Reform UK has been cold calling members of the public, including a Guardian journalist, asking them to stand as 'paper candidates' in the upcoming local elections. The party is racing to fill candidate slots before the 9 April deadline.
Those contacted include individuals who have only signed up for Reform's email updates. The callers offer a simple role: provide a name and address, with no campaigning required. Prospective candidates are asked about bankruptcy and criminal convictions before being sent an application pack.
Nigel Farage denied the party is 'begging' people to stand, stating that they have only contacted paid-up members. He claimed Reform pushed legally for these elections to happen, benefiting 4.6 million people in the West Midlands.
Other parties, including the Conservatives, Greens, and Liberal Democrats, have also used paper candidates in the past. Experts warn this practice can be unfair to voters, as candidates may not be committed to the role.
Dr Jess Garland of the Electoral Reform Society criticised the first-past-the-post system, arguing it leads to disillusionment and unrepresentative results. She called for a proportional system to ensure votes count and reflect voter preferences.
