NIGEL Farage is facing a fierce backlash after he blamed China for the global coronavirus pandemic.
The Brexit Party leader, in a column for Newsweek, says Donald Trump was correct to dub Covid-19 the “Chinese virus” as he claims China is responsible for the outbreak.
Farage also claims that China, in giving aid to Italy, is seeking to benefit from the crisis.
He writes: “To see China now exploiting a crisis that they have caused to spread their influence further and deeper into Europe should send a chill down our spines.”
Promoting the article, Farage tweeted: "It really is about time we all said it. China caused this nightmare. Period."
READ MORE: Boris Johnson's government to publish emergency coronavirus laws
The column has been met with a wave of criticism online.
Labour MP David Lammy urged Farage to keep his “xenophobic garbage” to himself.
.@Nigel_Farage is there anything you won't use to stir up hatred against the 'foreigner'? #COVID19 is a global pandemic. People are dying. To beat it, the whole world needs to work together. Please, for once, keep your hateful, xenophobic garbage to yourself. https://t.co/defUZJVyTk
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) March 18, 2020
National columnist Andrew Wilson said the Brexit Party leader was “beyond reproach”.
Truly disgusting conduct. Licence for racist violence. Beyond reproach and all decency. Anti British to boot. Small man. So what do we do with these venal nasty people who take the middle classes of our nation for fools? https://t.co/1XQGUVtINg
— Andrew Wilson (@AndrewWilson) March 18, 2020
Journalist Pete Geoghegan also hit out.
Yeah, the best response to a global pandemic is obviously racism. That will *really* help protect vulnerable people and keep communities safe... https://t.co/uzFiFFlJNH
— Peter Geoghegan (@PeterKGeoghegan) March 18, 2020
Another twitter user commented: “Epidemics and pandemics are as old as humanity. To post this when China is sending its equipment, personnel and expertise to help Italy is obnoxious. Stand down, you tawdry, little man.”
China's ambassador to the UK has condemned "hatred" against Chinese people since the coronavirus outbreak escalated at the start of the year.
READ MORE: Virus epicentre in China reports no new Covid-19 cases
Yesterday, police in Glasgow confirmed they are investigating reports of a Chinese student being racially abused in connection with the coronavirus.
According to the Glasgow Times, three people shouted "coronavirus" at the student and ripped the person's clothes.
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