Nigel Farage demands apology after Labour minister claims Reform leader is ‘on the side' of paedos like Jimmy Saville
Tech Secretary Peter Kyle sparked a blazing row by alleging the Reform Party leader's vow to repeal online safety laws amounts to backing predators gaining access to children.
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Mr Kyle declared: 'If Jimmy Savile were alive today, he'd be perpetrating his crimes online.
"And Nigel Farage is saying he's on their side.'
Furious at the inflammatory accusation, Mr Farage hit back, branding the comments "disgusting" and demanding a retraction.
He fumed: "Peter Kyle's comments on Sky News are disgusting.
"He should do the right thing and apologise."
However, the Tech Secretary refused to back down, stating: "If you want to overturn the Online Safety Act you are on the side of predators.
"It is as simple as that."
On Monday, Mr Farage pledged to scrap the Online Safety Act should Reform win the next election, arguing it risks erasing free speech "at the stroke of a pen".
The Reform boss further claimed the legislation would drive children onto the dark web, insisting youngsters would use VPNs and end up accessing more dangerous corners of the internet than ever before.
He said: 'The road to hell can be paved with good intentions."
Friday saw the Online Safety Act come into full effect, with over 6,000 websites – including major social media platforms and porn sites – enforcing stringent age checks.
The sweeping crackdown compels tech firms to verify users are 18 or older before granting access to adult content or distressing material linked to suicide, self-harm and eating disorders.
Under the rigorous new measures, users may be required to scan their faces, provide official identification, or even share contact lists and email details.
Mr Kyle today defended the Act, stating he has "not seen any evidence that the Bill goes too far at all".
The Tech Secretary added: "I will be monitoring the impact, but I have not so far seen anything that gives me concern for anyone about free speech grounds.
"We have very strident protections for free speech in this country.
"This is not about free speech. This is about hateful, violent, extreme, misogynistic and pornographic material finding its way into children's feeds."
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