Reform UK has withdrawn support from three of its candidates, Edward Oakenfull, Robert Lomas, and Leslie Lilley, following reports of offensive comments, including remarks about sub-Saharan Africans. The candidates were criticized for making racist remarks, leading to widespread condemnation from both the Conservative and Labour parties. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has faced criticism for his handling of the situation, with accusations of a failure of leadership and engaging in dog whistle politics. Additionally, Liam Booth-Isherwood, a Reform candidate in Erewash, has defected to the Conservative Party, citing disillusionment with the party's conduct and moral issues. Farage has claimed that the party has removed the 'bad apples' and dismissed the allegations as part of a smear campaign.
A Reform UK candidate has criticised a “failure of leadership” over allegations of racism within the party as he stepped down and backed the Conservatives in another blow to Nigel Farage’s campaign ✍: @ninallloyd https://t.co/yUJoK2CHTc
'The Conservatives do seem to be a bit of a split party these days' Former Lib Dem MEP @LuisaPorritt reacts to the news a Reform UK candidate has disowned the party and is backing the Conservatives amid a row over racism. #PoliticsHub https://t.co/GlTNastFii 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/RMRyD7Fi2R
"I'm glad he's seen the light" Treasury minister @BimAfolami reacts to the news a Reform UK candidate has disowned the party and is backing the Conservatives amid a row over racism. #PoliticsHub https://t.co/GlTNastFii 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/msdo56od2I
Watch Politics Hub with Ali Fortescue: Reform candidate disowns party amid racism row - and backs Tories ⬇️ More: https://t.co/xiMcKKWreo https://t.co/BW1MUssL9b
Farage claims ‘bad apples are gone’ from Reform UK amid ongoing racism row https://t.co/n5EXQMSoPI
Reform UK candidate disowns party to back Tories https://t.co/OcICBkCbFa
Reform candidate quits and back Tories - as Farage says some BNP supporters 'gravitate' to his party Full story ⬇️ https://t.co/T9Zv6xTVjg
Reform UK candidate defects to Tories over Nigel Farage’s ‘failure of leadership’ amid racism storm https://t.co/FBwlz9wR3a
🚨 NEW: Reform candidate ditches party over 'racism and sexism' 👇 ✍️ Steerpike https://t.co/cfSavrasdL
BREAKING: Reform UK candidate defects to Tories over racism row Reform really do have a problem with racism, don’t they. https://t.co/Jq9WYdB1bb
Reform UK candidate backs Conservative win amid racism row https://t.co/FEb7VgRFGx
Reform UK candidate ditches campaign, saying he is "disillusioned" with his party after racism row and backs Conservatives instead https://t.co/peklE5U8VZ
🔴 A Reform UK candidate has stepped down and endorsed the Conservatives amid reports of racism and sexism within the party. Read more here ⬇️ https://t.co/98GSxkhin5 https://t.co/gaJ3vkvQWx
BREAKING: Reform UK candidate defects to Tories over racism row Sky's @robpowellnews has more. https://t.co/IbOTTAFbps 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/9SPa1umAua
In Erewash, Derbyshire the Reform candidate Liam Booth-Isherwood has defected/endorsed the Conservatives, citing racism and sexism within Reform as a party culture issue. Conservative Maggie Throup has a 10,606 (22%) majority over Labour, who need an 11% swing to take the seat https://t.co/bJvh6e8sUF
🚨 NEW: The Reform candidate for Erewash has defected to the Tories [@NatashaC]
BREAKING: in a major boost to @RishiSunak Reform’s Erewash candidate Liam Booth-Isherwood has defected to @Conservatives. He says he’s become “increasingly disillusioned with the conduct of Reform” & says there’s a “significant moral issue within certain elements of the party”.
Farage claims ‘bad apples are gone’ from Reform UK amid racism storm https://t.co/qpu9KAkqx5
Reform’s candidate for Erewash has defected to the Conservatives. Liam Booth-Isherwood says he he’s become “increasingly disillusioned with the behaviour and conduct of Reform” and says there’s a “significant moral issue within certain elements of the party”.
NEW Candidate Defection FROM Reform to Tories... Reform candidate in Erewash Liam Booth-Isherwood says... “Whilst I have campaigned alongside many decent, honest and hardworking people during the course of the General Election campaign in Erewash, the reports of widespread…
NEW - Reform candidate for Erewash disowns the party over racism allegations and endorses the local Tory candidate instead.
🗣 Nigel Farage has said Reform UK has got rid of the “bad apples” after stating that discriminatory comments made by a party canvasser were part of a “smear campaign”. Follow the latest here 👇 https://t.co/98GSxkhin5 https://t.co/mSfezoyEIF
Reform UK has expelled candidates “for really hideous, vile racist remarks … it’s dog whistle politics and we should have no time for it” Labour candidate Shabana Mahmood says there should be no place for racism in our country #PoliticsMidlands https://t.co/F6pn4Wf82z https://t.co/UwTKWxWquw
Reform UK has expelled candidates “for really hideous, vile racist remarks … it’s dog whistle politics and we should have no time for it” Labour candidate Shabana Mahmood says there should be no place in our country for racism #PoliticsMidlands https://t.co/F6pn4Wf82z https://t.co/3jRWp9KJWH
“These candidates making racist comments show a dereliction of duty by Nigel Farage” Lib Dem candidate Manuela Perteghella condemns the way the Reform UK leader has handled accusations of racism in his party #PoliticsMidlands https://t.co/F6pn4WfFS7 https://t.co/Y2mRna0vaR
Reform UK has expelled candidates “for really hideous, vile racist remarks … it’s dog whistle politics and we should have no time for it” Labour candidate Shabana Mahmood says there should be no place on our country for racism #PoliticsMidlands https://t.co/F6pn4Wf82z https://t.co/qScdww81FS
Three Reform UK candidates dropped after Farage quizzed over offensive comments https://t.co/0D742xLjmh
Reform UK withdraws support from three election candidates after one said black people act 'like savages', another dubbed small boat migrants 'scum' and third who posted online about sub-Saharan Africans https://t.co/sAzimEKZcg https://t.co/bmKUUnubln
BREAKING: Reform UK has withdrawn support from three of its candidates, the party has confirmed Nigel Farage's party is no longer backing Edward Oakenfull, Robert Lomas, and Leslie Lilley - who were all previously candidates for Reform https://t.co/M01sYmKNRX 📺Sky 501 and YT https://t.co/J36DQ2Ovwm
🔷 Reform UK has withdrawn support from Edward Oakenfull, Robert Lomas, and Leslie Lilley following reports that they had made offensive comments, the party has confirmed. Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/cKwd8j4AJc https://t.co/Sxa2ndLqGC
Nigel Farage has been criticised by both the Tories and Labour for failing to show leadership over tackling allegations of racism within Reform UK ✍: @DavidHughesPA & @rhiannonejames https://t.co/4bw4lbNJ8T
Reform drops three candidates over offensive comments https://t.co/G6BqUXg42x
Media: Reform UK is racist Reform UK: https://t.co/c1BAZeg3Nh
Are they still Reform candidates or not? It was not true, when Farage said this on national TV, that Reform had suspended the candidates. All 3 remain listed as candidates today https://t.co/wr2chmYwd7 Suspended/resigned candidates have VACANT pages https://t.co/N6Pt5v0q6A