Farage Urged To Sack Reform Candidate After Insulting Remarks

Nigel Farage has been urged to sack Reform’s mayoral candidate after he compared a Jewish community group to “Islamists on horseback”.

Chris Parry, who is standing to be the mayor of Hampshire, made the shocking comment about members of a Jewish neighbourhood safeguarding group called Shomrim.

His remarks came hours after an arson attack on ambulances run by a Jewish charity, Hatzola, in North London, which works alongside Shomrim.

Parry, who previously courted controversy for claiming deputy prime minister David Lammy should “go home” to the Caribbean, reposted a post on X, asking: “Can Christian’s [sic] in Britain set up their own police and patrol certain neighbourhoods?”

Parry added: “Remember that these cosplayers have no more jurisdiction or legal authority than ordinary citizens.”

After another user questioned the mayoral candidate over the depiction of Shomrim, he wrote: “They are a community organisation, not a legal entity. It’s the same with Islamists on horseback. But if it offends you, I’ll remove it.”

He later told the Guardian: “Most people on X commenting seem to be confusing various community action groups with the real police. Keen that people understand that.”

The retired rear admiral is set to stand in the Hampshire and the Solent mayoral election in 2028.

A Labour Party spokesperson hit out at the Reform party leader for keeping Parry on.

They said: “Nigel Farage should have done the right thing and booted Chris Parry out of Reform UK months ago. He’s previously made a huge number of appalling and racist comments and faced no action – he simply isn’t fit to be a candidate for public office.

“All politicians should be standing squarely with the Jewish community in the face of appalling antisemitism – particularly after the despicable antisemitic attack in Golders Green last night.

“The fact Nigel Farage has repeatedly failed to take any action against Chris Parry shows how far he’s willing to drag politics into the gutter. Labour will always stand with the Jewish community and continue working to ensure they are not subjected to racism, discrimination, or violence.”

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Max Wilkinson also lashed out at Parry’s remarks.

He said: “Nigel Farage should act now to drop Chris Parry as Reform’s Hampshire mayoral candidate. These remarks were deeply insensitive, insulting and not befitting of someone who wants to hold public office.

“At a time when we are all thinking of the Jewish community after such a disturbing attack, these comments will compound the pain so many people are already feeling.”

Reform UK has been contacted for comment.