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Reform UK Candidate Suspended Over Controversial Support for Jimmy Savile

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Stephen Hartley, a candidate from Reform UK for the upcoming Oxfordshire County Council elections, has been suspended from the party following his social media endorsements of the notorious sex offender Jimmy Savile.

Previously announced to represent the party in the Banbury Hardwick ward during the local elections scheduled for May 1, Hartley faced backlash after an interview revealed his 2022 comments labeling Savile a “working class hero.” He suggested that he might have “forgotten” to inform Reform UK about his account on the platform X (formerly Twitter).

In the wake of the exposure, Reform UK announced Hartley’s suspension and confirmed that they had withdrawn all support for his candidacy.

Jimmy Savile was a prominent television figure in the UK from the 1960s until the 1990s, known for his philanthropy which raised substantial funds for charity. However, following his death in 2011, extensive investigations uncovered that he was one of the UK’s most prolific sexual predators.

During his interview, Hartley expressed skepticism regarding the numerous allegations from victims who reported abuse at the hands of Savile, which included claims of misconduct occurring on BBC premises, as well as in various public institutions such as hospitals and schools. The extent of Savile’s offenses led the NSPCC to categorize him as one of the most prolific sex offenders in its 129-year history.

Suspension Considered Justifiable

Despite the suspension, Hartley’s name will still appear on the ballot as a Reform UK candidate, as the announcement came after the candidate list had already been published. However, within an hour of the BBC inquiry regarding his posts, the party acted swiftly to confirm the withdrawal of support.

A spokesperson for Reform UK stated, “Mr. Hartley has been suspended as a member and is now not a Reform UK candidate. We have subsequently withdrawn all support for his candidacy.”

Party leader Nigel Farage had previously mentioned that candidates would undergo a vetting process ahead of the local elections. In light of the suspension, Hartley remarked that the decision was “fair enough,” acknowledging that his oversight in not disclosing his social media activity warranted the party’s cautious approach.

As he reflected on the situation, Hartley noted, “I may have forgotten to tell them about my Twitter [X] account, which I use sporadically when I just want to vent. I understand Reform have got to be careful.”

Source
www.bbc.com