Reform UK Candidate Faces Scrutiny Over Past Racist Remarks
Derek Bullock, a Reform UK candidate for the upcoming local council elections in Bolton, was twice disciplined by the Conservative Party over allegations of offensive or racist comments. This revelation comes as the full slate of candidates for the May 7 elections was confirmed, with more than 5,000 council seats in England being contested, along with several mayoralties and elections for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments.
Allegations and Denials
Bullock, a former Conservative, was suspended by the party in 2023 after screenshots emerged allegedly showing a Facebook post from 2017 in which he used a racial slur to call for people of Pakistani heritage to be shot. The post was reportedly made in the aftermath of the Manchester Arena terrorist attack. Bullock has consistently denied the allegations, claiming the screenshots were faked and reporting the material to the police.
In 2020, Bullock faced internal disciplinary action from the Conservatives for allegedly sharing an anti-Islam article on Facebook. Despite being disowned by the Tories, Bullock won a council seat as an independent in 2023. A Reform UK spokesperson defended Bullock, stating he is a valued community member and currently serves as a trustee of the Asian Elders’ Resource Centre in Bolton.
Additional Candidate Controversies
Another Reform UK candidate, Glenda Hall, standing for Sunderland council, has shared conspiracy theories about Covid-19 on her Facebook page. In 2020, Hall posted a video by conspiracy theorist Vernon Coleman, who described the pandemic as the "greatest fraud in human history." Last year, she recommended a blogpost that labeled Afghan men as "sexual predators" and expressed hope that stories about their deaths by western troops were true.
Labour party chair Anna Turley condemned these comments as "utterly deplorable" and criticized Nigel Farage, Reform UK's leader, for boasting about the party's vetting procedures. Turley called for Farage to condemn the remarks and sack the candidates, arguing they are unfit for public office.
Election Context and Party Dynamics
Reform UK claims to be standing candidates in just over 95% of seats, a number comparable to Labour. The party has emphasized that its vetting procedures have been strengthened. Meanwhile, the Greens are fielding candidates in 89% of English local council seats, a record high, and recently gained a seat from Reform in Kent after a byelection prompted by a Reform councillor's imprisonment.
As the local elections approach, Reform UK is forecast to make gains in various councils, Scotland, and Wales, while Labour and the Conservatives face potential heavy losses. The Greens, under leader Zack Polanski, are experiencing a surge in polling and hope to capitalize on this momentum.
