A newly elected Reform UK councillor has found himself at the centre of controversy after it emerged he may have twice stood as a candidate for the British National Party (BNP). David Laing, who won a seat in Sunderland’s Hylton Castle ward, initially offered a puzzling account when questioned about his alleged past with the far-right party.
Farage’s ‘Golden Rule’ Under Scrutiny
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has repeatedly boasted that his party operates a “golden rule” to prevent BNP activists from joining, and has publicly condemned the BNP’s “racist agenda.” However, the revelation regarding Laing has raised questions about the effectiveness of the party’s vetting procedures. Laing was one of dozens of Reform candidates who triumphed in Sunderland, ending Labour’s more than 50-year dominance in the city.
Laing’s BNP Connections
Records indicate that a BNP candidate named David Laing stood in Sunderland City Council elections in 2006 and 2007. In 2006, he contested the Washington North ward, securing 299 votes, and the following year he stood in Washington East, garnering only 195 votes. An article from the Sunderland Echo in 2006, published under Laing’s name, stated: “Like most people in Britain today I feel that this Labour Government tends to look after other countries’ people and not its own people.” A further article in 2007 quoted the candidate expressing concerns about “antisocial behaviour, lack of police on the beat and housing problems.”
When approached by journalists last week, Laing, who is a member of the Wyrm Ryders Brotherhood motorcycle club—whose motto is “England forever English”—offered a confusing account. Initially, he suggested that a friend had asked him to stand for the BNP but then claimed he could not remember if he had done so. In a later statement, Reform UK asserted that Laing “rejected the allegation that he ever stood for the BNP.”
Contradictory Statements
During an interview outside his home, Laing, wearing a “brotherhood” T-shirt, was asked whether Reform UK was aware of his BNP candidacy. He replied, “Well, I was vetted.” When pressed on whether he had disclosed his BNP past during vetting, he said, “To be honest, I couldn’t remember that I had.” Asked if he believed Reform would have accepted him had they known, he responded, “Don’t think so, but as I say, I just completely forgot about that. It’s years ago.” Laing added that his health and memory had not been good and insisted, “I don’t have extreme views.”
When asked what made him stand for the BNP, Laing said, “I think it was a friend just asked us… like I say, it’s that long ago, I can’t remember.” He later claimed not to remember standing for the party at all, stating, “I can’t remember standing… I’m not saying I didn’t stand for them because you’re telling me that I did.”
Reform UK’s Response
A Reform UK spokesperson said, “David Laing has rejected the allegation that he ever stood for the BNP. There is no evidence to prove otherwise.” The party has not commented on whether further investigations will be conducted. Laing won 1,302 votes in Hylton Castle, alongside two fellow Reform candidates also elected in the ward. In his campaign literature, he emphasised his community involvement and rugby background, stating, “I want to see change in Wearside, and believe only Reform can do that.”
