Nigel Farage is facing criticism for not taking action against a senior Reform candidate over a series of “racist and offensive” remarks aimed at politicians.
Chris Parry, who had previously suggested that David Lammy should return to the Caribbean, also raised questions about the loyalty of eight other politicians from minority ethnic backgrounds to the UK. Among those targeted were Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf, independent MP Zarah Sultana, and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.
Despite calls for accountability following Parry’s comments, two key members of Farage’s team declined to denounce the behavior. Labour chairwoman Anna Turley criticized Farage for tolerating racism within the party.
A review of Parry’s social media activity uncovered derogatory statements about various figures. For instance, he questioned Mahmood’s loyalty based on her religion and implied that Yousaf’s allegiance lies elsewhere. Parry also made disparaging remarks about other politicians, including Dawn Butler, Kaukab Stewart, and Naz Shah.
Turley insisted that Farage should have expelled Parry from Reform UK and disassociated with him much earlier. She condemned Farage for neglecting to address the racist comments and failing to uphold the expected standards of a political leader.
Farage’s deputy, Richard Tice, avoided condemning Parry’s remarks towards Lammy, emphasizing that political disagreements are part of the normal discourse. Another Reform MP, Danny Kruger, refrained from commenting on the issue, leaving the decision to Farage and party leadership.
In an interview on Talk TV, Parry stood by his statements and suggested that people should view his posts on Twitter to understand the context. He defended his views on loyalty to the country, particularly in reference to Lammy’s role as foreign secretary.
Efforts to seek comments from Reform regarding the situation are ongoing.