Reform UK is facing scrutiny after it emerged that one of its candidates for next month's council elections was twice disciplined by the Conservatives over alleged racist comments, while another shared conspiracy theories about Covid. The revelations come as the full slate of candidates was confirmed ahead of the 7 May local elections in England, Scotland, and Wales.
Derek Bullock, standing for Bolton council, was suspended by the Conservatives in 2023 after allegedly using a racial slur to call for people of Pakistani heritage to be shot in a Facebook post. He denies the claim, saying the screenshot was faked. Bullock had previously faced internal disciplinary action in 2020 for sharing an anti-Islam article. A Reform spokesperson said Bullock has reported the material to the police and is a valued community member.
In Sunderland, Reform candidate Glenda Hall shared a video questioning whether Covid was the “hoax of the century” by conspiracy theorist Vernon Coleman, who has called the pandemic the “greatest fraud in human history”. She also recommended a Substack post describing Afghan men as “sexual predators”. Labour chair Anna Turley called the comments “utterly deplorable” and urged Nigel Farage to condemn them.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said the party's vetting procedures have been strengthened. The party is standing candidates in over 95% of seats, matching Labour's coverage. Meanwhile, the Greens announced they have candidates in 89% of English local council seats, a record high, after recently winning a seat from Reform in Kent.
