Reform suspends election candidate who likened Shomrim volunteers to ‘Islamists on horseback’

Reform UK has suspended its Hampshire mayoral candidate after he appeared to liken a Jewish neighbourhood watch group to “Islamists on horseback”.

A party spokesman told the Press Association on Tuesday: “Chris Parry has been suspended by Reform UK, pending investigation.”

It is understood that his candidacy has also been suspended.

Leader Nigel Farage faced calls to sack the candidate after he described the communal Shomrim neighbourhood watch group as “cosplayers” and likened them to “Islamists on horseback”.

Parry, Reform’s mayoral candidate for Hampshire, made the comments after responding to a social media post that questioned whether Christians would be able to set up their own patrols in the aftermath of Monday’s arson attacks on Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green.

Parry shared a post by Catherine Blaiklock, a co-founder of the Brexit party, hours after news of the attack on the ambulances in north London emerged, which stated:”“Can Christian’s [sic] in Britain set up their own police and patrol certain neighbourhoods?” and featured a picture of a number of Shomrim vehicles.

Parry shared the post, adding: “Remember that these cosplayers have no more jurisdiction or legal authority than ordinary citizens.”

When he was challenged over the original post’s characterisation of Shomrim, Parry then replied: “They are a community organisation, not a legal entity. It’s the same with Islamists on horseback. But if it offends you, I’ll remove it.”

Rabbi Herschel Gluck, the president of Shomrim, described Parry’s comments as “ignorant” of the work that the organisation carried out.

“It shows a level of bias and ignorance which I’m surprised at given that this is a politician who aspires to be a mayor. These types of comments are deeply strange, to put it mildly,” Gluck said. “We work on a voluntary basis with all sections of the community and have a very close relationship with the police, who are very appreciative of our role.”

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Max Wilkinson said the comments, some of which were later deleted, were ‘deeply insensitive’ about the Jewish community.

He went on:”Nigel Farage should act now to drop Chris Parry as Reform’s Hampshire mayoral candidate. These remarks were deeply insensitive, insulting and not befitting of someone who wants to hold public office.

“At a time when we are all thinking of the Jewish community after such a disturbing attack, these comments will compound the pain so many people are already feeling.”

Parry, a retired rear admiral, was involved in a previous controversy in which he said David Lammy should “go home” to the Caribbean.

The politician, who is set to stand in Hampshire and the Solent in 2028, apologised for his “clumsily worded” post on X about Lammy in January. He had said the deputy prime minister, who was born in London to Guyanese parents, should “go home to the Caribbean” where his “loyalty lies”.

Contacted by the Guardian about his comments on Shomrim on Monday, Parry said: “Most people on X commenting seem to be confusing various community action groups with the real police. Keen that people understand that.”