Politics

Reform UK drops three candidates as racism row continues to engulf party

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June 30, 2024

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Reform UK drops three candidates as racism row continues to engulf party

Reform UK has withdrawn support from three of its parliamentary candidates as the racism row engulfing the party continues to grow.

The party led by Nigel Farage is no longer supporting Edward Oakenfull, who is standing in Derbyshire Dales, Robert Lomas, a candidate in Barnsley North, and Leslie Lilley, standing in Southend East and Rochford, after alleged comments made by them emerged in the media.

It comes as party leaders from across the political spectrum have lined up to condemn Reform UK, and told Mr Farage he needs to “get a grip” of his party.

Oakenfull has been suspended after reportedly having written social media posts about the IQ of sub-Saharan Africans – which he told the BBC were “taken out of context”.

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Meanwhile, Lomas said black people should “get off [their] lazy arses” and stop acting “like savages”, The Times reported.

Lilley, according to the newspaper, described people arriving on small boats as “scum”, adding: “I hope your family get robbed, beaten or attacked.”

As the registration deadline for candidates has passed, all three candidates will remain on the ballot paper, despite no longer being endorsed by Reform UK.

Racism row

The decision to drop these candidates comes amid a vast row about racism in the party after Channel 4 news aired footage filmed undercover that showed Andrew Parker, an activist canvassing for Mr Farage, using the racial slur “P***” to describe the prime minister, describing Islam as a “disgusting cult”, and saying the army should “just shoot” migrants crossing the Channel.

Reform UK was condemned by party leaders across the political spectrum, and Rishi Sunak reacted furiously to the comments, saying Mr Farage had “some questions to answer”.

He said: “My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign for Nigel Farage calling me an effing P***. It hurts and it makes me angry and I think he has some questions to answer.

“And I don’t repeat those words lightly. I do so deliberately because this is too important not to call out clearly for what it is.”

Parker has told Sky News he was a “total fool”, that he has learned his lesson, and there was “no racism” in what he said.

Reform UK has said it has reported Channel 4 to the elections watchdog for alleged “scandalous… interference” over what the party claims was a fake rant planted by the broadcaster.

The broadcaster has rejected the allegations out of hand, saying: “We strongly stand by our rigorous and duly impartial journalism which speaks for itself. We met Mr Parker for the first time at Reform UK party headquarters, where he was a Reform party canvasser.

“We did not pay the Reform UK canvasser or anyone else in this report. Mr Parker was not known to Channel 4 News and was filmed covertly via the undercover operation.”

The Electoral Commission said they were “aware of reports” that Reform UK had asked them to investigate.

But the commission said it had “not received such a letter”, adding that it would “consider [the letter’s] contents” if it did.

A spokesperson for the commission said Channel 4 News was exempt from its regulation as it is a licensed broadcaster.

They said any laws surrounding the potential defamation of candidates would be a matter for the police.

Questions to answer

Mr Farage faced a slew of questions on the row during a BBC Question Time Leaders’ Special on Friday night, during which he said he was “not going to apologise” for the actions of people associated with his party.

Asked why his party “attracts racists and extremists”, the former UKIP leader claimed he had “done more to drive the far right out of British politics than anybody else alive” – claiming he took on the British Nationalist Party (BNP) a decade ago.

He also appeared to throw his predecessor Richard Tice under the bus when read racist and xenophobic comments made by Reform candidates, saying he “inherited a start-up party” and has “no idea” why the people who said those things had been selected.

Mr Farage has today lashed out at the BBC as well, saying he is refusing to appear on the broadcaster’s Sunday morning politics show with Laura Kuenssberg until they apologise for their “dishonest” audience, accusing the broadcaster of having “behaved like a political actor throughout this election”.

But the right-wing firebrand has been condemned by all party leaders.

Sir Keir Starmer told Sky News Mr Farage must “set the tone” for his party, adding: “It’s no good Nigel Farage after the event saying that he doesn’t agree with certain comments.”

The Labour leader went on to insist Mr Farage is “not a spectator” – but is the leader of Reform UK.

He added: “Leaders have to set the tone, set the standards and take the action so that people know in advance what is acceptable and what’s not acceptable.

What Reform attacks say about Nigel Farage’s mindset

Rob Powell

Political correspondent

@robpowellnews

Even by Reform’s standards, the frequency and ferocity of attacks flying out from the party has stepped up today.

We’ve had complaints going into Ofcom, the Electoral Commission and Essex Police.

The BBC boycotted; Channel 4 reported and a former campaigner cut adrift.

This tells you more about Nigel Farage’s mindset than his decision to suspend three candidates over online posts.

So five days from the election, will these seemingly rolling controversies shift many votes?

Much like the row over the Reform leader’s comments on Russia and Putin, that probably depends on how fully signed up you are the party’s agenda.

For the die-hards, talk of an establishment stitch-up will find sympathetic and supportive ears.

But wavering Tories dabbling with Reform may be queasier about all this talk of racism and a big media conspiracy.

One final point.

A fortnight ago, Nigel Farage demanded to be treated as one of the big players in this election citing a poll putting him ahead of the Tories.

But with more coverage comes more scrutiny.

You can construct a fair argument that’s exactly what Reform has been exposed to in the last week.

‘Get a grip’

Labour’s shadow defence secretary told Sky News Mr Farage should “get a grip” of his party amid the racism allegations.

John Healey said: “To some extent, I see him fuelling a row over this Channel 4 film to distract, really, from the fact that there are officials and there are candidates right at the heart of the Reform party, that have been responsible for racist, anti-gay, and other deeply offensive statements.

“And it’s for Farage to take action on them. And in the end, the culture and the standards of any political party are set by the leader and Nigel Farage wants to be seen as a leader.

“He needs to get a grip of his own party and he’s failing to do that at the moment.”

Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, said of Reform’s politics: “I deplore it. I deprecate it. I want nothing to do with it.”

“We will always rail against racist and homophobic comments, and I can’t believe that there’s a single thing Nigel Farage can do to control a problem that he himself has started,” he said.

The SNP leader went on to claim that this is not a case of bad apples, but “an ingrained problem of Reform”.

He said: “Nigel Farage has set this all up. He has stoked it all. With every word over all these years, he has incited all that intolerance and prejudice in our society.

“I want to have nothing to do with it. And I don’t think there’s anything Nigel Farage can do to stop it, because he created it.”

The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, said his members and candidates “share no values with Mr Farage”.

“He can sort himself out. My job as a Liberal Democrat leader is to tell you what we’re about.”

Here is the full list of candidates standing in the Derbyshire Dales constituency:

Kelda Boothroyd, Green Party
Robert Court, Liberal Democrats
Sarah Dines, Conservative Party
Rachel Elnaugh-Love, Independent
Edward Hudson Oakenfull, formerly Reform UK
Helen Wetherall, True and Fair Party
John Whitby, Labour Party

Here is the full list of candidates standing in Barnsley North:

Penny Baker, Liberal Democrats
Tony Devoy, Yorkshire Party
Neil Fisher, Independent
Tom Heyes, Green Party
Dan Jarvis, Labour Party
Tamas Kovacs, Conservative Party
Robert Lomas, formerly Reform UK
Janus Polenceusz, English Democrats

Here is the full list of candidates standing in Southend East and Rochford:

Bayo Alaba, Labour Party
James Joseph Allen, Liberal Democrats
Lee John Clark, Confelicity
Simon Cross, Green Party
Gavin Haran, Conservative Party
Bianca Eleanor Isherwood, Heritage Party
Leslie Lilley, formerly Reform UK

Politics

Ynys Mon: The island constituency where it’s all to play for in the general election

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June 30, 2024

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Ynys Mon: The island constituency where it's all to play for in the general election

In the Gwelfor Community Centre in Holyhead, it’s bingo night. Dabbers in hand, players are poised to win.

But there’s another competition brewing here.

Anglesey – and the constituency of Ynys Mon – is one of the most hotly contested seats in Wales.

The Conservatives are desperate to keep hold of it after their narrow win in 2019, but it’s a three-way split, with Plaid Cymru and Labour both vying for victory. All are in with a chance of winning.

In fact, there are double the number of parties running this time, eight in total, compared to the last election.

But every politician in this remote part of Wales has a battle on their hands to convince disillusioned voters.

“Just because we’re out in the middle of nowhere, doesn’t mean to say we’re absolutely forgotten,” bingo caller Margaret Pratchett tells me.

I ask whether she thinks politicians in Westminster care about North Wales.

“No. Not one little bit. They’ve got no idea what we need around here. We need work. We need doctors. We need care assistants. All things like that.”

Trade ‘drop off’

Holyhead is a busy working port.

Five times closer to Dublin than London, it is a major freight route between Britain and Ireland.

But since Brexit, trade remains 14% lower – and that impact trickles down to the smallest of businesses.

At the Boathouse B&B, owners Claudia and Chris have seen footfall decline. From port workers to tourists, they’re having to work harder to fill rooms.

“I think trade overall has gone down, but you can see that with the number of people, the number of freights, everything going through the port that has dramatically dropped off,” Claudia says.

The couple say they’ll vote Plaid Cymru – but Claudia isn’t happy with any of the choices: “It’s more a tactical vote. If you’ve got to pick a rotten tomato, you’re going to pick the least rotten.”

Mix of opinions

In Breakwater Country Park, 30 or so mums are busy painting, singing and reading with their babies and toddlers.

There’s a mix of opinions here on who to vote for.

“I will vote Plaid Cymru because they’ve got Wales’s priority in mind, I think. And I think the Conservatives haven’t done much for Wales in the last couple of years,” one mum tells me.

Another – happy with the PM’s performance.

“I saw what Rishi Sunak had to say and I supported everything he said to be honest. I think the Conservatives have done a good job since they’ve been in power and I think they deserve a chance to continue,” she said.

While some are decided, the majority are not.

Mum of two Ffion Edwards says she’s been approached by all the big parties.

“Yes. From Labour, Conservative, Plaid Cymru – they’ve each been knocking at the door trying to gain our support,” she tells me.

“I’m still very undecided, so – I will be voting for sure, but I’m just not sure which party to vote for at the moment. I’m feeling a little bit nervous. It’s difficult to anticipate what’s going to happen and how that’s going to affect us locally and nationally.”

‘Despondency’

Like everywhere in this election, jobs and the economy are often front and centre.

Plans to build a new nuclear power station on the north coast of Anglesey would bring thousands of jobs, but it’ll be decades before it’s powering the lights across the Menai Strait.

On the south of the island and fresh from the riverbank is Shaun Krijnen – who for decades has farmed oysters in Anglesey.

They’re shipped to London’s finest restaurants, but he’s not happy about the capital’s political offering.

“I’ve been voting in every election since I was 18. I’m 53 now. I don’t think I’ve felt a level of despondency for an election as I have at the moment,” he said.

“Anglesey’s been Labour. Then it’s been Conservative but it’s also, I would say, one of Plaid’s heartlands really. But for me, I don’t even know…I might make up my decision when I see the names on the ballot paper.”

While polls show the general election result may be a foregone conclusion, in battleground constituencies like Ynys Mon, there is all to play for.

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Here is the full list of candidates standing in Ynys Mon:

Virginia Ann Crosbie (Conservatives)
Leena Sarah Farhat (Lib Dem)
Emmett Jenner (Reform UK)
Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru)
Martin Schwaller (Green Party)
Sir Grumpus L Shorticus (Monster Raving Loony Party)
Ieuan Mon Williams (Labour)
Sam Andrew Wood (Libertarian Party)

Politics

‘You wouldn’t believe the amount of dicks’: Secrets of a ballot counter

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June 30, 2024

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'You wouldn't believe the amount of dicks': Secrets of a ballot counter

When the polling stations close at 10pm on 4 July, thousands of ballot counters will be flexing their fingers, ready for what could be a very long night’s work.

All the country’s votes will be counted – and recounted – by hand.

But what is it like to be one of the people tasked with delivering democracy by dawn?

Sky News spoke to five ballot counters – who between them have worked more than 100 elections – to find out.

The Newcastle-Sunderland urban myth

Ian Humphries is clocking up his 50th election with Newcastle City Council with 2024’s general election.

You’ll find him in a cavernous sports hall at Northumbria University, just another “Joe Bloggs” getting through the count “as efficiently and quickly as I can”.

What his fellow counters might not realise is that he is one of the people responsible for taking Newcastle from being around the 300th council to declare its results, to first in the Brexit referendum and then again in the 2017 and 2019 general elections.

The former elections manager tells Sky News it’s an “urban myth” there is a race between Newcastle and Sunderland for who will declare first (Sunderland held the crown from 1992 to 2015).

It’s not about being fast per se, but maximising “accuracy and efficiency”, he says.

Still, there are tactics to deliver that. A move to a new venue was key – a bigger space meant more people, each “blitzing” through just a few boxes each.

If you can get the count done quickly, before tiredness – and sloppiness – sets in, recounts are less likely to be necessary, he says.

“At 5am, how accurate are you?” Ian questions.

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The quest to “shave off minutes” starts at the polling station, where staff are primed to get ballot boxes out the door and into the car of the presiding officer – the person in charge of the polling station – as quickly as possible.

They will ferry the box by the most efficient route to the count venue, where a slick operation is waiting at the door.

The car pulls up, a worker opens the passenger door, grabs the ballot box from where it’s waiting on the passenger seat, closes the door and away the car drives.

The box is handed to a “runner” – normally a university student employed for a night of manual labour – who hurries it into the building to be checked off.

The time-saving strategies mean counting can start soon after 10pm, when previously all the boxes may not have arrived until 11pm.

The counting process has also been honed to make it as accurate and efficient as possible.

Once the number of ballot papers has been verified, they are sorted into piles for each candidate, which are then counted into bundles of 50.

Each bundle has an elastic band running north to south so a “flick check” can be performed.

The counter thumbs through the pile like a flip book – a quick way to see if the same box has been marked on each paper in the stack.

But with boundary changes to contend with in this election, Ian isn’t holding his breath for Newcastle to be the first constituency to declare.

“All bets are off,” he says.

Either way, he’s anticipating an “electric atmosphere” when the sports hall is filled with counters, candidates and their agents.

“Their excitement and sense of jeopardy – you can almost taste it,” Ian says.

The day Chris really earned his pay…

Chris Hobbs has worked every election bar one since 1988, as a poll clerk, presiding officer and counting assistant with Tandridge District Council in Surrey.

During counts that sometimes lasted until 4 or 5am, he has seen every “phallic symbol” and expletive going as voters spoil their ballots.

He says: “I’ve seen cat faces, huge rafts of text explaining why they are spoiling their votes, some abusive text about individual candidates.

“‘Vote for clowns, get a f****** circus!’ was particularly amusing at two o’clock in the morning.”

The voters provide an occasional laugh, but you also feel part of something important, he says, as “democracy happens right before your eyes”.

The Brexit referendum was the busiest election Chris has worked due to the sheer number of voters.

He says he definitely “earned my pay” that day, working as the presiding officer in a polling station set up in a room of a country pub.

“It was a challenging day as people arrived to vote and stayed for a drink or four,” he says.

“It got raucous for a while as well-refreshed folk kept popping back in to try to vote.

“Egged on by their drinking buddies, every hour or so the pub dog was ‘slid’ into the room from the pub to much laughter, covered in political rosettes!”

Thatcher, 1997 and the lady who wouldn’t stop talking

Andy Wragg keeps saying each election will be his last – but he’s on 41 and counting, the majority with Rushcliffe Borough Council in south Nottinghamshire.

His first working general election was Margaret Thatcher’s landslide 1983 victory, when he was appointed as a presiding officer aged 22.

It’s a role he’s repeated many times since, as well as working as a ballot counter.

Getting all the ballot boxes from the polling stations to the count venue was more fraught in the days before widespread mobile phones, he tells Sky News.

The verification process – where ballot papers are tallied before the proper count starts – cannot begin until all the boxes are received.

But in one memorable incident, a presiding officer bringing in a ballot box missed a turning and “kept driving south”. In the end, the police had to be dispatched to find her, 50 miles from where she should have been, Andy says.

Having been expected by 11pm, she arrived “rather sheepishly” at around 1.30am.

The 1997 election was another big one to work on: “You just felt the sway really of it… You felt something was coming at that point,” Andy says.

He once worked at one of the smallest polling stations in the country – a farm cottage “in the middle of nowhere” repurposed for the day for about 150 locals.

The problem was, Andy says, the host of the house knew everyone – and she couldn’t resist popping into the lounge where people were voting for a natter.

They reached a compromise where after people had voted, he sent them through to the kitchen for tea and cake and they then left by the back door.

“Adding cake to the electoral process was unusual, but we had to get them to flow through,” he says.

‘You wouldn’t believe the amount of dicks’ – and they’re put on the big screen

As one of the more confident Welsh speakers at Cardiff Council, Cai Maxwell will be making announcements during the ballot count after a day on the road as a polling station inspector.

The count is “high intensity”, he says, with the tension ratcheted up by the intense scrutiny of candidates’ counting agents who make sure everything is accurate.

They “pick you up on everything,” he says.

He remembers one run-in he had when he failed to shake the ballot box upside down to show there were no stray papers tucked in the bottom, resulting in a complaint to the returning officer.

Cai also takes great joy in the spoilt votes – not least because of how they are inspected, with a spotlight and camera set up so a blown-up version can be displayed on a TV.

“The amount of people who put dicks on ballot papers you would not believe,” he says.

“When you’ve got graffiti like that it’s hilarious because it’s a really formal procedure.

“You’ve got all these people in suits going through this process, looking at the ballot papers and all of them obviously nodding in agreement that yes, that’s invalid.”

But working behind the scenes gives you an insight into how strictly monitored the count is, he says.

As well as the eagle eyes of counting agents, there are strict protocols such as sealing the ballot boxes with tabs (something Andy Wragg remembers being done with wax). This means there is no way for the box to be opened while it’s being taken from the polling station to the count venue.

“I think a lot of people take pride in it because once you’ve seen it from our perspective, there’s absolutely no way it can be meddled with or fixed.”

Sweets, recounts and dress code

Holly Hancocks has worked elections since 2008 – and has seen a lot of the same faces year on year.

“It’s always quite jolly and funny to start,” she says, as workers catch up with people they haven’t seen since the last election.

“Then once the counting begins, it’s very quiet. It’s quite a studious environment.”

She has held various roles, including at polling stations as a poll clerk and presiding officer, and at the count venue as a runner, counting assistant and count supervisor.

There are always “lots of boiled sweets around” during the count.

“You can’t have anything that would dirty the ballot papers,” Holly explains – and that’s just one of the rules workers must follow.

They’re all about preserving the “sanctity of the ballot paper” and making sure the count is fair, she says.

Ballot papers must remain face up so the ballot number on the bottom is hidden and the candidates can see the votes.

All the workers must also wear neutral-coloured clothes so they are not seen to be supporting a particular party.

Holly says: “You leave your own political opinions at the door. And you have to be a completely neutral party, and that can sometimes feel a bit weird.

“Say there’s 100 count assistants in a room and somebody gets announced as being the victor… and you’ve got 100 people in the room that are just kind of politely clapping without really showing any emotion.”

It’s an “odd juxtaposition” to the exuberant celebrations of the winning party, she says.

Redditch, where she has mostly worked, is a swing seat, which Holly says makes it particularly exciting.

It also means the ballot counters can be in for a long night if it is particularly close and requires a recount.

Holly has seen local elections “where there’s one vote in it, so a full recount has happened… that’s always very tense”.