An investigation by the anti-racism campaign group Hope Not Hate has uncovered a series of offensive comments made by Reform UK candidates standing in local elections on 7 May. The findings have raised fresh questions about the party’s vetting procedures, which its leader Nigel Farage has previously described as among the toughest in the country.
Among those highlighted is Linda McFarlane, the party’s candidate in the Gateshead ward of Chopwell and Rowlands Gill. A social media account in her name called for a “white Britain”, said Keir Starmer should be shot, and posted that immigrants should be left to drown. She also claimed that black people who feel their colour is against them “need to get used to the colour of their skin”.
Other candidates facing scrutiny include James Grainger, a Devon county councillor standing for re-election, whose YouTube account allegedly made anti-Muslim and pro-Putin statements. Jason Patchett, Reform’s candidate in Hoveton and chair of the North Norfolk branch, was recorded on a since-deleted YouTube account complaining of “constant kowtowing to the black community”.
Labour has released a party election broadcast featuring some of the remarks, including Reform MP Sarah Pochin’s comment that “it drives me mad when I see adverts full of Black people” and Farage’s description of misogynist influencer Andrew Tate as “a very important voice”. The communities secretary, Steve Reed, challenged Farage to remove 45 candidates Labour says have made offensive remarks.
Joe Mulhall, director of research at Hope Not Hate, said the revelations showed a “systematic failure” in Reform’s vetting, despite Farage’s pledge after the last general election that “the bad apples” would be gone. The party has been contacted for comment regarding the candidates mentioned.
