A barrel full of rotten apples

In Kent, of the 57 Reform councillors elected in May 2025, ten have resigned or declared themselves “independents”. In Shropshire the council has had three leaders in a year.

In the few days since 7 May 2026 Reform has lost at least six of its newly elected councillors.

Glenn Gibbins in Sunderland has been suspended for racist posts on social media.

David Baker, also in Sunderland, is not suspended, but he has a conviction for domestic violence.

David Laing, in Sunderland again, stood as a BNP candidate twice, but is not suspended.

Jay Cooper in Sefton has resigned from Reform, after pro-Nazi social media posts were revealed.

Stuart Prior in Rayleigh West has called for the mass murder of Muslims and for segregation. He has feigned ignorance of those social media posts.

Ben Rowe, Plymouth, has been suspended. On social media he has called on racist rioters to attack a mosque and accused Jewish people of controlling the world through migration.

A few candidates from other parties, including the Greens and Labour, have been found to have made antisemitic or offensive posts, but most if not all were suspended before 7 May.

You could say that Nigel Farage should do better on vetting. But this is the Nigel Farage whose former teachers and schoolmates have described his antisemitism and bigotry.

In large parts of the country Farage’s racist, misogynistic, homophobic, and anti-union gang now have power in local authorities. Local labour movements must organise to push them back. §