Tory Peer Slams Reform Over 'Misinformation' Around Epping Protests With Thinly-Veiled Dig

Eleanor Laing, former Tory MP who now sits in the House of LordsA Conservative peer appears to have hit out at Reform UK for pushing “misinformation” around the anti-migration protests in Epping.Eleanor Laing, who was appointed to the Lords after choosing to step down as an MP and the deputy speaker of the Commons last year, did not name Nigel Farage’s party – but it was painfully clear who she was directing her comments towards.Over the weekend, hundreds gathered outside the Bell Hotel which is believed to be housing some asylum seekers, triggering significant clashes with the police.Reform UK leader Farage defended the demonstrations on Monday, and instead blamed the anti-racism protesters for the violence.He said: “I don’t think anybody in London even understands just how close we are to civil disobedience.”But speaking in the chamber on Wednesday, Laing – who served as the MP for Epping Forest for 27 years – appeared to criticise Reform UK for their reaction to the protests.Laing said: “The considerable amount of misinformation that is being spread by a particular political party is unfortunate, and is working against community cohesion.“Will the minister join with me in calling everyone involved in the situation in the Epping Forest area and across Essex to stop inciting violence, to call for calm, and to think of the vulnerable people that we should all be protecting?”Farage’s constituency is Clacton-on-Sea, which is also in Essex.Pointing to the four arrests made over the Epping protests, Laing said: “It should be noted amongst the misinformation that is out there, that the men that have been accused of serious crimes are now in custody awaiting trial. Our justice system is working.“But does the minister agree with me that is the duty of elected representatives – all elected representatives regardless of which party they represent – to do their best to encourage community cohesion and calm down a potentially riotous situation?”Home Office minister Lord Hanson thanked Laing for her “wise counsel”.He called for all elected officials to support the police, allow the criminal justice system to take its course and to enforce community cohesion which is the “most important issue before the House today”.Her intervention comes after deputy prime minister Angela Rayner seemed to tacitly agree with Farage during a cabinet meeting this week that immigration is one of the root causes behind social tensions right now.Ministers are said to be concerned there could be a repeat of the anti-immigration thuggery which swept across the country last summer, sparking by the Southport murders.Baroness Laing(Tory) takes a swipe at Reform for spreading misinformation:"The considerable amount of misinformation that's being spread by a particular political party is unfortunate & working against community cohesion.." pic.twitter.com/s2rv0rNnoQ— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) July 23, 2025Related...Angela Rayner Appears To Have Echoed One Of Nigel Farage's Most Alarming ClaimsHow Does Farage Want To Protect The UK From 'Collapse'? By Sending Prisoners To El Salvador, Of CourseMP Gives Voters An Important Reminder About Nigel Farage's Brexit Past

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