Reform UK faces accusations of ‘systemic failure’ over election candidate vetting
Investigation by The Times finds multiple examples of antisemitic comments
Reform UK has been accused of a “systemic failure” in its vetting after further candidates were found to have made openly antisemitic comments and shared tropes about Jews and other immigrants.
An investigation by The Times reported how Ben Rowe, standing in the Ham ward of Plymouth, had accused “the Jews” of “creating division by forcing other races on our societies” in comments made under a YouTube video in February this year.
The same Reform UK candidate has also earlier suggested that the Covid epidemic had a “Hebrew” source.
In further comments, Rowe urged protesters to throw bricks at police defending a mosque to “get rid of that filthy building” during the 2024 Southport riots.
The same report also revealed how Nathaniel Menday, standing for Reform in Woodhouse, Sheffield, had described himself as an “ethno-nationalist” and, in January 2024, responded to a picture of Berlin’s Olympiastadion, used for the 1936 Olympic Games, and wrote: “Whichever group of people built this must have been real visionaries!”
It was designed by Albert Speer, the munitions minister who was convicted at the Nuremberg trials of crimes against humanity.
In 2023, Menday also reportedly suggested “Jewish people in the West” were responsible for the antisemitism they were suffering because they “overwhelmingly favour open borders”. He added: “Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.”
Approached by The Times, Menday apologised for bringing Reform “into disrepute”.
He said he enjoyed “risky humour and pushing boundaries”, adding: “I am not antisemitic nor do I have any Nazi sympathies.”
But Menday added:”I have flirted with what could reasonably be referred to as ‘far-right ideology’, but ultimately I have come to reject its core tenets.”
Paul Hewson, standing in Chadwell Heath, Barking and Dagenham, was also reported to have repeatedly expressed his support for Enoch Powell.
Other social media posts include “free Tommy” and “listen to Tommy” in support of Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
Hewson said Robinson was “not far right .just right [sic]”.
Kevin Hollinrake, the chairman of the Conservative Party, called on Reform to “urgently explain what vetting was carried out on these candidates and what action will now be taken”.
“This litany of antisemitism, Islamophobia, ethno-nationalism and homophobia will rightly raise serious questions about Reform UK’s judgment and standards. This is not just a handful of poor choices — it points to a systemic failure.”
Leader Nigel Farage has claimed the party has improved its background checks since the general election, where there were widespread examples of antisemitism amongst candidates.
The party says it is investigating eight of its candidates over posts identified by The Times.
Anna Turley, the chair of the Labour Party, called on Farage to withdraw support from the named candidates.
“These horrific comments and dangerous conspiracy theories from Reform candidates are despicable,” she said. “People who hold such abhorrent views and spread so much hate have no place in our politics, let alone in positions of power.”
The Times said a Reform UK spokesman said the party was looking into the allegations but declined to answer questions about how the candidates had passed its vetting process.
Reform confirmed they had expelled their candidate standing in the Saltwell seat in Gateshead, north-east England, after Jewish News raised his previous membership of the far-right BNP.
David Robert Prior was due to stand for the party in a seat with a large Charedi Jewish population.
Farage and Deputy Leader Richard Tice have repeatedly spoken out in support of Israel, and have claimed to be on the side of UK Jews amid rising antisemitism in this country.
Farage spoke at the launch of the Reform Jewish Alliance organisation and has praised the work of groups such as the Community Security Trust.
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