Candidate’s Alleged Celebration Sparks Suspension Calls

Stuart Prior is the Reform UK candidate. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, handles candidate vetting. The Labour MPs who authored the letter are Sarah Coombes, Antonia Bance, Gurinder Singh Josan and Alex Ballinger. The allegations were reported by *Mirror* and investigated with Hope Not Hate.

The Guardian

Scrutiny of Reform’s candidate screening grew after reports of a call for a “white Britain” and another suggesting Labour leader Keir Starmer be shot. Farage says vetting was tightened after the 2024 general election, but the Prior case revived oversight concerns.

The Guardian

Two Sikh women were raped in Walsall and Oldbury in 2025; John Ashby, 32, received a life sentence for the racially aggravated rape in Walsall. The attacks were classified as hate-motivated.

The Guardian

Reform UK said it is investigating the allegations and has referred the matters involving Prior and Jonathan James Fox to its disciplinary team. The Labour MPs’ letter to Sandwell Reform leader Ray Nock demanded a condemnation of the comment and asked Nock to write to Farage to withdraw Prior.

The Guardian

Labour MPs called alleged remark “a clear statement of hatred against Muslims” and warned that such rhetoric fuels racism and misogyny, calling for swift disciplinary action.

The Guardian

• “Good. Reap it.” — Stuart Prior

The Guardian

• “Will you, as the leader of the Reform party in Sandwell, condemn this disgusting behaviour and will you write to Nigel Farage requesting Stuart Prior be immediately withdrawn as a Reform party candidate?” — Joint letter, Labour MPs

The Guardian

• “The community in Sandwell was shaken to its core last year after a Sikh woman was raped in a racially aggravated attack.” — Joint letter, Labour MPs

The Guardian

• “clear statement of hatred against Muslims.” — Labour MPs

The Guardian

Prior denied the comment and rejected accusations; no analysis of X post released, leaving claim dependent on Mirror and Hope Not Hate report.

The Guardian

If Reform’s disciplinary process removes Prior, the party may face pressure to overhaul vetting before local elections in Essex and Rochford. Case fuels debate on extremist rhetoric in UK fringe parties and could affect Reform’s credibility with voters.

The Guardian