Farage: Mums 'Could Breastfeed In The Corner'

5 December 2014, 09:44 | Updated: 24 August 2016, 14:43

Mothers have reacted furiouslt after Nigel Farage told LBC: "It isn't too difficult to breastfeed a baby in a way that's not openly ostentatious."

Ukip leader Nigel Farage has told LBC that his comments on breastfeeding have been taken "wildly out of context".

Farage spoke to Iain Dale's show this evening, after the huge reaction to his comments on Phone Farage earlier today.

"I said twice in the interview personally I haven't got a problem with this, I'm perfectly relaxed about this.

"But there are lots of people, especially of the older generation, who feel deeply uncomfortable with this."

Iain Dale asked Farage if he might learn some lessons from the episode, but the Ukip leader said there was "no lesson" for him to take.

"This has been taken wildly out of context and it makes me think this afternoon probably that's why we've got such low grade people in politics.

"Because we have a media who frankly are not really interested in reporting what somebody has said, they're interested in reporting what they would like them to have said."

Earlier during Phone Farage, the Ukip leader said that while he was fine with breastfeeding, he was aware that many people felt embarrassed by it.

"I know a lot of people do feel very uncomfortable. This is just a matter of common sense, isn't it?

"I think that given that some people feel very embarrassed by it, it isn't too difficult to breastfeed a baby in a way that's not openly ostentatious."

LBC presenter Nick Ferrari then asked Mr Farage if he felt Claridge's were wrong to ask a mother to cover up.

"Frankly, that's up to Claridge's. I very much take the view that if you're running an establishment you should have rules."

Farage suggested breastfeeding mothers could "perhaps sit in a corner."

"It's not an issue that I get terribly hung up about, but I know particularly that people of the older generation feel awkward and embarrassed by it."

A spokesperson for David Cameron said the comments were "totally unacceptable", saying: "It's for Mr Farage to explain his views.

"The Prime Minister shares the view of the NHS, which is that breast-feeding is completely natural and it's totally unacceptable for any women to be made to feel uncomfortable when breast-feeding in public."

Hear Nigel's interview with Iain Dale: