An audience member says his wife came to the UK within the last two years - "are you saying people like her are not welcome anymore?"

Farage says we can't have limitless number of people as its "making us poorer" and diminishing our quality of life.

Turning to immigration, another audience members asks: "Will you admit our country is nothing without a rich history of immigration?"

Farage says the immigration policy used to work, but is now out of control.

He says the numbers of people coming to the UK are "literally unimaginable" and diminishing the quality of life of people living here.

• Two of Reform UK’s core five pledges are to do with migration. The party says it would freeze non-essential immigration, but concedes there would be exceptions with work in healthcare considered essential. More here.

Farage is now asked by an audience member: "When will you start saying sorry and stop making excuses?"

I will not apologise, Farage says.

He continues to repeat that it was a "set-up" and a deliberate attempt to smear Reform.

An audience member hits back - telling Farage some of his friends have start-ups but they "don't employ a slew of massive racists", which is met with a round of applause.

The audience member adds he wants to defend actors - not all are racists, he says.

Farage replies by saying there are people in all parties saying bad things.

Image source, PA Media

Bruce interrupts, and says these comments have been widely reported. They're in the public domain, she says. "Why are they still standing as your candidates?"

Farage says that they've been disowned "in most cases".

When pressed further on why they are still standing, he says: "I have no idea!" to laughter in the room.

Farage says he hasn't been leader for long, and that he inherited a "start-up" party.

"I wouldn't want anything to do with [these candidates]," he says, and affirms he has withdrawn his support from them.

• For context: One of the candidates Bruce mentioned is Edward Oakenfull, who tweeted derogatory comments about the IQ of ethnic minorities. Oakenfull has told the BBC his comments were "taken out of context", adding he has since deleted his X account because it was being used by others to carry out a political "hit job". A full list of candidates for his constituency can be found here.

Bruce challenges Farage on his record and that of his candidates.

The host talks about language used by the candidates, and says she is struggling to say some of it.

A candidate in Southend East and Rochford referred to people entering the UK on small boats as "scum" while another candidate said "black people should get off their lazy arses".

Why are you standing by them, Bruce asks.

Farage again says he has had problems with the vetting company Reform hired, and claims it is clear the "establishment" does not want him and his party to do well.

• A full list of candidates in Southend East and Rochford is here.

Bruce interrupts to explain the context, and says the Channel 4 report states that a canvasser for Nigel Farage made some "extraordinarily racist comments".

She says Channel 4 stands by their journalism, and that the journalists met the canvasser at Reform UK's headquarters.

"Who set it up?" she pushes.

Farage says that Channel 4 used a production company, and that the canvasser was in his "alter ego".

"This was designed to hurt us, and sadly some people believe it."

• Reform UK has said those making "unacceptable comments" will no longer be part of Farage's campaign.

The question receives widespread applause from the studio audience.

Farage says he's done more to drive the far right out of British politics more than anyone else alive, to a smattering of laughs in the audience.

He says he "destroyed" the British National Party.

He then goes on to reference the Channel 4 investigation, and reiterates his claim that the man at the centre of the investigation - Andrew Parker - is an actor.

"This is a total and utter set-up," he insists.

For context: Channel 4 has said it stands by “our rigorous and duly impartial journalism which speaks for itself”. "We did not pay the Reform UK canvasser or anyone else in this report. Mr Parker was not known to Channel 4 News and was filmed covertly via the undercover operation,” a spokesperson said earlier.

The first question for Reform's Nigel Farage comes from Mark Corden: "What is it about you and your party that attracts racists and extremists, whether you want them or not?"

And that's it for Ramsay - next up is Nigel Farage.

Up next is a question from Sonia Foxall: "I am self-employed and have seen increases in corporation tax and dividend tax, frozen personal allowance and now you want to tax me more. Why?"

Ramsay replies that people can't afford to access NHS, or pay extortionate rail prices, or heating. We're setting out a different vision, he says.

He says his party would push the new government to go further.

Bruce interjects, saying “we’re out of time”.

Bruce asks whether Ramsay agrees with his co-leader, Carla Denyer, who has suggested Trident makes the UK more of a target for attack.

Ramsay says the UK says anyone with nuclear weapons should move towards disarmament.

"A world with nuclear weapons is inherently less safe than a world without", Ramsay says.

Bruce puts it to Ramsay that the Greens want to scrap Trident, the UK's nuclear deterrent.

Ramsay replies by saying that we should take the advice of retired army generals and former defence secretaries who have said that Trident no longer addresses the challenges we have today and that it was for a different era.

He says he supports retaining the rest of the defence budget.

• More on the Greens' defence pledges here. The party would dismantle Britain’s entire Trident nuclear deterrent and remove all foreign nuclear weapons from UK soil. But the party would also keep the UK in the Nato military alliance.

Next up, Adam Norwood asks: "With a second Trump government looking likely to our West, and war inching closer from the East, how would Green defence policies keep us safe?"

On the same topic, Bruce presses Ramsay on whether he is OK for three candidates to go ahead and stand for the election "in your name".

Ramsay replies that he is "not familiar" with these three candidates, and says they are being investigated internally.

He adds that we live at a time where we're seeing "absolutely horrific scenes" in Gaza, just as the attacks on Israel were "absolutely horrific".

We need to be aware that there are Jewish, Muslim and other communities who are feeling very vulnerable, he says.

But that won't stop me in saying that the UK should push for a ceasefire in Gaza, and that "it is absolutely unacceptable" for the UK to continue selling arms to Israel.

Ramsay begins by saying all the issues raised in the question need to be taken seriously.

Hate crimes are growing, he says, adding that politicians and members of the public have a responsibility to create a more harmonious approach.

Bruce pushes him on some of the Green Party candidates who have made comments about the Israel-Gaza conflict, including one who said the 7 October attack by Hamas was orchestrated by Israel.

Why are they still candidates, Bruce asks.

Ramsay says he does not support any of the views outlined by these candidates.

He says concerns raised about candidates are properly investigated within the party, which is separate to the party leadership.

• For context: The Green Party previously said it blocked a “small number” of election candidates after reports of antisemitic comments on social media. But the three candidates Bruce asked Ramsay about are still standing.

The next question comes from Hannah Carroll: "Your manifesto mentions scrapping the Prevent programme. How are you planning to tackle hate crime, misogyny, anti-semitism and Islamophobia?"

For context: Prevent is a key part of the UK's current counter-terrorism strategy. In practical terms, the scheme places public bodies - including schools and the police - under a legal duty to identify people who may turn to extremism, and intervene in their lives before it is too late.

Bruce interjects - what does a world without borders look like?

It's a "long-term vision", Ramsay responds, adding that it's not something that is realistic in the next Parliament.

He says the country should recognise people are "more likely to be treated by someone who is a migrant from another country in the NHS than you are to have a migrant in front of you in the queue."

Pushed on small boats crossing the Channel, Ramsay says no-one wants to see people risking their lives.

But he says the UK needs to support a fair number of people seeking asylum while also looking at why people feel the need to flee their homes.

Image source, Reuters

Bruce references the Green Party manifesto, which talks about a "world without borders" and migrant workers who will be able to bring dependants with them to the UK.

It's "right and humane" that people should be able to bring dependants to the UK, Ramsay replies.

He says the UK benefits "economically and socially" from migration - to applause from some in the audience.

He then references the "horrific comments" made by a Reform UK canvasser exposed by a Channel 4 investigation - more on that here.

• Among the Greens' pledges on migration is a plan to scrap the minimum income requirements for spouses of those holding work visas

The next question is from Keshia Bailey: "With such a broad migration policy, how will you ensure public services will cope?"