Up to 12 newly elected Reform UK councillors are facing claims of sharing far-right and Islamophobic content online. This comes just a week after the party’s major local election win, in which it took 677 seats across England.
🗣️ Britain First connections
Several of these councillors have reportedly shared posts from Britain First, a far-right group known for its anti-Muslim rhetoric. For example, Leicestershire councillor Paul Harrison allegedly retweeted a Britain First post supporting mass deportations. The post included an AI-generated image of Muslim men with Pakistani flags.
Russell Cherry, a councillor in Thurrock, is also under fire. Reports suggest he retweeted Britain First leader Paul Golding – a man with a conviction for religiously aggravated harassment. West Northamptonshire councillor Ivan Dabbs has also been linked to Britain First content.
💻 AI vetting under fire
Reform UK’s candidate vetting process is facing criticism. The party used Ferretly, a US-based AI platform, to screen candidates. This software flags digital red flags, including hate speech and extremist connections.
Nigel Farage claimed on Times Radio that Reform has the “most in-depth” vetting process of any UK party. However, unlike the Tories and Labour, which use human teams for candidate checks, Reform has relied heavily on AI. Critics say this approach leaves gaps.
🚫 Early resignations and suspensions
It’s not just social media posts causing problems. Reform has already lost several councillors just days into their terms.
Donna Edmunds, a councillor in Shropshire, was suspended on Wednesday after saying she planned to defect from the party. She called Reform a “cult” and accused Farage of treating members with contempt.
Meanwhile, Luke Shingler, a councillor in Warwickshire, said he would serve as an independent for the next 18 months due to work commitments. Shingler is believed to work for the RAF. In Nottinghamshire, Desmond Clarke resigned, triggering a by-election.
📣 Campaigners speak out
Georgie Laming, campaigns director at Hope Not Hate, criticised Reform’s vetting process, saying: “Nigel Farage claims his party has the ‘most in-depth vetting procedure’ of any party. Our investigation shows their processes leave much to be desired.”
Hope Not Hate has exposed Reform candidates – some now elected – for sharing anti-Muslim hate, promoting far-right conspiracies, and praising extremists like Tommy Robinson.
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