Nigel Farage faces criticism for not taking action against a senior Reform candidate accused of making “racist and unacceptable” remarks towards politicians. Chris Parry, who previously suggested that David Lammy should “return to the Caribbean,” also raised questions about the loyalty of eight other minority ethnic figures to the UK, including Shabana Mahmood, Sadiq Khan, Humza Yousaf, Zarah Sultana, and Anas Sarwar.
Despite being called out for his comments, Farage’s close associates declined to denounce Parry. Labour leader Anna Turley condemned Farage’s failure to address the issue, accusing him of tolerating racism within his party. A review of Parry’s social media activity uncovered derogatory statements towards individuals of color, such as implying Mahmood’s loyalty to Muslims over the country and questioning Yousaf’s allegiance to the UK.
Turley insisted that Farage should have ejected Parry from Reform UK and dropped him as a candidate long before. She criticized Farage for neglecting to act against Parry despite the exposure of his initial racist remarks weeks ago, portraying him as an ineffective leader who condones racism within his party. On a separate occasion, Richard Tice, Farage’s deputy, evaded condemning Parry’s comments towards Lammy, emphasizing that political disagreements are part of the process.
Another Reform MP, Danny Kruger, refrained from commenting on Parry’s statements, suggesting it was up to Farage and party leaders to address the issue. Kruger acknowledged Parry’s public service background but deferred judgment to party leadership. Parry, when questioned on a TV interview, stood by his comments, indicating that the context of his remarks should be considered, particularly in relation to primary loyalty to the UK. The Mirror sought a response from Reform regarding the controversy.