‘Toxic’ views of Reform UK candidates raise questions about party’s vetting | Politics

The Reform UK candidate, who has called for “White Britain” and said Keir Starmer should be shot, is among several candidates fueling doubts about the party’s claim that it is tightening scrutiny.

Past comments by Linda McFarlane and other political hopefuls have been brought to light ahead of the May 7 election; these included one who complained about the “constant subservience to the black community” and others who supported far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

Labor is set to launch a party election broadcast on Friday that will expose some “toxic” views of Reform figures and warn viewers of offensive language.

Reform has been under pressure this week over views and positions linked to a new crop of candidates identified by anti-racism campaign group Hope Not Hate, with Reform leader Nigel Farage and senior colleagues insisting the party’s vetting processes are as tough as any other.

These included Chopwell and McFarlane, who was the Reform candidate in the Gateshead ward of Rowlands Gill. A social media account in his name tweeted “you should all be shot” to accounts used by Starmer and justice minister David Lammy.

As so-called Reform candidates went through scrutiny, the McFarlane account shared: “These Black people who think their color is against them. Maybe it’s because they’re not good enough!!!!. These Black people need to get used to the color of their skin. You don’t hear about Chinese or other ethnicities pulling the ‘race card’. Pathetic.”

“Let them all drown,” the account said of immigrants, and called for “white Britain” and a parliament made up of only white MPs. McFarlane has been approached for comment.

The party has also been questioned over allegations that county councilor James Grainger, who is up for re-election in Devon, used a YouTube account to make anti-Muslim and pro-Putin comments.

When Zia Yusuf left the Reform presidency before returning last year, the account said: “I was very glad to see Zia go. He was a Muslim and was firmly against the values ​​and direction of reform.”

The account disclosed a number of details matching Grainger’s age, background and occupation, including those listed in his interest records. Grainger has been reached for comment.

A YouTube account on behalf of Jason Patchett, Reform’s candidate in Hoveton and chairman of the party’s North Norfolk branch, said in 2022: “Constantly bowing to the black community does us no good. It’s mostly this demographic that causes the problems but we’re afraid to do anything.”

The comment was made on a YouTube account that was archived by Hope Not Hate and has since been deleted. Patchett has been reached for comment.

Joe Mulhall, research director at Hope Not Hate, said: “Reform UK’s ‘common sense’ review procedure, which Zia Yusuf described as the ‘best’ in the country, has been proven time and time again to be completely inadequate.

“After the last general election, Nigel Farage promised that the ‘bad apples’ in his party would be eliminated. But as Reform continues to field so many people, the only conclusion is that there has been a systematic failure to scrutinize.”

Reform was contacted about Grainger and McFarlane, as well as other candidates who allegedly made offensive comments.

Labour’s election broadcast will include Farage describing misogynistic influencer Andrew Tate as a “very important voice” and Reform MP Sarah Pochin commenting: “Seeing adverts full of black people drives me crazy.”

Others appearing on Labour’s broadcast include doctor Aseem Malhotra, who spoke at Reform’s annual conference and repeated claims that royal family members have contracted cancer as a result of Covid vaccines.

Community secretary Steve Reed challenged Farage over Labor expelling 45 Reform candidates who he said made offensive statements.

Reed said: “It is frankly surprising that Nigel Farage thinks these candidates who push vile racism, misogyny and conspiracy theories are OK.”

Among the candidates put forward by Labor was Alan Stay, a Reform candidate on the Isle of Wight who shared racist and sexist messages online; One of them was someone who repeatedly used an openly racist epithet, arguing that it was not a harmful word.

Another candidate, Caroline Panetta, standing in the outer London borough of Bexley, retweeted anti-Islamic comments, including saying London mayor Sadiq Khan wanted to turn the city into a “London” where women would be unsafe.