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Controversy Surrounds Reform UK Candidates Ahead of Local Elections

Reform UK has come under scrutiny for its selection of candidates in the upcoming local elections, as concerns arise regarding the party’s vetting processes. According to the campaign group Hope Not Hate, several candidates have been found to have posted extremist views and promoted conspiracy theories, despite leader Nigel Farage’s insistence that the party has implemented a thorough vetting system.

As local elections near on May 1, Reform UK has amassed a candidate pool of over 1,600 individuals. Following a wave of racism scandals during the last general election, the party promised to professionalize its approach. Farage, while addressing supporters in Dover, claimed that the vetting process was comparable to or better than that of other parties, highlighting that numerous applicants had been rejected due to inappropriate language and content on social media.

Despite these assurances, Hope Not Hate has revealed troubling social media posts from 14 current Reform UK candidates, contradicting Farage’s statements. The BBC has taken steps to verify these claims over the past week, and inquiries for comment directed to Reform UK have thus far gone unanswered.

Among the disturbing comments identified was a candidate’s assertion that a “big nuke bomb” should be used to eliminate Islam. Another candidate described Bradford as a “shithole” due to its sizable Muslim community. Additional posts promote the conspiracy theory alleging that Muslims are attempting to replace the native population in the UK. These posts span several years, with some made this year, while others date back up to a decade.

One candidate, Steven Biggs, is campaigning in Pelton, North Durham, and previously made inflammatory remarks on Facebook, which have since been deleted. His online presence has also included multiple links to Britain First, an anti-Islam political party. Attempts to obtain comments from Biggs have been unsuccessful.

Another candidate, Isaiah-John Smith Reasbeck, who is running in the Hexthorpe and Balby North area of Doncaster, made a derogatory post about Bradford’s Muslim population that has since been deleted after it was publicly scrutinized.

Howard Rimmer, another Reform UK candidate, reposted content from a group known for its far-right stance, which included derogatory remarks regarding immigrants and referred to conspiracy theories about demographic changes. His social media history also reveals support for controversial figures like Tommy Robinson, known for his far-right activism.

Trevor Bridgwood, who is contesting in Lincolnshire, shared an article suggesting that Muslim immigration is intended to supplant native populations, adding his own commentary questioning current events in a troubling context.

Hope Not Hate, funded by individual supporters and trade unions, focuses on organized far-right movements and has had past conflicts with Farage, who has consistently denied any affiliation with such groups. Notably, Reform UK is chaired by Zia Yusuf, a Muslim, which Farage cites as evidence against the party’s association with extremist ideologies.

This year, Reform UK has already dismissed some candidates for inappropriate comments, prompting Farage to express surprise at the depth of the issues uncovered. Yusuf subsequently defended the enhanced vetting process at a party press conference, although the effectiveness of these measures remains in question.

As the election approaches, this situation continues to evolve. Other disturbing remarks from Reform UK candidates have emerged; for example, a candidate in Leicestershire was backed despite a previous racist post, claiming he had since “matured.” Additionally, a parish council in East Hunsbury has issued warnings to a candidate after uncovering old social media posts that included racist and sexist slurs.

This scrutiny on Reform UK raises pressing questions about the party’s commitment to fostering an inclusive political environment, especially amidst the backdrop of rising far-right sentiments in various parts of the political landscape.

Source
www.bbc.com