Labour peer and Reform MP clash over 'brown people' and domestic abuse

A heated exchange occurred between Labour peer Thangam Debbonaire and Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin at the Makerfield byelection count. The clash, which took place during a Sky News interview, saw Debbonaire accuse Pochin of making racist remarks and questioning her stance on domestic violence.

The interview began with a discussion about a £5 million gift Nigel Farage received from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. Pochin defended Farage, stating the gift was received before he entered politics and therefore did not need to be declared, and criticized the Labour government for removing his security. Debbonaire countered that Parliament provides security for MPs and accused Pochin of speaking "rubbish."

The argument escalated when Pochin appeared to mock Debbonaire for losing her seat in the 2024 general election. Debbonaire then directly accused Pochin of disliking "being on television with brown people," referencing comments Pochin made on TalkTV in October where she expressed frustration with adverts featuring Black and Asian people. Pochin called the accusation "outrageous."

Further disagreement arose over a video Pochin posted on X, which suggested the England football team's success could help prevent domestic violence. Debbonaire criticized Pochin for not explicitly condemning abusers and for appearing to smile while discussing violence against women and girls, questioning if Pochin believed "the only danger to women is people who come from other countries."