A candidate affiliated with Nigel Farage’s Reform party has been found making racist remarks, including referring to white people as the “master race.” Stuart Prior, who is running in Essex in the upcoming local elections, has been exposed for a series of derogatory comments made not long ago. These comments, which were discovered on a social media account linked to him, involved celebrating violent acts against Punjabi and Sikh women, making derogatory remarks about black individuals’ intelligence, and derogatorily labeling Muslims as “rats.”
The controversial statements made by Prior, which were unearthed through a collaborative investigation with anti-racism organization Hope Not Hate (HnH), were denied by the 54-year-old when confronted at his residence in a village in Essex with evidence of his remarks.
Regarding the inflammatory comments attributed to him, Prior disavowed knowledge of referring to white people as the “master race” and downplayed comments about the intelligence of black individuals. He also distanced himself from a tweet expressing insensitive remarks about women being subjected to violence. Prior’s social media account, where these comments were made, is believed to have been deleted earlier this year. He is contesting for a county council seat in Rayleigh West and in Sweyne Park and Grange, part of Rochford District Council.
Joe Mulhall, the director of research at HnH, expressed strong condemnation, stating, “Among the Reform candidates with extreme and racist views, Stuart Prior stands out as one of the most egregious cases.”
In the upcoming local elections in Essex, where Nigel Farage serves as a Member of Parliament, the Reform party aims to secure victories. However, the selection of Stuart Prior as a candidate has raised concerns about the party’s vetting practices. This revelation adds to a string of controversies surrounding Reform candidates, including connections to fascist figures.
On previous occasions, Prior’s remarks have included controversial statements related to race and gender issues. He has made insensitive comments about rape incidents involving Punjabi and Sikh women, as well as insinuations about racial superiority based on brain size. Moreover, his derogatory language towards Muslims and racial slurs have sparked further criticism.
When questioned about his online activities, Prior acknowledged certain details, such as owning a dog and sharing images of his property, but claimed not to recall specific tweets. The Reform party stated that they are investigating Prior’s social media posts.
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