Reform UK candidates standing in this week’s local elections appear to have posted racist and Islamophobic views on social media, as well as support for far-right figures like Tommy Robinson and Nick Griffin, The Independent can reveal.
The revelations about candidates standing for the party in seats in southeast England add to concerns that Nigel Farage is failing to tackle extremism in his party despite his claims that Reform’s vetting system is the best in British politics.
It also follows a failure to deal with candidates in the north of England exposed by The Independent, who espoused racist, misogynist and homophobic views on social media.
With Reform expected to win more than 1,500 seats next week, there are concerns that their failure to vet candidates properly will mean extremists will win seats across England.
Among the candidates accused of “spewing hate online” is Lynn Smith, the Reform UK candidate for Blackfen and Lamorbey ward, who was previously a Ukip councillor in Bexley. She appears to have reposted a graphic containing a photo of a Muslim woman and the text “hates Jews, Christians, atheists, gays, dogs, bacon, wine, beer, your civilisation, your culture, your traditions, your country, and you. Complains about islamophobia”.
Then on X (formerly Twitter), she appears to have said: “Has the NHS become the new Islam, criticise at your own risk?”
Then again on X she appears to have said: “@GBNews I don’t think we should have the ‘word’ islamaphobia [sic]. Wherever I look abroad at Islamic countries as a woman I am fearful for them, and am fearful of the growth of Islam here.”
Ms Smith also appears to have posted a picture of herself using a scarf as a hijab on Facebook, stating: “Thinking of becoming a Muslim just as a reason to hide my pelican neck. Then again, I couldn’t give up alcohol.”
The Reform UK candidate seemingly expressed support for Tommy Robinson, despite Mr Farage’s attempts to distance himself from the far-right activist.
Replying to a Nick Ferrari post about interviewing the friend of the Westminster terror attack suspect, she said: “I used to be against Tommy [Robinson]’s methods but when the MSM are too cowardly to dig deep into radical Islam he’s now a hero for sure.”
Meanwhile, Mike Ferro, the Reform UK candidate for Blendon and Penhill ward, appears to have posted a Facebook message saying: “Am I the only person who thinks that Uran Nabiev has been harshly treated by the law”.
Nabiev was sentenced to 14 years for killing a man in a “grotesque” overreaction to a broken wing-mirror by driving into two people after one of them punched his car.
One of the victims received a fatal head injury when he was dragged 9 metres along the pavement on Bickley Road, Erith.
Also on Facebook he seems to have commented on the Black Lives Matter protests, saying: “They are delighted - overjoyed - at the shocking manner of his death, and the platform it has given them to promote their odious beliefs. The irony is, these groups themselves are the new totalitarians, heirs to the Nazis…”
Old Bexley and Sidcup Tory MP Louie French described the comments by the three Reform candidates as “truly shocking.”
He added: “Reform selected three candidates who are spewing hate online and sharing wild conspiracy theories. I urge Reform UK to do the right thing and disown these candidates now.”
Meanwhile, in Chingford, another Reform candidate, Matt Davis, who has been pictured with Mr Farage, has posted numerous hate messages on a now-deleted X account about Islam.
He appeared to refer to Islam as “an evil death cult” and “evil” in dozens of messages, as well as making other unpublishable comments.
Conservative chair Kevin Hollinrake said: “Reform UK claimed they had professionalised and properly vetted their candidates. These comments show that simply isn’t true.
“Instead, we’re seeing a pattern of offensive remarks, conspiracies, and poor judgment. These aren’t the high standards they promised; it’s the exact opposite.”
A Reform spokesman said: “We are looking into these posts.”
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