Story perspectives

Reform UK Expels Councillor, Wins Seats Amid Donation Row

5/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

Reform UK expelled Councillor Stuart Prior after racist Islamophobic online posts.
Reform UK won 1,450 council seats in the elections, flipping Labour strongholds.
Deputy Leader Richard Tice said Farage's £5 million gift was not needing declaration.
Chair Anna Turley said the donation raised questions about double standards and a crypto-tax cut benefiting the donor.
Mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham said deportation rhetoric was used to label Reform as racist, hurting London results.

History

Historical Context

During the 1970s the National Front surged to become England’s fourth-largest party, capturing over 10% of votes in several London boroughs and fielding 303 candidates in the 1979 general election, though it never won a council seat. That pattern of far-right local ambition resurfaces as Reform UK expelled Councillor Stuart Prior in 2024, prompting tighter vetting of candidates.

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Story summary

Reform UK expelled Councillor Stuart Prior after racist Islamophobic online posts.
Reform UK won 1,450 council seats in the elections, flipping Labour strongholds.
Deputy Leader Richard Tice said Farage's £5 million gift was not needing declaration.
Chair Anna Turley said the donation raised questions about double standards and a crypto-tax cut benefiting the donor.
Mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham said deportation rhetoric was used to label Reform as racist, hurting London results.

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