A Reform candidate has suspended her campaign and defected to the Conservatives, stating that the “vast majority” of other candidates standing for Nigel Farage’s party are “racist, misogynistic, and bigoted”.
Georgie David, who was the candidate for West Ham and Beckton, is the second person to abandon the party amidst allegations of racism within the ranks of Reform UK.
In a statement issued by the Conservatives, she mentioned that she does not believe the party and its senior leadership are racist, but claimed that many of the candidates representing it are. Announcing her decision to quit, she said: “I am hereby announcing my decision to leave the Reform Party and stand down as their candidate for West Ham and Beckton, with immediate effect.
“I am in no doubt that the party and its senior leadership are not racist. However, as the vast majority of candidates are indeed racist, misogynistic, and bigoted, I do not wish to be directly associated with people who hold such views that are so vastly opposed to my own and what I stand for.”
Although Ms David stated she did not think the problems had permeated to the party leadership, she said she has been “significantly frustrated and dismayed” by their failure “to tackle this issue in any meaningful way”. She added: “Their attempts to instead try to brush it under the carpet or cry foul play have been disheartening.
“As such, I have now suspended my campaign with Reform, and I am endorsing the Conservative Party – I would encourage all of my fellow patriots to do the same.”
This comes two days after Reform’s candidate in Erewash also defected to the Conservatives over racism concerns. Liam Booth-Isherwood said he had become “increasingly disillusioned” with the behaviour of the party and accused leader Mr Farage of not taking it seriously.
The defections follow the controversy over Reform canvasser Andrew Parker, who was caught making a racial slur about the prime minister in an undercover investigation by Channel 4. Reform UK has also had to drop several election candidates because of racist remarks they have made.
Mr Farage has refused to apologise, claiming the “bad apples” are gone from his party and, in the case of the canvasser, that he was a “paid actor” who was deliberately trying to smear his campaign – something Channel 4 and Mr Parker have both denied. In the footage, Mr Parker could be heard using the racial slur “P***” to describe the prime minister, describing Islam as a “disgusting cult”, and saying the army should “just shoot” migrants crossing the Channel.
Another canvasser described the Pride flag as “degenerate” and suggested members of the LGBT community are paedophiles.
Reform UK also withdrew support from several candidates over the weekend because of racist remarks, including one who allegedly said black people should “get off [their] lazy arses” and stop acting “like savages”.
Mr Farage on Sunday denied “fanning the flames” of prejudice saying that “anybody who has a racist point of view, I don’t want to know”. Asked why his party appears to attract racists and extremists, the former UKIP leader claimed that having “destroyed” the far-right BNP, some people who are minded that way but no longer have a political home will “gravitate in our direction”.
The other candidates in West Ham and Beckton are:
- James Edward Asser – Labour
- Lois Austin – Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
- Emily Bigland – Liberal Democrats
- Rob Callender – Green Party
- Sophia Naqvi – Newham Independents Party
- Holly Alice Ramsey – Conservative and Unionist Party
- Kayode Shedowo – Christian Peoples Alliance
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