Five key takeaways from Green and Reform leaders’ Question Time – BBC News

Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage each fielded half an hour of questions from a BBC Question Time audience in Birmingham, in the final leaders’ special of this election campaign.

Just six days before voters go to the polls, the two answered questions on immigration, tax, Brexit and their parties’ candidates.

There was a distinct difference in the way the two leaders responded to the studio audience.

Adrian Ramsay repeatedly began his answers with “good question” or similar – though some of his answers appeared to elicit some scepticism.

By contrast, Nigel Farage took a more combative approach. There was applause for critical questions, and when he was pressed on why some Reform candidates were still standing, his “I have no idea!” response elicited laughter in the room.

But the Reform leader seemed to relish the challenge from the Birmingham audience, saying he would not apologise for mistakes made by some candidates and activists.

Both Mr Ramsay and Mr Farage were on the defensive when pressed about some of their election candidates who have made controversial comments, largely on social media.

Presenter Fiona Bruce pushed Mr Ramsay on some Green candidates who have been accused of making extreme comments on the Gaza conflict.

He said he did not support any of their views and concerns raised would be independently investigated, but he declined to go further.

Mr Farage appeared to withdraw support for one of his candidates live on TV, saying he “wouldn’t want anything to do with them”.

Any candidate who’s had party support withdrawn now will still appear on the ballot paper in their party’s name on 4 July.

While emphasising the need to improve public transport, Mr Ramsay said he had a car and used it when he needed to.

But he added it was hybrid and not fully electric – even though he would like it to be – because he lived in a terraced house where a charging point could not be installed.

Mr Ramsay argued that was an example of a lack of transport infrastructure in the UK, with expensive trains, no buses to catch in many rural areas, and too many domestic flights.

His call for the railways to be brought back into public ownership got a round of applause.

How much would a scrappage scheme to get fossil-fuel vehicles off the roads by 2035 – as set out in the party’s manifesto – cost, he was asked.

He said all Green policies were fully costed, but couldn’t specify what car owners would get to scrap their petrol and diesel vehicles.