The company that runs the House of Commons nursery has faced criticism for publishing an article on its website that praised Reform UK's conference and suggested anti-immigration protests were 'driven by a sense of injustice'. The piece, written by LEYF (London Early Years Foundation) chief executive June O'Sullivan, was removed after the Guardian approached the organisation.
In the article, titled 'Musings from the Reform Conference', O'Sullivan described the party's conference as having a 'buzz of excitement', praised Reform chair David Bull's 'easy style, humour and confidence', and called Nigel Farage 'commanding' and 'like a seasoned frontman'. She also referred to the government's budget as 'disastrous', used the pejorative nickname 'Rachel from accounts' for Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and claimed that a 'sense of injustice' had fuelled protests outside asylum accommodation, 'often led by mothers'.
O'Sullivan wrote that women had raised concerns about 'ideological interference' in education, 'where they feel children are being taught values that conflict with their own', and argued that 'these worries underpin Reform's growing appeal to mothers'. She concluded by asking whether Reform could 'channel the march of the mums into a movement that can govern'.
Labour MP Stella Creasy expressed concern that an organisation working with children needed to 'think more critically about the evidence and actual policy outcomes' from a party conference where anti-vaccination views were promoted. She also noted that the 'march of the mums' was not the same as the protests in Epping, Essex, which were heavily promoted by a Reform UK official.
In a statement, O'Sullivan said her attendance at the conference was 'solely to observe and reflect, not to support', and that LEYF's values remained unchanged. A House of Commons spokesperson said LEYF was an independent organisation and its views did not reflect those of the House administration, adding that contractors would be reminded of their responsibilities regarding public communications.
