Brexit providing basis for wave of vicious hate crime in UK, says Stephen Fry

Comedian and actor says it is not too late to change the country’s 'tainted image'

Brexit is providing the basis for a “wave of vicious hate crime” currently afflicting the UK, Stephen Fry has said.

Looking at the spikes in hate crime following Britain’s vote to leave the European Union, the comedian and actor said it was not too late to change the country’s “tainted image”.

Fry provided the voiceover for a two-part series that looks to tackle misconceptions and inaccurate information that has been spread online following the Brexit vote.

Part one, which was uploaded a month ago, has been viewed more than 1.2 million times and was titled “Brexit: Facts vs Fear”.

It looked at the impact and contributions immigrants had made to life in the UK.

The latest episode looks at the rise of hate crimes and draws comparisons with Donald Trump’s rise to the presidency in the US.

"Perhaps the worst thing about Brexit is that the people behind a wave of vicious hate crime believe half the country agrees with them,” Fry said.

"Our recent myth-busting video showed that the truth can also go viral. In part two, we take a fact-fuelled lightsaber to fearmongering, with some help from Ed Sheeran and a mystery Jedi Master.”

The video, which has been uploaded to Youtube, also looks at the rise of inequality and assesses how the NHS has coped since the referendum.

"The police watchdog has warned that leaving the EU could spark more hate crime. Let's not seal Britain’s tainted image, let’s cast it off,” Fry added.

"Thank you for supporting the people's vote - the only rational route out of this mess."