Welsh Reform spad exposed for racist, anti-Muslim bigotry online

Yet another prominent Reform UK party figure in Wales has been exposed over hateful rhetoric shared online repeatedly, especially targeted at Islam or Muslim-majority populations.

Derek Roberts’ social media account is full of racist and anti-Muslim bigotry, much targeted at Pakistanis. This included posts targeted at Scottish (briefly) First Minister Humza Yousaf and other high-profile figures he deemed sympathetic — i.e. not outwardly hateful — towards Muslims or Islam.

He also publicly supported Tommy ‘Fake-Name’ Robinson online. Farage’s Reform have previously, albeit unconvincingly, attempted to distance themselves from the violent, far-right Islamophobic criminal.

Roberts stood down as a Senedd candidate in May’s Welsh elections but is now employed as a special adviser (spad) by Reform’s Gas Thomas. Roberts was originally announced as second-place candidate for Reform in Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg constituency, spanning Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Upon Roberts unexpectedly quitting, Reform cited “personal reasons.” However, as BBC Wales wrote:

A source close to Reform UK told the BBC that prior to Roberts quitting, concerns were raised about a Facebook account in his name.

This comes after another Welsh Reform spad stood down following the emergence of Hitler salute photos previously shared on social media — complete with finger-moustache.

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Repeated, vile online anti-Muslim hatred

BBC Wales was shown dozens of offensive Facebook posts featuring vile, inflammatory language from an account in Roberts’ name, between 2022 and 2025.

Among the vitriolic posts shared online from Roberts’ account were:

• Various racist jokes in 2022 about floods in Pakistan, including racist slurs about Pakistanis.
• At least one post in 2022 expressing support for far-right activist ‘Tommy Robinson’. After referring to the “Pakistani community” in derogatory, sweary terms, the post stated: “Come on Tommy!”
• One post in 2023 criticising the ethnic background of a Plaid Cymru councillor.
• Referring to Muslim Scottish leader Humza Yousaf, two separate posts in 2023 which said:
  

  “Scotland please don’t let a Muslim be in charge of a political party in your Celtic country!”

  “At last this vile man is getting kicked out of Scottish government! Remember one thing you were NOT elected by the Scottish people the same as the PM and the Welsh FM!
  

  “Remember White, White, White.”

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• Another post, in 2023’s Welsh Labour leadership contest, referring to Jeremy Miles pictured to the right of Welsh Labour politicians Eluned Morgan and Vaughan Gething, stating:
  

  “Let’s face it, the guy on the right won’t get it unless he is gay or a Muslim.”

• Another post from 2024 which read, somewhat bizarrely:
  

  “I absolutely hate the PM [Keir Starmer]… and I absolutely detest the Islamic way of life!”

Reform refused to comment to the BBC on “internal hiring processes” or whether they disputed this story.

When ‘vetting problems’ become party problems

None of this should surprise readers. It’s not the first time Reform candidates and politicians have been accused of hateful, Islamophobic, racist or similarly bigoted messaging. It won’t be the last.

Yet every time this happens, one common question emerges, as with the BBC’s article. It’s always a matter of
‘How did this so-and-so get through party vetting? Does Reform even have party vetting?’

See, for example, Makerfield by-election candidate Rob Kenyon’s online admissions “I am sexist” and obscenities about Carol Vorderman. Or, as the BBC point out, Corey Edwards, who also stood down from the same constituency list after a photo emerged of him appearing to perform a Nazi salute. The latter is now also employed as a Welsh Reform spad alongside Roberts.

There comes a point, however, where you need to stop asking about party vetting. We all know that Reform has the political donations and so resources to do serious vetting if they wish to.

But they don’t want to vet for racism and sexism — that’s the entire point. They want to normalise it. Letting a few misogynists and ethno-nationalists through the door is the political objective. And then some more.

We need to stop worrying about Reform’s internal ‘failings’ on due process and start worrying about what they’re successfully letting through. It’s blatant racism, misogyny, transphobia and general bigotry. Their obvious objective is to legitimise all this and the Islamophobia that they’ve been reported for.

It’s time to recognise that these “vetting problems” are just Reform party problems.

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Featured image via the Canary

By Cameron Baillie

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