A supporter of Oswald Mosley. A retired individual who made derogatory remarks about Muslims. A business director seemingly celebrating assaults on women. These are examples of Reform’s local election candidates recently exposed.
Despite Nigel Farage’s previous claims about the party’s vetting process, Reform has faced embarrassment due to our revelations. A series of problematic candidates from Farage’s party have come to light in recent weeks. While Reform’s leader expressed confidence in their vetting procedures, our investigation, in collaboration with anti-racism group Hope Not Hate (HnH), suggests otherwise.
One such candidate is Stuart Prior, running in the same area as Farage’s parliamentary seat. Prior’s offensive tweets, including racist content and claims of white supremacy, have raised concerns. Our joint investigation with HnH uncovered Prior’s disturbing social media posts, which he denied as being racist when confronted at his residence.
Reform took action against George Parnell, a technology worker, after our discovery that he was listed as a former British National Party member. Parnell’s conflicting statements about his past involvement with the BNP led to his expulsion from Reform.
Another candidate, David Prior, was found to have a history with the BNP, despite his business background. Prior admitted to his past association with the far-right group and was subsequently removed from Reform.
Furthermore, Professor Angus Dalgleish, standing as a Reform candidate in North Cheam, Sutton, faced criticism for allegedly linking royal family members’ illnesses to Covid vaccines. Reform distanced itself from these claims, stating they do not endorse such views.
Andrew Mahon, a candidate supporting Oswald Mosley and Enoch Powell, came under scrutiny for his extreme views. Mahon’s Facebook posts praising fascist leaders sparked outrage, with calls for investigation into his candidacy.
Daniel Devaney, another candidate, was exposed for posting anti-Muslim comments online. Devaney, who expressed regret and denied being racist, is under investigation by Reform.
In Wales, Emma Clatworthy’s past remarks on Covid conspiracy theories and the monarchy raised concerns about her candidacy for the Senedd. Clatworthy defended her comments as part of a period of exploring various ideas online and emphasized her commitment to serving the public.
Reform’s response to these controversies varied, with some candidates being expelled or investigated, while others faced criticism but remained affiliated with the party. The upcoming elections in England, Wales, and Scotland will include voters assessing the suitability of these candidates for public office.