A prospective Reform council candidate, Graham Holland, who was initially rejected for racist social media posts, now claims he fell victim to Nigerian scammers. Holland, a former Tory councillor, stated that scammers from Nigeria hijacked his Twitter account and posted offensive messages. Despite being blocked initially, Reform later allowed him to run after he provided new evidence of the scam.
Holland, 81, revealed that his computer expert friend traced the scam back to Africa. He emphasized that someone else had control of his account and sent out the controversial tweets. Holland maintained that he would not engage in such inflammatory behavior due to his Christian beliefs and personal values.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform, expressed confidence in the party’s chances in the Bexley area. Despite facing initial vetting rejection, Holland was selected by Reform to contest the Blackfen and Lamorbey ward in London Borough of Bexley. He submitted evidence to the party, including a WhatsApp message from his computer expert, to support his claim of being hacked.
Holland clarified that he has no issue with Muslims and has Muslim friends. He explained discussing the situation with his friend Gareth, who provided technical insights into the hacking incident. Reform’s leader defended the party’s vetting process, stating improvements have been made.
Reform UK defended Holland’s candidacy, stating that he passed subsequent vetting with new evidence proving he did not control the controversial social media account. The party has been under scrutiny for recruiting candidates and facing backlash for offensive views expressed by some members.