Rowling has faced significant backlash for her remarks on the transgender community.

Kenan Thompson played Cosby, who has been accused of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment by more than 60 women, all of which he has denied. In the sketch, Thompson, as Cosby, said he suffers from “something called the drink Tourette’s”, while rapper West, now known as Ye, said he has “three different kinds of Tourette’s”.

West recently wrote an open letter claiming that neurological damage caused by a near-fatal 2002 car crash was responsible for his concerning behaviour in recent years, which has included public antisemitic rants.

The fake PSA in the sketch said it was “brought to you by National Workforce of Rethinking Disabilities, or N.W.O.R.D.” – a direct reference to Davidon’s involuntary tic.

Lewis Goodall, host of The News Agents, podcast, condemned the sketch as “genuinely shameful”, with comedian Al Murray calling it “vile”.

Goodall added on X: “The joke is basically nothing more sophisticated than ‘people with serious disabilities make it up.’ That’s before they compare a disabled man, mocked his entire life, to Bill Cosby. Whole thing deserves to become infamous.”

The Independent’s DC bureau chief Eric Michael Garcia added: “This is honestly gross and punching down in the worst possible way. And ironically, it proves the necessity for the work people like John Davidson do to erase stigma around Tourette’s.”

Another chimed in on X: “This is poor. The implicit premise is that people with Tourette’s are just using it as an excuse. That’s literally the error of perception the film was trying to correct. Shameful.”

Others jumped to the defence of the sketch, claiming that it was trying to send up the celebrities by inexplicably using Tourette’s as an excuse for their behaviour, alleged or otherwise.

But the overwhelming consensus is that the sketch makes a mockery of a subject that has left a person with Tourette’s feeling “mortified”.

“I love SNL and I’m so disappointed. How can people truly lack that amount of knowledge, compassion and understanding? I really hope John Davison never ever sees this,” one viewer posted.

The Independent has contacted NBC for comment.

Davidson suffers from coprolalia, a version of Tourette’s which involves involuntary cursing or making socially inappropriate remarks. During the Baftas, he chose to leave the auditorium shortly after realising that Lindo and Jordan had heard his tic from the stage. He also said he involuntarily made several offensive remarks that weren’t just racial.

Following the event, a BBC spokesperson said: “Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the Bafta Film Awards. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional. We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it has been removed from BBC iPlayer.”

In an internal memo, BBC staff were also told that the slur had aired “in error” as producers had not heard the word, and that another had been cut from the broadcast.

Bafta also apologised, saying that a “comprehensive review” was underway and that they took “full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation”. They also apologised to Lindo and Jordan.