Barnsley, United Kingdom – Reform UK faces controversy as the party drops three candidates amidst reports of offensive and racist comments made by them. The candidates in question, Edward Oakenfull, Robert Lomas, and Leslie Lilley, have been removed, but will still appear on the ballot paper as Reform candidates. Despite this, if any of the three are elected, they will sit as independent MPs. Leader Nigel Farage disowned the candidates during an appearance on BBC Question Time, stating he wanted nothing to do with them.
The party spokesperson encouraged voters in the constituencies where the candidates had been dropped to still vote for Reform to support the party’s policy platform. This move came after various offensive social media posts by Reform candidates emerged during the election campaign, raising questions about the party’s candidate selection process.
Reform has faced criticism for the number of candidates dropped over inappropriate comments compared to other parties. The party attributed this to a lack of proper vetting by a company hired to conduct background checks on potential candidates before the election was called.
Amidst the controversy, Reform also faced scrutiny over an undercover report by Channel 4 showing a party canvasser making racist comments about Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The party reported Channel 4 to the Electoral Commission for alleged election interference, while also demanding an investigation by media regulator Ofcom.
In response to the criticism, Reform spokespersons defended the party’s handling of the situation, emphasizing that problematic individuals were no longer part of the campaign. However, both Labour and the Conservatives criticized Nigel Farage’s leadership of Reform UK, citing concerns over racist and misogynistic views within the party.
As the election campaign continues, Reform UK faces challenges in addressing the fallout from the controversy surrounding its candidates and the party’s stance on inappropriate remarks. The party’s response to the situation and the public’s reaction will likely impact its standing in the upcoming election.
