Reform UK

{{UKpolitics}}
'''Reform UK''' (formerly '''The Brexit Party''') is a hard-[[Eurosceptic]] political party in UK that splintered from [[UKIP]] in January 2019 and officially launched on the 12<sup>th</sup> of April 2019. It won 29 members to the European Parliament in May 2019, but no MPs in the UK general election later that year.<ref name=wp/> The party has the rather foolish slogan "Let's Make Britain Great". It's foolish because the island has been known as "[[Great Britain]]" since [[Ptolemy]] called it "μεγάλη Βρεττανία" in 147-148 CE.<ref>[https://www.wilbourhall.or/pdfs/HeibergAlmagestComplete.pdf Claudii Ptolemaei Opera quae exstant omnia'', Volume 1] by Claudius Ptolemy (1898) B. G. Teubneri.</ref>{{rp|112-113}}

In January 2021 the Party rebranded itself to 'Reform UK', with electoral and [[House of Lords]] reform considered top priorities for the party.<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55566526</ref> Its first leader [[Nigel Farage]] quit in March 2021 to focus on other priorities such as [[Twitter]] (presumably assuming he would never get elected to anything); he was replaced as leader by Richard Tice, the former chairperson.<ref name=guardian20210307>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/07/nigel-farage-quits-as-reform-uk-leader-in-step-back-from-party-politics Nigel Farage quits as Reform UK leader in step back from party politics], The Guardian, 7 Mar 2021</ref> However, Farage returned as leader for the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 election]].<ref>[https://www.itv.com/news/2024-06-11/exclusive-reform-uk-membership-grows-50-in-a-week Reform UK membership grows 50% in week since Farage announces run for parliament], ITV, 11 Jun 2024</ref>

==History==
[[Nigel Farage]]<ref>[http://archive.fo/mvc8 Nigel Farage quits Ukip over its anti-Muslim 'fixation']. ''[[The Guardian]]''. 4 December 2018.</ref><ref>[http://archive.fo/3Suds Nigel Farage quits Ukip: Former leader leaves party over Tommy Robinson links]. ''Independent''. 4 December 2018.</ref> and several other UKIP MEPs,<ref>[http://archive.fo/MCl5M MEP Lord Dartmouth quits UKIP saying party is 'widely perceived as both homophobic and anti-Islamic']. ''Sky News''. 26 September 2018.</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/nov/27/patrick-oflynn-ukip-mep-quits-tommy-robinson-gerard-batten Third Ukip MEP quits over party's courtship of Tommy Robinson]. ''The Guardian''. 27 November 2018.</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-46481107 Paul Nuttall quits UKIP over Tommy Robinson role]. ''BBC News''. 7 December 2018.</ref> including its Scottish leader, David Coburn<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-46481637 UKIP: Scottish leader David Coburn quits over 'extremism']. ''BBC News''. 7 December 2018.</ref> quit the [[United Kingdom Independence Party]] in late 2018, over infighting about anti-Islam activist [[Tommy Robinson]] being given an advisor role by Gerard Batten, as well as the party increasingly becoming more [[Islamophobic]] and extreme in its policies.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/sep/21/gerard-batten-drags-ukip-further-right-with-harsh-anti-islam-agenda Gerard Batten drags Ukip further right with harsh anti-Islam agenda]. The Guardian. 21 September 2018.</ref> 

In January 2019, Farage said he was joining the new Brexit Party. It was created on 20 January and registered with the electoral commission on 5th of February 2019 by former [[UKIP]] Economic Spokesman, {{wpl|Catherine Blaiklock||.}} In February 2019, Farage joined the Brexit Party alongside seven other ex-UKIP MEPs: Tim Aker, Paul Nuttall, Jonathan Bullock, David Coburn, Bill Etheridge, Nathan Gill and Julia Reid who are now all (as of 19 February 2019) listed as Brexit Party MEPs on the Europe.eu website.<ref>Search [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/search/advanced?name=&groupCode=4276&countryCode=GB&constituency=&bodyType=ALL Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy Group].</ref> Some other ex-UKIP MEPs e.g. {{wpl|Steven_Woolfe#The_Brexit_Party|Steven Woolfe}} have said they will support the party, but sit as independents because they don't see the point in joining a new party with so little time left until [[Brexit]] is scheduled on 29 March, that is, unless there is an extension to the withdrawal process by extending Article 50, which seems unlikely. On ''BBC Newsnight'' in February, Woolfe who still sits as an independent MEP stated that he would consider standing for the Brexit Party.

Amid the chaos of repeatedly delayed Brexit, the party did very well in the May 2019 European Parliament elections, becoming the largest British party with 29 MEPs (the [[Lib Dems]] were second with 19).<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/crjeqkdevwvt/the-uks-european-elections-2019 The UK’s European elections 2019], BBC News</ref> This was despite the fact that Farage's party had no manifesto and no policies other than getting the fuck out of Europe.<ref>[https://www.theweek.co.uk/101632/what-are-the-brexit-party-s-policies What are the Brexit Party’s policies?], The Week, 7 Jun 2019</ref> Eventually in September 2019 they unveiled another policy: abolishing [[inheritance tax]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/16/scrapping-inheritance-tax-wealthy-brexit-party Inheritance tax would be scrapped by the Brexit party – good news for the very rich], Torsten Bell, ''The Guardian'', 16 Sep 2019</ref>

===Pot, kettle black?===
Farage has been called a [[hypocrite]]<ref>[https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2018/11/no-nigel-farage-you-boosted-far-right-more-tommy-robinson-ever-did No,  [[Nigel Farage]], you boosted the far right more than Tommy Robinson ever did]. ''Newstatesman''. 23 November 2018.</ref> for criticising the [[far-right]] association of UKIP under Batten's leadership, when he himself has a long history of making [[xenophobic]] statements<ref>[https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/14561986.Farage_defends_Ukip_Leave_campaign_migrants_poster/  [[Nigel Farage]] accused of xenophobic fear tactics over 'disgusting' Brexit poster]. ''Reading Chronicle''. 16 June 2016.</ref><ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/nigel-farage-defends-use-word-chinky-293431 Nigel Farage defends use of the word 'chinky']. ''Newsweek''. 19 December 2014.</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27459923 Nigel Farage attacked over Romanians 'slur']. ''BBC News''. May 2014.</ref> and supporting individuals associated with the [[alt-right]] such as [[Paul Joseph Watson]], Mark Meechan and [[Sargon of Akkad|Carl Benjamin]]. In 2017, [[Nigel Farage|Farage]] also  campaigned for the [[Alternative für Deutschland]]<ref>[https://www.thelocal.de/20170909/ukips-farage-rallies-germanys-right-wing-afd [[UKIP]]'s Farage Rallies Germany's Right-wing AfD]. ''The Local''. 7 September 2017.</ref> who at that time were adopting anti-[[Muslim]] immigration policies similar to those of [[For Britain]], an anti-[[Islam]] party that splintered from [[UKIP]] after the failure of Anne Marie Waters to take control of the party in the {{wpl|UK Independence Party leadership election, 2017|UKIP leadership election, 2017|.}} Yet Farage has [[Stopped clock|heavily criticized]] Waters, describing her as a [[racist]].<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/30/racists-nearly-killed-ukip-week-live-fight-important-battle/ Racists nearly killed Ukip this week, but we live to fight our most important battle]. ''The Telegraph''. 30 September 2017.</ref>

====No, but really where's the difference?====
Although [[Nigel Farage|Farage]] criticises [[Tommy Robinson|Robinson]] and Waters, there is actually very little different in their views concerning immigration and Islam, only that [[Nigel Farage|Farage]] is more cautious in public not to make outright anti-[[Muslim]] statements as he realises it will be political suicide. Despite [[Nigel Farage|Farage]] leaving [[UKIP]] in December 2018 to become an independent MEP because of the party being widely perceived as a [[racist]] anti-[[Muslim]] party and dropping to as low as 5-6% in opinion polls, there were resignations a year earlier such as by UKIP MEP Jonathan Arnott who said he disapproved of the hard-right wing shift of UKIP on "religious and cultural issues"<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42745613 [[UKIP]] loses another MEP as Jonathan Arnott quits party]. ''BBC News''. 19 January 2018.</ref> and by ex-[[UKIP]] donor Arron Banks, who as early as April 2017 said [[UKIP]] is going in the wrong direction for flirting for the first time with [[Islamophobia|Islamophobic]] policies in the run up to the 2017 General Election<ref>[https://news.sky.com/story/election-2017-arron-banks-says-ukip-is-going-to-war-with-islam-10850077 Election 2017: Ex-UKIP donor Arron Banks says party wrong to go to 'war' with Islam]. ''Sky News''. 25 April 2017.</ref> when the UKIP manifesto's "Integration Agenda" was likened to the [[British National Party]]'s.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/26/ukip-anti-muslim-bigotry-racist-europhobic-tories [[UKIP]] thinks bashing Muslims wins votes – but this could spell its end]. ''[[The Guardian]]''. 26 April 2017.</ref>  [[Nigel Farage|Farage]] never left the party at this point nor raised any concerns about [[UKIP]]'s new [[Muslim]]-bashing policies, and so his reasons for leaving might not be what he claims, for example it has been suggested " [[Nigel Farage|Farage]] craves two things: power and the spotlight. [[UKIP]] can no longer provide him with either – so why stick around?"<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/05/ukip-islamophobic-nigel-farage-resigning-party Nigel Farage thinks Ukip is too bigoted for him? What a joke]. ''The Guardian''. 5 December 2018.</ref> On the other hand while his motivations for leaving [[UKIP]] are perhaps still questionable,  [[Nigel Farage|Farage]] has been praised for distancing himself from [[Tommy Robinson|Robinson]] and the [[EDL]]'s street thuggery and hooliganism that Batten has allowed into [[UKIP]].<ref>[https://www.ft.com/content/dc7238d4-f898-11e8-8b7c-6fa24bd5409c Whatever his motives, Nigel Farage is right on Ukip]. ''Financial Times''. 5 December 2018.</ref>

===Catherine Blaiklock===
The Brexit Party is trying to promote itself as a more moderate alternative to [[UKIP]] that [[Nigel Farage|Farage]] has described as taken over by extremists.<ref>[https://www.itv.com/news/2018-12-04/former-ukip-leader-nigel-farage-quits-party/ [[Nigel Farage]] quits [[UKIP]] over party's 'extremism' direction]. ''ITV News''. 4 December 2018.</ref> However, the party's founder Catherine Blaiklock has a history of making inflammatory comments about [[Muslims]], and appears to be a [[counter-jihad]] crank with views that are the same as [[Tommy Robinson]] and Anne Marie Waters, having even written articles for a pro-[[Tommy Robinson|Robinson]] website.<ref>[https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/blaiklock-farage-brexit-islam The Founder Of [[Nigel Farage]]'s New ''Brexit Party'' Has A History Of Anti-[[Muslim]] Comments]. ''BuzzFeed News''. 11 February 2019.</ref> Iman Atta, director of Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-[[Muslim]] Attacks), which records anti-[[Muslim]] incidents, has said: 

{{quotebox|Blaiklock’s comments are jaw dropping and show a penchant for polarised views on [[Muslims]]. When [[Nigel Farage|Farage]] resigned from [[UKIP]] in December he said that UKIP was "turning a blind eye to extremist politics" and had become "obsessed with Islam". It seems he has backed another organisation whose head is obsessed with Islam and who has a very skewed view of Muslims."}}

Blaiklock for example has accused [[Muslim]] men of “impregnating white British girls to create [[Muslim]] babies”, claiming it’s “pretty well-known” that [[Muslims]] in the west think “someday this will all be ours”.<ref> [https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/elections/2019/02/let-them-eat-spuds-we-should-fear-brexit-party-not-reasons-you-think “Let them eat spuds”: we should fear ''the Brexit Party'' – but not for the reasons you think]. ''NewStatesman''. 12 February 2019.</ref> She has also been criticized for making controversial comments about race such as black men are violent due to high testosterone,<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jan/22/farage-ally-black-men-are-violent-due-to-high- testosterone Farage ally said black men are violent due to high testosterone]. ''The Guardian''. 22 January 2019.</ref> but denies being a racist by bizarrely carrying a large framed photo of her black husband around with her.<ref>[https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/d7aegq/a-ukip-candidate-brought-a-photo-of-her-black-husband-to-hustings-to-prove-ukip-isnt-racist A [[UKIP]] Candidate Brought a Photo of Her Black Husband to Hustings]. ''Vice''. 17 May 2017.</ref>

===2019 European Elections===
Because [[Brexit]] fell flat on its face, the [[United Kingdom|UK]] had to go through European Elections in May 2019. The Brexit Party put up some choice candidates, and as a result of widespread dissatisfaction with the British government's failures got 29 MEPs elected to a parliament it wanted to leave. (Each region elects multiple candidates to the parliament.)<ref name=wp>{{wpa|Brexit Party}}</ref>

===Scotland===
The party launched in [[Scotland]] in January 2021, with its Scottish leader already an MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament) for South of Scotland. The party appointed Michelle Ballantyne, who was a member of the Scottish Conservative party until 2020, when she quit after failing to be chosen to replace Ruth Davidson as leader. She said she was looking for "angry" members of the public to stand as candidates.<ref>[https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19001752.new-scottish-brexit-party-launches-scotland-already-msp/ New Scottish Brexit party launches in Scotland...and already has an MSP], The Herald (Glasgow), 11 Jan 2021</ref>

===Richard Tice===
Farage decided to give up the leadership in March 2021, reportedly feeling fed up with electoral politics and feeling his work on Brexit was done, although he would remain honorary president of Reform UK. He said he had been "reflecting on my role and my life over the course of the next few years" and had decided he could do more by being a troll on social media: he said he would concentrate on fighting the evil influence of [[China]] and on stopping "woke" progressives from changing the way British history is taught.<ref name=guardian20210307/>

His replacement was Richard Tice: Reform UK is not a democratic organization so there was no leadership election. Nonetheless, Farage said that Tice, who was formerly party chair, would "democratise" Reform UK and try and improve its organization to maybe try and get some MPs.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56311599 Nigel Farage: Brexit-backing politician to quit as leader of Reform UK], BBC, 7 March 2021</ref> Tice's day job is in property asset management, as boss of Quidnet Capital LLP and formerly working for commercial property company CLS Holdings.<ref>{{wpa|Richard Tice}}</ref> He is in a relationship with {{wpl|Isabel Oakeshott||,}} the right-wing journalist most famous for claiming [[David Cameron]] stuck his penis in a pig's head.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/mediamonkeyblog/2015/oct/09/isabel-oakeshott-david-cameron-piggatecall-me-dave Isabel Oakeshott runs squealing from David Cameron #piggate claims], The Guardian, 9 Oct, 2014</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/05/tory-mp-bob-seely-attended-lockdown-barbecue-with-journalists Tory MP attended lockdown barbecue with journalists], The Guardian, 5 June 2020</ref> Tice's own sexual proclivities are unrecorded.

In the party's 2021 autumn conference Tice explained that the party's priorities would be campaigning for low taxes and healthcare, and opposing [[Boris Johnson]] and the government's Covid restrictions; he also suggested a move away from [[culture war]] rhetoric of the sort Farage loves.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/oct/01/reform-uk-tones-down-culture-war-rhetoric-and-targets-tory-voters Reform UK tones down culture war rhetoric and targets Tory voters], The Guardian, Oct 1, 2021</ref>

===Electoral pact with Reclaim Party===
For the 2021 London mayoral and Greater London Assembly elections - Reform UK entered into a pact with [[Laurence Fox]]'s Reclaim Party.<ref>https://order-order.com/2021/03/30/exclusive-interview-fox-reveals-london-mayoral-pact-with-tices-reform-uk/</ref> Fox ran for mayor as a candidate for Reclaim while Reform UK contested the GLA seats (constituency and regional lists). Fox would go on to win only 1.9% of the vote, whilst Reform UK won 0 seats in the GLA.

==2024 UK general election: The bigotry leaks out==
{{cquote|However, as the vast majority of candidates are indeed racist, [[misogynistic]], and [[bigot]]ed, I do not wish to be directly associated with people who hold such views that are so vastly opposing to my own and what I stand for.|||Georgie David, former Reform UK candidate explaining why she dropped out<ref>[https://www.politico.eu/article/nigel-farages-party-accused-racism-misogyny-by-former-election-candidate/ Nigel Farage suffers new blow as bigotry storm engulfs his party just before UK election: Candidate defects to the Tories saying “vast majority” of people standing for Reform UK are “racist, misogynistic, and bigoted.”] by Noah Keate (July 2, 2024 3:53 pm CET) ''Politico EU''.</ref>}}

===Of Muppets and morons===
Reform UK vowed to stand 600 candidates, one against every Conservative, in the next UK general election. This, however, lead to some very questionable selections, a large number of which had to be hurriedly disowned by the party.<ref name=mailonline310324>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13255781/Reform-UK-surged-polls-party-harbours-unsavoury-rogues-candidate-Tommy-Robinson-Covid-conspiracy-theorist-likened-animal-abuser.html Robinson to a Covid conspiracy theorist who likened Boris Johnson to Hitler and even another who's a convicted animal abuser] by Glen Owen and Daisy Graham-Brown, ''Mail on Sunday'', March 31, 2024</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/apr/08/reform-uk-published-candidates-list-early-media-help-vet Reform UK says it published candidates list early so media could help vet it] by Aletha Adu, The Guardian, April 8, 2024</ref> The majority of these were precipitated by media examination of the candidates social media accounts, leading Tice to exclaim, "For heaven's sake, if you're going to have a glass of [[wine]] on a Friday night then don't use social media, it's not sensible." Tice also claimed to have rushed to publish its list of candidates precisely so that they could be vetted by the media and other organisations, and maintained that, "every party has its fair share of muppets and morons."<ref name=mailonline080424>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13285845/Reform-leader-Richard-Tice-social-media-drunk.html Reform leader Richard Tice begs his candidates not to use social media while drunk after the party drops seven of them for 'inappropriate' posts] by Kumail Jaffer, ''Daily Mail'', April 8, 2024</ref> The apparent discrepancy between which candidates were disowned and which were not, was explained:
{{Quotebox|Reform UK makes a distinction between malice and eccentricity in its activists and its supporters. Malice we take very seriously, harmless opinion is not a problem in a party that believes wholeheartedly in [[freedom of speech]], nor should it be in the wider society.<ref name=bylinetimes200324>[https://bylinetimes.com/2024/03/20/reform-ppcs-racist-conspiracy-theories/ Reform Parliamentary Candidate Who Shared Racist Content Resigns After Questions by Byline Times] by Olly Haynes, ''Byline Times'', March 20, 2024</ref>}}

A shockingly large number of candidates were revealed to be overt racists; this should have come as no surprise since Farage himself is a known racist. Jonathan Kay (disowned candidate for South Ribble) resurrected the teenage [[edgelord]] classic lie that African people have low [[IQ]]s,<ref name=hopenothate030424>[https://hopenothate.org.uk/2024/04/03/more-hateful-reform-candidates-exposed/ Hope Not Hate Reveals Two More Extremist Candidates from Reform UK, in the Latest of a String of Embarrassments for the Party] by Gregory Davis, Hope Not Hate, April 3, 2024</ref><ref name=pamedia030424>[https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/apr/03/reform-uk-drops-two-more-election-candidates-over-racist-comments Reform UK drops two more election candidates over racist comments] PA Media, April 3, 2024</ref> whilst Pete Addis (disowned candidate for South Shropshire) regressed all the way back to the schoolyard by using the racial slur "chinky," and claiming, "[[Anal sex|Bum sex]], this is where brown babies come from!"

The most common form of bigotry was however [[Islamophobia]], despite being called a silly, made-up word by Noel Matthews (National Organizer and candidate for North West Leicestershire).<ref name=buzzfeed130519>[https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/brexit-party-national-election-agent-tommy-robinson The Brexit Party’s Most Senior Election Official Says Tommy Robinson Has Been “Persecuted” And Islamophobia Is “Made Up”] by Alex Wickham and Mark Di Stefano, ''BuzzFeed News'', May 13, 2019</ref><ref name=mirror130424 /> Calls for the deportation and the banning from public office of "the Islams," as Roger Hoe (disowned candidate for Beverley and Holderness) calls them,<ref name=mailonline310324 />  came from Richard Brown (candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough),<ref name=mailonline310324 /><ref name=goodlaw270424 /> Mick Greenhough (disowned candidate for Orpington), who claimed "The only solution is to remove the Muslims from our territory,"<ref name=hopenothate030424 /><ref name=pamedia030424 /> and Jonathan Kay (disowned candidate for South Ribble) who justified this as they can "never coexist with others."<ref name=hopenothate030424 /><ref name=pamedia030424 /> While Sandra Senior (candidate for Ossett and Denby Dale) campaigned for bans on [[Halal]] meat, "the [[Burqa|Niqab and Burqa]]."<ref name=goodlaw270424 /> Joe "Mr Shrewsbury" Dyas (resigned candidate for Shrewsbury), however, deserves special mention for his surprisingly well-informed and eloquent attacks, including one which read, "They come to this county, live off are benefits,{{sic}} wear all this fucking seek shit,{{sic}} bomb are sub ways."{{sic}}<ref name=mirror130424 />

London was singled out by Amodio Amato (disowned candidate for Stevenage) as an "Islamic State," with, "a Muslim army run by {{wpl|Sadiq Khan||,"}}<ref name=mailonline070424 /><ref name=comet090424>[https://www.thecomet.net/news/24241522.reform-uk-stevenages-candidate-dropped-alleged-offensive-posts/ Reform UK Stevenage's candidate dropped for alleged offensive posts] by Christopher Day, ''The Comet'', April 9, 2024</ref> The aforementioned "Islamic Mayor," to borrow the terminology of Sandra Senior (candidate for Ossett and Denby Dale),<ref name=goodlaw270424 /> was also attacked by Hamish Haddow (candidate for Chipping Barnet), who had previously stepped down as a [[Tory]] councillor due to such comments;<ref>[https://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/22341477.welwyn-hatfield-council-candidate-voluntarily-stepped-ahead-election/ Welwyn Hatfield council candidate voluntarily stepped down ahead of election] by Matt Adams, Welwyn Hatfield Times, April 30, 2022</ref> Jonathan Kay (disowned candidate for South Ribble), who accused him of being a "Muslim supremacist supporter";<ref name=hopenothate030424 /><ref name=pamedia030424 /> and Nick Davies (resigned candidate for North East Bedfordshire), who [[Nazi analogies|compared him]] to (wait for it…) [[Adolf Hitler]].<ref name=bylinetimes200324 /> While, presumably in the interests of diversity, Amodio Amato (disowned candidate for Stevenage)  proclaimed {{wpl|Humza Yousaf||,}} "most certainly a [[Hamas]] [[terrorist]] supporter."<ref name=mailonline070424 /><ref name=comet090424 /> 

Yvette Maxwell-Darkes {{lived|September 1959|}}<ref>[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/Jy7tFx0Cm52Jv2s8YtQSeyuWAnM/appointments Yvette Ann MAXWELL-DARKES] ''Companies House''</ref> (disowned candidate for Swindon North)<ref name=swindon050424 /> who said "I actually like [Tommy Robinson] – he stands up and says things that most people think,"<ref name=mailonline310324 /> was joined by Richard Brown (candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough),<ref name=mailonline310324 /><ref name=goodlaw270424>[https://goodlawproject.org/reform-uk-drops-candidate-who-spread-racist-and-islamophobic-posts/ Reform UK drops candidate who spread racist and Islamophobic posts] Good Law Project, April 27, 2024</ref> Ian Harris (disowned candidate for Lewes),<ref name=hnh060424 /><ref name=mirror060424 /> Roger Hoe (disowned candidate for Beverley and Holderness),<ref name=mailonline310324 /> Noel Matthews (National Organizer and candidate for North West Leicestershire)<ref name=buzzfeed130519 /><ref name=mirror130424 /> and Garry Sutherland (candidate for Exmouth and Exeter East) in finding what the Islamophobic [[white nationalist]] says "chimes with" them.<ref name=mailonline310324 />

Misogyny made a surely equally surprising number of appearances. Pete Addis (disowned candidate for South Shropshire) called {{wpl|Angela Rayner||,}} a 'slag' and a 'trollop', supported by [[slut-shaming]] from Ginny Heathcote Ball (disowned candidate for Rutland and Stamford),<ref name=mailonline310324 /> before he followed [[Laurence Fox]] and {{wpl|Dan Wooton||}} into unemployment by telling journalist Ava Evans, "I'd shag you" after a "few more" pints of [[beer]].<ref name=mailonline070424 /> Other targets included {{wpl|Jess Phillips||,}} who Richard Brown (disowned candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough) called a "bitch",<ref name=mailonline310324 /><ref name=goodlaw270424>[https://goodlawproject.org/reform-uk-drops-candidate-who-spread-racist-and-islamophobic-posts/ Reform UK drops candidate who spread racist and Islamophobic posts] Good Law Project, April 27, 2024</ref> and [[Michelle Obama]], who Amodio Amato (disowned candidate for Stevenage) targeted with the tired old [[conspiracy]] that she's "a [[transvestite]]."<ref name=mailonline070424 /><ref>[https://www.thecomet.net/news/24241522.reform-uk-stevenages-candidate-dropped-alleged-offensive-posts/ Reform UK Stevenage's candidate dropped for alleged offensive posts] by Christopher Day, ''The Comet'', April 9, 2024</ref> With [[Katie Hopkins]] the only woman to receive any sort of respect, courtesy of Richard Brown (candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough)<ref name=mailonline310324 /><ref name=goodlaw270424 />

In an apparent effort to demonstrate the importance of [[intersectionality]], black women proved a popular target, especially among white women. [[Diane Abbott]] topped the list with attacks from, among others, Hamish Haddow (candidate for Chipping Barnet),<ref>[https://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/22341477.welwyn-hatfield-council-candidate-voluntarily-stepped-ahead-election/ Welwyn Hatfield council candidate voluntarily stepped down ahead of election] by Matt Adams, Welwyn Hatfield Times, April 30, 2022</ref>  Ian Harris (disowned candidate for Lewes),<ref name=hnh060424 /><ref name=mirror060424 /> and Lee Bunker (South West Regional Manager).<ref name=goodlaw270424 /> Ginny Heathcote Ball (disowned candidate for Rutland and Stamford) diversified into telling radio presenter {{wpl|Nihal Arthanayake||}} to "emigrate to a black-only country," and demanding the deportation of activist {{wpl|Femi Oluwole||,}}<ref name=mailonline310324 /> whilst Sandra Senior (candidate for Ossett and Denby Dale) added {{wpl|Gina Miller}} and {{wpl|Naz Shah}} to the list.<ref name=goodlaw270424 />

[[Homophobia]] and [[transphobia]] made their obligatory appearance, with Philip Durling (candidate for Stevenage) suggesting adoptive gay parents are [[Alt-right glossary#Groomer|groomers]],<ref>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13336827/Reform-UK-suspends-muppet-election-candidate-social-media-posts.html Reform UK suspends ANOTHER 'muppet' election candidate over social media posts supporting a racist conspiracy theory and accusing gay parents of being paedophiles - as would-be party MP is accused of telling followers it is 'red pill time'] by David Wilcock, ''Daily Mail'', May 1, 2024</ref> and David Carpin (disowned candidate for Henley and Thame) calling trans women "mentally ill men," and saying [[gay]] pride was a "[[sin]]". Most thought provoking, however, was Carpin's questioning who we should save from a burning building given the choice between {{wpl|Lia Thomas||,}} {{wpl|Dylan Mulvaney||,}} {{wpl|Sam Smith||,}} and (wait for it…) Adolf Hitler.<ref>[https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24137973.reform-uk-candidate-henley-fired-offensive-posts/ Reform UK candidate for Henley fired for 'offensive' posts] by Robert Folker, ''Oxford Mail'', February 22, 2024</ref><ref name=mailonline310324 />

Anti-immigration rhetoric was rife, with attacks on "coloured illegals," as Roger Hoe (disowned candidate for Beverley and Holderness) calls them,<ref name=mailonline310324 /> including Nick Davies' (resigned candidate for North East Bedfordshire) of an "invasion" and a "silent army housed in hotels";<ref name=bylinetimes200324 /><ref name=mailonline070424>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13279977/Reform-election-candidates-dropped-suspended.html Reform drops two of its election candidates and suspends a third for series of offensive remarks — including obscene 'brown babies' jibe] by Glen Owen and Daisy Graham-Brown, ''Mail on Sunday'', April 7, 2024</ref> Lee Bunker (South West Regional Manager) wheeling out the old "bringing in diseases with them" trope, and demanded their [[conscription]] into the [[Ukrainian]] army, where he presumably thought those diseases would be of value;<ref name=goodlaw270424 /> and Hamish Haddow (candidate for Chipping Barnet) describing the {{wpl|Royal National Lifeboat Institution|| (RNLI)}} “working as a taxi service for illegal immigrants”.<ref name=guardian020524a /><ref name=guardian020524b /> While Edward Oakenfull (candidate for Derbyshire Dales) engaged in a rare piece of intersectional representation by describing [[Disability|disabled]] asylum seekers as "scroungers" who "should go back to wherever they came from."<ref name=mailonline310324 />

Trevor Nicholls (candidate for Warrington North) lead the charge for white nationalism complaining “our white pride” is denounced as racist, and “BEING PROUD TO BE WHITE” is “very close” to being a crime.<ref name=mirror130424 /> Richard Brown (candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough) went old school by shouting out [[Enoch Powell]],<ref name=mailonline310324 /><ref name=goodlaw270424 /> while Joe "Mr Shrewsbury" Dyas (resigned candidate for Shrewsbury)<ref name=mirror130424>[https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/reform-uk-election-hopefuls-exposed-32581192 Reform UK election hopefuls exposed over 'white pride' and Islamophobic rants] by Simon Murphy, Mikey Smith and Sam Bright, ''Mirror'', April 13, 2024</ref> and Ian Harris (disowned candidate for Lewes) were among those showing support for the [[British National Party]] (BNP) and its former leader [[Nick Griffin]]; Harris also supported [[Paul Joseph Watson]], but drew the line at [[Richard Tice]], whom he attacked.<ref name=hnh060424>[https://hopenothate.org.uk/2024/04/06/bigotry-chaos-why-reform-is-not-election-ready/ HOPE not hate reveals ANOTHER shameful Reform UK candidate – and lifts the lid on the party’s chaotic selection process] by Gregory Davis, Hope Not Hate, April 6, 2024</ref><ref name=mirror060424>[https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/reform-uk-drops-general-election-32526613 Reform UK drops general election candidate who liked Tommy Robinson and Nick Griffin tweets] by Mikey Smith, ''Mirror'', April 6, 2024</ref>

[[The Great Replacement]] and [[white genocide]] conspiracy theories were evidenced by Philip Durling (candidate for Stevenage) by the brief period in which the three British nations had non-white leaders ([[Rishi Sunak]], {{wpl|Humza Yousaf||}} and {{wpl|Vaughan Gething||}}),<ref>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13336827/Reform-UK-suspends-muppet-election-candidate-social-media-posts.html Reform UK suspends ANOTHER 'muppet' election candidate over social media posts supporting a racist conspiracy theory and accusing gay parents of being paedophiles — as would-be party MP is accused of telling followers it is 'red pill time'] by David Wilcock, ''Daily Mail'', May 1, 2024</ref> and supported by Edward Oakenfull (candidate for Derbyshire Dales), who explained "importing loads of sub-Saharan Africans plus Muslims that inter-breed" created "gene pool decline";<ref name=mailonline310324 /> Mark Butcher (candidate for Blackpool South), with a classic call-back to the [[Alt-right glossary#Kalergi Plan|Kalergi Plan]];<ref>[https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/reform-uk-election-candidate-touts-32706370 Reform UK candidate in Blackpool South by-election touts conspiracy theories in rambling 2018 video] by Lizzy Buchan, ''Mirror'', April 30, 2024</ref> and Mick Greenhough (disowned candidate for Orpington), who said "problem is the Askenazi [[International Jewish conspiracy|Jews who have caused the world massive misery]]."<ref name=hopenothate030424 /><ref name=pamedia030424 />

[[Climate change denial]] was also seemingly deemed largely defensible, with Chris Farmer (candidate for Gloucester) saying, "Ignore all climate crisis claims, because they are invented to justify the creation of [[dictatorship]]s”;<ref name=guardian020524a>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/may/01/reform-uk-backs-candidates-who-promoted-online-conspiracy-theories Reform UK backs candidates who promoted online conspiracy theories] by Kevin Rawlinson and Aneesa Ahmed, The Guardian, May 2, 2024</ref><ref name=guardian020524b>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/02/covid-chemtrails-and-climate-the-wild-ideas-spread-by-reform-uk-candidates Covid, chemtrails and climate: the wild ideas spread by Reform UK candidates] by Kevin Rawlinson and Aneesa Ahmed, The Guardian, May 2, 2024</ref> Maggie Moriondo (candidate for Bedford) claiming "we are being fed [[BS]] on the climate hoax. We will be force fed a diet of man-made meat whilst [[elite]]s enjoy the real thing";<ref name=bylinetimes200324 /> Lynn Murphy (candidate for Easington) saying, "You are deluded if you think the world is going to end due to climate change. The climate changes every season, we have [[Bill Gates]] creating clouds to block out the sun, yet the [[Earth]] is a fireball of molten lava, basic high school science teaches you that";<ref name=guardian020524a /><ref name=guardian020524b /> and Tim Prosser (candidate for Derby) sharing the climate 'research' of [[Tucker Carlson]].<ref name=bylinetimes200324 /> Pete Addis (disowned candidate for South Shropshire), however, apparently went too far by, among other things, calling for [[David Attenborough]] to be "killed off."<ref name=mailonline070424 /> 

Also acceptable are the [[antivax]] and [[COVID-19 denialism|COVID-19 denialist]] conspiracies, lead by Alex Stevenson (candidate for Amber Valley), who was previously suspended as a Tory councillor for supporting {{wpl|Andrew Bridgen||'s}} nonsense,<ref>[https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/conservative-councillor-alex-stevenson-suspended-8025879 Conservative councillor Alex Stevenson suspended after defending vaccine Holocaust comments] by Eddie Bisknell, Derbyshire Live, January 13, 2023</ref> and espoused by Richard Brown (candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough),<ref name=goodlaw270424 /> Roger Hoe (disowned candidate for Beverley and Holderness), Mark Hoath (candidate for Sutton Coldfield), David Holland (candidate for Mid-Bedfordshire),<ref name=bylinetimes200324 /> and Andrew Husband (candidate for North Durham), who called COVID-19 vaccines the "greatest crime against humanity".<ref name=bylinetimes200324 /><ref name=mailonline310324 /> While Trevor Lloyd-Jones (candidate for Aldershot) accused {{wpl|Matt Hancock}} of [[Euthanasia|euthanizing]] elderly people with midazolam during the pandemic.<ref name=guardian020524a /><ref name=guardian020524b />

Other conspiracy theories deemed acceptable include: the anti-[[World Economic Forum]] (WEF) and 15-minute cities conspiracy theories spread by Chris Farmer (candidate for Gloucester), David Holland (candidate for Mid-Bedfordshire) and Trevor Lloyd-Jones (candidate for Aldershot);<ref name=guardian020524a /><ref name=guardian020524b /> the [[chemtrail]] conspiracy theories, spread by Andrea Whitehead (candidate for Leeds West and Pudsey); the claim "direct energy weapons" caused wildfires in [[Texas]] and [[Brazil]] made by Andrew Husband (candidate for North Durham);<ref name=bylinetimes200324 /> the claim that the Labour Party anti-Semitism row was "a [[false flag]], probably masterminded by [[Mossad]]/[[CIA]]," which got Jacqui Harris (candidate for Kenilworth and Southam) suspended as a Tory councillor; and even the conspiracy theories of [[Neil Oliver]], which Maggie Moriondo (candidate for Bedford) claimed "eloquently summarises the global pushback against [[globalist]] tyranny",<ref name=bylinetimes200324 /> and [[David Icke]], which Garry Sutherland (candidate for Exmouth and Exeter East) affirmed stating, "Remember when they used to mock him? We're not laughing now."<ref name=mailonline310324 /> While special mention must go to [[Alt-right glossary#Red pill|red-pilled]] conspiracy theorist Mark Butcher (candidate for Blackpool South) who called the {{wpl|Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency|(DVLA)}} an “evil entity”, in a rant which included: [[Agenda 21]], the CIA invention of TV to put people to sleep, and the government getting a person's weight in [[gold]] whenever they sign a document.<ref>[https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/reform-uk-election-candidate-touts-32706370 Reform UK candidate in Blackpool South by-election touts conspiracy theories in rambling 2018 video] by Lizzy Buchan, ''Mirror'', April 30, 2024</ref>

In a victory for [[conspirituality|conspiritualism]], the party has supported self-proclaimed [[Fortune-telling|fortune teller]] Amelia Randall's {{lived|March 1985|}}<ref>[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/RcsiLqKe_N4CmMEZalrtsk_ehqY/appointments Amelia RANDALL] ''Companies House''</ref> (candidate for Herne Bay and Sandwich) right to sell spells and [[psychic]] readings for up to £200 on her OnlyFans.<ref name=mailonline310324 />

[[Animal rights]] proved a divisive issue with convicted animal abuser Garry Sutherland (candidate for Exmouth and Exeter East) being defended by the party whilst Iris Leask {{lived|March 1956|}}<ref>[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/fguqEfW5BjN3bEQctE0CDYLgCQk/appointments Iris Alexandra LEASK] ''Companies House''</ref> (disowned candidate for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) was not, after calling for meat-eaters to "[[Cannibalism|eat other humans]]" and for the human race to be "obliterated."<ref name=mailonline070424/><ref>[https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24236887.reform-uk-suspend-aberdeenshire-candidate-cannibalism-row/ Reform UK suspend Aberdeenshire candidate in cannibalism row] by Andrew Learmonth, ''The Herald'', April 7, 2024</ref>

Support for foreign far-right [[populist]] leaders was shown, including [[Vladimir Putin]], who Hamish Haddow (candidate for Chipping Barnet) lost his position as a Tory councillor for supporting,<ref>[https://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/22341477.welwyn-hatfield-council-candidate-voluntarily-stepped-ahead-election/ Welwyn Hatfield council candidate voluntarily stepped down ahead of election] by Matt Adams, Welwyn Hatfield Times, April 30, 2022</ref> and [[Lega]]'s [[Matteo Salvini]], whom Adam Wood (candidate for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough) seems a little too close to.<ref name=goodlaw270424 />

Upping the violent rhetoric Ginny Heathcote Ball (disowned candidate for Rutland and Stamford) described herself a "far-Right hooligan and proud of it," and incited for "a purge of the scum in the Labour Party" using the hashtag #AcidAttack,<ref name=mailonline310324 /> while Benjamin "Beau" Dade (disowned candidate for Swindon South) is worthy of special mention for an tirade in ''The Mallard'' calling for the expulsion of "millions of foreigners and their dependents" and a "purge" of civil servants and judges who are "a cancer which must be cut out, regardless of the disruption it causes."<ref>[https://hopenothate.org.uk/2024/03/21/far-right-fantasies-of-reform-uk-candidate-beau-dade/ The Shocking Far-Right Fantasies of Reform UK candidate Beau Dade] by Gregory Davis, Hope Not Hate, March 21, 2024</ref><ref name=mailonline310324 /><ref name=swindon050424>[https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/24229446.swindon-reform-party-candidates-now-removed/ Both Swindon Reform party candidates now removed] by Aled Thomas, ''Swindon Advertiser'', April 5, 2024</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2|90%}}

{{UKPoliticalParty}}
[[Category:Alt-lite]]
[[Category:Antifeminism]]
[[Category:Antisemitism]]
[[Category:Anti-vaccination movement]]
[[Category:Brexit]]
[[Category:British political parties]]
[[Category:British right wing]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theorists]]
[[Category:COVID-19 denialists]]
[[Category:Global warming denialists]]
[[Category:Homophobia]]
[[Category:Islamophobia]]
[[Category:Racism]]
[[Category:Transphobia]]
[[Category:Xenophobia]]
[[Category:White supremacy]]

Categories: Alt-lite, Antifeminism, Antisemitism, Anti-vaccination movement, Brexit, British political parties, British right wing, Conspiracy theorists, COVID-19 denialists, Global warming denialists, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Racism, Transphobia, Xenophobia, White supremacy