Scandal Erupts as Reform UK Candidate Linked to Racial Slur Post

A controversy has erupted within the Reform UK party following the discovery of a racial slur posted by its local election candidate in Derbyshire, Max Bethell. The offensive content, shared on an Instagram account purporting to be Bethell’s, dates back to 2019 and has since been removed. While the party itself has opted not to comment on the situation, calls for them to withdraw support from Bethell are gaining momentum. Dermot Murphy, chairman of the Derbyshire Dales Conservative Association, condemned the post as “frankly abhorrent, offensive and racist,” urging Reform UK to take immediate action against Bethell.

Despite recent claims from party leader Nigel Farage that candidates for the upcoming 2025 local elections would be thoroughly vetted to avoid such controversies, the fallout from this incident may raise questions about that promise. As the local elections on May 1st approach, Bethell is one of five candidates contesting for a position in the Bakewell division alongside representatives from the Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Labour & Co-operative, and Conservative Party.

The scandal not only puts Bethell’s candidacy in jeopardy but also reflects on the standards and scrutiny within the Reform UK party as it prepares for future elections.