Politics

Three Reform candidates exposed as ex-BNP

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Reform UK has been forced to expel three local election candidates. This time, it’s done so after investigators revealed that the three men were once part of the British National Party:

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It’s good to see that the party has taken action — or that it’s done so in this case, at least. Because as we’ve reported, there are plenty of candidates with BNP-identical views that Reform has not expelled.

Reform and the BNP

Hope not Hate and the Mirror are responsible for this latest exposé. As Hope not Hate reported:

While now a shadow of its former self, the BNP was once Britain’s largest and most successful far-right party. Formed in 1982, the party was most successful under the leadership of Nick Griffin, but went into sharp decline following the 2010 general election. While it limps on, it is standing no candidates at the forthcoming elections.

The BNP’s membership peaked at 14,500 and since its collapse, activists and members have gravitated towards a range of radical and far right parties. Unsurprisingly, some have washed up in Reform UK, including as candidates.

The men Hope not Hate exposed are David Prior, George Parnell, and John Black:

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Hope not Hate added:

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Farage says ex-BNP activists “aren’t welcome” presumably because the BNP is seen as toxic and racist.

Farage has long walked a tightrope between far-right views and centre-right electability. This is now causing problems for him, because many of the far-right individuals who were drawn to Reform are abandoning the party for Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain.

It’s also causing problems for the ethnic minority Reform candidates who take Farage at his word when he says he’s not a racist:

Farage himself will tell you he doesn’t want BNP types in his party, but as we’ve reported, he’s clearly comfortable with far-right candidates as long as they can tow the line:

BNP membership is seen as a red line for Farage, but we’re not confident that will always be the case. There is no real difference between an ex-BNP member and an ex-Tory who called for minority groups to be shot — no difference beyond the optics Farage currently considers important, anyway.

Should Reform become the party of government, we’ve no doubt PM Farage will stop pretending to care about many of these things.

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The British far right

Britain First leader Paul Golding is another ex-BNP guy. As we recently reported, Golding wants the UK to descend into chaos for the benefit of his political platform:

Tommy Robinson is also an ex-BNP member. As we’ve reported, Reform candidate James Bembridge defended Robinson:

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Make no mistake — despite their public disagreements, these people are all part of the same movement. And if you vote Reform UK, you might as well be voting for the BNP.

This is why the ex-BNP guys were drawn to it in the first place.

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Featured image via Gage Skidmore (Flickr)

By Willem Moore

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