Full Breakdown
Reform UK Candidate Ben Rowe Investigated Over Alleged Hate-Speech Posts
4/25/2026, 5:42:53 AM
Core Event
Reform UK has opened a disciplinary probe into Ben Rowe, its Ham-ward candidate for the Plymouth City Council elections, after social-media posts surfaced showing a black-face meme, calls to “Free the world of Islam,” and a suggestion to “get rid of that filthy building” during the 2024 Southport riots.
Background & Context
Nigel Farage earlier pledged to “professionalise” Reform UK through tighter vetting. The party is contesting all 19 Plymouth council seats, with Rowe standing in Ham ward.
Timeline
February 2024: Rowe posted a YouTube comment accusing “the Jews” of “creating division by forcing other races on our societies” and called UK immigrants “breeding like rats.” During the 2024 Southport riots he urged protesters to “get rid of that filthy building.” Early April 2024: further Facebook posts showed a black-face meme and anti-Islam images. Later that week Rowe deleted a Facebook note saying, “This post may be my last… My bike has been vandalised…” The next day Steve Ricketts announced a formal probe; Labour leader Tudor Evans demanded Rowe’s suspension.
Official Statements & Responses
Steve Ricketts said Reform is “thoroughly investigating” the matter with its disciplinary team and that “there is a process and that will be followed.” Tudor Evans called the posts “utterly reprehensible and have no place in Plymouth,” urged Reform to “condemn this candidate and call for his suspension,” and described the language as “deeply offensive, but also dangerous.”
Criticism & Opposition
Local opponents and community groups have labelled the material hate speech, saying it erodes social cohesion and endangers minority safety. Evans’s call for suspension reflects broader pressure on Reform to uphold its vetting pledge.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Encouraging violence against a place of worship, spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories, dehumanising immigrants, and using racist and Islamophobic language is not only deeply offensive, but also dangerous.” — Tudor Evans, Labour leader, Plymouth City Council
- “utterly reprehensible and have no place in Plymouth” — Tudor Evans
- “My party is thoroughly investigating and this is with the disciplinary team.” — Steve Ricketts, Reform UK Plymouth leader
- “My bike has been vandalised costing me hundreds, I've had things posted, years ago, taken out of context.” — Ben Rowe, Reform UK candidate, Ham ward
- “creating division by forcing other races on our societies” — Ben Rowe (YouTube comment)
What’s Next
The party has said there is a process and that it will be followed, though no further details have been provided.
