Nigel Farage’s Reform UK continues to make headlines as his party drops three candidates just days out from the election, while another has defected to the Conservatives.
Liam Booth-Isherwood, who is standing in Erewash, said he no longer wants to be associated with the party due to a failure of leadership in addressing “reports of widespread racism and sexism”.
It follows an undercover investigation by Channel 4 which filmed two activists in Mr Farage’s target constituency of Clacton seeming to make racist and offensive comments.
Chairman of Reform UK, Richard Tice, said candidates were being offered jobs and inducements to “persuade them to talk badly of Reform”.
He said that candidates were being asked to “stand down and then endorse the Tory candidate”, adding that there were “dark forces at play by desperate Tories”.
Three candidates dropped
A Reform spokesman has also said that three candidates have been dropped for Reform UK following reports of offensive or racist comments.
Edward Oakenfull (Derbyshire Dales), Robert Lomas (Barnsley North) and Leslie Lilley (Southend East and Rochford) will remain on the ballot under the Reform name, though should they be elected will sit as independent MPs.
Mr Farage said he wants “nothing to do with them” on Question Time, though still encouraged people to vote for them.
He said he would “encourage [people] to vote for the party by voting for these people on the ballot paper”.
He added: "I’m not saying the situation is ideal, but the size of the Reform vote share nationally is what matters."