Reform Candidate Who Met King Charles Exposed Over Anti-Muslim Rants
A Reform UK candidate who once met King Charles has been exposed for posting a series of what campaigners describe as "stomach-churning" anti-Muslim comments on social media. Daniel Devaney, who is standing in local elections for Nigel Farage's party in Bradford, ranted about 'blasting' followers of Islam off the face of the Earth and branded Muslims as "scum".
Facebook Posts Reveal Extreme Views
Evidence uncovered by the anti-racism campaign group Hope Not Hate reveals that Devaney, a 70-year-old retired canteen assistant who previously worked for the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, posted numerous inflammatory comments on Facebook. In one post from September 2024, he wrote: "if I was them I'd just blast them all of the face of the earth pure scum..." in apparent reference to Muslims during discussions about the war in Gaza.
In March of last year, Devaney called for "civil unrest" in another Facebook post, criticizing Labour and referencing "f*****g immigrants in luxury with private health care". He added: "We need civil unrest if it means riots and marches so be it one way or another we need Starmer and his Muslim anti British party out NOW."
Admission of Wrongdoing and Powell Admiration
Contacted by the Mirror about his Facebook posts, Devaney admitted being "well out of order" and said he did not stand by his comment about blasting Muslims off the face of the Earth. He explained: "That was just a heated moment… you can get carried away with stuff when you're talking to people and that." Regarding his "civil unrest" post, he stated: "When I look back on what I said… I must admit I was out of order. Well out of order for it."
Devaney later messaged the Mirror saying: "I don't stand by with what I put except Enoch Powell. The things I wrote was mainly mouthing off and not really thinking about what I put but really to wind people up and it's very easy to do." He added an apology for his posts, claiming he is "not racist" and helps his Asian neighbors.
In late March last year, Devaney shared footage of the controversial politician Enoch Powell, who was sacked from the Tory shadow cabinet in the late 1960s, adding: "Never a more truer word said" to Powell's warning about immigrants gaining a "whip hand over the white man."
Reform UK's Vetting Problems
This revelation comes as Reform UK faces ongoing issues with candidate vetting. Nigel Farage was forced to defend the party's vetting processes last month, and Hope Not Hate suggests party officials failed to properly check Devaney's background. Harry Shukman, a senior researcher at HnH, commented: "Reform has a problem with Muslims. Daniel Devaney… is just the latest candidate to express stomach-churning Islamophobia. This should have no place in our politics, and yet Reform has repeatedly welcomed anti-Muslim candidates into the party."
Reform UK stated it "was looking into the allegations" regarding Devaney's posts. The party has recently been hit by multiple scandals involving candidates, including one in Wales who peddled a Covid conspiracy theory and branded the late Queen a "fraud", and another whose tanning salon was visited by Farage and who praised Adolf Hitler.
Devaney, who was once pictured rubbing shoulders with the then Prince Charles on HMS Invincible, is standing to be a district councillor for Reform in Bradford. His case highlights broader concerns about extremist rhetoric in political candidacies and the effectiveness of party vetting systems.
