Unraveling Controversy: Reform UK Candidate's Shocking Support for Jimmy Savile

In a startling turn of events, Reform UK candidate Stephen Hartley has been suspended from his party after controversial posts surfaced on social media expressing his support for the notorious serial sex abuser Jimmy Savile. Hartley was set to represent Reform UK in the Banbury Hardwick ward during the upcoming Oxfordshire County Council elections on May 1. In a candid interview with the BBC, Hartley acknowledged sharing earlier posts in 2022 where he referred to Savile as a ”working class hero” and admitted he might have ”forgotten” to mention his X account to the party during vetting.

Savile, once a beloved British television icon from the 1960s to the 1990s, was later exposed posthumously as one of the UK’s most prolific sexual predators, with hundreds of victims reporting abuse across BBC properties, hospitals, schools, and children’s homes. Recently, the NSPCC highlighted Savile’s notorious status within its 129-year history of tackling child abuse.

Despite the suspension, Hartley remains on the ballot due to the timing of the announcement, which came after the official candidate lists were published. Reacting to his suspension, which was confirmed immediately after the BBC inquired about his posts, Hartley expressed understanding of the party’s decision, stating it’s ”fair enough” given the situation. He rationalized his social media activity as ”venting” and acknowledged Reform UK’s need for vigilance in maintaining its reputation.

Reform UK’s leader, Nigel Farage, previously indicated that candidates would undergo a thorough vetting process prior to the elections. Hartley’s case raises significant questions about candidate selection and the implications of social media in political candidacy — a situation worth monitoring as the local elections approach.