Farage urged to act against Reform local election candidates with racist, misogynistic and homophobic views

Exclusive: Despite the pledge to employ the best vetting system in British politics, some Reform UK candidates have been condemned for their ‘grotesque views’ posted online
Nigel Farage is under pressure to disown a string of Reform UK local election candidates after newly unearthed social media posts show that some appear to hold “grotesque” racist, misogynistic and homophobic views.

Reform has been plagued by vetting issues and vowed to clean up its process following a series of “abhorrent” incidents involving candidates, including one who stood down last month after a photo resurfaced in which he appeared to be performing a Nazi salute.

But The Independent has found that three of Reform’s candidates have professed extreme views on social media, with Labour demanding they are suspended even though it is now too late for them to be withdrawn as candidates.

Andrew Mahon, who is standing in Blackburn South East, appears to have made a number of homophobic remarks about health secretary Wes Streeting and Green Party leader Zack Polanski.

Last month, on Facebook, Mr Mahon appeared to state: “I wonder if Wes Streeting likes sausage?

I wonder if he eats meat?”
And a now-deleted post on X in March, posted in Mr Mahon’s name, said: “Hannah Spencer the Green MP knows all about ballcocks and I bet she knows all about her heavy-duty plumber’s snake.

I wonder, is she has unblocked any flue’s in Zac Polanski’s residence or undertaken any pipe cleaning [ sic ]”.

In another now deleted post, Mr Mahon appears to say: “No disrespect but why can black people use the word n***** but white people cannot.

Seriously, why is this the case?”
In a Facebook post from 2024, Mr Mahon is seen saying on X that Angela Rayner “should consider weight loss jabs”.

Brett Muscroft, standing in Wakefield’s Castleford Central and Glasshoughton ward, seems to have openly supported the far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

In August 2024, a Facebook post in Mr Muscroft’s name said that making Robinson secretary of state for defence would mean “we may get Great Britain back”.

And in a post on Facebook from February 2025, an image caption reads: “Islam is like cancer.

If you don’t remove it on time, it will kill you.”
Arnold Tabor, who is standing in Wakefield’s South Elmsall and South Kirkby ward, appears to have left a comment on a YouTube video in 2022 suggesting that the navy should shoot migrants in the English Channel.

Another comment, posted in 2023 on a YouTube video, says that migrants should be put in a “huge walled workhouse city” and made to “work for no pay”.

Anna Turley, chair of the Labour Party, has demanded Mr Farage take action.

She said: “These vile comments expose the type of candidates Reform are happy to put on the ballot paper.

Despite all Nigel Farage’s claims about improving vetting in the party, he continues to stand candidates who hold grotesque views.

Voters deserve better.

“Farage needs to act and kick these people out of his party for good.”
A spokesperson for Reform said the party was investigating the allegations.

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies